March 8-9
- Russian gas comeback
- Banksy under the hammer
- Crazy “shrimp” soccer trick
- … and much more.
⬇️ STARTER
This is how Europe becomes the military power that the world needs now
Siding with Russia and China on UN resolutions; getting into a shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office; and now suspending all of U.S. military aid to Ukraine: In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has been busy dismantling the order that the United States has established, and benefited from, since World War II. He has managed to place his country on the same level as the world's two most powerful authoritarian regimes, forcing the U.S. to step down as the leader among Western nations.
It remains unclear whether Trump is pursuing a strategic goal of aligning with Russia to drive a wedge between Moscow and its Chinese competitor, or simply seeking a short-term solution to focus on China as a priority. Even if such a strategy involves striking a "deal" with Russia that sacrifices Ukraine.
For the U.S. president's actions are tantamount to nothing less than Ukraine's capitulation. He has effectively abandoned the country. He may not even realize the damage this causes to his country's foreign policy, as America's credibility erodes in the eyes of a great many nations.
The dispute over Ukraine is now giving rise to the need for "European sovereignty" which French President Emmanuel Macron has been advocating since 2017. European leaders responded swiftly and decisively to Trump's provocation, rejecting his flipping of the aggressor/victim roles, reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and getting ready to shoulder the primary burden of military support.
There is some irony in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attempting to leverage the UK's "special relationship" with the U.S. for mediation purposes, while simultaneously taking the lead in strengthening Europe — despite not being an EU member. Could the coalition he proposes serve as a blueprint for a future European Defense Union of sorts?
One thing is clear: Europeans can no longer hide behind the U.S. In terms of security policy, Germany in particular, has often done so. Which explains Chancellor Olaf Scholz's hesitancy in providing military support to Ukraine. Europeans have long fallen for the myth of their own weakness and the necessity to benefit from an American "security umbrella." Those times are over. We are on our own — but not without options. [...]
— Read the full article by Hans-Dieter Heumann for Die Zeit, translated from German by Worldcrunch.
🎲 OUR WEEKLY NEWS QUIZ
What do you remember from the news this week?
1. On behalf of Arab nations, which country put forth a plan to rebuild Gaza as an alternative to Trump’s proposal?
2. Greece’s government is facing a no-confidence vote over its handling of what event, back in 2023?
3. What has Ontario’s head of government Doug Ford threatened to do if the U.S. continues with tariffs against Canada?
4. What record did Adrian Brody break upon winning Best Actor at the 97th Academy Awards?
Longest speech / Most time between two Oscars / Tallest recipient / Most times thanking one’s mom
[Answers at the bottom of this newsletter]
#️⃣ TRENDING
Police in São Paulo, Brazil made quite a show during the city’s famous Carnival when officers arrested several pickpockets who took advantage of the crowd to steal phones. To blend in during the festivity and get closer to the thieves, the policemen dressed up as the Power Rangers. In a post on X, São Paolo’s governor Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas shared a video showing the red, blue, yellow and green mighty morphin’ TV heroes restraining a suspect, in front of a crowd of Carnival revelers cheering.
🎭 5 CULTURE THINGS TO KNOW
• Rare handwritten copy of Shakespeare love poem found. Oxford University researcher Leah Veronese discovered a hand-written copy of William Shakespeare’s famous Sonnet 116 tucked away in a 17th century poetry collection at the university’s Bodleian Library. The manuscript could help researchers understand the Bard’s popularity in the decades following his death, said Professor Emma Smith, an Oxford expert in Shakespeare.
• Chinese architect Liu Jiakun wins Pritzker Prize. Liu, 68, became the 54th laureate of the annual Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered akin to a Nobel in the field of architecture. The Chinese architect earned the field’s highest honor for “affirming architecture that celebrates the lives of ordinary citizens,” organizers said, and is known for creating public areas in highly populated cities where there is little public space.
• Australian writers slam Melbourne publisher over AI agreements. Melbourne publisher Black Inc Books has faced backlash from Australian writers and literary agents after it asked its authors to consent to their work being used to train artificial intelligence. Documents sent by the publisher promise that this would unlock “new revenue streams” for authors and guarantee “increased visibility and credibility” for their works. “I feel like we’re being asked to sign our own death warrant,” said Laura Jean McKay, author of Holiday in Cambodia.
• Banksy's take on late Scottish artist Vettriano work sells for £4.3m. Crude Oil (Vettriano), a rare painting by the street artist Banksy inspired by the recently deceased Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, sold at auction for £4.3 million ($5.4 million) at Sotheby’s in London. The painting, which was put up for sale by Blink 182 bassist Mark Hoppus, reimagines Vettriano’s The Singing Butler, with two figures in yellow hazmat suits disposing of an oil drum in the background. The auction came just days after the Scottish artist was found dead aged 73 at his apartment in France.
• Unseen Harper Lee short stories to be published for first time. Eight never-before-seen short stories by Harper Lee, which were written before the author started the novel that would become To Kill a Mockingbird, will be published in a collection titled The Land of Sweet Forever on Oct. 21. The short stories, which feature themes Lee would later explore in her now-classic novel, such as small town gossip, politics and race relations, were discovered at her New York City apartment after she died in 2016.
⚽️🦂 SMILE OF THE WEEK
In a thrilling match between Tigres UANL and Guadalajara, part of Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, midfielder Lizbeth Ovalle scored a jaw-dropping reverse scorpion kick. The stunning strike sent the ball soaring over the goalkeeper’s head and into the corner of the net, securing a 2-0 victory for Tigres. Ovalle, surprised by her own acrobatics, humbly dubbed the move “the shrimp.”
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
🏭 Unthinkable just a few months ago, the return of Russian gas to supply European countries is now being advocated by some on the continent. But the move faces both political and technical barriers, and its medium-term benefits are not clear.
— LES ECHOS
💥 The new U.S. tariffs on China have triggered a sharp response from Beijing. Both countries are convinced that a war between them is inevitable someday — and they’re preparing for it.
— FRANCE INTER
🚫 Faced with the U.S. president who wants to own the planet, there is little ordinary global citizens can do — except for the firm decision not to buy U.S.-exported products.
— EL ESPECTADOR
💻 Washington once promoted an open, unrestricted internet, and criticized Beijing's efforts to control its citizens' access. But the recent “sell or ban” controversy over TikTok shows that the United States may now be siding with China when it comes to digital sovereignty. Is internet freedom dead?
— THE INITIUM
👗 Several Argentine fashion designers are among the pioneers of upcycling, turning used textiles from the home into unusual clothes with a focus on cultural regeneration and respect for the environment.
— CLARÍN
🩲 BRIGHT IDEA
Tired of taking pain medication to soothe menstrual cramps? Three women from the Tarn region in France have come up with a solution to relieve period pains: underwear with a heating pad. The top part is an abdominal belt with a front pocket and a back pocket where you can put a hot or cold water bottle to relieve aches. The absorbent part can be changed easily thanks to a pressure system and adaptable to every woman's needs.
👓 WORLDCRUNCH MAGAZINE
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⏩ LOOKING AHEAD
• The United States and Ukraine will be back at the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia next week to discuss a framework for ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This follows the U.S. suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv after a tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
• Four years after soccer legend Diego Maradona’s death, seven medical professionals will stand trial in Argentina on Tuesday. Prosecutors claim Maradona, who died at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery, received “reckless” and “deficient” treatment following the surgery, leading to a prolonged, agonizing death. The accused, including his neurosurgeon and psychiatrist, deny responsibility and face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
• The 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Turin, Italy, from March 8 to 15, marking the country’s first time hosting the event. Turin had already hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006, and is now expected to welcome more than 3,100 athletes from 101 nations.
News quiz answers:
1. Arab leaders on Tuesday approved Egypt's postwar plan for Gaza, countering the Trump plan to depopulate the territory and redevelop it as a beach destination. The $53 billion plan, endorsed by Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo, would allow Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians to remain in the enclave. Both the U.S. and Israel have rejected the plan.
2. Greek opposition parties have submitted a motion to trigger a no-confidence vote against the government over its handling of a deadly 2023 train crash, days after protesters brought the country to a standstill to press their demands for political accountability. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the crash, demanding justice for the victims.
3. Speaking at a mining convention in Toronto on Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the Canadian province would back its country’s united response to Trump’s 25% tariffs, even if that means cutting off electricity to the United States.
4. After winning the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in The Brutalist, actor Adrien Brody delivered the longest speech in Oscar history, clocking in at 5 minutes and 40 seconds.
✍️ Newsletter by Worldcrunch
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*Photo: Pritzker Prize/Arch-Exist