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

Senate Democrats are pressing for stronger oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), unveiling a list of 10 demands including policies like requiring judicial warrants and de-masking agents. Republicans, however, accuse Democrats of seeking to defund ICE entirely and promote “open borders,” pointing to a failed Bernie Sanders amendment that would have stripped $75 billion from DHS and ICE. Funding for immigration operations is largely … Continue reading Republicans warn Democrats’ ICE reform push is cover to defund border enforcement