Global tensions rise as Ukraine gains support, the White House restricts press, UK debates aid cuts, Taiwan catches China red-handed, and Israel continues to clash in Syria.

Good Morning,

In recent global developments, Ukraine has received international support, with countries expressing solidarity despite the UN's neutral stance on the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, the White House's decision to control press access marks a significant shift from long-standing traditions. In the UK, David Lammy addresses the difficult decisions surrounding foreign aid, emphasizing the need to balance international support with national security.

Top Stories

• Countries tell Ukraine 'you are not alone' after UN adopts neutral stance on war (www.reuters.com)

• The White House is now deciding who can cover the president, reversing decades of precedent (www.cnn.com)

• This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid – but we have to make cuts. We must keep the UK safe | David Lammy (www.theguardian.com)

• Ukraine has agreed on terms of minerals deal with US, says senior official (www.straitstimes.com)

United States

• Patagonia CEO speaks out against Trump plan to sell public lands to highest bidders (time.com)

• 21 employees resign from DOGE, refusing to 'dismantle critical public services' (apnews.com)

• The White House is now deciding who can cover the president, reversing decades of precedent (www.cnn.com)

• Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings (apnews.com)

• ‘He believes he is the law’: anti-Maga conservatives view Trump as threat to constitution (www.theguardian.com)

• Trump allies circulate mass deportation plan calling for ‘processing camps’ and a private citizen ‘army’ (www.politico.com)

Africa

• UK suspends some financial aid to Rwanda over violence in eastern Congo as rebels dig in (apnews.com)

• 9 Killed, Hundreds of Homes Burned Down in Central African Republic Attack (usnews.com)

• The main ingredients in Sierra Leone’s kush are synthetic opioids and cannabinoids, report finds (apnews.com)

• Lagos Assembly Union demands immediate release of detained staff (vanguardngr.co)

Middle East

•  6 babies have frozen to death in Gaza as displaced people shelter in tents: Medics (abcnews.com)

• Israeli warplanes strike south of Damascus (reuters.com)

• Netanyahu says Israel will stay in southern Syria ‘for foreseeable future’ (aa.com)

Indo-Pacific

• An Elevated Part of a Highway Being Built in South Korea Collapses, Killing 4 Workers (apnews.com)

• Bangladesh and Pakistan Resume Direct Trade After More than 50 Years (www.reuters.com)

• New Indonesia Sovereign Wealth Fund to Invest $20 Billion in Projects (www.reuters.com)

• A Billion Indians have no spending money - report (www.bbc.com)

• Crypto trading booms in India's smaller cities as job growth and incomes disappoint (www.reuters.com)

• Taiwan catches Chinese-owned ship in act of cutting subsea cable (www.ft.com)

• Huawei improves AI chip production in boost for China’s tech goals (www.ft.com)

Europe

• This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid – but we have to make cuts. We must keep the UK safe | David Lammy (www.theguardian.com)

• Starmer to make surprise announcement on ‘defence and security’ in Commons, ahead of meeting with Trump (Live article) (www.theguardian.com)

• Ukraine has agreed on terms of minerals deal with US, says senior official (www.straitstimes.com)

• It’s grand theft AI and UK ministers are behind it. (www.theguardian.com)

• German parliament in race against time to sign off on new defence fund | Germany (www.theguardian.com)

South America

• Argentina’s Milei skirts Congress to seat a divisive judge in the Supreme Court (apnews.com)

• Brazil unveils dengue fever vaccine as health minister’s future in question (valorinternational)

• Colombian Man arrested trying to smuggle cocaine under toupee (bbc.com)

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