Trump Sends Kushner and Witkoff to Moscow and Kyiv With Ukraine Peace Proposal

US President Donald Trump announced a new diplomatic push to end Russia's war against Ukraine. His envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, will travel with a proposal to end the war to both Moscow and Kyiv, Trump said. According to US news outlet Axios, Kushner and Witkoff are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, then travel to Kyiv on Sunday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump did not disclose whether the plan involves territorial concessions by Ukraine to Russia. He stated only: "We have an idea for peace."

UN Votes to Replace Mercator Maps

The UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling on international organizations and states to adopt Equal Earth cartographic projections, which display the true relative sizes of continents. The resolution was supported by 164 member states; six abstained. Only the United States voted against. The proposal was introduced by Togo and the African Union. Most world maps currently in use are based on the Mercator projection, which significantly distorts the sizes of regions — making equatorial countries like parts of Africa appear smaller than they actually are, while northern and southern landmasses such as the US and Antarctica appear larger.

Over 120 Dead in Yemen Fighting

Heavy clashes have been ongoing since Thursday between Houthi forces and government troops in Yemen. More than 120 people have been killed, including at least 66 government fighters, 62 Houthis, and one civilian. The Iranian-backed Houthi militia launched an offensive toward the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, seizing hills near the Red Sea. Their objective is reportedly to cut off the government-held port of Mocha.

EU States Plan Deportation Centers Outside the EU

Germany and four other EU member states — Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, and Greece — announced plans to conclude an agreement with a third country this year to establish deportation centers for rejected asylum seekers outside EU territory. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt made the announcement in Copenhagen, where the five ministers met. Technical talks with potential partner countries are already underway.