Trump is taking a hammer to traditional pillars of soft power

An alligator attacked and killed 61-year-old Cynthia Diekema while she was canoeing with her husband on Lake Kissimmee, Florida. The incident occurred when their canoe drifted over the alligator, causing it to tip over and throw both individuals into the water, where Diekema was bitten. Following the attack, two large alligators were captured in the area, and while authorities continue to investigate, they believe the incident was not predatory, emphasizing the importance of being cautious...

Summary US Special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will brief the UN Security Council on Washington's Gaza policy, focusing on a new aid plan proposed by the US and Israel, which involves private US security contractors delivering aid. The plan has been rejected by the UN and aid groups for violating humanitarian principles, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasizing the need for unimpeded access. The briefing precedes Trump's Middle East tour, aimed at garnering support...

Sudan's army reported that its anti-aircraft systems intercepted drones targeting the naval base in Port Sudan, amidst ongoing assaults by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that have damaged crucial infrastructure. This marks a shift in the conflict, which began in April 2023, as Port Sudan had previously remained relatively calm, serving as the army's stronghold after the RSF advanced through Khartoum. The situation has drawn international concern, particularly regarding accusations against the UAE for supporting...

The Pentagon is shifting its focus under the Trump administration, urging the UK military to concentrate more on Europe and less on Asia, contrasting with the Biden administration's strategy of enhancing European presence in the Indo-Pacific to counter China. Elbridge Colby, the US under-secretary of defense for policy, expressed concerns about the UK's HMS Prince of Wales deployment to the Indo-Pacific, advocating for European nations to prioritize regional security, particularly in light of the Ukraine...

SummaryThree former Memphis police officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, were acquitted of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, after a traffic stop in 2023. The jury's verdict came after a nine-day trial, despite the officers facing federal charges from a previous conviction. Nichols died from blunt force trauma following excessive force used by the officers during the arrest, leading to nationwide protests...

Summary Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers are on trial for allegedly cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree and damaging Hadrian's Wall in September 2023, charges they deny, claiming they were at home that night. Prosecutor Richard Wright described the act as "mindless thuggery," emphasizing the public outrage over the loss of the iconic tree, valued at £622,191. Defense attorneys argued that Graham named Carruthers to deflect blame, asserting that Carruthers was not present at the...