In Former Soviet States, a Tug of War Between East and West

A New York district court judge, Colleen McMahon, issued a preliminary injunction halting the mass cancellation of National Endowment for the Humanities grants to Authors Guild members, citing violations of First Amendment rights. The judge criticized the cancellations for targeting projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, emphasizing that agency discretion cannot violate constitutional rights. Want More Context? 🔎

特朗普总统对联邦储备银行总部的重建成本表达不满，同时却对卡塔尔赠送的波音747-8改装费用保持沉默，该费用可能通过五角大楼的“黑预算”秘密转移。尽管存在利益冲突，特朗普表示这项“免费”赠机决定对纳税人无害，并计划将改装后的“空军一号”在其任期结束后移交给特朗普总统图书馆。 Want More Context? 🔎

川普總統對卡達贈送的波音747-8「空軍一號」的改裝費用表示不滿，該項目需約25億美元，且成本保密。最近的調查顯示，這筆神秘資金可能來自五角大廈的老化核導彈現代化計劃，並計劃在德州的秘密設施進行改裝，以增強飛機的通信和防護系統。 Want More Context? 🔎

An Illinois landlord, Joseph Czuba, convicted of murdering six-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea al-Fayoume in a hate crime, died in custody at age 73 after serving less than three months of his 53-year sentence. Czuba targeted the family due to their Islamic faith, inflicting fatal wounds on the boy and injuring his mother, Hanaan Shaheen, during an attack linked to rising anti-Muslim sentiment amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. Want More Context? 🔎

After intense negotiations, the EU and US have reached a trade deal, facilitated by direct discussions between President Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This agreement, which avoids a potential increase in tariffs, is seen as a victory for both leaders, impacting significant business interests and expected to generate $90 billion in tariff revenue for the US. Want More Context? 🔎

Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Denver to Miami were evacuated after the pilot ordered them to leave due to a fire on board. Chaos ensued as passengers screamed and rushed to exit the plane, with one describing the panic and urgency to escape the burning aircraft. Want More Context? 🔎