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

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders held a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Detroit with Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and House candidate Donavan McKinney. Sanders called for leaders willing to challenge the political and economic establishment and urged support for El-Sayed’s Senate bid. El-Sayed promoted progressive policies such as Medicare for All and abolishing ICE and previously lost the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial primary to Gretchen Whitmer. He is … Continue reading Bernie Sanders campaigns with controversial Michigan Senate candidate

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he is sending Rep. Joe Morelle to meet with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to discuss possible mid-decade redistricting in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on voting rights. The Court’s 6-3 decision weakened a key Voting Rights Act provision and could affect majority-minority districts nationwide, prompting Democrats to consider countermeasures. Jeffries argued Democrats must … Continue reading Top Democrat aims for New York redistricting after Supreme Court’s Voting Rights ruling

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a newly redrawn congressional map into law on Monday, a move Republicans say could help them gain up to four additional U.S. House seats. The GOP-controlled Legislature approved the map shortly before DeSantis formally enacted it, prompting immediate legal challenges. A lawsuit filed by civil rights groups and Florida voters argues the map violates anti-gerrymandering protections and constitutes an extreme … Continue reading DeSantis signs Florida’s new GOP-friendly congressional map into law

President Trump said the United States will reduce its troop presence in Germany further, beyond an initial cut of 5,000 soldiers, as tensions with German leadership grow over the Iran conflict. The Pentagon has already begun a planned drawdown, but Trump signaled even deeper reductions are likely. Republican lawmakers expressed concern that pulling troops from Europe could weaken U.S. deterrence against adversaries. At the same … Continue reading Trump says U.S. will pull ‘a lot’ more troops from Germany

Sen. Thom Tillis said he may oppose confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche if he is nominated, citing concerns over the Justice Department’s handling of Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot cases. He criticized a recent DOJ move to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys members involved in the attack. Tillis said his stance against leniency for those who committed violence on … Continue reading Tillis leaves door open to not backing Blanche nomination over Jan. 6 appeals

Sen. Adam Schiff said the Justice Department pursued a new grand jury indictment against former FBI Director James Comey for political reasons, arguing it is tied to President Trump’s influence and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s desire to keep his position. The indictment stems from a social media post by Comey that prosecutors allege was a threat against Trump, though Comey has denied any violent … Continue reading Schiff: DOJ prosecuting Comey because Blanche ‘wants to keep this job’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Rome this week in an effort to improve strained relations between the United States, Italy, and the Vatican. He is expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, though a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has not been confirmed. The visit comes amid tensions linked to … Continue reading Marco Rubio to visit Rome, reportedly to ‘thaw’ US relations with Pope and Meloni

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government may consider banning some pro-Palestinian marches, citing concerns about their “cumulative effect” on the Jewish community following recent violence in London. He said while peaceful protest and free expression must be protected, certain chants such as “Globalise the Intifada” are unacceptable and should be prosecuted. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been frequent in the UK since the Gaza war … Continue reading UK PM Starmer says there could be new powers to ban pro-Palestinian marches 

President Donald Trump said he will raise U.S. tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25% next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with a previously agreed trade deal. He said the move follows ongoing disputes over the agreement, which had capped auto tariffs at 15%, and claimed European countries, especially Germany, are not meeting their commitments. Trump also criticized … Continue reading Trump says he will hike tariffs on EU cars to 25% 

Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera was convicted of illegally lobbying U.S. officials on behalf of Venezuela’s government without registering as a foreign agent. Prosecutors said he worked to influence U.S. policy toward Nicolás Maduro’s regime and received millions through a contract tied to a Venezuelan state-linked company. The trial in Miami included testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said he was unaware of … Continue reading Former US congressman convicted of secretly lobbying for Venezuela

The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has effectively ended due to an April ceasefire, allowing it to avoid seeking congressional approval under the War Powers Resolution. Officials say there have been no exchanges of fire since the ceasefire began, and therefore the legal 60-day limit for unauthorized military action does not apply. The interpretation has been challenged by Democrats and some … Continue reading Trump administration says its war in Iran has been ‘terminated’ before 60-day deadline

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to resume talks, suggesting that negotiations over the ongoing conflict remain stalled. Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran is open to diplomacy but only if the United States changes its current approach and rhetoric. The standoff comes amid continuing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, while a … Continue reading Trump says he’s dissatisfied with Iranian proposal as rift with allies deepens

President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation ending a record 76-day shutdown of key agencies at the Department of Homeland Security. The bill restores funding for services like the Coast Guard, TSA, Secret Service, FEMA, and cybersecurity operations. Immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE and Border Patrol were already funded separately and did not miss paychecks. The shutdown had caused furlough risks, delayed operations, and uncertainty … Continue reading Trump signs DHS legislation, ending record-breaking shutdown

Kim Jong Un praised North Korean troops who fought in Russia’s Kursk region for choosing “self-detonation” to avoid capture. He made the remarks during a memorial ceremony honoring soldiers killed while supporting Russia’s war effort in Russia. Western and South Korean officials estimate North Korea sent thousands of elite troops to assist Russian operations in the area. Reports from Ukraine previously described instances of North … Continue reading Kim Jong Un said North Korean troops chose ‘self-detonation’ to avoid capture by Ukraine

Brazil’s Congress voted to override a presidential veto and pass a law that could reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence for allegedly plotting a coup. The move is seen as a setback for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose government is expected to challenge the law in court. Legal experts say the legislation may cut decades from Bolsonaro’s sentence by limiting how overlapping … Continue reading Brazil’s Congress overrides Lula’s veto of a bill to reduce Bolsonaro’s sentence

Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest in Myanmar, according to state media. She has been detained since the 2021 military coup and was previously sentenced to 33 years in prison on multiple charges widely criticized by rights groups. Officials said the transfer and sentence reductions were part of religious holiday pardons meant to show “humanitarian concern.” Her sentence was … Continue reading Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi moved from prison to house arrest

President Donald Trump threatened to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany after tensions with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Trump said the U.S. is reviewing its military presence and accused Germany of being unhelpful in the war effort. Merz criticized Washington’s handling of the Iran conflict but maintained that relations with Trump remain stable. The dispute comes amid broader strain over … Continue reading Trump says he is weighing reducing American troop presence in Germany

The Trump administration has reportedly terminated all 22 members of the National Science Board, according to two dismissed board members. The board, created in 1950, advises the National Science Foundation and the federal government on science and engineering policy and is typically composed of academics and industry experts serving six-year terms. Members said they were removed without explanation and were told the decision took immediate … Continue reading Trump administration fires entire National Science Board

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington for a state visit, meeting President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House amid heightened tensions and recent security concerns. The visit included private meetings, a tour of the White House grounds, and a British embassy garden party attended by US officials and political figures. Charles is scheduled to address a state dinner … Continue reading King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Trumps at White House

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis released a proposed congressional redistricting map that could shift the state from a 20–8 Republican advantage to a 24–4 advantage. The plan is expected to advance through the GOP-controlled legislature in a special session but has already drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. Critics argue the early release of a partisan-labeled map may violate Florida’s constitutional “Fair Districts” rules … Continue reading Ron DeSantis releases new congressional map creating four more GOP-leaning seats in Florida