President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the U.S. has set a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach a deal to end the nearly four‑year war, with Washington likely to pressure both sides if progress stalls. The next round of trilateral talks is expected to take place in the U.S., likely in Miami, and Ukraine has confirmed its participation. Russia launched over 400 drones and around … Continue reading U.S. gave Ukraine and Russia June deadline to reach peace agreement, Zelenskyy says

Three members of Congress are calling on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign after reports revealed extensive business and personal dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Lutnick “lied to the country” about his ties to Epstein and should step down. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., echoed the call, citing evidence from the DOJ’s released Epstein files showing Lutnick … Continue reading Congress members call for Trump Commerce chief Lutnick to resign, or be fired

Vice President JD Vance visited Armenia on Monday, becoming the first sitting U.S. vice president or president to do so, as the Trump administration promotes economic opportunities and a U.S.-brokered peace deal with Azerbaijan. In Yerevan, Vance and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed an agreement advancing negotiations on a civil nuclear energy deal, while the U.S. offered investments in infrastructure, computer chips, and surveillance drones. … Continue reading Vance is in Armenia, a country no sitting US president or vice president has visited before

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to the U.S. to meet President Donald Trump amid ongoing discussions with Iran following indirect talks in Oman. Netanyahu plans to urge the U.S. to press Tehran on limiting its ballistic missile program and curbing support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran insists the negotiations will focus only on its nuclear program, which it considers non-negotiable, while … Continue reading Netanyahu to meet Trump in US to discuss Iran

Center-left Socialist António José Seguro won a decisive victory over hard-right populist André Ventura in Portugal’s presidential runoff, securing 66.7% of the vote to Ventura’s 33.3%. Seguro, a moderate Socialist, gained broad support from mainstream politicians and promises to cooperate with Portugal’s center-right minority government. Ventura, whose Chega party has become the second-largest in parliament, campaigned on anti-immigrant and anti-establishment rhetoric and vowed to continue … Continue reading Center-left Socialist candidate wins over populist in Portugal’s presidential runoff

Lawmakers are increasingly pessimistic about reaching a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security before the Feb. 13 deadline, raising the risk of a shutdown. Democrats are demanding immigration policy changes tied to ICE and CBP operations, while Republicans refuse to consider most of those proposals and say talks have barely begun. Both sides accuse the other of negotiating through the media instead of … Continue reading Senators far apart on DHS deal as talks stall with deadline looming

North Korea will hold a major Workers’ Party congress in late February, where leader Kim Jong Un is expected to lay out domestic and foreign policies for the next five years, state media reported. The rare gathering comes after years of rapid nuclear and missile development and closer ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine, deepening tensions with the United States and South Korea. … Continue reading Kim expected to issue major policy goals at North Korea party congress

Thailand’s ruling Bhumjaithai party took a strong lead in Sunday’s general election, winning about 194 seats with roughly 93% of polling stations reporting, according to unofficial results. The total falls short of the 251 seats needed to form a government outright, meaning the party will likely need coalition partners. The progressive People’s Party came in second with 116 seats, while Pheu Thai, linked to former … Continue reading Thailand’s conservative Bhumjaithai party tops polls

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a decisive snap election victory, securing a supermajority in the lower house that allows her ruling coalition to override the upper chamber. The landslide result validated her high-risk gamble to seek a fresh mandate after taking office in October and strengthened her grip on power. Takaichi said she would continue her coalition with Ishin, focus on fiscal sustainability, and … Continue reading Japan’s Sanae Takaichi wins a supermajority after gambling on a snap election

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned Sunday, taking responsibility for advising the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the U.S. despite Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. The decision has triggered Starmer’s biggest crisis since taking office, especially after newly released U.S. files detailed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein and prompted a police investigation into alleged misconduct. McSweeney, a key … Continue reading UK PM Starmer’s top aide McSweeney quits over Mandelson’s Epstein scandal