RUSSIA seized towns on its border with Ukraine (Shutterstock).

Ukraine won’t yield on its resolve to to give up territory in order to sign a peace agreement with Russia.

During a visit to Rome, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy on Tuesday said, “We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we’re fighting for,” according to the Associated Press.

In an interview with Politico, President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should yield because Russia has “the upper hand” and that Zelenskyy’s government must “play ball.”

Pope Leo XIV met with Zelenskyy earlier in the day reiterating the need for “continued dialogue”and that “current diplomatic diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.”

Aussie kids lose media access

A new national law going into effect on Wednesday in Australia will block access to to under-16 youth from 10 internationally popular social media sites.

According to United Press International, those sites are Facebook, Instagram,TikTok, X, Reddit, You Tube, Twitch, Kick, SnapChat and Threads.

Certain other sites might be added if they add “significantly more users” or are seemed social media rather than peer-to-peer communications sites.

Fines of up to $32 million could be assessed against companies that don’t ensure that users are of legal age.

Trump’s popularity ticks up

The popularity of President Donald Trump rose slightly in a Reuters/Ispos Poll released Tuesday.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump (Flickr/Gage Skidmore).

His approval rating rose to 41 percent from 38 percent in November. His disspproval rate is at 57 percent.

A key drag on his approval is the “cost of living,” but his support on that from the public rose from 26 percent to 31 percent.

The bill interviewed 4,434 adults nationwide with a margin of error or 2 percentage points in either direction.

Weather: Cooling trend on the way

The warmer days we’ve seen in our West Orange County cities will be turning toward cooler ones. The forecast for Wednesday is for a daytime high of 81 with an overnight low of 50 degrees under sunny skies. Thursday will cool to 77 (50) with partly cloudy skies. Friday will be chillier at 72 (51) with mostly sunny skies. Saturday will see a high of 72 with a low of 50. Skies will be mostly cloudy.

Great Quotations

“The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.” – Maimonides.

“Indecision is the key to flexibility.” – Kathy Reichs.

“When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.” –William James.