King Harald of Norway has been hospitalized for treatment related to hemolytic anemia, a blood disorder, according to the royal palace. The 89-year-old monarch was admitted to the National Hospital after treatment with cortisone caused fluid to accumulate in his body. Harald has been on sick leave for two weeks, with his son, Crown Prince Haakon, serving as regent during his absence. The king has … Continue reading King Harald of Norway is hospitalized for treatment in connection with a blood disease

Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks, a major wildlife charity that previously acknowledged human rights abuses by its rangers in the Republic of Congo. The abuses were uncovered after an independent investigation into allegations from members of the Baka Indigenous community, including claims of violence and mistreatment. Harry, who served as the charity’s president for six years before joining its … Continue reading Prince Harry quits board of wildlife charity after rangers’ human rights abuses

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK will help Ukraine produce its own long-range missiles by sharing classified technical information about British-made components used in SCALP missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will pursue diplomatic talks with Russia over attacks in the Black Sea while strengthening air defenses in the region. Zelenskyy urged allies to provide additional air-defense systems, including Patriot missiles, before … Continue reading Burnham says UK with Ukraine ‘all the way’ despite ‘outrageous threats’ from Russia

Newly declassified FBI records are shedding fresh light on former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s relationship with suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine “Fang Fang,” which Democrats had previously defended as not warranting his removal from the House Intelligence Committee. The records reveal FBI interviews with Swalwell and a broader investigation into Fang involving alleged illicit campaign contributions, congressional internships and attempts to gain political access. Investigators considered … Continue reading Dems go silent after McCarthy vindicated for booting Swalwell off intel committee

House and Senate Republicans from agricultural states criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef. Nebraska senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts warned that increased foreign imports could hurt American cattle producers and make it harder to rebuild the domestic herd. Trump defended the decision, saying the imports would be sold at 25% below current … Continue reading GOP lawmakers criticize Trump’s beef import plan amid blowback from ranchers

Progressive state representative Angie Nixon defeated former Army intelligence officer Alexander Vindman in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, despite having a much smaller campaign budget. Nixon, a Democratic Socialists of America member, will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in the November general election for the remaining two years of the Senate term. Vindman had been widely expected to win because of his significant fundraising advantage and … Continue reading Democratic socialist Angie Nixon clinches surprise primary win in Florida US Senate race

U.S. special envoy Jared Kushner warned Hamas on Monday that it must honor its commitment to disarm in Gaza or risk an Israeli military operation with greater U.S. support. Kushner said Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to President Donald Trump’s peace plan during talks in Cairo, but stressed that the group’s actions will determine whether the commitment is genuine. He also met with Israeli Prime Minister … Continue reading Kushner gives Hamas stark ultimatum: Disarm or Israel gets US backing to ‘finish the job’

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections during the war with Russia, presenting a major challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership. Fedorov argued that democracy should not be held hostage by Russia and called for a safe and legal way to restore Ukraine’s democratic process despite the ongoing conflict. Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s invasion in 2022, which currently … Continue reading Sacked Ukrainian defence minister calls for presidential election

Jared Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday to discuss a U.S.-backed peace plan aimed at ending the conflict and establishing new governance in Gaza. The talks focused on maintaining the ceasefire, transferring governing authority to a new Palestinian committee, disarming Hamas, facilitating Israeli withdrawals, and deploying an international stabilization force. The meeting came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan … Continue reading Jared Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt to discuss Gaza peace road map

DNC Chair Ken Martin denied reports of a hostile or paranoid workplace at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington. The allegations include claims that Martin threw a phone onto a staffer’s desk during a confrontation, prompting a human resources complaint, as well as concerns about leaks and decisions being made in isolation. Martin rejected the reports and praised DNC employees, saying the party is … Continue reading DNC chair denies reports about staff ‘paranoia,’ chaos

President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce annual joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the country’s refusal to support the U.S. war against Iran. Trump said the exercises are costly and send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea, pointing to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The president said he recently asked South Korea to join the … Continue reading Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and aide, is expected to travel to Israel and Egypt next week to support a U.S.-backed plan for a permanent end to the war in Gaza. The visit comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected parts of Trump’s 15-point peace proposal, particularly a plan for Hamas to gradually disarm while Israel withdraws its forces. Hamas had previously agreed … Continue reading Kushner to visit Israel after Netanyahu rejects Gaza Board of Peace plan

Count Binface, the satirical British candidate known for wearing a garbage can on his head, won about 27% of the vote in a by-election against Nigel Farage. Binface, whose real name is satirist Jonathan Harvey, received 9,455 votes, a major increase from the 95 votes he received in his previous race. Farage won the election with about 63% of the vote in a contest that … Continue reading Count Binface wins hearts in bid to defeat Nigel Farage in U.K. election

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic Senate primary after defeating Rep. Angie Craig in a race that highlighted divisions between the party’s progressive and moderate wings. Flanagan has pledged to dramatically overhaul ICE, while also supporting progressive policies such as Medicare for All and an end to military aid to Israel. Her campaign received backing from prominent progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders and … Continue reading Peggy Flanagan vows to ‘rip ICE apart’ after toppling moderate Dem in key Senate battle

Mike Lindell has refused to concede Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary despite trailing Lisa Demuth by more than 45,000 votes. The Associated Press called the race for Demuth, who received about 43.4% of the vote compared with Lindell’s 32.5%. Lindell questioned the AP’s authority to declare a winner and said he would not give up until all votes were counted. His campaign follows years of promoting … Continue reading Mike Lindell refuses to concede in Minnesota primary despite getting far fewer votes

Karoline Leavitt will leave her position as White House press secretary by the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Leavitt, 28, said she is stepping down to spend more time with her husband and their two young children after recently returning from maternity leave. She became the youngest White House press secretary in history when she took the position in January 2025. Trump … Continue reading Trump says Karoline Leavitt resigning as White House press secretary

North Carolina Republicans have selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom as their nominee for a House seat after Rep. Chuck Edwards withdrew from the race following sexual harassment allegations. Balkcom will face Democrat Jamie Ager, who won his party’s primary in March. She has less than three months to campaign before Election Day, with absentee ballots scheduled to be mailed in early September. Edwards, who denies … Continue reading GOP committee picks Jennifer Balkcom to replace Rep. Chuck Edwards on November ballot

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has selected former Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate for her 2026 re-election campaign. Giles, who became an independent earlier this year, said he left the Republican Party because he believes political extremists are preventing progress. The election will mark the first time Arizona voters choose a lieutenant governor, following approval of a ballot measure creating the … Continue reading Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former Republican as running mate in re-election bid

President Donald Trump said Iran should compensate Americans killed or seriously injured in attacks, as well as families of Iranian protesters killed by the regime. Trump said he has instructed U.S. representatives to make compensation demands part of any future negotiations with Tehran. His comments came after Iranian officials demanded compensation for war damage as a condition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has … Continue reading Trump demands Iran compensate Americans and protesters after Tehran seeks war reparations

A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad, his brother Maher Assad and his cousin Atef Najib to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Syria’s 14-year conflict. The verdicts are the first sentences against Assad or members of his inner circle since his family’s five-decade rule ended in December 2024. The court accused Bashar Assad of using state agencies … Continue reading Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia

Far-right politician Nigel Farage faces an unusual challenger in this week’s parliamentary election in Clacton-on-Sea: spoof candidate Count Binface, who wears a garbage can on his head. Farage, the incumbent, is still expected to win despite an investigation into his campaign finances. Polls suggest Count Binface could receive around 20% of the vote. His support has been viewed by some as a sign of growing … Continue reading Count Binface runs against Reform Party’s Farage in UK election

Republican Rep. Max Miller of Ohio will remain in his reelection race after the deadline passed for Republicans to replace him as their nominee. Miller faced growing calls from fellow Republicans to step aside following allegations from his ex-wife that he physically abused her and their daughter, which he has denied. His father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, and Sen. Jon Husted urged Miller to leave office, … Continue reading Max Miller stays in Ohio House race as GOP ballot deadline passes

President Donald Trump has named White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf as the next White House counsel, elevating a longtime legal ally to one of the administration’s top legal positions. Scharf will replace David Warrington, who is leaving the administration for the private sector on September 1. Scharf previously worked as a lawyer for Trump, including on the presidential immunity case, and later helped oversee … Continue reading Trump names Will Scharf as White House counsel ahead of midterms

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, said he recently spoke with former President Barack Obama and hopes Obama will campaign with him. El-Sayed is seeking to unite Democrats after a divisive primary that highlighted tensions between the party’s progressive and moderate factions. He narrowly defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens and now faces Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the November election. El-Sayed … Continue reading El-Sayed says he spoke with Obama as Michigan Democrats look to unite

President Donald Trump declined to endorse Senate Majority Leader John Thune for another term as Republican leader. Trump said he gets along with Thune but disagrees with him over several key issues, including the Senate filibuster. Trump strongly supports eliminating the filibuster and quickly passing the SAVE America Act, while Thune says Republicans do not have enough votes to pass it. Trump warned that Democrats … Continue reading Trump declines to back Thune for another term as Senate GOP leader