🌍 Global Headlines

Trump is selling out Ukraine, but the tide may be turning

• Leaked call shows Trump’s envoy advising Russia, potentially undermining Ukraine’s interests and U.S. credibility in peace negotiations.

• Trump prioritizes any “deal” over Ukraine’s security, separating security guarantees from the peace process and deferring to foreign leaders’ interests.

• Allies and Republicans express concern, with criticism growing as Trump’s approach appears chaotic, self-serving, and increasingly at odds with long-term strategic interests.

Trump says Venezuela airspace should be considered closed

• Trump closed Venezuelan airspace, intensifying military pressure and prompting Venezuela to call the move a hostile and illegal act.

• Airlines had already suspended flights after FAA warnings of “worsening security,” and Venezuela says deportation flights are now halted.

• U.S. operations against alleged drug traffickers are expanding, despite lack of public evidence, and controversy grew after Trump pardoned a former Honduran president convicted of drug crimes.

Russia and China Are Sitting Out Venezuela’s Clash With Trump

• Venezuela’s major allies won’t step in: Russia, China, Iran, Cuba, and Nicaragua can offer words but little real military or economic support as the U.S. increases pressure on Maduro.

• U.S. military actions are escalating: Trump has threatened land strikes after months of U.S. attacks on suspected drug boats, which critics say amount to extrajudicial killings.

• China and Russia are limited by their own problems: China’s weak economy and Russia’s war in Ukraine reduce their ability to help Venezuela, while both are also negotiating important deals with the U.S.

Australian prime minister becomes first to wed in office

• Albanese became the first Australian prime minister to marry while in office, holding a private wedding at his official residence.

• The ceremony included family, close friends, cabinet ministers, and their dog Toto as the ring bearer, with music from Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra.

• The couple will honeymoon domestically, continuing a relationship that began in 2020 and included engagement and re-election milestones.

Vast Russian overnight attack on Ukraine kills three, wounds dozens

• Russian strikes hit Ukraine’s power grid, killing 3, wounding nearly 30, and cutting power to over 600,000 homes—more than 500,000 in Kyiv alone.

• Zelenskiy reported 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones used in one of the war’s largest bombardments, worsening ongoing blackouts and infrastructure damage.

• Peace talk efforts led by the U.S. face obstacles, as Ukraine refuses to surrender held territory or limit future alliance options, despite ongoing attacks.

White House launches website to excoriate media for ‘biased’ stories

• The White House debuted a website section cataloging and condemning news outlets for alleged bias, including a ranked leaderboard and a searchable database of journalists.

• The initiative escalates Trump’s longstanding conflict with the media, following lawsuits, settlements, and frequent accusations of “fake news” and “enemy of the people.”

• Trump has recently intensified personal attacks on female journalists, insulting reporters from Bloomberg, ABC News, and the New York Times after critical questioning or reporting.