AnewZ Morning Brief - April 30th, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 30th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Bridget Brink, who has served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, is stepping down, the State Department confirmed on Thursday, ending a turbulent three-year tenure that spanned two presidents and the shifting tides of American foreign policy.
“She’s been the ambassador there for three years — that’s a long time in a war zone,” a department spokesperson said in a statement, calling her performance extraordinary.
The announcement follows weeks of quiet speculation. Reuters first reported that Brink was weighing her departure and considering leaving the foreign service entirely. Sources close to the matter said the decision was her own.
Her exit lands as the Trump administration works to negotiate a deal between Ukraine and Russia. Two ceasefire efforts — one for energy infrastructure, another in the Black Sea — have already collapsed. As Trump pushes forward, the loss of one of Washington’s most experienced hands in Kyiv leaves an open question about continuity.
Brink, a career diplomat, was nominated by former President Joe Biden shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, she has been a steady presence at the U.S. embassy, overseeing support for Ukraine while navigating increasingly delicate political ground.
Her time in Ukraine wasn’t without controversy. Earlier this year, she faced criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a Russian missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih killed 20 people, including nine children. Brink condemned the attack online — but did not name Russia. Zelenskyy publicly expressed disappointment at the “weak reaction.”
Still, there is no indication that the criticism played a role in her decision to leave.
It remains unclear who will succeed Brink. One name being considered is Chris Smith, a senior State Department official with previous experience in Kyiv. No final decision has been made.
Brink’s departure is part of a broader reshuffling at the department. She joins other high-ranking career diplomats, including John Bass, who have stepped down since Trump returned to office in January.
For now, Washington insists the mission in Ukraine remains unchanged.
“We’re working for that war to end,” said spokesperson Tammy Bruce, “and we expect, of course, our work will continue in that regard.”
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 40 dead, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
North Korea has launched a new 5,000-tonne destroyer as part of Kim Jong Un’s plans to expand the country’s naval power far beyond its coastal waters.
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
Political directors from France, Britain, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials in Rome on Friday, according to two diplomatic sources who confirmed the meeting to Reuters.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, unveiled a free standalone artificial intelligence (AI) app for its Meta AI assistant on Tuesday, marking a significant move as part of the growing wave of new AI apps in the tech industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport to its historical name of Stalingrad, a move made official late Tuesday.
Singapore’s parliamentary election, set for May 3, will see 11 political parties competing for the 2.76 million registered voters in the city-state, with a population of 6 million. Here are the key parties and their platforms:
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