United States Congress
The White House plans to release a list of agencies where large-scale layoffs of civil servants will take place, according to CNN. The reason for the cuts is a mismatch with the president's priorities and the policy of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A technical delegation from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine held negotiations with the United States regarding the agreement on the purchase and production of drones, announced by President Zelenskyy. The agreement provides for the purchase of Ukrainian drones for 5 years and the possibility of joint production, and the supply of US weapons under the PURL mechanism was also discussed.
The US federal government has shut down due to funding disagreements, for the first time since 2019. This could lead to the US being unable to react quickly to foreign policy challenges and will negatively affect the economy.
Brent and WTI crude futures rose by 28 and 26 cents respectively after two days of declines. Investors are assessing OPEC+'s plans to increase production and the consequences of the US government shutdown.
The United States government has officially announced a shutdown after Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on funding. This is the first time since 2019, leaving approximately 750,000 federal employees without pay.
The US federal government could shut down at midnight after the Senate failed to support either of two funding plans. Democrats refused to vote for the interim plan due to the need for negotiations on subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
Senator John Kennedy introduced a resolution to the US Senate calling for the transfer of Russian sovereign assets under the jurisdiction of G7 countries to Ukraine. It is proposed to pay tranches of $10 billion monthly until the assets are fully depleted.
US President Donald Trump said a government shutdown is "likely," blaming Democrats for refusing to back down from their demands. The State Department plans to send most employees on unpaid leave if the federal government shuts down.
Gold prices reached $3800 per ounce due to fears of a US government shutdown and expectations of interest rate cuts by the Fed. Silver and platinum also saw significant gains, supported by a weakening dollar.
A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for providing false testimony to Congress and obstructing its work. He faces up to five years in prison, and the charges come after Trump's calls to investigate his opponents' activities.
Two Republican US congressmen are proposing to issue 400,000 silver dollar coins featuring the image of deceased conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This potentially violates a century-old tradition of national currency, as an 1866 law prohibits depicting living people on American banknotes and coins.
Donald Trump signed an executive order designating "Antifa" as a "domestic terrorist organization," blaming it for "radical left-wing political violence. " Experts question the president's authority, as there are no legal mechanisms in the US to recognize domestic groups as terrorist.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with a US Congressional delegation. The parties discussed support for Ukraine, the PURL mechanism, and preparations for signing an agreement on the production and sale of drones.
The Trump administration expects to receive a multi-billion dollar commission from investors for control of TikTok in the US. This deal, approved by Trump and Xi Jinping, is part of complex negotiations and could amount to billions of dollars.
This summer, Donald Trump refused to provide $400 million in military aid to Taiwan, attempting to use the decision to achieve a trade agreement with China and a possible summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This decision, which could still be reversed, marked a sharp change in Washington's policy toward the self-governing island.
The US Congressional Commission has released new documents from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, including his contact book and calendar. This coincided with Trump's trip to the UK, renewing interest in the financier's connections with influential figures.
Technology company Oracle may join a consortium of firms that will allow TikTok to operate in the US. The final decision will be made by US President Trump and China's Xi Jinping this week.
A Yale University report found that Russia is holding abducted Ukrainian children in over 200 locations where they are subjected to military training and "re-education. " Ukrainian authorities estimate the number of deported children at nearly 20,000, of which only a small portion has been returned.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Congress will not consider new sanctions against Russia without President Trump's approval. Johnson emphasized that sanctions are long overdue, but Congress cannot act on its own initiative.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said that the US Congress could impose anti-Russian sanctions without President Trump's approval. The bill provides for sanctions against Russian oligarchs and countries that buy Russian oil.
A bill has been registered in the US Congress to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if it does not return illegally deported Ukrainian children. The initiators of the document were Senators Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Katie Britt.
The US Court of Appeals rejected a request to block a ruling that prohibits the Trump administration from arbitrarily cutting foreign aid. Earlier, the court ordered the restoration of funding for programs worth $11 billion.
Pentagon officials are expressing anger and confusion over Donald Trump's order to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War. The rebranding could cost millions of dollars, including changing seals on 700,000 facilities in 40 countries.
The Trump administration announced the curtailment of Pentagon programs for training and equipping the armies of Eastern European countries bordering Russia. This decision is intended to force European allies to bear a larger share of the costs of their own defense.
US President Donald Trump will make an "exciting announcement" related to the Pentagon. The statement will be made from the Oval Office at 2:00 PM Washington time.
The Trump administration is developing plans to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This idea has been discussed since the first weeks of Trump's second term.
President Zelenskyy announced the presentation of Ukraine's vision on security guarantees to partners. He seeks legally binding guarantees, unlike the Budapest Memorandum.
US President Donald Trump intends to cancel $5 billion in foreign aid, using the mechanism of "pocket veto". Among the canceled expenditures is $1.5 million allocated for advertising paintings by Ukrainian women.
US President Donald Trump announced his intention to rename the Department of Defense to "Department of Offense" or "Department of War. " This would require the approval of the US Congress.
Representatives of the Democratic Party in the US Congress expressed skepticism about Donald Trump's ability to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine at the upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Senators and congressmen emphasize the unacceptability of concessions without Ukraine's participation and call for a tough stance against the aggressor.