Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed legislation reshaping birth control access, AI regulation, and play-based learning. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump claims to have reinstated a U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz that Iran says is closed, with peace talks showing no signs of movement. Both sides have already launched strikes, underscoring the volatility of the situation.

On Ukraine’s Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelensky held key talks in Kyiv, meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister and preparing to meet with an American envoy. The discussions underscored ongoing diplomatic efforts to end a lingering conflict tied to the 2022 Russian invasion.

A rare meeting transpired in Paris as Syria’s foreign minister sat down with an Israeli delegation, according to Syrian state media. The talks point to a possible shift in longtime hostilities, with the United States encouraging both sides to explore normalization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Beijing to serve as guarantor for a prospective peace agreement on Ukraine, Axios reports. The overture, aimed at the United States and European nations, signals Moscow’s search for a security backstop acceptable to all sides.

President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to “immediately” engage in direct talks with Russia, emphasizing the need to end the ongoing war.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s meeting with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv has renewed hopes for a robust security agreement amid ongoing tensions from the Russia-Ukraine war. The discussions focused on battlefield dynamics, prisoner of war returns, and securing lasting peace for Ukraine.