Trump to Swear In Kevin Warsh as New Federal Reserve Chair Amid Inflation Concerns 
Iran Pushes Nationalist Propaganda as Economic Crisis and War Deepen 
China to Buy 200 Boeing Jets, Push for Extended U.S. Trade Deal 
U.S. Sanctions Tanzanian Police Official Over Human Rights Violations 
Greenland Protesters Rally Against Expanded U.S. Consulate Amid Trump Arctic Ambitions 
Trump Announces 5,000 Additional U.S. Troops to Poland Following Nawrocki Election Victory 
DHS Threatens to Halt International Airport Processing in Sanctuary Cities 
UN Backs ICJ Climate Ruling Despite U.S. Opposition 
NIH Infectious Disease Leadership Shake-Up Raises Concerns Amid Ebola, Hantavirus Outbreaks 
US Expands Criminal Investigation Into Nicolas Maduro With New Florida Probe 
Trump Warns Iran of Renewed Action as Nuclear Deal Talks Stall 
Raul Castro Indicted by U.S.: Cuba’s Revolutionary Leader Faces Renewed Scrutiny in 2026 
Oil Tankers Exit Strait of Hormuz as Trump Signals Possible Iran Deal 
U.S. Removes Francesca Albanese From Sanctions List After Court Ruling 
Sheinbaum Warns Morena Officials to Resign Over Corruption Allegations Amid U.S. Pressure 
House Republicans Delay Vote on Iran War Powers Resolution Amid Growing Congressional Debate 
As the war in Ukraine continues, Kyiv is now looking to secure US-made F-16 fighter jets following its success in acquiring battle tanks. A top Ukrainian air commander said the F-16 jets are more effective than Soviet-era fighter planes.
On Thursday, Ukrainian Air Force senior commander Serhiy Holubtsov reiterated the importance of Kyiv securing F-16 jets. Holubtsov said that while allies were able to provide Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter aircraft, hailing such donation as “an important step,” the fighter planes did not fully meet the needs of Ukrainian forces. Poland and Slovakia recently provided MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as Kyiv gears up for an upcoming offensive.
“The F-16 is a fighter jet that has become a multirole aircraft which can fulfill the entire spectrum of airborne attacks. The MiG-29 unfortunately, is from the last century,” said Holubtsov on national television, noting that the MiG-29 jets given by the country’s allies were better than nothing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Poland on Wednesday, saying that he believed Warsaw would take a leading role in forming a “coalition” of Western countries that could provide Ukraine with warplanes. Poland helped shore up support for battle tanks. Warsaw also pledged 10 additional MiG-29 planes on top of the four existing jets provided to Kyiv.
Any coalition of F-16 donors would now rely on the backing of the United States. Washington has so far ruled out sending F-16 jets to Kyiv for now, and US officials have estimated the time needed for training pilots and delivery at 18 months. While Holubtsov said that it was possible that foreign pilots could fly Ukrainian jets, the top commander said they would only be useful when flying aircraft that they have already been trained to use.
Meanwhile, during a visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron said he is hoping Chinese President Xi Jinping could “bring Russia to its senses” over Ukraine. Macron is visiting Beijing with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, where he made clear that he is looking to get China not to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
“I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table,” said Macron during a bilateral meeting with Xi.
