World News Recap: Russia Plane Crash, Epstein Files, EU-China Trade, Tesla Sales, and Auto Tariffs

Aviation Disaster in Russia

• ✈️ Russian authorities have confirmed the debris of a passenger plane carrying approximately 50 people, which crashed in the far east of the country.
• 💔 Air traffic controllers lost contact with the flight, and reports indicate there were no survivors.

Trump, Epstein Files, and Federal Funding

• 📰 A Wall Street Journal report suggests U.S. President Donald Trump's name appears in the Epstein files, a claim met with mixed responses from the White House.
• 🏛️ Columbia University will pay over $200 million to settle a Trump administration probe and restore federal research funding, following a dispute over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests.
• 🏦 President Trump is scheduled to visit the central bank, continuing his public criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding interest rates and economic policy.

Global Trade and Geopolitics

• 🇨🇳 EU leaders are meeting with China amidst strained relations and ongoing trade negotiations with the US, with topics including China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war and trade imbalances.
• 🇺🇸 The US is reportedly nearing trade deals with both Beijing and the EU, which could influence the EU-China summit.
• 🇷🇺 Chinese-made engines, disguised as industrial refrigeration parts, are reportedly being covertly shipped to Russia to power drones, circumventing Western sanctions.

Automotive Industry Challenges

• 📉 Tesla is facing its worst quarterly sales decline in over a decade, prompting promises of a new, cheaper vehicle and acknowledging potential further downturns.
• 🚗 The company is dealing with increased competition, backlash against Elon Musk's political views, and the impending removal of US tax credits and fines for traditional automakers.
• 📈 Detroit's Big Three automakers are bracing for fallout from the US-Japan trade deal, with concerns about the impact of tariffs on production and costs, as General Motors has already taken a significant charge.

Climate Commitments and Border Clashes

• 🌍 The UN's highest court has ruled that wealthy nations must meet climate change commitments or risk compensation to poorer nations affected by global warming.
• 🇹🇭 Thailand has reported bombing a military target in Cambodia with F-16 fighter jets following armed clashes along their disputed border.