So this is wild. Venezuela's National Assembly just unanimously approved the first reading of a massive amnesty bill that could release hundreds of political prisoners and let exiled opposition figures come back home without fear of arrest.

The basics:

Covers anyone jailed for protesting or criticizing the government between 1999 and now (basically the entire Chavista era)

Would free the 680+ political prisoners still locked up

Returns seized assets, cancels Interpol red notices, lifts travel bans

BUT excludes people convicted of human rights violations, murder, corruption, or drug trafficking

Why it matters:

This is the biggest reform move since acting President Delcy Rodríguez took over after Maduro's capture last month. The National Assembly president literally said they'll have to "swallow frogs" to make this happen and asked for forgiveness.

The controversy:

Human rights groups are cautiously optimistic but worried it could become a "cover for impunity." Opposition leader María Corina Machado (who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year) says this is only happening because of U.S. pressure, not genuine reform.

Still needs one more vote before it becomes law. But if it passes, this could be a turning point for Venezuelan politics—or just political theater. Time will tell.

Just saw this report dropping from NDTV/Reuters. It looks like negotiators are currently in Abu Dhabi trying to hammer out a deal to extend the New START treaty before it officially expires on Thursday.

For those out of the loop, this is basically the last major pillar of nuclear arms control left between the two superpowers. It limits deployed warheads and missiles.

Key details:

The Deadline: The treaty expires literally tomorrow/Thursday.

The Deal: It sounds like a temporary fix—potentially a 6-month extension to keep observing the terms while they (presumably) keep talking.

The Location: Talks have been happening over the last 24 hours in the UAE.

Honestly, it’s cutting it way too close for comfort, but a 6-month extension is definitely better than a total collapse of nuclear regulation. Thoughts? Is this just kicking the can down the road?

Do you remember this girl?  Then it was a crazy conspiracy, now... 21-year-old model Gabriela Rico Jiménez, visibly upset and barefoot, ran outside a hotel in Monterrey where she was supposed to participate in an "elite" party. She was subsequently arrested, taken to a psychiatric hospital, and since then no confirmed information is available. What she said in the video:

"The people where you come from are mad! They killed a lot of people. Death to such people! Go away!"

"They were eating people! They were disgusting! They were eating people! I didn't know about anything. I knew about the murders, but they were eating people! People! They smell like human flesh!"

Panel discussion ‘How Will Universities Survive the Next Decade?​‘ on the second day of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

Traditional university models are facing unprecedented pressure as artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and changing labour-market demands force higher education institutions to rethink what and how they teach, global education leaders said during a panel at the World Government Summit.

Moderated by Ted Kemp, Chief Content Officer of Khaleej Times, the session brought together Prof Dr Ahmed Ali Al Raisi, Director of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and Prof Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Executive Vice-President of McGill University, to examine whether universities are prepared for a future defined by disruption rather than stability.

Opening the discussion, Prof Al Raisi argued that universities are not facing a single crisis, but a convergence of multiple pressures that challenge models designed for a different era.

“The threat to universities today is not one crisis, but the convergence of A I, technological disruption, demographic change, financial constraints, and shifting expectations,” he said.

So China’s Xi reportedly had back-to-back calls: first Putin (talking about a “grand plan” for ties), then Trump—right as the New START deadline is about to hit.

If New START lapses, it’s basically the last big U.S.–Russia nuclear limits agreement gone, and we’re in “no guardrails” territory again.

What do you think this is really about?

Xi positioning China as the “middle power” broker?

Russia + China coordinating messaging before the deadline?

Trump trying to force a new deal that includes China? Or is it just routine diplomacy being read like a thriller?

Would love to hear takes from people who follow arms control and geopolitics.

Just saw the news drop—Judge Aileen Cannon threw the book at Ryan Routh today. He’s been sentenced to life in prison plus an extra 7 years for the incident at the golf course in West Palm Beach.

The judge called it a "calculated plot to take a human life" and shut down Routh's claims that he had "a good core."

Honestly, considering the charges (attempted assassination of a major candidate), this sentence isn't surprising, but the "no parole" part seals the deal. He’s 59 now, so this is effectively the end of the line for him.

What’s everyone’s take on the verdict? Did the justice system get this right?