VERIFIED TRUE
The FTSE 100 rose about 1.2% on Wednesday, with banks and miners leading gains as the dollar weakened after Democrats swept the US midterms.
FTSE 100 climbs 1% on banks, miners boost https://t.co/NfgAHWOqf2
VERIFIED TRUE
News
The World
with Bella & Brian
Oncast News · The World
European peacekeepers allowed to fire back in Ukraine
· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.
Democrats swept the US midterm elections, triggering a market rally. The FTSE 100 rose 1.2% to around 10,767, sterling hit a seven-week high against the dollar, and gold breached $4,000 an ounce as the dollar and US Treasury yields fell. US markets opened higher with the Nasdaq, Dow and S&P 500 all up.
The Democratic sweep weakened the dollar and lowered Treasury yields, boosting gold and precious metals miners. Banks rallied ahead of an expected rate hike, which would increase net interest income. The weaker dollar also lifted commodity prices, helping miners like Fresnillo, Endeavour, Anglo American and Antofagasta.
The FTSE 100 rose about 1.2% on Wednesday, with banks and miners leading gains as the dollar weakened after Democrats swept the US midterms.
The Guardian reported that British and other European troops in a proposed post-ceasefire Ukraine force would be allowed to return fire if attacked by Russian forces, and the Anglo-French-led force would not rely on US systems such as Starlink.
There is no evidence Zelensky violated a ceasefire this morning. Reporting indicates the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire, so no ceasefire was in place to violate. The claim that Putin is negotiating peace while Zelensky and NATO want war to continue is not supported by current reporting.
Reporting indicates Zelensky has reiterated willingness for a complete or partial ceasefire, including moratoriums on energy infrastructure or Black Sea strikes, while the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire.
US markets rose as Democrats swept the midterm elections, with the dollar falling and Treasury yields dropping.
Fact-check
VERIFIED TRUE
The Guardian reported that British and other European troops in a proposed post-ceasefire Ukraine force would be allowed to return fire if attacked by Russian forces, and the Anglo-French-led force would not rely on US systems such as Starlink.
The Guardian: British troops and their European allies would be allowed to fire back if attacked by Russians when potentially stationed as peacekeepers in Ukraine after a ceasefire, western officials said. The Anglo-French led stabilisation force would also not rely on US systems
VERIFIED FALSE
There is no evidence Zelensky violated a ceasefire this morning. Reporting indicates the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire, so no ceasefire was in place to violate. The claim that Putin is negotiating peace while Zelensky and NATO want war to continue is not supported by current reporting.
Ironically, Putin is trying to negotiate peace. Zelensky just violated the ceasefire this morning. Him and NATO wants this war to continue. Precious data and military innovation are collected every day. Like Russia weakens, every day. Win - Win situation. What does the lives http
VERIFIED TRUE
Reporting indicates Zelensky has reiterated willingness for a complete or partial ceasefire, including moratoriums on energy infrastructure or Black Sea strikes, while the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire.
Key Takeaways Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his willingness for a complete or partial ceasefire, including moratoriums on strikes against energy infrastructure or the Black Sea, but the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire. The Kremlin’s current
Institute for the Study of War-style takeaways (consistent with reporting)
VERIFIED TRUE
US markets rose as Democrats swept the midterm elections, with the dollar falling and Treasury yields dropping.
US markets rise as Democrats sweep midterm elections - Nasdaq, Dow, and S&P 500 open higher after Democrats take control and Trump accepts results.
Sources
- VERIFIED TRUE Reuters via lufkindailynews.com NAMES: FTSE 100 = the main UK stock index of the 100 largest London-listed companies.
- VERIFIED TRUE The Guardian via united24media.com NAMES: Starlink = SpaceX's satellite internet system used by Ukraine's military.
- VERIFIED FALSE Multiple reports indicate Kremlin rejects ceasefire
- VERIFIED TRUE Institute for the Study of War-style takeaways (consistent with reporting)
- VERIFIED TRUE Al Jazeera, sharecast.com
What the hosts said
BAlexport posted the Guardian piece: British troops in a Ukraine peacekeeping force would be allowed to fire back if attacked—and they wouldn't be leaning on American systems to do it.
BThat's a big shift. Europe saying it can handle its own security.
BThe Anglo-French force would not rely on US systems like Starlink. After all the drama over that connection, maybe they've learned.
BOr they're bluffing. No Starlink? No American intelligence? Good luck holding a ceasefire.
BIt's not about luck, Brian. It's about rules of engagement that let troops defend themselves. If Russia attacks, they respond. That's the whole point of a stabilization force.
BAnd who exactly is providing air cover? Who's jamming Russian drones? Last time I checked, most of that was American.
BThe report says European allies are stepping up. Maybe it's time they did. Washington has made clear it's not the world's policeman anymore.
BThat sounds noble until the first British soldier gets hit. Then half of Parliament will be asking why we're there without NATO's Article 5.
BBut they're not there to fight Russia—they're there to keep a peace that both sides have to agree to. Zelensky just repeated he's ready for a full or partial ceasefire.
BAnd the Kremlin keeps saying no. So what exactly are these peacekeepers going to be doing? Sitting in the middle while Moscow keeps shelling?
BThe rules say they fire back if attacked. That's supposed to deter Moscow from testing them.
BDeterrence only works if the other side believes you'll actually do it, and that you have the capability. A handful of European battalions without American logistics is a tripwire, not a deterrent.
BA tripwire can still be effective. It changes the calculus. If Russia hits them, they're hitting British and French troops, not just Ukrainians.
BSo we're using European soldiers as human shields for a ceasefire the Kremlin hasn't even accepted. Fantastic.
BOmar Fundora pointed out that Zelensky has offered a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure or the Black Sea. That's not nothing. The ball is in Moscow's court.
BAnd Moscow has rejected it every time. You know who else says the same thing? A user named Kevin on X claims Zelensky violated a ceasefire this morning. Total nonsense.
BRight, because there is no ceasefire to violate. The Kremlin hasn't agreed to one. We checked: no evidence of any violation.
BExactly. So people are inventing a ceasefire to blame Ukraine for breaking it. Meanwhile, Conflict News Fella on X claims Russia launched over 70 cruise missiles at energy infrastructure overnight. We can't confirm that.
BWhat we do know is the pattern of Russian strikes on power grids has continued. So you have one side offering to stop hitting energy targets, the other side still refusing any pause, and Europe talking about sending troops into a war zone without American backup.
BI think the European plan is a serious step, but it only works if there's an actual ceasefire to police. Right now, there isn't.
BAnd that's my whole point. You don't send peacekeepers until there's peace. You don't announce they'll fire back unless you're ready for a shooting war with Russia.
BMaybe the announcement is the point. Tell Moscow: if you attack the force, you're attacking NATO countries by name. That's a stronger message than anything Biden or Trump has sent lately.
BBut they're not under NATO Article 5! This is a coalition of the willing, and the Russians know that.
BThen Britain and France are betting their credibility. If they let their troops get hit without response, they're finished. If they respond, it's a wider war. That's a hell of a bet.
BExactly. So either European leaders are bluffing, or they're sleepwalking into a direct confrontation. Neither is good.
BOr they're calculating that Putin won't risk hitting Western troops because he can't afford a two-front conflict. The man is already struggling in Ukraine.
BHe's not struggling enough to accept a ceasefire. That's the reality.
BSo we're back to where we started: Zelensky offers, Putin refuses, and Europe is planning for a peace that may never come.
BAnd if it does come, those peacekeepers better have more than permission to shoot back. They need American logistics, American satellite intel, and American political will. None of which is guaranteed.
BMaybe that's exactly why they're preparing to do it themselves. Necessity is a good teacher.
BLet's hope the lesson doesn't come in body bags.
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