News Trump’s New Customs Order Is About More Than Customs At first glance, President Trump’s latest executive order looks like a technical customs reform. In reality, it is an attempt to fundamentally change who can sell goods into the United States and under what conditions. The central idea is simple: if a company wants access to the American consumer By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
News Israel and Lebanon Move Toward Direct Negotiations. Hezbollah Is the Real Target. “The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of Hizbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hizbollah operatives from the South Litani Sector.” Buried inside a lengthy U.S.-brokered statement between Israel and Lebanon is a sentence that reveals the real significance of the agreement. While presented as a By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
A massive UFC ring has been erected outside of the White House ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday and Trump’s 80th. | Photo: AFP/Getty News Trump Suggests White House UFC Arena Could Become Permanent President Trump is now openly suggesting that the temporary UFC arena being built on White House grounds may not be temporary after all. In a video, Trump compared the structure to the Eiffel Tower, arguing that Paris originally planned to dismantle the landmark after the 1889 World’s Fair — but By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
Photo: UN News / UN Photo Explained Bangladesh Wins UN General Assembly Presidency as UN Enters a Defining Year Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, defeating Cyprus’ Andreas Kakouris in a surprisingly competitive vote of 99 to 91. On paper, the role is largely procedural. In reality, Rahman will preside over one of the most consequential By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
Photo: shared by Sen. Cornyn on X Explained Rubio’s Foreign Policy Has a Results Problem Marco Rubio’s testimony before Congress was built around a familiar Washington trick: present activity as achievement. Ceasefires were restored. Agreements were signed. Routes were announced. Compacts were launched. Countries were brought into new coalitions. Aid was made “faster,” “leaner,” and more “results-driven.” But not every result is positive By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
Photo: President Zelenskyy Office News Ukraine Pushes to Accelerate Patriot Air Defense Deal as Russian Missile Threat Grows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says an agreement to purchase additional Patriot air defense systems has already been reached “at the highest political level,” but implementation remains stalled due to unresolved financial, legal, and technical issues. In a statement following a meeting with Ukraine’s defense, foreign affairs, and national security By Olga Nesterova • 1 min read
June 1: Who Pays, Who Pressures, and Who Controls the Next Crisis Today’s ONEST Newsroom looks at a world where leverage is shifting in real time — inside the UN, across the Middle East, in the South China Sea, in Armenia’s political future, and on the seas where Russia’s shadow fleet continues to fund its war. The common thread is By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
Nikol Pashinyan meeting with EU leadership | Photo: Shared on X Explained Putin Threatens, Trump Endorses: Armenia’s Choice Becomes a Geopolitical Test As Armenia moves closer to Europe, Russia is warning of economic consequences and invoking Ukraine, while Donald Trump openly endorses Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia’s June 7 election is becoming a test of sovereignty in the South Caucasus. By Olga Nesterova • 5 min read
Explained France Intercepts Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker. But Can Europe Really Stop Russia’s Oil Trade? France intercepted a Russian-linked shadow fleet tanker in the Atlantic as Europe increases pressure on sanctions evasion. Here's how Russia's shadow fleet operates, how many vessels remain active, and how much oil revenue continues to fund the war in Ukraine. By Olga Nesterova • 3 min read
Donald Trump and Thomas Barrack | Photo: EA Worldview News Trump Turns Diplomacy Into Personal Leverage in the Middle East As Iran negotiations falter, fighting intensifies in Lebanon, and Tom Barrack assumes a larger regional role, the Trump administration appears to be shifting from diplomacy centered on agreements to diplomacy centered on leverage. By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
News Rubio Called the Philippines. The Real Message Was China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sounded routine. It wasn’t. Here’s what the South China Sea, the Luzon Economic Corridor, energy security, and U.S.-China competition reveal about Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy. By Olga Nesterova • 3 min read
Explained Rubio Wants the UN to Act. China Is the One Paying the Bills. As the U.S. falls behind on nearly $2 billion in UN payments as it faces a growing cash crisis, China is increasingly positioning itself as a reliable financial contributor. The shift raises questions who holds leverage inside the UN when global crises reach the Security Council. By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read
