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United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly rejected French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement to recognize a Palestinian state, while the Trump administration confirmed it will boycott an upcoming United Nations conference on a two-state solution. Rubio criticized Macron's "reckless decision" on X Thursday night, claiming it "only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace." This followed Macron's earlier statement that France would officially recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. "In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine," Macron posted on X. Currently, 142 of the 193 UN member countries recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state. However, several major Western nations including the US, United Kingdom, and Germany have refused recognition. European Union […]

Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a defamation lawsuit against American podcaster Candace Owens, who alleged that the French president's spouse was previously male. The 218-page complaint was filed Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court against Owens, who commands millions of followers across X and YouTube. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified punitive damages. According to their legal statement, the Macrons pursued litigation after Owens repeatedly refused requests to retract what they termed false and defamatory statements made in an eight-part series titled "Becoming Brigitte" across YouTube and podcast platforms. The Macrons allege the series contained "verifiably false and devastating lies," including claims that Brigitte assumed another person's identity and underwent gender transition, and that the couple are blood relatives engaged in incest. Their complaint addresses the circumstances of how the couple met when the current 47-year-old […]

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump can remove three Democratic members of a consumer safety watchdog, delivering him a victory in his efforts to concentrate more executive power. The court's decision permits Trump to dismiss three members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission appointed by his Democratic predecessor, former President Joe Biden. This ruling overturns a lower court decision that had blocked Trump from removing them, determining he had exceeded his authority. Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric and Richard Trumka Jr had filed suit against the Trump administration in May after being terminated from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an independent body established by Congress. Their seven-year terms were scheduled to expire in 2025, 2027 and 2028, respectively. In their lawsuit, the commissioners argued that Trump had overstepped his presidential powers by firing them without cause. […]

The European Union has issued warnings to Israel regarding deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where Palestinian deaths from starvation have reached at least 101. This development coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts as President Trump's special envoy prepares for European ceasefire discussions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated Tuesday that "all options remain on the table if Israel doesn't deliver on its pledges" to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. She condemned Israel's killing of civilians seeking aid as "indefensible" and reported speaking with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar about aid flow concerns, emphasizing that Israeli military forces "must stop killing people at distribution points." Following recent EU meetings reviewing relations with Israel amid criticism of its Gaza operations, Kallas indicated Israel had committed to improving humanitarian conditions. These commitments included increasing aid trucks, crossing points, and distribution routes. However, aid officials […]

President Donald Trump announced the United States has reached what he describes as a "massive" trade agreement with Japan, one of America's largest trading partners. Under the agreement, Japan will invest $550 billion in the US while facing a 15% tariff on goods exported to America, below the 25% rate Trump had previously threatened. Trump stated that Japan would open its economy to US products including cars, trucks, rice and agricultural goods. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba welcomed the announcement, noting it represented "the lowest figure to date among countries with trade surpluses with the US." "I just signed the largest trade deal in history, I think maybe the largest deal in history with Japan," Trump declared at a White House event Tuesday evening. He emphasized that negotiations involved Japan's "top people" and resulted in "a great deal for everybody." […]

Interpol has removed its most-wanted designation for anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd conservation group, who faced charges in Japan over a 2010 whaling ship encounter. The international police organization had issued a "red notice" at Japan's request for the arrest of the 74-year-old Canadian-American Watson, known for his confrontational tactics against whaling vessels on the high seas. Interpol determined the notice was "disproportionate," according to Watson's Paris-based lawyer William Julie on Tuesday. Red notices are global requests for law enforcement to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending legal action, based on judicial warrants from requesting countries. The Captain Paul Watson Foundation quoted the activist on social media saying: "Finally I am free." Watson stated that Japanese whalers had pursued him for 14 years, since his initial detention in Frankfurt, Germany in May 2012, describing it as […]

Columbia University has implemented disciplinary actions including expulsion, suspension, and degree revocation against dozens of students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The student activist organization Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which advocates for the university to sever financial connections with Israel, stated that approximately 80 students have faced expulsion or suspension for up to three years due to their participation in antiwar protests. Columbia issued a statement Tuesday explaining that recent student punishments stem from "disruption of Butler Library in May 2025 and the encampment during Alumni Weekend in spring 2024." The university emphasized that "disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences." CUAD characterized the university's sanctions as disproportionate, claiming they "hugely exceed precedent for teach-ins or non-Palestine-related building occupations." The group declared their continued commitment, stating "We will […]

President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over the central bank's interest rate policies, raising concerns about Federal Reserve independence. Trump's primary concern centers on the Fed's decision to maintain its benchmark interest rate between 4.25 and 4.50 percent. The central bank has resisted lowering rates, which would reduce borrowing costs and stimulate economic growth, citing inflation concerns. Powell and his colleagues worry that prices could rise significantly due to Trump's proposed tariffs, while Trump argues rates should drop to as low as 1 percent. The president's attacks on Powell intensified in April when he called the Fed chair "a major loser" and "numbskull," stating his "termination cannot come fast enough." Trump has since made conflicting statements about firing Powell and recently sought Republican lawmakers' opinions on the matter. White House officials have joined […]