President Trump has announced plans to send additional weapons to Ukraine and threatened Russia with sanctions unless a peace deal is reached[1]. Several NATO allies are set to purchase U.S.-made weapons, including Patriot air defense missile systems, to support Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia[3].
In disaster news, at least three people were killed and four more trapped during flash floods in Ruidoso, New Mexico, with 85 others rescued[3]. Separately, ten fatalities and multiple injuries occurred after a fire and explosion caused eight rooms to collapse at a fireworks factory in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India[3].
On the environmental front, a report highlights that while global emissions continue to rise, member cities of the C40 network have achieved a 7.5 percent decrease in per capita emissions from 2015 to 2024, outpacing the progress of their respective national governments[5]. Meanwhile, the European Union is pursuing a 90% cut in emissions by 2040, but its new policy allowing for carbon offset purchases from other countries has drawn criticism from green groups questioning the effectiveness of such measures[5].
In the United States, Baltimore’s Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative is moving forward with wetlands restoration despite losing $32 million in federal grant funding, thanks to state, local, and private replacements for much of the shortfall[5].