🇺🇸 Trump has named Katie Zacharia as his NEW WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, replacing Karoline Leavitt. Zacharia comes from Truth Social, where she serves as a senior communications adviser, and previously worked in public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. She's also a lawyer, a Fox News and Newsmax commentator, and worked on Trump's presidential campaigns. Trump made a point of praising her loyalty, calling her a brilliant supporter who has stood with him from the beginning. He also thanked Leavitt for doing a “fantastic job,” without explaining why she's leaving. It's an interesting appointment. Trump is bringing someone from his own media company into one of the most visible communications jobs in Washington. Writer: Oliver

🇺🇸 Democrats are setting their sights on impeaching Pete Hegseth instead of Trump this time. They're not too keen on impeaching Trump for a third time, but if they win the House, Hegseth could be in trouble. The Iran war is a big reason why. Rep. Melanie Stansbury wants him removed, calling him a “dangerous war criminal” over how he's handled it. And it's not just Democrats going after him. Republican Thomas Massie has already filed a resolution to remove Hegseth, accusing him of breaking Congress' war powers and carrying out unlawful killings. For Democrats, going after Hegseth could be a way to take on Trump's administration without another messy impeachment fight with Trump himself. The Pentagon is standing by Hegseth, and Trump doesn't seem eager to let him go either. Source: Semafor / Writer: Daniyal

🇪🇺🇨🇳 Europe wants the power to strike back on TRADE within days... France and Germany are pushing for a new EU rapid-response tool against countries accused of distorting global markets through subsidies, dumping or other economic measures. No country is explicitly targeted, but China is clearly at the center of the debate, with chemicals, plastics and hybrid vehicles among the sectors raising concern. The proposal would also make it easier for Brussels to launch countermeasures, unless a qualified majority of EU governments blocked them. Paris and Berlin say the era of European “naivete on trade” needs to end. Source: Reuters / Writer: Samuel

🇩🇪🇺🇦Moscow delivers a brutal greeting as Merz arrives in Kyiv The German chancellor made a surprise visit to tell Ukraine "You can rely on us" and to promise more air defence. Soon after he arrived the sirens sounded and a drone hit the Northern Bridge for the second day in a row. The blast also damaged a heating main and cut hot water to a district in the northeast. Merz warned that if Russia isn't stopped, "its war machine will sooner or later turn against us” Germany is reportedly going to back up support with a $1 billion military package. Source: Reuters / Writer: Bri

🇮🇳 Female journalists filming a crackdown became targets the second their cameras exposed police aggression. Three reporters say police groped them and tried to bury their complaints during demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. Crowds were demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign over alleged voter roll manipulation. When three women went to file a criminal complaint, police refused an immediate FIR. Instead they passed the case off to their own Crime Branch for a ‘impartial’ internal review. This is the grim reality for female journalists operating in New India. Source NDTV / Writer: Bri

🚨🇯🇵🇺🇸 BREAKING: U.S. Embassy in Tokyo reports “U.S. service member in custody following the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa.” News outlets are reporting that Devin Jacob Ballard, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine, was arrested in Okinawa on suspicion of robbing and murdering 39-year-old Japanese woman Anna Yagi in a Naha hotel. No other information has been released. Source: U.S. Embassy Tokyo, Reuters / Writer: Jamie

🚨🇺🇸 Trump just dangled a National Space Academy in front of Ohio, and the price tag is a midterm win “We will be establishing a brand new U.S. National Space Academy... I have no doubt that as the birthplace of aviation and the home of the Wright brothers, if we win the midterms, Ohio will be very, very strongly considered for this unbelievable academy." Don’t forget… $5000 bonus for every adult if Republicans win the midterms! Bring friends! Writer: Jamie, Daniel

🇺🇸🇨🇺🇲🇽 The U.S. campaign to choke off Cuba's fuel supply just moved from sanctions lists to the Caribbean Sea. The Coast Guard says it has completed the interdiction of the M/V Grace after confirming the vessel was trafficking fuel to Cuba. But the more interesting part is who helped stop it: Mexico. According to the Coast Guard, U.S. and Mexican authorities coordinated to prevent the fuel transfer. The vessel allegedly used deceptive shipping practices and concealed its cargo, while authorities also identified unsafe conditions aboard. That makes this more than another tanker getting sanctioned after delivering its cargo. Washington and Mexico just demonstrated that Cuba-bound fuel shipments can be disrupted before the fuel ever reaches Cuba. Source: US Coast Guard News / Writer: Oliver