Joe Biden hailed a “genuine opportunity to make progress” and Palestinians celebrated in the streets as an Israel-Gaza ceasefire was declared following 11 days of attacks. In a televised address last night, the US president promised to continue “our quiet and relentless diplomacy” and said: “I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress.”02:24 Biden hails Gaza ceasefire as a 'genuine opportunity to make progress' – videoWhat’s next? Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty ImagesJoe Biden condemned the “ugly poison” of racism as he signed the anti-Asian American hate crimes bill into law yesterday. … or this: “Almost everybody who finds themselves in a situation like Duran Duran sort of sabotages themselves”Forty years on from their debut album, Duran Duran talk to Laura Barton about their new LP as well as their wild heyday, ageing and vaccines. Asked whether the US had ruled out plans to buy Greenland, he said with a smile: “I can confirm that’s correct.”Sign upSign up for the US morning briefingFirst Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday.

Source: The Guardian May 21, 2021 10:07 UTC