Editor's Note Editor's Note | America 250 Two hundred and fifty years ago, America was founded on an idea. Not an idea of wealth. Not an idea of military strength. Not even an idea of geography. It was founded on the belief that free people could govern themselves. That power should never belong to one family or By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
"The Patrouille de France flying over the Statue of Liberty. What a symbol. 250 years of shared history." | Photo shared by President Macron on X Daily Brief America Turns 250, Russia Strikes Kyiv, and Canada Deepens Its Indo-Pacific Push Good evening. The United States is preparing to celebrate its 250th birthday this weekend with major events across Washington, New York and cities throughout the country. But the festivities are arriving alongside extreme heat, extensive security operations and — particularly in New York — an extraordinary concentration of major events. Here is By Olga Nesterova • 11 min read
Photo shared by Kanzler Merz on X News Germany’s Government Finally Has a Reform Package. Now Comes the Hard Part. Germany’s governing coalition has unveiled a broad package of tax, pension, labor and administrative reforms intended to revive Europe’s largest economy after months of internal disagreement and growing pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The 34-point program combines approximately €10 billion in annual income-tax relief, major changes By Olga Nesterova • 7 min read
Daily Brief Daily Brief: Canada Day, Russia Strikes Kyiv, Britain Rearms and Venezuela’s Earthquake Toll Rises Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day to our Canadian readers, subscribers and supporters! Canada has been part of ONEST’s international community from the beginning, and Canadian institutions, diplomats, officials and readers continue to play an important role in our reporting. Thank you for reading, sharing our work and supporting By Olga Nesterova • 15 min read
Explained Macron and WHO Chief Warn Childhood Is Being Rewritten by Screens — But Bans Alone May Not Be Enough French President Emmanuel Macron and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Wednesday that digital platforms are no longer just communication tools, but public health environments shaping how children learn, sleep, socialize and understand the world. In a joint commentary published by Project Syndicate and the World Health Organization on By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
Explained UN Counter-Terrorism Conference Turns to AI, But the Bigger Question Is Governance United Nations Headquarters | New York By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
News Europe Moves to Slow the Surge of Cheap Chinese Imports The EU is introducing a €3 customs charge on low-value imports as officials seek to curb a surge in Chinese e-commerce shipments and level the playing field for European retailers. By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
News China’s AI Catch-Up Is Now a Security Problem As Chinese AI models narrow the gap in cybersecurity, the debate is shifting from who builds the most advanced AI to who can access it and under what rules. By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Explained Why One Fighter Jet Has Become NATO's Biggest Political Test Why Trump's comments on Türkiye's F-35 request could shape the NATO Summit in Ankara By Olga Nesterova • 5 min read
Deep Dive Inside China's Global Governance Playbook What Beijing's new white paper reveals about its vision for the UN, multilateralism, trade, and the future of the global financial system. By Olga Nesterova • 6 min read
Daily Brief ONEST Brief: Iran’s Fragile Deal, China’s Expanding AI Power and Europe’s Shadow Fleet Crackdown The United States and Gulf states publicly rallied behind the preliminary agreement with Iran today, even as Tehran asserted control over shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and questions grew over what Washington has actually secured. Here is what happened today. Rubio Seeks Gulf Support for the Iran Agreement By Olga Nesterova • 8 min read
ONEST Insight The Clip Went Viral. The Real Story Didn't. Treasury Secretary Bessent described sanctions relief for Iranian oil as "a carrot." President Trump presented the same policy as an opportunity for American farmers. Iran's Parliament Speaker rejected both narratives. By Olga Nesterova • 3 min read
