Latest News
Controversy Erupts as White House Demands Changes from Harvard University
The April 11 letter set off a public feud between the White House and Harvard University.
US Vice President JD Vance Engages in Diplomatic Talks with Vatican Officials
US vice-president, who is a Catholic convert, discusses immigration and international wars with secretary of stateThe US vice-president, JD Vance, had “an exchange of opinions” with the Vatican’s secretary of state over current international conflicts and immigration when they met on Saturday, the Vatican has said.The Vatican issued a statement after Vance, a Catholic convert, met Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. There was no indication he met Pope Francis, who has resumed some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia. Continue reading...
Mike Huckabee Begins Tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Israel with Visit to the Western Wall
TEL AVIV, Israel Newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee arrived in Israel this week, and his first order of business on Friday was to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, one of Juda… [+2016 chars]
Steve Coogan's 'The Penguin Lessons' Sparks Reflection on Wealth and Political Disengagement
Analysts trace a link between financial security and a troubling, increasingly devil-may-care, attitude to political risk Steve Coogan wants people to see his new film, The Penguin Lessons, and think about how they might be living in a wealthy cocoon, disengaged from the world.The film’s central character – a Briton teaching expat children in Argentina – rescues a penguin and tries to help local people persecuted by the rightwing government. Re-enacting a true story, Coogan is showing how it’s possible to be involved in local communities even when the protagonist is an outsider. Continue reading...
Menendez Brothers Seek Resentencing Amid Ongoing Legal Battles
Brothers had hoped resentencing hearing would pave way for immediate release – but judge orders pause until MayThe Menendez brothers have spent years waiting for another day in court and a chance to prove that they should be freed after serving over three decades in prison for the 1989 slayings of their parents.This week it appeared their time was perhaps finally coming – a judge was set to review their request for a resentencing and determine whether they have been rehabilitated. Their attorney, Mark Geragos, planned to ask the Los Angeles county judge Michael Jesic to reduce Erik and Lyle Menendez’s charges to manslaughter, which would allow them to be released from prison immediately. Continue reading...
SpaceX Partners with Defense Firms to Develop 'Golden Dome' Missile Defense System
The company pitched launching 400 to over 1,000 satellites to sense and track missiles, according to Reuters. The company pitched launching 400 to over 1,000 satellites to sense and track missiles, … [+1378 chars]
Palestinian Government Raises Alarm Over Threats to Al-Aqsa Mosque
Foreign Ministry calls on international community to deal with 'incitement' to destroy the holy site seriously.
Tightening U.S. Visa Security: New Scrutiny for Gaza Visitors
The order to conduct a social media vetting for all immigrant and non-immigrant visas should include non-governmental organization workers as well as individuals who have been in the Hamas-ruled enclave for any length of time in an official or diplomatic capacity, the cable sent by Secretary of state Marco Rubio said.
The 30th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing: Reflections on Timothy McVeigh's Legacy
Revulsion at deadly Oklahoma City explosion in 1995 has faded. But echoes of the blast, and its perpetrator, Timothy McVeigh, are heard today as far-right ideas storm the USThe world’s first reaction to the young military veteran and far-right radical who blew up a federal building in Oklahoma City 30 years ago this month was near-universal revulsion at the carnage he created and at the ideology that inspired it.A crowd yelled “baby killer” – and worse – as 26-year-old Timothy McVeigh was led away in chains from a courthouse in rural Oklahoma where the FBI caught up with him two days after the bombing. He had the same crew cut he’d sported in his army days and stone cold eyes. Continue reading...
PM Modi Engages with Elon Musk on India-US Technological Cooperation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he discussed his country's potential to collaborate with the US on "technology and innovation" during a conversation with Elon Musk. On Friday, Modi shared a… [+1815 chars]
Ecuador Goes on High Alert Amid Assassination Plot Against President Noboa
Government says on 'maximum alert' due to bid by rivals to kill re-elected president.
Nationwide Protests Against Trump Set to Mobilize Thousands
Organizers have called for 11 million people across country to participate this weekend in effort to ‘protect democracy’The US will witness its second wave of protests in a fortnight on Saturday as organizers seek to turn discontent with Donald Trump’s presidency into a mass movement that will eventually translate into action at the ballot box.More than 400 rallies are anticipated across the nation loosely organized by the group 50501, which stands for 50 protests in 50 states, one movement. Continue reading...
Trump May Abandon Ukraine Peace Talks 'Within Days,' Warns Rubio
PARIS, France U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that President Donald Trump will walk away from peace talks with Russia and Ukraine in a matter of days if no progress is made. Speaking a… [+2711 chars]
Europe's Urgent Need for New Defence Institutions Amidst Growing Threats
Leaders search for new ways to scale up weapons production and safeguard Nato as US pulls back
Court Sentences Prominent Opposition Figures in Tunisia Amid Deepening Repression
As the North African nation continues to slide toward authoritarianism, a court sentenced about 40 people, including high-profile rivals of the president, to up to 66 years in prison.
Voter Engagement Rises Following Canadian Election Debate
The first day of advance voting brought long waits in many parts of Canada.
The Egg Price Saga: A Reflection on Inflation and Political Discourse
This is part of Egg, an attempt to explain why Americans have absolutely lost their minds over egg prices. Our long national egg nightmare may soon be overbut other inflation freakouts are likely ju… [+7137 chars]
Dozens Sentenced in Tunisia for Alleged Conspiracy Against State Security
Dozens of defendants found guilty of "conspiracy against state security" and given sentences of 13 to 66 years.
Rachel Reeves Advocates for Continued Economic Engagement with China Amid US Pressure
Chancellor supports economic ties with Beijing as she prepares to fly to US next week for trade deal talksRachel Reeves has dismissed the idea of economically disengaging from China, amid concerns the US may put pressure on the UK to limit its deals with Beijing.The chancellor, who will discuss a trade deal with the US on a trip to Washington next week, said it would be “very foolish” for Britain to have less involvement with Xi Jinping’s administration. Continue reading...
Canadians Face Crucial Choice in Upcoming Parliamentary Elections
The April 28 election will come down to two candidates with starkly different personalities and experience: Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre.
Carney's Debate Performance Fuels Tensions in Quebec Politics
Voters are overlooking Mark Carney’s linguistic gaffes and lack of knowledge about the French-speaking province, viewing him as the most capable candidate to deal with President Trump.
Political Fallout from Wealthy Comments: A Divided Response
“You have to laugh to keep from crying,” one Republican pollster said about recent comments by the billionaires on the stock market, retirement funds and Social Security.
Kyiv and Washington Move Towards Mineral Resources Deal Amid Ongoing Conflict
By Anastasiia Malenko and Christian Lowe KYIV (Reuters) - Kyiv said on Friday it aims to complete talks by the end of next week about a deal with Washington on jointly exploiting Ukrainian mineral r… [+4080 chars]
Supreme Court Halts Deportations of Venezuelan Migrants Amid Legal Dispute
Block on removal of migrants sets up possibility of another challenge by Trump administration to power of the courts.
Trump Administration Faces Challenges in New Nuclear Deal Negotiations with Iran
After Iran’s declaration that it will not make concessions on its illegal nuclear weapons program, a second round of talks between the U.S. and Tehran get underway in Rome.
Harvard University and Trump Administration Clash Over Antisemitism Policies Amid Confusion
A confrontation ignited between Harvard University and the Trump administration over antisemitism policies, potentially triggered by an erroneously sent letter containing unacceptable demands regarding hiring, admissions, and curriculum. Despite initial disavowal, the administration escalated the conflict, threatening Harvard's funding after the university went public, leading to a significant clash possibly fueled by internal miscommunication within the White House.
US Supreme Court Halts Deportation of Venezuelan Gang Members Under 18th-Century Law
The US Supreme Court issued a brief order early Saturday temporarily blocking the deportation of Venezuelan migrants detained in northern Texas. While US President Donald Trump has justified the mass detention and deportation of migrants under an 18th century wartime law, the Supreme Court has ruled that deportees must be given a chance to legally challenge their expulsion.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Tattoos Spark Controversy Amid Deportation Debate
President Trump's reliance on tattoos to identify gang members for deportation, particularly Venezuelans, faces growing criticism. Experts warn against using tattoos as sole evidence, citing cases like Andry Jose Hernandez Romero's deportation based on innocuous tattoos.
U.S. Supreme Court Halts Deportations of Venezuelan Men Amid Legal Challenges
The order is the latest example of how the courts are challenging the Trump administration’s overhaul of the immigration systemThe US supreme court has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily halt the deportation of Venezuelan men in immigration custody, after their lawyers said they were at imminent risk of removal without the judicial review previously mandated by the justices.“The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court,” the justices said early on Saturday. Continue reading...
Tunisian Court Sentences Opposition Leaders to Lengthy Prison Terms Amid Authoritarian Allegations
Prominent politicians, businessmen and lawyers are among those that have been sentenced to decades in prison by a Tunisian court on charges of conspiring against state security, state media said Saturday, as part of a mass trial against opposition figures and vocal critics of President Kais Saied's administration.
Independent Candidate Richie Vallance Campaigns for Mayor in Doncaster Amidst Rising Tensions
Residents feel city is in decline and polls suggest Reform could take control of council from Labour next month“You can’t fix the system with the same hands that broke it,” Richie Vallance shouted through a megaphone from his mobility scooter. “Let’s make Doncaster Doncaster again,” he yelled at passersby in the city centre, who mostly politely ignored him.Vallance is standing as an independent candidate for mayor in the local elections on 1 May, when all 55 seats on the city’s council will also be up for grabs. The small South Yorkshire city is a key battleground that will be a test of Labour’s resilience in the face of rising public support for Reform UK. Continue reading...
Labour Leaders Suggest Keir Starmer Channel Trumps Media Strategy
Some in his party argue the prime minister’s cautious approach is out of step with modern politicsSenior Labour figures are urging Keir Starmer to take a leaf out of Donald Trump’s book and make more frequent media appearances in an attempt to dominate the political agenda as the US president does.MPs told the Guardian they want the prime minister to act more like Trump, who has upended political convention by televising large parts of his cabinet, holding long bilateral meetings on camera and calling in to live television shows. Continue reading...
JK Rowling's Controversial Donation Sparks Debate Over Transgender Rights
JK Rowling faces scrutiny for donating £70,000 to For Women Scotland, following a UK Supreme Court ruling impacting transgender rights. The court decided trans women aren't legally women in specific contexts, sparking debate over sex-based protections. Rowling celebrated the ruling, while critics view it as a setback for transgender rights, reflecting broader global challenges.
Iranian Delegation in Rome for Critical Nuclear Negotiations with the U.S.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Rome ahead of the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington on the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme, state media said Saturday. The meeting comes one week after an initial round of negotiations in Oman.
Rising Prices: The Impact of Trump's Tariffs on US Consumers
Expectations of inflation, and recent waves of price rises, could be self-fulfilling and fuel ‘greedflation’ – and it may not only apply to US consumersOver the past few years consumers have grown used to seeing prices rise at an exorbitant rate. The cost of everything – from used cars to utility bills and the humble loaf of bread – has rocketed in the worst inflation shock across advanced economies since the 1980s.While inflation has cooled in the past year, talk of fast-rising prices is back on the agenda from Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. Continue reading...