the closest to cynthia me the the us president donald trump promises to start talks with russia over the train war after speaking to the leaders on both sides of the con, the, on the how much i'm doing this is alger 0, live from the also coming up president trump says us access to ukraine's where earth minerals could be key to a deal as the treasury secretary, botox in keith is real issues, more threats to resume the war and causes as copper and egypt try to rescue

a fragile ceasefire agreement. serious new presidents forms a committee for a national dialogue that will discuss the country's political future. you as president donald trump has said that he and russian president vladimir prudent have agreed to meet and begin talks to end the war and ukraine. that's after trump spoke with putting on the phone for over an hour. he also called ukrainian president the little mer zalinski. donald trump said a ceasefire and ukraine was likely in the not too distant future. i'll be dealing with president potent, largely on the phone, and we ultimately expect to meet. in fact, we expect that he'll come here and i'll go there and we're going to meet also probably in saudi arabia. the 1st time we'll meet in saudi arabia and see if we can get something done. but we want to end that, or that was

a disaster. to really bloody horrible. all right, let's go live now to mike hannah in washington dc. mike, tell us more about the call, the president trump held with vladimir putin and these plan talks well, let's just start off by the fact that this broke and the protocol that had been established in recent years, and that is at the us consults of the claim. but before making contact with any russian officials, in this case uh, president trump, a directly called the russian president pence, the talks taking place. it was described as a pleasant to. busy a lot of agreement was reached during the talk, in particular the need for a peace settlement in that ongoing role in ukraine, having spoken to boot and then uh, president trump spoke zalinski, who's actually characterizing this as the beginning of talks about a sci fi, uh, within the ukraine and, and leading to an end to that particular conflict, but we're beginning to see

a much now the shape. so what view west plan would be full and negotiated into the war and ukraine. and mike, we also heard that the us treasury secretary has become the 1st senior trump administration official to visit keep what more is coming out of that as well. that was very interesting because that involves ukrainian negotiations with the us in terms of ongoing assistance. for example, uh president trump making very clear that the treasury secretary was there to find out what happened to the money that the us has given to ukraine over the period of the war. he also made vague mention to the fact of getting rid of minerals supplied by ukraine. a balancing out he appeared to view the money that has been the fun was the assistance that has been given to ukraine as a loan rather than a direct grant. as saying that the us not once it's money back. so this is already starting all the discussions with a not the end to ukrainian bonds, but certainly

a slight possibility towards it. the fact as well that the us as now outlining a possible agreement in which you crane would give up all demands for territory before 2014. and it would also and its insistence on becoming a member of nato. this is something that's being said by the us. these are methods that should normally be discussed during negotiations, but there's already a pre emptive strike by the us in terms of what can be discussed at the end. the ghost agent table. next step is a security meeting in munich with the vice president trade events will be attending along with the secretary of state. they will be further talks advancing the ongoing attempts to get a c spot in place and ukraine. we heard that to the president, trump will probably be meeting vladimir putin face to face and saudi arabia. all right, that sounds yours. mike can a lie for us in washington dc. mike, thanks so much for bringing that all down for us. the earlier the new us defense

secretary pete hex, that's told a needle meeting it's unrealistic for ukraine to return to its pre 2014 borders and for it to join nato. if it, once the war to end hash him had a better report from brussels for nathan members, this was a crucial moment. the old one to 2. he was a new us defense secretary, how to say about ukraine on his 1st official trip abroad order. the u. s has been the largest supplier financial and committed to support for ukraine. ne, to n d, a u strongly believe supplying more cash and weapons to key is the best way to end the war. but the us under trump, things differently. we want like you, a sovereign and prosperous ukraine. but we must start by recognizing that returning to ukraine's pre 2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.

chasing this, illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering headsets also said ukraine must abandon any idea of joining data and that the us had no intention of sending tubes to the country to support any peace deal. earlier in the day, the native secretary general said the alliances members were increasing their defense spending to reach 2 percent of that g d p. this home where your brain is on the battlefield, the strong that they will be as if you go straight to the table. the greater the chance of getting a good deal for the lasting piece. this is gnome is also russian. besides trying targeting, keep on wednesday the will shows no sign of letting up nature members the pushing ukraine to a pretty much your the could you on board in russia to expand its influence across europe? us president donald trump, once they to members to stop relying on us protection and spend 5 percent of the

gdp on defense. it demand dismissed by germany and many of the european countries law as of its type, which we the we see is a target of 3 percent or 3.5 percent is not the main issue. and what method is, is a clear, continuous increase in defense spending as well. i often say we need a security mixed generation plans are the one that can choose sustainable, long term investments and defense capabilities and the parents. until a few days ago they to and you members were hoping they might convince the drum on the merits of solid transatlantic alliance to navigate and other changing geo political landscape. the even offer to buy more weapons from the us as a sign of gratitude. but from seemingly wasn't swayed, this is going to be a moments when most european countries have to re think the defense priorities. and

why is that or disagree on how to move forward, then don't accept that. it's just a matter of time before the us shift, it's focus on defense strategy way from you are to come to china's economic and made it to rise, hosted by the 0 brussels leadership of all of a has more on rushes reaction to all of this from moscow, there were many positive comments, so russian politicians on the sloan anticipates of donald between the 2 presidents, even de, nobody's calling. it's a breakthrough. many say that all this get done over the best of them. his absence, people hear hopeful. they see the trump is actively trying to keep his promise to boot and then to the when you trade. but still, there is no way to go before any turning points in relations between function the united states. because according to the russian side, from street assess, is, are responsible for the to ration of relations for too long. at patient is

obviously not an easy task. and to negotiate the ways he never gives into ultimatums. it's only possible that there will be any kind of the so called co tricks change a criminal spokesman to the troops. coal also has said that russia is not discussing the issue of exchanging territories with ukraine. something that you create in presence, let the man the landscape have previously offered, according to best called o ukrainian units, which are currently occupying ponds on versus post region will be expelled from that. and russia is not going to make any territorial concessions retaining all the previous had taken cranial learners. something that you create is no going to accept, but still we can see that things begin changing quite rapidly. here we can mention there were some present as well between the 2 countries. so despite all the disagreements, there was room for pushes optimism, you lash above all of a to z, right? most k u. s. president. donald trump says ukraine supplies of rear earth minerals could be the key to a piece deal. the minerals are vital components,

and many new technologies and ukraine has potentially massive reserves. and more on con reports from the dynamic region. this use mines dealt the landscape of ukraine's east, but the mining sector could be powering up and going into production again. the ukraine sits on the 12 trillion us dollars with the breast minerals needed to power technology, including lithium and titanium. it could be arrival to china, the world's biggest current supply. and that's interesting to the us, which is wary of china is rise globally. famously transactional us present. donald trump says he is found the deal he wants to make with ukraine to help and the wall . so we're looking to do a deal with your brain with giving the weapons and aid in return to read of materials and ukrainian presents. without them is lensky is open to the idea of russia, but it's pot says the alms for minerals deal as some of the this is

a sign of the us slowing down the simple for ukraine, the biggest commercially viable array of mineral deposits. i'll also in the territories, russia has annexed away the west of the will, rages, they include the hands that, that breeze you together. they all with 6, trudy and gold, as well. 53 percent of ukraine's rack of mineral deposits. but with that much money involved ukrainians, click no development of resources until the full and to the war and complete russian withdrawal. ukraine. a strategic resources only after the war. and uh, we can uh, do it only when uh, the territory of you greenville be occupied when it will be liberated because manuals such resources are right now are located in the territories occupied by

russia. donald trump, i said maybe ukraine will be russian, maybe not a statement that is confused many here and, but even if the will ends tomorrow, ukraine has to be safe. an open said business. one of the many challenges to that other line minds that russia has thrown across the east. it's slow, dangerous work. according to the mining organizations, one yeah, of laying down and burns takes 10 years to remove. that's the t. yes. so far. another big challenge will be the full in soldiers and dead civilians in the face of those sacrifices giving up territory to most go is an emotional issue. but that's exactly what russia once, according to that public statements, at least. so getting peace through red minerals is going to be a very difficult challenge. and we're on con, how does there then that's the region. the

mediators are in a race against time to save the cause of ceasefire. how must delegation has arrived in cairo is egypt and cut the try to salvage the deal. as part of the agreement, how much is due to release the next group is really captive in just 3 days, but is accusing israel a violating the deal and has postponed. the exchange is really defense minister is real caps has reiterated the war, and this trip will resume if the release doesn't happen on saturday. henderson, which has more from jordan's capital i'm on. that's because these really government and the palestinian authority of band of 0 from reporting inside israel and the occupied to us bank. that is really defense minister israel cath reiterating comments by is really prime minister benjamin netanyahu just the day before noting that is how much doesn't release the captives by new local time. on saturday, the war would resume, but the defense ministers comments were a little bit more severe saying that the war would be much different in its

intensity and scale, saying that quote, the gates of hell would open on gonzo, which is a little bit difficult to comprehend. given just how much carnage we witnessed in the 15 months of war, tens of thousands of palestinians killed and nearly the entirety of the gaza strip destroyed. but how much has accused israel of violating the deal in the 1st place, saying that they are holding up critical and vital humanitarian aid that is supposed to come into the strip in the form of tens, caravans and other temporary shelters to house palestinians in the interim but in the meantime, these really military is drafting a plans for the potential resumption of the war and is really prime minister benjamin netanyahu was set to visit, is really military southern command center that's according to is really media to talk about the next steps for what's gonna happen if this war to resume, but nonetheless, mediators are scrambling behind the scenes to try and make sure that the ceasefire holds. this was a sensitive deal from the beginning,

that was never guaranteed to centrally than just eat off a month. just as the palestinians have relocated back to their homes after 15 months of war, fear is growing, that conflict will start again. i mean my, some would report from rough a hand southern gaza, whereas really forces maintain a significant presence. were still reporting from rough. i city and just minutes after the sunset, the area started to become more of a desert here with the lot of people who were here during the daytime, inspecting their homes just within this area. not going far away because they're still 60 percent of the area according to run by municipality under these really military control and within the range of fire are departing the area and making their way back to their 10 site. this is part of the growing fear as statements and news about the possibility of the ceasefire to collapse at any time giving the stand up in the past 48 hours as these really monetary repeatedly failed to meet its obligations. an honor the terms of the ceasefire and the chief among them is the do i have the permission and to allow the many of them much needed

aid and basic necessities to enter the gods strip. among them beats the fuel trucks as well as the tents and the mobile homes that have not made there. we have not been allowed to enter their off i crossing for a much needed population, the northern parts of district and gaza city. all of this, coupled with the mounting fear of the ruler route to resume. there is almost a unanimous agreement among people here that as soon as these really military return the, the captives or the cap is, are being released. they're going to resume the war. and that has post on many of the people, the plans here to go back to their homes in northern part of districts and gods in many of the area that being control and devastated by these really military. we're still in rough city, we're seeing much of the devastation that is causing this not only causing fear, but also much of them on

a 3rd tendency of the future of this city. similar to other parts of the gaza strip . honey, my more just data from rough acetate, palestine still ahead on algae 0. the worst year for journalists are report highlights the record number of media workers kills and a year the had a low that is not supposed to be a whether to be found. the closest riley at the moment was bush fires burning in tasmania. it's a very dry and hot picture that southeast corner with extreme fly a danger. let's out to 7 this trying to but you can see a change is set to, to sweep in a while. we've got those conditions, the, the opposite corner. we've got an opposing problem. yes. a tropical cyclic developing as it moves towards the north west of australia. z a is set to bring

some very strong winds. heavy rain is what and it's going to be a slow moving system. so that rain is going to be very persistent with what 8 me 2 ways and a storm such that we are expecting. flooding is set to make land full on friday, working its way across that coastline, heading for the south. but for pass while it remains, launch the dry and 2nd, we'll see the heat build here, the temperature touching up into the high thirty's of by saturday. and instead, we'll see a cool down towards that se hope bought any touching 15 degrees celsius as we go into the weekend for new zealand, while it is sunny skies, with settled weather of the next few days. so very pleasant here. not so pleasant across the philippines. what more heavy rain to come for the eastern parts of southeast asia of the as to how many braces supports the federal elections. the country's political right

is in bold. for the 1st time since the 19 thirty's, the hard drive is poised for a national election breaks, pushing it's increasingly popular, more nationalistic, less open, unless the color is attend. water resistance is still possible. the populace a of the parts is expected to take 2nd place. people in power, investigate the fall rights, reckoning on the jersey to the the, you're watching out 0 reminder of our top stories this our us president, donald trump says he and russian president vladimir, put, and have agreed to meet and begin talks to in the war a new crank, trump says

a cease, fire is likely in the not too distant future. how must delegation is arriving cairo for talks after saying it will postpone the next captive release egypt and stuff that are trying to salvage the cause and cease fire deal. israel has mobilized troops and warns more will result the committee to protect journalist has released its annual report, the finding show that last year with the deadliest for journalist since the organization began documenting in 1992. it says $124.00 journalist and media workers were killed across the world. in 2024 is realize responsible for almost 70 percent of that total. with 82 journalists killed in gaza, and 311 on 39 journalists were killed in other parts of the world. sudan and pakistan were among the most dangerous for the media. at least 24 journalists were deliberately killed because of their work. that includes 10 cases where israel murdered members in the press by deliberately targeting them and gaza and 11 on the

report also highlights the unprecedented killings of freelancers. 43 died in 2024. 31 of those were palestinians in casa. frank smith is the founder and ceo of global journalist, security and a veteran press freedom advocate. he joins us from leesburg in virginia. frank, thanks so much for being with us on al jazeera. so, according to the committee to protect journalists, 2024 was the deadliest year for journalist since the organization began. documenting all of this in 1992, c. p. j's annual report says $124.00 journalists and media workers were killed across the world. in 2024, that is a staggering figure. just talk to us about how dangerous the landscape has become for journalists, and how much things have changed over the course of the past few decades. and we've never seen a conflict with so many journalists have been killed ever since. 1992, going back in c, b j's data base and going back even to 1981 when the organization was found that

and if you go back in time to prior conflicts, there's no, there's no depth. so even in world war 2, world war one that we know of reach is this level. so this is extraordinary. and the fact that 70 percent of them had been killed by israeli forces in the, in gaza or in the wider theater around gaza is alarming. but a, c, b, j has also talked about impunity. now in the past, when c, b, j has talked about impunity, they're usually talking about impunity for journalists who were murdered, who were killed in homicides 2 shots in the back of the head. and then there's some, there's always been concerned about disputed shoes and shootings, such as maison dana who was killed in a rock, i believe in 2003 or writers, journalists, and a shooting by us forces. but this is extraordinary, and it raises the question of impunity for war crimes or violations of the rules of

war committed by is really forces. there are also work crimes agree just for crimes committed by a mosse at the start of his conflict. but the over whelming majority of journalists killed since october 2022 in gaza in new york surrounding theater had been killed by his really forces. yeah. and frank, i want to pick up on that point and ask you more specifically about that because um c, p j also says that israel is responsible for almost 70 percent of that total number of journalists killed in 2024. the report says 82 journalists were killed in gaza and 3 journalist were killed in 11 on when he was c. figures like this. and you see that israel doesn't face any accountability for this. what does that say to you? it seems to me that israel is taking the position that if moss has used or could use a particular area, including hospitals including civilian areas in gaza,

that it's legitimate then to target those areas irrespective of the possible civilian casualties in the state. and the notion of, of the rule of law in terms of international humanitarian law is based on proportionality. if you're trying to attack a legitimate military target, there's a possibility of a relatively little collateral damage involving civilians. it would be a legitimate strike. if it's, there's a great deal of collateral damage. it would then be a violation if not a war crime. and what we're seeing here is tremendous carnage. and it seems to me and based on people i've spoken to in, in uh outside or is it not been able to get in the gods that could cover this conflict? the palestinian journalists have that less of these journalists being killed. the palestinian journalist being killed in gaza had been directly targeted as much as they are. victims of indiscriminate bombing by is really forces,

and the death toll among journalists is an indication of the white or death told at large. and that in a way is even more alarming. a frank at the bottom line here is that the risk for journalists around the world right now, they're just growing exponentially from your vantage point. what needs to happen to be able to afford and guarantee journalists more protections. what we need is a consensus among civil society and among the international community that targeting journalist eliminates not only kills individuals with families and loved ones. it also eliminates voices for the public to be informed. and that in that is something that, in this environment, in this time of rising authoritarianism, it seems like various regimes are be, are being, are able to, to target journalist or kill them indiscriminately by not by not caring about whether or not they, they're there, they're going to be victimized by bombardment,

in order to will and then not in, not to care about their lives or the impact on society. and this is, this trend continues. it's only going to be more dangerous over the past 30 years that i've been reporting. and plus, we've seen conflicts get increasingly dangerous, but this is now a level that we've never seen before. at the same time, we've seen other rushes. terrific conflicts in places like syria and the ongoing war and ukraine. but this really is, is in a lead by itself, and it's incredibly disturbing. and there's no mechanism. it seems. the international criminal court has issued the indictments for a number of suspects, including leaders of a must nearly all of whom had been killed by his really attacks and for a prime minister netanyahu. but there's no mechanism to bring these parties on any side to justice. and that is, that is a problem because that means there's no deterrence of these things continuing. all

right, frank smith, veteran press freedom advocate and the founder and ceo of global journalist security. thanks so much for joining us on al jazeera. thank you. in the us is expected to release russian cyber criminal alexandra finnic as part of a prisoner exchange deal with moscow. then incorporated a large crypto currency exchange called v t. c. e. he was arrested in greece and 2017 accused of laundering $4000000000.00 through his firm. he pleaded guilty last year and was facing as much as 20 years in prison. the next release comes after american school teacher, mark fogel was freed from a russian prison and arrived home on tuesday. this 63 year olds was met by donald trump at the white house photo was serving a 14 year sentence for possession of marijuana. he said was for medical purposes and us citizen audrey cosmetic, was among 3 people released from prison by the bel air russian government. the journalist was reunited with his family after being held for 3 and

a half years. he'd been sentenced to 6 years for creating an extreme, a screw charges that us officials and human rights groups have called politically motivated. serious transitional president has announced the creation of a committee to shape the country's political future. syria has been under the control of an interim government led by us to shut off since the fall of a shot. a said in december, several armed factions have agreed to this band with their members being integrated into a future national force. it's not clear if general elections will be help as a solid binge of aid reports from the capital, damascus. the internet government has announced its 7 member committee, which comprises off members from the ruling coordination to hang up out of the shop group, which has been disbanded by the president. it also includes members of the civil society and 2 of them. and one of home is a christian, so all of them, all of that hearing from the international community and the city and people of inclusive at the and diversity being reflected in the actions of this government

seems to have been taken on board. although this is a long way away from national dialogue where we're heading that more than a 1000 people, the citizens from all walks of life are expected to take part to try and charge all it future strategy for sylvia. but this is going to be your 1st step, which is already being broken by some, unless who see this as a positive step towards bringing also you to the table to assuring them to discover a government to under. i'm of the shut off. that means what it says, and it will be reflected in actions as well. it is a long charge ahead because it was remembering that i'm of the show as soon as he took the office and said that he has the support of all of the attractions and civil society. he disbanded the military. he disbanded of the parliament. the constitution has been, has in advance and there is no more room or for the previously human, anything affiliated with the previous regime, which is underway. so this committee is going to try and bring all of those

fractions together, work on the rules of engagement, how these people will come together, and then work on the bigger aspects of a city and societies moving forward on how electrons are going to be held. who will form the constitution? what when it's applied, and what's the role of the city and president of which was under 50 years of your thoughts on the 2 essential figures we used to control everything. will it be the same orville provinces and other institutions have more power and comfortable so far? this is going to be the 1st step towards some of the jobs of the 0 semester. for us senate has voted in favor of tulsa. gabbert is the new director of national intelligence gathered was president trump nominee for the role. she faced tough questioning from politicians that are confirmation hearing. last month, her past came under intense scrutiny, including support for whistleblower, edward snowden, and meeting former president bush. out of a sudden syria in 2017.