House Democrats have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to publicly acknowledge that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, arguing that U.S. policy of ambiguity is no longer sustainable. In a letter led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, 30 lawmakers said the U.S. cannot support military action against Iran over nuclear concerns while refusing to confirm Israel’s own capabilities. They argued that Congress needs clearer information about nuclear … Continue reading Democrats urge Rubio to acknowledge Israel possesses nuclear weapons

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the spread of a deepfake image showing her in lingerie, saying it was created using artificial intelligence to attack and manipulate her. She posted the altered photo on Facebook alongside criticism of the person who shared it and warned that such content can deceive and harm people. Meloni said she is able to defend herself but emphasized that … Continue reading Italy’s Meloni denounces deepfake photo as a political attack

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said it is a basic right for countries to conduct state visits after returning from a trip to Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic partners. He said China had tried to block his travel by pressuring countries to deny airspace access, though Beijing did not confirm this and instead reiterated its “one-China principle.” Lai’s visit to Eswatini included discussions on … Continue reading Taiwan’s president says state visits are ‘basic right’ after trip he says Beijing tried to block

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed former Supreme Court justice and international war crimes prosecutor Louise Arbour as the country’s new governor general. Arbour previously served as a UN human rights commissioner and led prosecutions for war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. She will act as King Charles III’s representative in Canada, succeeding Mary Simon, the first Indigenous person in the role. … Continue reading Carney appoints former war crimes prosecutor as Canada governor general

Romania’s pro-European coalition government collapsed after lawmakers voted no confidence in Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who had been in office for less than a year. The motion passed overwhelmingly with 281 votes in favor, following a split between coalition partners and opposition parties. The government’s fall adds to ongoing political instability in Romania, which has faced repeated crises since its post-communist transition. President Nicușor Dan … Continue reading Romania’s pro-European coalition collapses after prime minister fails a no-confidence vote

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told a European Political Community summit that Europe could help rebuild a new international order rather than accept a more “brutal” and transactional global system. He suggested shifting global leadership dynamics as tensions rise over conflicts in the Middle East and doubts grow about U.S. commitments to NATO, including troop reductions in Europe. Leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron … Continue reading Europe will not submit to an ‘insular and brutal world’, says Carney

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a Downing Street summit with business, cultural, and policing leaders to coordinate a “whole of society” response to rising antisemitism. The meetings will involve ministers and representatives from multiple sectors working with Jewish community leaders to identify how antisemitism appears and how to address it more effectively. The initiative follows a series of suspected antisemitic attacks in the … Continue reading Starmer to host Downing Street summit to address antisemitism