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A new Pew Research poll shows that China is viewed more favorably than the United States in 27 out of 36 countries surveyed. President Donald Trump’s global trust rating is lower than both Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden.
Key Facts
The survey covered 36 countries and over 42,000 people from February to May 2026.
China is preferred to the U.S. by major U.S. allies like Germany, Turkey, and Sweden.
Mexico and Canada favor China over the United States, by 59% to 40% and 44% to 33%, respectively.
Only six countries strongly favor the United States: Japan, South Korea, India, the Philippines, Israel, and Poland.
Confidence that President Trump will "do the right thing regarding world affairs" dropped from 31% to 21%.
Confidence in Xi Jinping rose from 25% to 31%.
Trump’s favorability rating is 16 percentage points below President Biden’s lowest rating from 2024.
The poll reflects shifting global opinions with declining views on the U.S. and improved views on China.
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John Harold Rogers, a former senior adviser at the Federal Reserve, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for lying to investigators about sharing sensitive information with Chinese spies. He was arrested last year on charges including conspiracy to commit economic espionage.
Key Facts
John Harold Rogers worked as a senior adviser at the Federal Reserve.
He was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison.
Rogers lied to investigators about giving sensitive central bank information to Chinese spies.
He was arrested last year.
Charges against him included conspiracy to commit economic espionage, which means working secretly to steal economic secrets.
The Justice Department made the sentencing announcement.
The sensitive information related to central banking and financial matters.
The case involved concerns about national security and foreign spying.
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The New York Times asked a court to cancel subpoenas given to its journalists. These subpoenas came from the Justice Department about stories on security issues with a new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar. This request sets up a court battle between press freedom and the government’s power to make reporters reveal their sources.
Key Facts
The New York Times filed a motion to quash subpoenas served on its journalists.
The subpoenas were issued by the U.S. Justice Department.
The subpoenas relate to reporting on security concerns about a new Air Force One plane.
The new Air Force One was gifted by Qatar.
David McCraw, a top lawyer at The Times, said the subpoenas were meant to punish the newspaper.
The case raises questions about the balance between press freedom and government authority.
The dispute will likely lead to a court fight over journalists’ rights to protect their sources.
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Gabriel Perez, who operates President Donald Trump's teleprompter, is under investigation for making over $100,000 betting on the content of Trump's speeches. Federal regulators from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are discussing a settlement with Perez after suspicious betting activity was reported by the prediction market Kalshi.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez has operated President Trump's teleprompter since 2016.
Perez allegedly made more than $100,000 by betting on Trump's speeches using insider knowledge.
Betting occurred on Kalshi’s "Mentions" market, where people bet on whether specific words or topics appear in public speeches.
Kalshi reported the suspicious bets to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Perez is cooperating with federal regulators and is currently in settlement talks.
The White House reminded staff not to use private information for betting after these incidents.
Perez has been involved in controlling and editing many of Trump's prepared speeches, including some with last-minute changes by the president.
President Trump often speaks off-script, making it harder to predict his exact words.
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Jay Clayton, chosen by President Donald Trump to be director of national intelligence, would not say who won the 2020 presidential election during his confirmation hearing. President Trump is expected to give a speech on Thursday night.
Key Facts
Jay Clayton is President Trump's pick for director of national intelligence (DNI).
During his confirmation hearing, Clayton refused to say who won the 2020 presidential election.
The confirmation hearing is a process where nominees answer questions before being approved.
President Trump is scheduled to deliver a primetime speech on Thursday night.
The refusal to answer questions about the election results was noted by CBS News.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) says the Ebola virus is spreading faster in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) than in any previous outbreak. In just two months, there have been over 2,000 confirmed cases and 796 deaths, with the virus present in several provinces and neighboring Uganda.
Key Facts
The current Ebola outbreak in DRC began on May 15, 2026.
More than 2,000 Ebola cases and 796 deaths have been confirmed.
This is the third-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
The outbreak spread to five provinces in DRC and to Uganda.
The virus strain causing this outbreak is Bundibugyo, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.
The outbreak is occurring in an area with active armed conflict, complicating response efforts.
Over 80% of new cases are found outside known contact lists, meaning many infections are not traced.
About two-thirds of deaths occur in communities among people who did not receive medical care in health facilities.
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Daily smoking rates in Australia have dropped to a historic low of 5.6% in 2025, surpassing national targets. However, more smokers are turning to illegal tobacco, even as vaping use has leveled off and overall nicotine use is declining.
Key Facts
Daily smoking among Australians aged 14 and over fell from 8.3% in 2022-23 to 5.6% in 2025.
The government aimed to reduce smoking to under 10% by 2025 and now targets 5% or less by 2030.
Over two-thirds of Australians 14+ have never smoked, a historic high.
34% of smokers reported recently using illicit tobacco, up from 16.7% in 2022-23.
About 22% bought branded illegal tobacco without health warnings; 1 in 6 smoke unbranded loose tobacco.
More than half of those buying illicit tobacco got it from tobacconists.
Overall nicotine use (from smoking, vaping, and cessation products) fell from 17.4% to 15.2%.
Experts say tackling illicit tobacco needs stronger law enforcement, not lower taxes on legal cigarettes.
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A man paralysed from the chest down has regained the ability to move his arms and feel touch through a brain implant that bypasses his spinal cord injury. The implant connects his brain to his arms and sends touch sensations back to his brain, helping him feed himself and feel objects.
Key Facts
Keith Thomas became paralysed after a swimming accident in 2020.
Researchers implanted electrodes in his brain to detect movement signals.
The system sends signals from the brain to his arms and hands to move them.
Sensors on his fingers and hand send touch signals back to his brain.
After training, Thomas regained partial arm strength and touch sensation.
He can now feed himself, scratch his nose, and feel his sister’s hand and his dog’s fur.
The technology partly rewires the nervous system to keep some function even when turned off.
More trials are needed to test the system with other patients and spinal injuries.
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Scientists say the El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean could become the strongest ever recorded. This event may cause very hot and dry weather in parts of the world and could help make 2027 the hottest year on record.
Key Facts
El Niño is a natural climate pattern where ocean temperatures in the Pacific rise above normal.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says this El Niño could be the strongest ever seen.
The peak temperature in the Niño 3.4 region might reach over +3°C, higher than the previous record of +2.6°C in 1983.
A strong El Niño usually causes hotter, drier weather in southern and eastern Australia during winter and spring.
Globally, El Niño can cause severe storms in some areas and droughts in others.
Experts warn this event could help make 2027 the hottest year worldwide.
Many Australian cities like Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne have a high chance of extreme heat and low rainfall from August to October 2026.
Scientists link the stronger El Niño to rising ocean heat caused by climate change.
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The article discusses that decisions about immigrants’ legal status should focus on what benefits the United States. It suggests that legalization can be flexible and does not have to be an all-or-nothing choice.
Key Facts
The article focuses on how immigrant legal status decisions should serve U.S. interests.
It argues that legalization does not need to be absolute or complete for all immigrants.
The author encourages looking at immigration in a practical way that benefits the country.
The article implies that immigration policies should align with America’s needs.
It does not support mixing immigration policy with political opinions.
The discussion centers on the legal status of immigrants already in the U.S.
The article calls for clear priorities in immigration policy focused on national benefit.
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President Donald Trump has threatened military strikes on Iranian infrastructure, which may lead Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen to block the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key shipping route near the Red Sea. Closing this strait, along with the already closed Strait of Hormuz, could seriously disrupt global oil shipments and raise energy prices.
Key Facts
President Trump warned he might strike Iranian power plants and bridges to pressure Iran in negotiations.
Iran’s allied Houthi militants in Yemen are prepared to attack ships in the Bab al-Mandeb strait using missiles and drones.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
Closing this strait would block a major oil export route, adding to the disruption caused by the closed Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis recently resumed missile attacks on Saudi Arabia after a truce ended following Saudi strikes in Yemen.
The U.S. recently launched strikes on Iranian military sites aimed at reducing threats to ships passing through these waterways.
Saudi Arabia has rerouted much of its oil exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, making the area critical for oil markets.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Yemen controls the decision to close the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
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Wildfire smoke is covering some areas of the U.S. this week, causing the air to look hazy and smell smoky. Many people want to stop their homes and cars from smelling like smoke.
Key Facts
Wildfires are creating smoke that is affecting parts of the United States.
The smoke causes the air to become hazy and carry a smoky smell.
Smoke smells can get inside homes and cars.
There are features or methods people can try to reduce smoke smells indoors.
Keeping smoke smells out helps improve comfort and air quality in living spaces.
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A Ukrainian businessman, Vadym Iermolaiev, who survived a bombing attack in Monaco, has accused Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as GUR, of organizing the attempt on his life. French investigators identified the bomber and Ukrainian authorities have arrested suspects, including a GUR officer, in connection with the incident and a related murder.
Key Facts
Vadym Iermolaiev survived a bomb attack in Monaco that injured him and critically wounded his partner.
Iermolaiev publicly accused serving and former officers of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency of planning the attack.
The bomber was identified as Anastasiia Berezovska, a Ukrainian national, who died near Kyiv days after the bombing.
Two suspects, Vladyslav Reut (a GUR officer) and Oleksandr Zhykovych (former law enforcement), were arrested in connection with Berezovska’s death.
Ukrainian prosecutors claim the bombing was the act of a rogue intelligence officer acting without agency approval.
Iermolaiev disputes this, saying evidence points to a wider conspiracy within GUR, including its leadership.
The attack severely injured Iermolaiev’s family, with his partner suffering catastrophic injuries and their child seriously harmed.
The case creates political challenges for Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and may affect Ukraine’s relations with European countries.
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Canada is facing very bad air quality because of smoke from over 800 active wildfires, with more than 100 of them out of control. The smoke is causing health warnings in cities like Toronto and may spread to the northeastern United States, potentially affecting events such as the World Cup final in New Jersey.
Key Facts
Canada currently has 835 active wildfires.
Among these, 112 wildfires are considered out of control.
Smoke from the wildfires has made the air quality hazardous, especially in Toronto.
Toronto residents have been advised to stay indoors if possible.
U.S. officials worry that the smoke could reach the northeastern U.S.
The smoke might impact the World Cup final scheduled in New Jersey.
Wildfires and their smoke are a major cause of pollution and health risks in the region.
The situation is ongoing as wildfires continue to burn across Canada.
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China is introducing rules to stop people from forming relationships with AI chatbots. Officials are worried that these AI relationships could cause addiction, mental health problems, and contribute to fewer babies being born.
Key Facts
China is banning romantic or close relationships with AI chatbots.
This move is to address China’s declining birthrate.
Officials are concerned about addictive behavior linked to AI chatbots.
Psychological harm from AI relationships is also a factor in the ban.
The declining population is a major reason behind the government’s new rules.
Matt Sheehan, a senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment, explains these motivations.
The ban is part of China’s broader effort to manage social and demographic issues.
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Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized after a fall on June 14 and has been recovering at a rehabilitation center. His health issues and absence raise questions about Senate votes and what would happen if he cannot finish his term, especially since Republicans have only a slim majority.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell, 84, suffered a fall on June 14 and was briefly unconscious.
He has also had pneumonia recently and long-term health challenges from polio as a child.
McConnell has been hospitalized multiple times in recent years, including for flu symptoms and injuries from falls.
He has appeared frail on Capitol Hill and uses a wheelchair sometimes.
McConnell’s Senate term ends in January, and he is not running for re-election in November.
The Republican Party holds a narrow majority in the Senate; McConnell’s absence reduces their voting power.
McConnell’s absence helped Democrats pass a resolution against President Trump’s war on Iran.
If McConnell cannot finish his term, the process to replace him would be important for maintaining Senate control.
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More than 110 Democratic members of Congress, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, have asked the Department of Homeland Security to close the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. The center, which holds immigrant families with children, has faced criticism for poor conditions, such as bad food, inadequate medical care, and constant lighting.
Key Facts
The Dilley center is the only family immigration detention facility in the U.S.
It was closed during the Biden administration but reopened last year under President Trump’s immigration policies.
Democrats describe the center as a "trailer prison" that detains families with children who have not committed any crimes.
Reports accuse the facility of having food contaminated with worms and mold and water that makes detainees sick.
Families describe lights staying on all night and a lack of proper education and medical care, causing depression and suicidal thoughts among children.
A specific case mentioned involved a boy with appendicitis who was not taken to the hospital quickly enough.
The Department of Homeland Security disputes these allegations, saying detainees receive timely and appropriate medical care.
Immigrant advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns about conditions at the center for several years.
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Scientists have confirmed a new monkey species living in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The monkey, with pinkish-orange lips and a black face, was first seen in 2008 but only studied deeply after another sighting 10 years later.
Key Facts
The new monkey species lives in Lomami National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has pinkish-orange lips and a black face.
The monkey lives high up in dense tropical forest trees.
Conservationists first noticed the monkey in 2008.
A detailed study began after a second sighting in 2018.
An international team of scientists was involved in confirming the species.
Dr. Karen Laurenson from the Frankfurt Zoological Society highlighted the importance of this discovery.
The find shows there is still much to learn about wildlife in natural habitats.
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