First Thing: Trump announces extension of Iran ceasefire until ‘discussion concluded’

Key Points:

• Donald Trump announced a unilateral extension of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, aiming to keep peace talks alive until Tehran submits a peace proposal, though Iranian officials remain skeptical, viewing it as a tactic to delay a surprise attack.
• Virginia voters approved new congressional maps favoring Democrats, potentially helping them gain up to four additional House seats in the upcoming midterms, marking a setback for Trump’s gerrymandering efforts.
• The Trump administration is considering relocating up to 1,100 Afghan allies, including interpreters and their families, from Qatar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after ending US resettlement initiatives; the DRC faces significant instability and displacement crises.
• Additional news highlights include a mass trial of alleged gang members in El Salvador amid human rights concerns, federal fraud charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, and potential suspension of Israel’s Council of Europe observer status over death penalty laws for Palestinians.
• A new report reveals that 46% of US children breathe dangerously polluted air, with experts warning that environmental deregulation under Trump may worsen the problem, while investigations highlight concerns over child influencers promoting skincare products on TikTok.