1

President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s president “a dictator.”

• What to know: He accused Volodymyr Zelensky of starting the war with Russia and ripping off the U.S. Much of what he said was misleading — find a fact check here.
• The backlash: Zelensky hit back at Trump. Reaction among U.S. allies has ranged from dismay to outrage. And some Republican lawmakers rebuked Trump, gently and indirectly.

2

The Trump administration is scrambling to fix mistaken federal firings.

• The latest: Some agencies terminated probationary employees who had accepted a deferred resignation offer. A push to fire thousands last weekend led to errors large and small.
• In other news: Trump’s team is planning annual 8% cuts from the defense budget. And Trump expressed interest in “DOGE dividend” payments to Americans — experts are skeptical.
• Zooming out: Trump’s push to remake the presidency is virtually unprecedented.

3

Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

• What to know: The hostages’ identities have not been confirmed by Israel, but Hamas said this morning’s handover in Gaza would include three members of the Bibas family.
• Who are they? A mother and two young children who have become powerful symbols in Israel after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The Bibas father was recently released alive.

4

Delta Air Lines is offering $30,000 to passengers on its overturned jet.

• The details: The airline said the payment has “no strings attached.” All 80 people on board survived when a plane crashed and flipped upside down on a Toronto runway Monday.
• In other airline news: Major U.S. carriers are seeking to overturn Biden-era rules that offered protections to passengers with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs.

5

Archaeologists discovered the tomb of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.

• The find: It appears to be the tomb of King Thutmose II, who ruled about 3,500 years ago. His mummy, which had already been found, was probably moved shortly after his death.
• It’s pretty incredible: The discovery, announced this week, is the first time a pharaoh’s tomb has been found since King Tutankhamun’s resting place was uncovered in 1922.

6

Apple’s cheapest phone just got more expensive.