Trump fires press secretary Katie Zacharia

Fired After Five Days: The Katie Zacharia Story

President Trump appointed Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary, introducing her to the world as "a passionate MAGA supporter." Five days later she was gone. Her résumé included a stint at Trump's own social media company, two months at the Department of Homeland Security, and regular appearances as a commentator on conservative programmes — thin credentials for one of Washington's most demanding communications jobs.

Tuesday's debut press briefing proved fatal. Zacharia spent eight minutes awkwardly reading from a script listing the president's achievements, then cut off questions after just three. Compounding the damage, it emerged that she had never passed the bar exam, despite Trump having introduced her as a lawyer. When Fox News anchor Sean Hannity — hardly a hostile interviewer — pressed her on the discrepancy, she struggled to respond. Trump's confidence evaporated quickly.

Speaking to reporters beside Marine One, Trump was characteristically blunt: "She's a good person, but I asked her if she really wanted this life. I told her I'd think twice." Former communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who himself lasted just ten days in the role, posted on social media: "Records are made to be broken." BBC North America correspondent Neda Tawfiq warned that the episode could deepen the impression — especially among independent voters — that the administration is not functioning properly, at a moment when approval ratings are already at their lowest. California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a mock tribute on social media noting her five-day tenure.

Amazon Deforestation Hits Record Low — but the Election Looms

New Brazilian government data shows Amazon deforestation fell 41% year-on-year, while destruction of the Cerrado savannah region dropped 23% — both the lowest levels since records began. The figures reflect tougher law enforcement and expanded satellite monitoring driven by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Environment Minister Marina Silva. Under Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation rates surged as his government prioritised agricultural and mining development.

The current presidential race complicates the picture. Jair's son Flávio Bolsonaro is running against Lula and is expected to revive his father's policy approach. He commands strong support in Amazon agricultural communities, where complaints that protected areas are too large remain widespread. Correspondent Aion Wells noted that the choice between environment and economy continues to divide the country.

Oregon School Shooting: Father Confronts Gunman at Daughter's School

A former student, Griffin John, walked into a special education classroom in Oregon carrying a shotgun and killed four people, including five-year-old Rome Summer and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert. Lambert threw her mobile phone at the attacker and wrestled with him trying to take the gun. Caleb Jamanco, a father who was on his lunch break nearby, heard the shots, retrieved a legally stored handgun from his car, entered the school, and shot the gunman dead before police arrived. A seven-year-old girl remains in hospital in serious but stable condition. The motive and how John obtained the shotgun are still under investigation. President Trump called Jamanco a "hero."

Ukraine's Front Line: Drones Reshape the Fight in 'Operation Vivaldi'

BBC correspondent Dan Johnson reported from close to the front line in Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine's military says its four-phase "Operation Vivaldi" — the name drawn from the four seasons — has recaptured more than 270 square kilometres of occupied territory. The "Silver Trinity" unit, led by a commander known by the call sign "Phoenix," runs operations from an underground command centre where soldiers monitor live footage from reconnaissance drones.

To counter the constant threat of Russian reconnaissance drones, Ukrainian forces have deployed drones carrying nets to physically capture enemy unmanned aircraft — a tactic now in active use. Soldiers said they face an average of ten Russian drones every day. Starlink satellite communications have become the lifeline of the entire drone operation; troops said that without a connection, they can barely get anything in the air. The report also captured a moving scene as soldiers who had spent 95 consecutive days on the front line finally rotated home to be reunited with their families.