'Easier To Deal With Russia Than Ukraine To End War': Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he finds it "easier" to deal with Russia than with Ukraine in efforts to end the war in the pro-Western country -- and that he trusts Vladimir Putin.

"I believe him," he said in a televised press conference at the White House.

"I'm finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine and they don't have the cards," he said. "It may be easier dealing with Russia."

Trump has pushed Ukraine hard, as it struggles to fend off Russian invasion after three years of war, and has ordered a pause in US military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv in order to apply more pressure.

Despite threatening new sanctions on Russia earlier Friday, Trump said he understood why Putin's forces had inflicted a massive bombing campaign across Ukraine overnight.

"I actually think he's doing what anybody in that position would be doing that right now," Trump said.

"I've always had a good relationship with Putin. And you know, he wants to end the war," he said.

"I think he's going to be more generous than he has to be, and that's pretty good. That means a lot of good things."

He said Zelensky -- who has been pressing for Western security guarantees before he agrees to a ceasefire with Russia -- risks losing all US involvement.

"I don't know that they want to settle. If they don't want to settle, we're out of there because we want them to settle. I'm doing it to stop death," Trump said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: 'We Are Not 51st Anything', Viral Canadian Beer Ad Gets A Trump Twist

A revamped version of the iconic "Joe Canadian" video has resurfaced, echoing the sentiments of Canadian pride and resilience. The remake of 2000 Molson Beer ad is back 25 years later, but this time, not to sell beer but rather to inspire Canadians about their motherland.

This remake, produced by an anonymous collective of Canadian creatives, features Jeff Douglas reprising his role as the enthusiastic everyman. With patriotism and a pinch of humour, the video celebrates Canada's unique identity, from its love of peanut butter and ketchup chips to its proud history of innovation and optimism.

This is awesome and the way to further invigorate Canadian pride!

Grab a great Canadian beer, raise the volume, watch, and enjoy!

🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍻

pic.twitter.com/1f6bb0KFnX

— Michael“Super Mario”🟦Woke! Say it to my face! (@MichaelSamario) March 6, 2025

At its core, the video is a testament to Canadian values, emphasising the country's commitment to universal healthcare, its passion for hockey, and its reputation for kindness and modesty. As Douglas eloquently puts it, "We are the first to unite in crisis, the first to build bridges - not walls - and the first to stand on guard for thee."

"They mistake our modesty for meekness, our kindness for consent, our nation for another star on their flag and our love of a hot cheesy poutine with their love of a hot cheesy Putin," he says.

The timing of the video's release is particularly significant, given the current tensions between Canada and the United States. With Trump's suggestion that Canada could become the 51st US state, Canadians have responded with a surge of patriotic fervour. The video serves as a rallying cry, reminding Canadians of their nation's strength and resilience.

As Douglas reflects on the past 25 years, he acknowledges that Canada's history is complex and multifaceted. "Our history, as we were taught, was put together so we would feel good about ourselves and that we're a force for good in the world. I still think we are a force for good in this world. But certainly, the past 25 years have revealed how we haven't always done good things. We've done some really bad things," he told the Guardian.

Earlier this week, Trump announced 25% taxes on Canadian goods, on which Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs.

Despite these challenges, the video offers a message of hope and unity. As Douglas says, "We humbly hope it may be something that can help boost Canadian spirits." With its catchy slogan, memorable characters, and heartfelt sentiment, the revamped "Joe Canadian" video is poised to become a rallying cry for Canadians everywhere.
 

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Jack Daniel's CEO Says Canada Pulling US Alcohol 'Worse Than Tariff'

A trade dispute between Canada and the US has escalated, with several Canadian provinces pulling American-made alcohol from store shelves. The move is a direct response to the Trump administration's imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. Lawson Whiting, CEO of Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel's, has denounced the Canadian retaliation, calling it "worse than tariffs" and "disproportionate" to the US levies.

"I mean, that's worse than a tariff, because it's literally taking your sales away, completely removing our products from the shelves," Whiting said.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), one of the world's largest alcohol buyers, removed US-made drinks from its shelves on Tuesday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed that the LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of US alcohol annually, emphasising that all these products are now off the shelves. The LCBO's exclusive wholesaler status in Ontario means that other retailers, bars, and restaurants in the province can no longer restock US products.

Canada has retaliated against the US tariffs with its own 25% levies on American goods, including beer, spirits, and wine. Some provinces, such as Ontario and Nova Scotia, have taken additional measures. The trade tensions have sparked a nationalist sentiment among Canadians, with some opting to buy local products instead of US-made goods.

Whiting, acknowledged that Canada accounts for only 1% of the company's total sales, making the impact of the trade dispute manageable. However, the company is also monitoring developments in Mexico, which accounted for 7% of its sales in 2024 and has also been affected by US tariffs.

The trade dispute has drawn strong reactions from Canadian leaders. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticised the US tariffs, calling them "a very dumb thing to do." He also accused President Trump of seeking to undermine the Canadian economy. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has expressed concern over Trump's remarks about making Canada the 51st US state, taking them "very seriously".
 

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"Making Less Money, But...": UK Couple After Buying Village In France

A couple who sold their home in the UK to buy an entire village in France say their lives have improved since leaving Manchester. According to New York Post, Liz Murphy, 47, and her husband David, 56, purchased the historic rural hamlet of Lac De Maison in south-west France four years ago, in January 2021. They sold their three-bed home in Manchester and used the cash to buy six 400-year-old houses, two barns and three acres of land. They have now turned their tranquil town into a thriving business, and say that they have no plan to return as their parents have also moved out with them. 

The couple, who used to work in radio, live with Ms Liz's mother Helen Diaper, and stepdad Terry. They turned three houses in their village into holiday homes which can accommodate 19 people in total. They are now also installing solar panels to become more self-sufficient. 

The pair revealed that they don't make as money as they did in the UK but say their quality of life is better. "We haven't got the pressures we had in the UK. In France, we're mortgage free. So although we're making less money than we did in the UK, it's massively outweighed by our quality of life," Ms Liz said, as per the Post. 

"My mom and stepdad decided to sell their house and come with us. It's been lovely - having them so close by for the kids has been really great. It's great to have on-site babysitters," she added. 

The couple said that previously they felt trapped in the "rat race" working "busy" nine-to-five jobs. However, it was amid Covid, they realised their dreams of leaving their lives in Manchester, England, and owning their own place in France.

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They revealed that they chose France after visiting for holidays. They also wanted to be "somewhere close enough for people to visit and it not cost a fortune". So, when they came across the huge plot of land, they decided to sell their three-bed home and move with their two children in December 2020. They later also convinced Ms Liz's parents to move with them from Nottingham. 

The couple now have three holiday homes up and running. They are also installing 60 solar panels so they can be more self-sufficient. The family have also introduced some new members - three goats, four chickens and three cats.

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Trump Claims 360-Year-Old Man Is Getting Social Security, Gets Fact Checked

US President Donald Trump delivered his first speech to Congress in his second term on Tuesday night (local time), elaborating on his massive budget cuts, crackdown on illegal migration and economic vision for America's future. However, during his address, the American President was found bending some facts on issues, especially on the payment of social security to millions of senior citizens above the age of hundred.

Trump alleged his Social Security Administration (SSA) records show "shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program for our seniors, and that our seniors and people that we love rely on."

"Believe it or not, government databases list 4.7 million Social Security members from people aged 100 to 109 years old. It lists 3.6 million people from ages 110 to 119. I don't know any of them. I know some people who are rather elderly but not quite that elderly. 3.47 million people from ages 120 to 129. 3.9 million people from ages 130 to 139. 3.5 million people from ages 140 to 149...1.3 million people from ages 150 to 159, and over 130,000 people, according to the Social Security databases, are age over 160 years old," he said.

The President claimed a lot of money is paid out to many of these people, which is hurting "Social Security", and "our country". and his administration is probing the matter.

He further alleged that several hundred people older than 220 were also still getting checks, according to SSA data - and that "one person is listed at 360 of age."

Fact Check

The alleged fraud mentioned by President Trump-- and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk earlier-- reportedly doesn't exist. The numbers Trump and his billionaire advisor referred to are products of a known problem with the government's data, according to a report by NBC.

The report said that while there are millions of people over the age of 100 registered in the Social Security Administration's database, the vast majority of them don't receive benefits. The issue has been repeatedly identified by the Social Security Administration, but officials have argued that updating old records is costly and unnecessary.

Social Security's new acting commissioner, Lee Dudek, also recently acknowledged the issue and said, "The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits."

According to a 2023 Social Security inspector general report, 18.9 million people listed as 100 years or older - but not dead - were in the database.  However, only 44,000 of them were getting payments.

In another report released in July 2024, SSA's inspector general found that from 2015 to 2022, only 0.84 per cent of benefits payments were improper. The report also said most of these improper payments were overpayments - not payments to dead people or people who didn't qualify.

Moreover, the agency data showed, just 89,106 people - not tens of millions - over age 99 received retirement benefits in December last year.

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9 Students Who Went Missing In Mexico Found Dismembered With "Bag Of Hands"

Nine students who went missing on vacation in Mexico have been found dismembered by the side of the road along with a "bag of hands". According to the New York Post, the group, from the Mexican town of Tlaxcala, went missing on February 27. They had been travelling to the beaches in Oaxaca to celebrate their graduation. On Sunday, the cops found their remains in a truck of an abandoned vehicle in San Jose Miahuatlan on the border of the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca.

According to the Post, four of the bodies were in the truck, while the other five bodies were left under the tarp. A bag of eight pairs of hands were also discovered at the scene, with two more hands left in the truck. Cops said that the bodies of the four women and five men, ages 19 to 30, all had bullet wounds and signs of torture. 

The victims, identified so far, are Angie Lizeth, 29, Brenda Mariel, 19, Jacqueline Ailet, 23, Noemi Yamileth, 28, Lesly Noya Trejo, 21, Raul Emmanuel, 28, Ruben Antonio, and Rolando Armando. The ninth victim has yet to be identified. 

A video capturing the last time they were seen alive showed their car driving along the Atlixcayotl highway, around 90 miles west of where their remains were eventually found, according to the outlet.

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Police have launched an investigation into the incident. No suspects have yet been named. The Attorney General's Office in Puebla said it is collaborating with its colleagues in Tlaxcala and Oaxaca to try and track down the killers, as per the Post. 

"So far I cannot offer information. There are lines of investigation, but I cannot reveal them due to confidentiality," the head of Puebla's State Attorney General's Office, Idamis Pastor Betancourt, said at a press conference. 

"All relevant investigations are being carried out. When we have a response and the investigation is complete, we will be in a position to provide more information," the official added. 

Notably, the murder rate in Mexico continues to rise. According to the Post, 30,000 people were killed in 2023. It reportedly marked the most violent year in the country's recent history. 

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"Delimitation Separate From Population Management": Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday sought to dispel confusion around delimitation, asserting that it is a separate issue from population management and should not be linked to the ongoing political discussions.

"Delimitation is a continuous process, occurring once in 25 years," Naidu told reporters here.

"Don't link all issues at a time. Delimitation and population management are different. I am talking about national interest," he added.

Discussing the ongoing political debates, Naidu emphasised, "There are reservations, and we will accommodate them. But don't link all issues at a time." Speaking about India's demographic potential, Naidu highlighted the country's unique position in the global demographic landscape, describing India as having the "biggest advantage of demographic dividend".

Naidu also drew attention to the global aging crisis, pointing out the population challenges in countries like Japan, China, and some European nations.

"Japan is minus 8 per cent. It is an important issue for the survival of human beings," Naidu said.

"Aging problem has started in south India. Only two states -- Bihar and Uttar Pradesh -- have advantages in north India. We were thinking it is a disadvantage but it is an advantage now," he said.

Challenging the traditional family planning perspectives, Naidu revealed a personal policy shift.

"Even I used to advocate family planning as a challenge. Now, I am changing my views and promoting population growth," he said.

The chief minister also suggested a new approach for resource allocation, saying, "Wealth creation and population often conflict." He proposed that "the government of India or the finance commission should promote population".

"Don't punish those who have aging problems today. Give incentives for more children," he said.

On concerns about delimitation, particularly those raised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Naidu said, "All those things will be discussed. Sometimes some decisions are taken on the basis of assumptions. But sometimes all assumptions don't give dividends for the society. We have to change our views." "We will work out how to keep everyone's sentiments in mind," Naidu said, positioning himself as a pioneer in "demographic management".

Clarifying his approach, Naidu added, "I did not say population promotion, but demographic management. If you do demographic management, sustainability of the economy will be there, and Indians will do a great job."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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