Tulsi Gabbard: 'Aliens may exist — we will seek the truth.'
US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stated in a podcast that she believes in the possible existence of aliens and noted: 'we will continue to seek the truth.' The comment caused a stir on social media and in the media. Gabbard avoided details but emphasized the openness of the official line to studying UFOs.
"The war may end" — Trump after Vitkov's meeting with Putin.
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that 'everyone agrees — this war must end' after the meeting of his special envoy Stephen Vitkov with Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the White House confirmed that secondary sanctions against Russia will likely come into effect as early as Friday. This creates an international contrast: on one hand — a message of 'progress', on the other — pressure in the form of real sanctions.
Trump plans to meet with Zelensky after contacts with Putin.
After the meeting of the US special envoy Vitkov with Putin, Trump intends to talk with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The leaders will reportedly discuss further steps to end the war, while also considering secondary sanctions against the Russian Federation. The context is diplomatic maneuvers between the US, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine amid escalating tensions in the conflict zone.
Trump plans to meet with Putin — this could change the course of the war in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump plans a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin after the visit of his special representative to the Kremlin. This was a response to reports that Russia is supposedly ready to discuss ending the war under certain conditions. Such a meeting could become a diplomatic breakthrough, but it also creates risks for American allies and Ukraine's position.
The US better understands under what conditions Russia would be ready to end the war after the negotiations between Steve Vitkov and Putin.
"And perhaps for the first time since the beginning of this administration, we have concrete examples of what Russia wants to end the war. There was nothing like this before. Of course, Ukraine has the decisive word," said the Secretary of State.
Rubio emphasized that the next step is to bring closer the positions of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and European allies. It is necessary to 'find a point of contact between what Ukrainians can accept and what Russia demands.'
If a compromise is reached, then there will be an opportunity for a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to conclude this process. The meeting depends on how quickly the negotiations progress. If the positions are not close, the leaders' meeting makes no sense, as there would be no result.
The mayor of Hiroshima called for disarmament amid the crisis in Ukraine and the Middle East.
On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the mayor of the city called on the global community to recognize the 'inhuman' consequences of nuclear war. He compared the current conflicts — in Ukraine and the Middle East — as a reminder of the danger of nuclear escalation. The call was primarily directed at the younger generation — to prevent a repeat of catastrophic history. The words became relevant at a time when global fears, against the backdrop of rising conflicts, approach the nuclear threshold.
NBU: cryptocurrency will not become a means of payment in Ukraine — this is a fundamental boundary that we will not cross.
The head of the National Bank emphasized: no virtual asset has or will have the status of a means of payment in Ukraine.
Trump stated that he will impose a 100 percent tariff on semiconductors.
President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he plans to impose 100 percent tariffs on imported semiconductors worth tens of billions of dollars, used in consumer electronics and other goods, but noted that he would not impose tariffs on companies that commit to producing chips in the US.
Trump stated that companies producing semiconductors in the US will not face tariffs. However, it is not entirely clear whether he meant to exclude chips that these companies import from abroad, or simply noted that chips produced domestically will not face tariffs.
European pharmaceutical companies are losing market value — under pressure from upcoming US tariffs.
Shares of European pharmaceutical companies have fallen to their lowest level in four months. The main reason is a new warning from US President Donald Trump about potential tariffs to stimulate local production. This step threatens to reduce profits for an industry that relies on global supply chains. Investors are forced to reassess their expectations, while companies are developing diversification strategies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of an outbreak of the chikungunya virus in China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of the rapid spread of the chikungunya virus in Guangdong province, China, particularly in the city of Foshan: over 7,000 cases have been recorded since June. The epidemic is also spreading in Bolivia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere. Tourists are advised to exercise increased caution, and local services are releasing fish that eat mosquitoes and disinfect breeding sites.
Russians shelled the Zaporizhia region — a woman was killed.
Russians struck Huliaipole with a multiple rocket launcher; a 62-year-old woman was killed. The attack partially destroyed a private house.
In Dnipro, four people were injured due to a nighttime attack by Russian drones.
A 43-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman are in serious condition in the hospital. Additionally, 12 vehicles were destroyed, and another 17 were damaged.
Russians also damaged 8 residential buildings, and one private home was destroyed. There is destruction on the premises of a transportation enterprise. Drones attacked not only Dnipro but the entire region at night. Fires occurred.