Tulsi Gabbard resigns as US national intelligence director

The global political landscape faces significant shifts as Tulsi Gabbard resigns from her role as Director of National Intelligence amidst internal tensions over foreign interventions in Venezuela and Iran. Simultaneously, Republican lawmakers in the U.S. struggle with controversial funding requests for a White House ballroom and a compensation fund linked to the January 6th riots, complicating their electoral prospects. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus spreads across conflict-hit eastern provinces, prompting heightened risk assessments. Meanwhile, Russian authorities intensify crackdowns on independent cultural venues, reflecting a broader suppression of dissent. Elsewhere, extreme heatwaves grip India, affecting millions, while the death of Carlo Petrini marks the end of an era for the global Slow Food movement. Finally, tennis legend Billie Jean King achieves a long-delayed milestone by graduating from university at age 82, underscoring the value of lifelong learning.