President Vladimir Putin publicly admitted that Russian air defenses were responsible for downing an Azerbaijani jetliner in December 2024, killing 38 people, after missiles targeting a Ukrainian drone exploded near the plane. Speaking with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Tajikistan, Putin cited a technical malfunction and pledged to punish those responsible and provide compensation. The crash had strained previously warm Moscow-Baku relations, which were further … Continue reading Putin says Russian air defenses were to blame for Azerbaijani jet’s crash last year, killing 38

Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to impeach President Dina Boluarte over her government’s failure to address a rising crime wave, with 124 lawmakers voting in favor and none against. The move followed a concert shooting in the capital and came after multiple previous attempts to remove her, which had failed. Boluarte, who became Peru’s first female president in 2022 after her predecessor Pedro Castillo was … Continue reading Peru’s Congress removes President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country

The Senate approved its annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), 70-20, funding the military at $924.7 billion for fiscal year 2026 amid the ongoing government shutdown. The passage allows House and Senate committees to begin the conference process to reconcile differences with the House version, which proposes $893 billion. The bill cleared over a dozen partisan and 50 minor amendments, including … Continue reading Senate passes mammoth annual defense policy bill

Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over reopening the government, with the Senate rejecting competing bills for the seventh time Thursday. The House-passed Republican bill failed 54-45, with three Democrats crossing the aisle, the same number as last week. The Senate will not reconvene until Tuesday, leaving the shutdown unresolved for the week, CBS News has reported. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, insist on extending health … Continue reading Government shutdown will extend into next week as Senate adjourns without breaking stalemate

The Senate failed for the sixth time on Wednesday to advance funding bills to end the government shutdown, with the GOP measure falling 54-45, short of the 60 votes needed. No new Democrats supported the bill, which had already passed the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House would not act further and urged Senate Democrats to support the measure to reopen the government. … Continue reading Senate votes fail again as government shutdown drags on

Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Senate Democrats on Wednesday for blocking a government funding stopgap, emphasizing the real-world impact in their states. He highlighted Georgia Senators Warnock and Ossoff, who he said have voted five times to keep the government closed, affecting families and food bank access. Johnson also called out New Hampshire Senators Shaheen and Hassan for votes that have kept national parks closed. He … Continue reading Johnson hammers Senate Dems with shutdown impacts in their states

Senate Republicans rejected a bill that would have limited President Trump’s ability to use military force against drug cartels, with the vote largely along party lines at 48-51. The resolution would have required congressional approval for further strikes, which the White House justifies by labeling traffickers as armed combatants threatening the U.S. So far, Trump’s campaign has destroyed four vessels, killed at least 21 people, … Continue reading Senate Republicans vote down legislation to check Trump’s use of war powers against cartels

A video of Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former California Rep. Katie Porter threatening to walk out of a CBS News interview over questions about appealing to Republican voters has drawn widespread attention and criticism from rivals. The tense exchange occurred when reporter Julia Watts asked Porter how she would win over the 40% of California voters who supported Donald Trump. Porter, appearing frustrated, questioned the … Continue reading Democratic frontrunner for California governor threatens to walk out of interview

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has given himself one year to resolve the country’s challenges, pledging to resign if problems persist, during a town-hall-style meeting with government supporters. The dialogue comes amid ongoing protests led by the youth movement Gen Z Mada, which has rejected engagement, accusing the government of repression and human rights abuses. Rajoelina promised that ongoing power projects would add 265 megawatts to … Continue reading Madagascar president asks for one year to resolve problems or he will resign

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the legacy of the Workers’ Party of Korea ahead of its 80th anniversary, as delegations from China, Russia, and Vietnam arrived in Pyongyang for celebrations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian delegation led by former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam attended, with Lam’s visit marking the first by a Vietnamese party leader in nearly … Continue reading North Korea’s Kim lauds ruling party as foreign delegations visit for 80th anniversary

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Thursday during his first visit to India, aimed at strengthening trade and business ties. The meeting comes after the UK and India signed a landmark trade deal in July, expected to boost the UK’s GDP by £4.8 billion annually and increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion by 2040. Starmer, leading … Continue reading Starmer meets Modi on his first visit to India

Speaker Mike Johnson clashed with Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly on Wednesday over the ongoing government shutdown and the delayed swearing-in of Arizona Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. The senators accused Johnson of stalling Grijalva’s swearing-in to block her from becoming the 218th signature needed to force a House vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related documents. Johnson denied the claim, saying Grijalva’s election occurred while the … Continue reading Speaker clashes with Dem senators over Epstein files amid shutdown

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sharply condemned Antifa during a White House roundtable on Wednesday, comparing the group to international terror organizations such as ISIS and Hezbollah. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump and other top officials, Noem claimed Antifa operates as a “sophisticated network” intent on destroying American society and endangering law enforcement and civilians. She said recent arrests in Portland were helping investigators uncover … Continue reading Noem likens Antifa to ISIS, other terror groups that want to ‘kill’ Americans

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene broke with GOP leaders on Wednesday, urging Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene the House amid the ongoing government shutdown and rising tensions over health care policy. In an interview with CNN, Greene warned that Republicans risk voter backlash if they fail to address surging health insurance costs tied to the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies. She criticized both parties — … Continue reading MTG calls on Speaker Johnson to bring House back to DC

With less than a month before Election Day, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli clashed fiercely in their final debate for New Jersey governor. The candidates traded personal attacks — Sherrill accused Ciattarelli of profiting from the opioid crisis, while he alleged she broke disclosure laws and questioned her military record. The debate also focused on state issues such as taxes, energy costs, … Continue reading Democrat, Republican nominees in key race for governor blast each other on debate stage

A federal appeals court on Wednesday temporarily lifted a lower court order blocking President Trump from federalizing Oregon National Guard troops, though he still cannot deploy them in the state. The Ninth Circuit’s administrative stay pauses U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut’s earlier ruling while the court considers the administration’s appeal, maintaining the “status quo” in which the troops are federalized but not deployed. Immergut had … Continue reading Appeals court restores Trump’s control over Oregon National Guard

The FBI analyzed the cellphone “tolling data” of nine Republican lawmakers as part of its 2023 probe into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, GOP senators revealed Monday. The data, collected under the “Arctic Frost” investigation, focused on call metadata—who was called, along with time, date, and duration—but did not include call content. Lawmakers identified include Sens. Ron Johnson, Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan … Continue reading FBI analyzed Republican lawmakers’ phone records during Jan. 6 probe

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will face the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday amid heightened scrutiny of President Trump’s interventions in the justice system and law enforcement actions. Lawmakers are expected to question her on high-profile moves, including the indictment of former FBI director James Comey, which came after the dismissal of a top federal prosecutor. Bondi defended the charges on social media, framing them … Continue reading Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before Congress

Utah lawmakers on Monday approved new congressional district lines aimed at preserving the state’s all-Republican delegation after a court ordered redistricting ahead of next year’s midterms. The proposed map splits Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County into two districts instead of four, making them somewhat more competitive while keeping the other districts solidly GOP. Republicans defended the map as compliant with a 2018 voter-approved measure prohibiting gerrymandering … Continue reading Utah lawmakers pass new GOP-backed congressional map

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet President Donald Trump in the Oval Office Tuesday amid strained U.S.-Canada relations caused by trade disputes and tariff threats. The visit comes ahead of the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is vital to Canada as more than 77% of its exports go to the U.S. While Canada hopes to ease sector-specific tariffs, such … Continue reading Canadian PM Carney visits Trump

Virginia’s gubernatorial race, long focused on issues like affordability, abortion, and transgender rights, was shaken Friday by revelations that Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones had once suggested via text that a top Republican lawmaker be shot. The resurfaced messages drew bipartisan criticism and forced Democratic front-runner Abigail Spanberger to defend herself, giving Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears a potential opening. Spanberger has maintained strong … Continue reading Virginia Democratic AG nominee’s violent texts shake up the closing weeks of the state’s race for governor

President Trump on Monday suggested he might invoke the Insurrection Act if courts continue blocking his deployment of the National Guard to U.S. cities. The 1807 law allows the federal government to send troops to quell domestic unrest without state approval. A federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked his planned deployment of California troops to Portland, and Illinois filed a similar lawsuit after he announced … Continue reading Trump floats Insurrection Act use amid National Guard standoff with states

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned lawmakers Monday not to be swayed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to divide Europe, urging unity ahead of two no-confidence votes against her this week. Far-left and far-right parties in the European Parliament have filed censure motions accusing her of mishandling trade, Gaza policy, and migration, but the measures are expected to fail since centrist pro-EU … Continue reading EU chief von der Leyen faces more confidence votes this week

President Donald Trump praised Japan’s selection of Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister, calling the development “incredible for the people of Japan.” Takaichi, a conservative lawmaker, won a key leadership vote Saturday and is expected to formally take office later this month, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba. In a Truth Social post, Trump described her as “a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.” … Continue reading Trump congratulates Japan’s first female prime minister

Czech billionaire Andrej Babiš is poised to form a new government after his ANO party won 35% of the vote in the general election, signaling a major political shift in Central Europe. Although lacking a parliamentary majority, Babiš is expected to seek coalition partners among anti-Green Deal and anti-immigration parties or form a minority government. Analysts say his leadership could strengthen ties with Hungary’s Viktor … Continue reading Czech elections: Babiš will pave his own way in the EU