A Virginia state court judge blocked the state’s recent redistricting referendum, ruling that votes on the measure are invalid and cannot be certified or implemented. The judge said the ballot process violated the state constitution, including a public notice requirement, and described the question presented to voters as misleading. The referendum, approved by a narrow margin, aimed to allow lawmakers to redraw congressional maps and … Continue reading Judge blocks Virginia from using new congressional maps

President Donald Trump said he has ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessels laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with Iran over the key global oil route. He also directed minesweeping operations to be expanded “at a tripled up level” and claimed the U.S. has full control of the waterway. The Strait, which normally carries about 20% of global … Continue reading Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill any boat’ laying mines in Hormuz Strait

EU leaders have approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a new sanctions package against Russia, while also discussing Ukraine’s stalled bid to join the European Union at an informal summit in Cyprus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected any idea of “partial” EU membership, insisting Ukraine deserves full accession because it is defending Europe and paying a human cost in the war. He urged … Continue reading Ukraine needs full not symbolic membership in the EU, Zelenskyy says

The European Union has imposed a new round of sanctions targeting 20 additional Russian banks, further restricting their ability to conduct euro transactions and access international financial systems like SWIFT. The measures are part of the EU’s 20th sanctions package in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and expand the total number of sanctioned Russian lenders to around 70. The EU also added banks from … Continue reading EU sanctions more Russian banks to squeeze Putin’s war economy

A group of Republican senators joined Democrats to block an attempt to attach voter ID and citizenship verification measures to a broader GOP immigration funding bill, with the amendment failing 48–50 during a late-night Senate vote session. The proposal, led by Sen. John Kennedy, would have required voter ID, limited voting to Election Day, and imposed faster ballot counting rules, but it lacked enough Republican … Continue reading Republicans fail to attach SAVE America Act to party-line funding package

A planned trip by Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for further U.S.-Iran peace talks has been delayed after Iran did not respond to the latest American negotiating positions. The postponement comes amid rising tensions tied to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and concerns that diplomacy is stalling. Iranian officials said talks could still happen if U.S. pressure and threats ease, while disputes continue … Continue reading Vance trip to Pakistan for Iran talks is on hold

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., said he has no plans to resign despite a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, dating violence, and campaign finance violations. He said he is cooperating fully with the probe and submitting requested documents, while expressing confidence in the process. Lawmakers, including GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, have introduced a resolution to expel him, though Mills denies any wrongdoing … Continue reading Rep. Cory Mills says he won’t resign from Congress amid ethics probe into misconduct allegations

Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not support Kevin Warsh’s nomination to lead the Federal Reserve unless the DOJ drops its investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The probe focuses on alleged cost overruns in Fed building renovations, which Tillis suggested are not serious enough to justify the inquiry. He argued the investigation, led by federal prosecutors, is interfering with a routine transition at … Continue reading Tillis urges DOJ to end Powell probe, clear way for Warsh