Today's Top News Stories
In international news, Russian President Vladimir Putin's 12-point plan demanding Ukraine's surrender reveals a tenacious stance, underscoring Russia's unwillingness to compromise and propelling continued conflict. This maximalist demand comes amidst Ukraine's claim of an underwater bomb attack on the critical Crimean Bridge, illustrating the escalating tensions. Meanwhile, the US grapples with its own domestic issues as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans advocate for stricter work requirements to trim welfare spending, despite concerns about potentially displacing vulnerable individuals. Concurrently, tensions between the US and China surge, with mutual accusations of violating a recent trade truce; both nations exchange grievances over trade practices and economic policies. In a notable legal development, the US Supreme Court is soon to deliberate on two cases with potential to redefine religious liberty, a sign of the court's shifting position towards reinforcing religious free exercise under its current conservative majority.