World

A French court has found Air France and Airbus guilty of criminal negligence in the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which killed all 228 people aboard. The disaster was one of the deadliest in Atlantic aviation history, when an A330 aircraft crashed en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The court’s ruling means both companies will face criminal liability, which is rare in aviation accident cases. Source: BBC World ...

Donald Trump has said he will speak with Taiwan’s president, a move that breaks from longstanding U.S. diplomatic protocol. The announcement comes as the U.S. weighs whether to proceed with a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. China has consistently upheld its one-China principle and opposes any form of official engagement with Taiwan. The statement could further heighten tensions in U.S.-China relations. Source: BBC World

Iran has published a new map claiming “armed forces oversight” across more than 22,000 square kilometers of the Strait of Hormuz waterway, marking Tehran’s latest public assertion of jurisdiction over the strategic passage. The strait is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, with roughly a fifth of global petroleum transiting through it. The move is seen as a further strengthening of Iran’s regional control claims and could spark new friction with the U.S. and Gulf states. ...

Colorado Democrats have formally censured Governor Jared Polis over his decision to commute the sentence of Tina Peters, a former county elections official. Peters was convicted for her role in a 2021 voting machine data breach in Mesa County, Colorado. Polis’s commutation sparked a fierce backlash within the Democratic Party, with the state party passing a formal censure resolution. The incident highlights divisions within the party over election security and judicial matters at the state level. ...

After four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has made significant advances in air defense, deploying a combination of AI technology and interceptor systems to counter drone attacks. Ukrainian military officials say their air defense has evolved from reactive measures to a multi-layered integrated system. AI is being used for target identification and threat assessment, improving interception rates. Analysts note that Ukraine’s drone defense experience is reshaping global air defense strategies, with multiple nations studying tactical data accumulated during the conflict. ...

According to CBS News, the US intelligence community is analyzing how Cuba might respond to potential US military action. This assessment runs parallel to the criminal indictment of Raul Castro, indicating a multi-dimensional escalation of Washington’s pressure on Havana. Analysts note that Cuba’s military retains certain capabilities in the Caribbean region, and any military friction could trigger regional tensions. Source: CBS News

US Indicts Former Cuban Leader Raul Castro on Murder Charges The US Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro, including counts of murder and conspiracy, directly tied to the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft by the Cuban Air Force. This marks the first time the United States has brought such criminal charges against a former top Cuban leader. On February 24, 1996, Cuban Air Force MiG-29 fighters shot down two light aircraft operated by the Cuban exile group Brothers to the Rescue over the Straits of Florida, killing all four crew members aboard. ...

IRS Drops Trump Tax Audits as Part of Settlement The Internal Revenue Service will drop its audits of Donald Trump and his family, according to The New York Times. This development comes as the latest term in a settlement agreement between the Trump administration and the Justice Department, which bars the IRS from investigating Trump and his family over past tax issues. Settlement Details: New settlement terms explicitly bar the IRS from investigating Trump and his family on past tax matters The Justice Department expanded the settlement to cover his tax audits Trump has also set up a $1.8 billion legal fund to compensate his allies Controversy: ...

Senate Takes Historic Step on Iran War Powers The US Senate has advanced a resolution to limit President Trump’s military action authority against Iran, marking the first time the chamber has moved on such a measure. Four Republican senators broke ranks to support the resolution, highlighting growing intra-party divisions over Iran policy. Key Developments: The Senate voted to take up legislation that would force Trump to end military operations in Iran Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy flipped to support the measure This is the first attempt by Congress to legislatively constrain presidential war powers regarding Iran Political Significance: ...

Massie Falls in Kentucky GOP Primary Trump-backed candidate Ed Gallrein has defeated incumbent Representative Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Republican House primary. Massie was a well-known “rebel” within the Republican Party who frequently opposed Trump’s agenda. Election Results: Navy veteran Gallrein defeated long-serving Representative Massie in a heated primary This marks another victory in Trump’s “revenge” campaign against Republicans who opposed him Meanwhile, Andy Barr won the Kentucky Senate Republican primary to compete for McConnell’s vacated seat Political Impact: ...