Politics

The Smithsonian Institution has denied political influence in its decision to remove a display about President Donald Trump's impeachments from the National Museum of American History. The institution stated Saturday that it removed the "temporary" placard for failing to meet museum standards regarding "appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation." Officials explained the display was inconsistent with other exhibit sections and obstructed views of objects within its case. "We were not asked by any Administration or other government officials to remove content from the exhibit," the Smithsonian said in a statement. The institution, which operates 21 museums and the National Zoo, announced plans to update the impeachment section in coming weeks to "reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation's history." The Washington Post reported Thursday that the museum removed explicit references to Trump's impeachments last month, leaving the exhibit incorrectly stating […]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established a standalone office in Wellington, New Zealand, marking a significant expansion of US law enforcement presence in the Asia Pacific region. The move represents both countries' coordinated efforts to address Chinese influence across the region. FBI Director Kash Patel personally traveled to New Zealand to inaugurate the office, emphasizing the "strong relationship" between the FBI and New Zealand's law enforcement and intelligence agencies during Thursday's opening. Speaking in a video shared by the US embassy, Patel highlighted US-New Zealand collaboration on China-related issues as particularly significant. "Some of the most important global issues of our times are the ones that New Zealand and America work on together – countering the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] in the Indo PACOM theatre, countering the narcotics trade, working together against cyber-intrusions and ransomware operations and, most importantly, […]

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will recognize Palestine as a state by September unless Israel takes specific actions to end the Gaza conflict and commit to lasting peace. Following an emergency cabinet meeting Tuesday, a government statement revealed Starmer's conditions: Israel must agree to a ceasefire, halt plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, and support a political path toward a two-state solution. Recognition could occur before the UN General Assembly in New York if these demands aren't met. The statement emphasized that "there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas" and outlined parallel demands for Hamas to release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, accept exclusion from Gaza's future government, and disarm. Starmer called ministers back from summer holidays to discuss a draft European-led peace initiative and plans for increased humanitarian […]

President Donald Trump has clarified his position regarding potential meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, denying reports that he is actively seeking a summit while leaving open the possibility of visiting China. "The Fake News is reporting that I am SEEKING a 'Summit' with President Xi of China. This is not correct, I am not SEEKING anything!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday. "I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended. Otherwise, no interest! Thank you for your attention to this matter." Trump's statement followed a Reuters report from last week indicating that aides to both leaders have discussed the possibility of a summit during a planned presidential trip to Asia later this year. According to unnamed sources familiar with the discussions, Trump and Xi […]

The United States and European Union have reached a comprehensive trade agreement imposing a 15 percent import tariff on most EU goods, preventing a potential transatlantic trade war. The agreement was negotiated Sunday between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland, ahead of an August 1 deadline for introducing higher tariffs. Trump characterized the deal as the "biggest deal" ever made, while von der Leyen emphasized it would provide necessary "stability" and "predictability." However, European leaders have expressed mixed reactions to the agreement with the EU's largest trading partner. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen acknowledged the compromise nature of the deal, stating: "The trade conditions will not be as good as before, and it is not our choice, but a balance must be found that stabilises the situation and that both sides […]

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 […]