Six airlines halt flights to Venezuela after US warns of 'heightened military activity'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged 'tremendous progress' in ongoing peace talks regarding Ukraine, emphasizing that further efforts are required to finalize a deal that will also necessitate Russia's agreement. This statement reflects a cautious optimism about the potential for diplomatic resolution in a conflict that has persisted for years.

Slovenians voted in a national referendum to suspend a new law legalizing assisted dying, with approximately 53% rejecting the measure and 47% supporting it, according to election authorities. This decision delays the law's implementation for at least a year.

European countries have proposed a radically different peace plan for Ukraine, diverging from the US-backed framework, emphasizing the need to respect Kyiv's sovereignty. This counter-proposal was presented during discussions in Switzerland, where US and Ukrainian negotiators were also present, leading to an updated peace framework from the White House.

The US Secretary of State has acknowledged a 'tremendous amount of progress' in peace negotiations between the US and Ukraine during recent talks in Geneva, although he noted that negotiators will require additional time to finalize a deal.

An Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut resulted in the death of Haytham Ali Tabtabai, a senior military official of Hezbollah, marking a significant escalation in hostilities between Israel and the militant group. This action occurred despite a US-brokered truce established a year prior, highlighting the fragile nature of peace in the region.

Europe has presented a counter proposal to the US-Russia draft peace plan for Ukraine, which consists of 28 points aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict. This move comes in response to concerns that the original plan favors Russian interests and requires significant territorial concessions from Ukraine.

The United States is reportedly advancing its regime change efforts in Venezuela, despite the country not producing fentanyl. This comes amid a backdrop of heightened military activity and U.S. naval presence in the region, raising tensions with President Nicolás Maduro's government.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine for showing 'zero gratitude' towards U.S. efforts to facilitate a peace plan amid ongoing international negotiations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that a deal to end the war is unlikely to be reached by the Thursday deadline, as Ukrainian officials engage in talks with European security representatives in Geneva.