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As anti-ICE protests enter their fourth day in Los Angeles, California, President Donald Trump calls on 700 Marines and 2,000 more National Guard troops to respond to sections of the protests that have devolved into riots. California Governor Gavin Newsom claims that approximately 300 of the original 2,000 have been deployed while ‘The rest are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders’ while President Trump has stated that the riots are getting out of hand and that Los Angeles would become ‘completely obliterated’ without the federal deployment. It has proved impossible for journalists to independently verify either Governor Newsom's or the Trump Administration's claims. Over the past 24 hours, the riots seem to be ongoing. Public infrastructure has been damaged with pedestrian signs damaged, park benches removed, cars burned, windows smashed, several fires set in dumpsters and trash sites, buildings tagged with graffiti, and businesses looted.

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John Fetterman becomes the first Democrat to condemn rioters in Los Angeles, calling it ‘Anarchy’ alongside saying Democrats ‘lose the moral high ground’ by failing to condemn attacks against federal buildings and officers. On the other hand, Democratic Representative Maxine Waters claims ‘There was no violence.’ Looting of department stores and Apple locations continued. The State of California has sued the Trump Administration for deployment of National Guard troops, bypassing the confirmation of the state governor in addition to requesting an immediate intervention U.S District Judge Charles Breyer declined Newsom’s emergency ruling request, granting the Trump administration's request for more time to respond to the governor’s filing. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

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As anti-ICE demonstrations entered their third day, President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles with 500 marines prepared to deploy. This deployment comes in response to attacks on federal buildings, rocks thrown at federal agents during operations, and multitudes of “kill ICE” graffiti sprayed around the area. Although most demonstrators appear to be peaceful and are often seen waving Mexican flags, some have escalated to violence against federal buildings and personnel, obstructing operations.  California Governor Gavin Newsom called federal control over California National Guard troops “unlawful,” and asked for President Trump to stand down. Recently, demonstrators blocked 101 Freeway in downtown LA as the California Highway Patrol cleared them. Additionally, other demonstrators set Waymo autonomous taxis on fire. Their reasoning is currently unknown as Waymo lacks any connections to ICE, but experts allege mob mentality is influencing decisions.

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In the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship named the “Madleen.” Those on board the ship include Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, and other activists from Brazil, Turkey, and Spain. The intercepted vessel has been carried to the Israeli port city of Ashdod and the Madleen crew has been detained. Israeli forces described the ship as a “selfie yacht”, while the Madleen crew stated that they were raising awareness about the current aid restrictions. The global backlash has emerged as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and the Turkish government have issued statements condemning Israel, describing them as a “flagrant violation of international law.”

#intl-politics #middle-east 

In a significant escalation early Friday that followed Ukraine’s decisive drone raid on strategic bombers deep in Russian territory, Russia has launched a retaliatory strike in what has been dubbed the “greatest aerial assault of the war.” Deploying a barrage of nearly 400 drones and 40 ballistic missiles across wide swaths of Ukraine including Kyiv, the strike is estimated to have resulted in at least 3 deaths and 50 injuries. In a recent interview, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled the Russian attack as an unwarranted “response” to its destroyed aircraft by blatantly “attacking civilians in Ukraine.”

#intl-politics #europe #conflict

The man who has been at the center of debates and legal battles over the Trump Administration’s mass deportations to El Salvador has been returned to the US after over 2 months. The Trump Administration, which had mistakenly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia and ordered by the Supreme Court to facilitate his return, made clear that he was only now returned due to an indictment on charges of migrant trafficking. Mr. Garcia will have a hearing on June 13, where, if convicted, could face up to 10 years in prison. Mr. Garcia’s lawyer has referred to the charges as “an abuse of power.”

#us-politics #us-legal

The White House shared a proclamation that people cannot enter the U.S. from Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions also apply to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. President Donald Trump is citing national security concerns — with recent events like the gasoline bombing of pro-Israel protestors in Boulder, Colorado — to justify this presidential action. During his first term, Trump also placed travel bans on 7 countries, with critics calling the action anti-Muslim.

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Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had a fallout, with Elon Musk alleging that Donald Trump is on the Epstein Client List. The fallout comes after House Republicans passed Trump's spending bill. The bill would add almost 5 trillion extra in deficit spending -  infuriating hard-line anti-deficit Republicans. In response, Elon tweeted: "I'm sorry...this massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is an absolute abomination..."

On Thursday, Trump criticized Elon in their Oval Office meeting, which triggered a bombshell response from Elon on X regarding Trump's presence on the Epstein Files being the "real" reason they hadn't been released yet. What will come of the breakup remains unclear.

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In a shock victory, Karol Nawrocki, the right-wing populist candidate, won the Polish Presidential election by a slim margin. He campaigned on a Christian nationalist platform set on vetoing much of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s agenda, in a sign of deepening rifts between the opposition and the incumbent party. Rafal Trzaskowski, the opposition candidate, campaigned on stronger European relations. However, due to rising support for Nawrocki among younger voters, this cost him the election which he otherwise would’ve won, according to polls. Overall, the agenda of Nawrocki is similar to if not more extreme than his predecessor, Andrzej Duda. 

#intl-politics #europe

Following months of political turmoil and the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after his controversial attempt to impose martial law, South Korea has elected opposition leader Lee Jae-myung as its new president. In a decisive victory, Lee pledged to prioritize national unity and begin healing the deep divisions across the country. This snap election comes just three years after the previous presidential race, in which Lee narrowly lost to Yoon Suk Yeol.

#intl-politics #asia

Dr. Marty Makary, despite being the commissioner of the FDA, has recently made it clear he is rather dubious of the previous regulations on the government's behalf regarding COVID-19. This comes at a time when US health regulation is changing, especially with the new leadership of RFK Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary, specifically his announcement that the government would no longer recommend vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. This feeds into a larger debate between RFK Jr. supporters and opposers, as his launch of what has been deemed a health revolution has currently unknown outcomes.

#us-politics #us-health

On Sunday, Boulder, CO was hit by an anti-semitic terrorist attack, according to the FBI. The suspect, an Egyptian national named Mohamad Soliman, stayed in the US illegally and planned the attack for over a year. He used Molotov Cocktails and flamethrowers to burn 10 people who were peacefully protesting for the release of hostages held in Gaza due to the war there. Naturally, this has sent shockwaves throughout the Jewish populace in the US as this event, coupled with the shooting of the Israeli Embassy staffers, has left many in the community on high alert.

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Israel recently accepted a new US-led ceasefire proposal; however, Hamas has demanded that it would only accept the proposal with firmer guarantees to end the war beyond a 60-day ceasefire. This goes in contrast to Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, who solely wants a ceasefire to release hostages, and has not ruled out prolonging the war. Furthermore, this response comes amid Israel’s announcement that it recently killed Hamas’ Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar. Had this proposal been approved it would have resulted in Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages and 18 deceased hostages for 1,111 detained Gazans. 

#intl-politics #middle-east

President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Jared was the CEO and founder of Shift4, a credit card processing company. His associations with former Trump-advisor and CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk are related to a string of business deals with the company. Elon Musk stated, “It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted” in response to the decision. The White House noted the withdrawal was a result of a review of “previous associations”.

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The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled President Trump’s tariffs as an overuse of presidential authority. Trump is the first president to use the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows the US president to impose tariffs without Congressional approval during times of national emergency. In April, the White House named trade deficits as the cause of a national emergency. Kush Desai, a White House Deputy Press Secretary, has called these judges unelected and should not be deciding how national emergencies are addressed. These federal judges were appointed by Presidents Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. 

#us-politics #us-legal #intl-econ

Since the beginning of this wildfire season, nearly 20,000 Canadians have fled from Manitoba due to record-breaking wildfires in western Canada. About 166 fires have expanded across the country’s provinces, with over 17 in Saskatchewan alone. States of emergency have been called across Canada as the wildfires remain at the highest level on the fire risk scale. The number of those impacted by evacuation orders has reached an all-time high as the fires continue to spread. Smoke from the fires is actively spreading to other regions, including the northern United States. 

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Following a conversation with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, President Trump agreed to delay the 50% tariff he announced last week from June 1st to July 9th to give more time for a trade deal to be reached. The EU has been preparing a list of retaliatory tariffs to impose on US exports if talks fail, ranging from $23 billion to $107 billion. However, a 10% universal tariff remains in place for the EU currently, likely staying even if a deal is reached, based on the United Kingdom’s recent precedent. 

#intl-econ #intl-politics #europe

Recently, France has been facing an onset of unexpected blackouts. Over 160,000 households were affected in the French Riviera, with reports that traffic lights, cash machines, and basic technological services were no longer functioning due to the electricity. Following this blackout, Sunday, May 25 saw yet another power blackout that caused 45,000 people to lose electricity in Nice, France. Nice’s Mayor, Christian Estrosi, mobilized French police forces to enhance surveillance and monitoring of electricity services around the region. Supposedly, two anarchist groups posted online to assert their involvement in the outage that disrupted the French Cannes Festival.

#europe #intl-politics 

A new warship built by North Korea suffered a catastrophic failure during its initial launch today. The ship - hailed as a leap forward and the next generation for North Korean naval technology, had a critical failure in its launch mechanism. The failure caused the ship to slide into the water prematurely - causing damage to the hull and some seawater to flow into the stern. Uncharacteristically, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un admitted to the failure, and vowed to punish those responsible for the failed launch - which he called a shame to the nation’s prestige and pride. Damage to the vessel is comparatively minimal - experts state it will take roughly 10 days to make repairs. The event comes as North Korea attempts to modernize its naval capabilities in the advent of what it calls increasing threats from South Korea and The United States. 

#asia #intl-politics

On Friday, May 23, 2025, Donald Trump gave Apple and other iPhone companies an ultimatum: either produce phones in the United States or face a 25% tariff. This move is a response to Apple’s plan to source the majority of its iPhones from other factory partners, such as India. Despite this, the feasibility of moving production over to the US is very slim. Analysts note that it is more profitable for Apple to continue to produce overseas and just take the 25% hit. Additionally, it is estimated that iPhone prices could triple to $3,500 if made in the US. What follows next will be a game of negotiations between Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and Donald Trump. 

#us-politics #us-tech

The US Supreme Court announced on Thursday that the state of Oklahoma may not provide government funding to religious charter schools. Charter schools are schools independently run but funded by taxpayer dollars. The judges were split 4-4 on the decision, which affirms the decision made by the Oklahoma State Supreme Court that religious charter schools are unconstitutional. This decision is a big setback for religious education activists. 

#us-politics #education

On Thursday, the Trump Administration and Department of Homeland Security ordered Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification terminated, declaring that the university would not turn over requested information on conduct records to the government last month. “Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status,” the US Department of Homeland Security said. This marks a sharper clash between Ivy League universities and the Trump Administration. 

#education #us-politics

Two staffers associated with the Israeli Embassy were shot dead while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington D.C. As a suspected gunman was being arrested, he yelled "Free Palestine", indicative of the motivation behind their attack. Israel’s UN ambassador has called this shooting “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism”. The shooter’s identity has yet to be released. 

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South African president Cyril Ramaphosa met with Trump on Wednesday in an attempt to mend ties following DOGE’s slashing of USAID funding—an action predicted to cost upwards of 500,000 South African lives in the next decade—and Trump’s claims of post-apartheid genocide towards Afrikan farmers following South Africa’s pioneered ICJ genocide case against Israel. Imperially, though white South Africans make up just 7.3% of the population, they own more than 70% of land and 65% of the nation's wealth. Additionally, white farmers only made up 1% of the 27,000 South African murders in 2024—data backing Ramaphosa‘s claim that there is “no genocide in South Africa”. 

#intl-politics #africa

Recently, credit ratings agency Moody’s downgraded the United States’s credit rating, a measure of how financially sound and trustworthy a country’s debt is, from its highest rating of AAA to the lower Aa1. The other two major ratings agencies, Fitch, and S&P, had previously downgraded the US from its perfect rating. The Moody’s rating downgrade was due to political gridlock in Congress and President Donald Trump’s proposed tax plan, which could add $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. The downgrade may increase the cost of borrowing for businesses, consumers, and the federal government. 

#us-politics #us-econ #intl-econ

In a visit to Senate, Rubio mounted a “vociferous defense” of the Trump Administration’s foreign policy under his leadership. Senate Democrats, like Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) called Rubio out for diverging from his principles through actions such as dismantling USAID and PEPFAR, programs that have supported millions throughout the globe. The recent statements stand in stark contrast to initial praise for Rubio and his ability to serve as a rational, respected voice in the Trump Administration.

#us-politics #democrats

On Tuesday, the US and Saudi Arabia unveiled a series of deals. Worth $600 billion, the deals ranged from defence, artificial intelligence and others, displaying Trump’s tacit support for the Gulf Nation’s leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During a speech, Trump lauded the Gulf nation, while on the sidelines, Crown Prince Salman to increase bilateral cooperation to a total of $ 1 trillion in the coming months. 

#intl-politics #middle-east #us-politics 

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said Sunday that Russia plans to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for training purposes. Ukraine stated that it has the purpose of intimidating them, the EU, and the US amid ongoing peace talks. President Trump stated Saturday that he plans to speak with both sides in the coming days, however, it is unclear whether these plans come as a result of future talks. It is unclear whether Russia plans to use future nuclearly armed ICBMs in the future.

#intl-politics #europe

On May 11th, Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, an American citizen, following pressure from the United States. He is expected to be picked up from where he is being held tomorrow. Steve Witcoff, the U.S Special Envoy to the Middle East stated that this was a gesture of goodwill from Hamas to the United States. Hamas had previously blamed an Israeli airstrike for his unknown whereabouts, however recanted that statement for this deal. Aid passageways are expected to be negotiated in coordination with Edan’s release.

#intl-politics #us-politics #middle-east

Back in June 2024, the US Supreme Court overturned Grants Pass v. Johnson, essentially allowing cities to “punish unhoused people for sleeping in public, even if they have nowhere else to go.” California Governor Newsom seeks to weaponize the decision, saying “There are no more excuses,” to cities in municipalities in California. Newsom is calling for cities, towns and municipalities within California to eradicate homeless encampments, the new ordinance is widely condemned as a violation of human rights. 

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The Bay Area Rapid Transit, colloquially known as BART, was forced to close Friday morning after a computer problem shut down the entire system. The system regularly transports 170,000 people a day, with its shutdown forcing many to seek alternatives. Seeing one of its steepest declines in ridership in the past few years, this recent error has left even more Bay Area citizens disillusioned with its capacity to succeed. 

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Donald Trump ordered the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to add 20,000 more officers to help enforce his migration policies. The new directive is part of Trump’s plan to incentivize undocumented migrants to self-deport. In order to reinforce the multiple pathways to force undocumented immigrants to leave the US. 

#us-politics #us-legal

State-issued identification cards and driver's licenses are now required to be federally compliant with REAL ID standards to be used as identification on domestic flights. Previously, state-issued cards used for domestic travel did not require a star or an American flag design. Passports and permanent resident cards, among other forms of identification, are still deemed valid. The Real ID Act of 2005 introduced guidelines for higher standards of identification cards to protect American safety, but enforcement was not required until May 7th, 2025.

#us-politics #us-tech #us-legal

On Thursday, white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel as thousands gathered at the Vatican in anticipation. Soon after, American Robert Prevost appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, becoming the first American elected pope and the second from the Americas. As world leaders send their congratulations, millions around the globe—especially in the United States—celebrate the historic moment. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV. From the new pope's inaugural speech, it appears he will carry forward the vision of the late Pope Francis. Prevost, a Villanova graduate, spent 20 years serving as a missionary in Peru. 

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Earlier today, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies to promote the domestic film industry and Hollywood. However, it is unclear how this tariff would work, as tariffs typically apply to physically imported goods, which movies are not. Additionally, many movies are made globally, with writing, production, editing, post-production, and visual effects divided amongst different countries, adding another logistical hurdle to Trump’s plan. In fact, the U.S. enjoys a trade surplus in movies, with the Motion Picture Association quantifying that American movies produced a $15.3 billion trade surplus in 2023. 

#intl-politics #us-politics

In the wake of a new update in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, gunmen killed 26 civilians in a region of Kashmir under Indian control.  After India accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack and promised retaliation, they launched a military operation against Pakistan, targeting “terrorist infrastructure” in both Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.  Resultantly, Pakistan shot down 3 Air Force planes and a drone in locations “within Indian territory”. This new development signifies a major escalation in the relationship between the two countries. As both countries have a long history of strife, peace seems even more elusive. 

#intl-politics #asia #conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed today to retaliate after the Israeli government reported that a missile launched by the Houthi group—a Yemeni proxy of Iran—struck Ben Gurion Airport, temporarily halting flights. The Iranian-backed Houthis have been launching missiles at Israel since the war in Gaza began; however, it is rare for a missile to hit its target. In a later statement, Netanyahu declared that “attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran,” adding that Israel would respond to the Houthi attack—and to Iran—“at a time and place of our choosing.”

#intl-politics #middle-east #conflict

Over recent months tensions have developed between the US and Mexico in issues ranging from migration to gang violence, the latter which Trump attempted to solve via sending US troops to Mexico which Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum went on to reject. This came as a shock and disappointment to President Trump, who has just gone on to blast Sheinbaum stating “she’s fearful of the powerful cartels.” However, with the two countries needing to come to a consensus to crack down on cartel trade that’s raising drug death rates in both countries, it’s clear a path of cooperation must be found.

#intl-politics #conflict #latin-america #north-america #alliances

British local elections held yesterday led to significant victories for Reform UK, a right-wing political party led by Brexit mastermind Nigel Farage. Reform won the largest number of county council seats, 677 seats, compared to any other political party in Britain. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left-wing Labour Party lost 186 seats and Kemi Badenoch’s centre-right-wing Conservative Party lost 676 seats. Reform won the popular vote and a national legislative by-election in Runcorn and Helsby. These successes confirm recent polls suggesting right-wing British voters are walking away from the Conservatives in favour of Reform while support for Labour also wavers.

#intl-politics #europe

In celebration of the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, the end of fighting in WW2 in Europe, Britain's King Charles and senior royals joined veterans and citizens in a grand military parade. With more than 1,300 members of Britain's armed forces, the 80th anniversary commemorates national unity, when Brits are growing less content with the world around them. 

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President Donald Trump has dismissed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz following a security breach involving a Signal group chat discussing military operations in Yemen. Waltz inadvertently added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat, leading to the leak of sensitive information. However, soon after Trump announced plans to nominate Waltz as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, pending Senate confirmation. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as acting National Security Adviser. Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong is also departing the administration.

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In a landmark decision, India decided it would include caste details in its next national census. This could reshape the country’s socio-economic and political landscape. Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the move Wednesday, calling it New Delhi’s commitment to the “values and interests of the society and country.” While no date was set, the inclusion of caste data could trigger an expansion of the existing quota system in jobs, education, and politics. This is currently capped at 50%, with 27% reserved for Other Backward Classes. The caste system remains a deeply rooted aspect of Indian life, but up-to-date demographic data has long been lacking.

#intl-politics #asia

On Wednesday evening, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made shocking announcements at a press conference concerning the retrieval of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a U.S. citizen wrongfully deported to an El Salvador mega-prison. This follows President Trump’s repeated promises that he “could” bring Garcia back. Rubio stated that he’d “never tell” if he’d spoken with El Salvadorian President Bukelele. “And you know who else I’ll never tell? A judge…because the conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president”. Garcia is actively located in the mega prison with no hope in sight for a timely return. 

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Ukraine has agreed to grant the US preferential access to new minerals deals and reconstruction investment in the United States-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund, though more details have yet to be released. This move was pushed by President Donald Trump to compensate for the US’s unmatched financial support to Ukraine. While the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s Oval Office meeting for a minerals deal marked a clear drift in US-Ukraine relations, Trump has recently shown push-back against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

#intl-politics #conflict #europe #intl-econ

On Friday, FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping a man evade immigration authorities. She’s accused of escorting the man and his lawyer after learning he was targeted for arrest. Taken into custody at the courthouse, Dugan appeared briefly in federal court before being released. She faces charges of concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers responded, saying the Trump administration “has repeatedly used dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level.”

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On April 26th, a person drove their car into a crowd celebrating Lapu Lapu Day, an event honoring Filipino heritage, in Vancouver, Canada. Eleven people are confirmed dead and twenty confirmed injured. The suspect in the attack, Kai-Ji Adam Ali, age 30, was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Police have stated that the suspect had a history of mental health issues and that the attack has no connection to terrorism.

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On April 22nd, militants open-fired at tourists in Pahalgam, a town in the Indian territory of Kashmir, killing 26 civilians. This is the deadliest attack in Kashmir since 2019, when a bomb killed 40 paramilitary personnel prompting border and aerial conflicts. Militant group Kashmir Resistance, also known as The Resistance Front, claims responsibility for the attack. Kashmir Resistance stems from Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-recognized terrorist group to unite Kashmir under Islamic and Pakistani rule. India’s response includes closing its Pakistan border and ordering Pakistani visa holders to leave the country. Pakistani officials deny involvement and are planning an official response.

#asia #conflict #intl-politics

On April 23, President Trump claimed that he was “actively” communicating with Beijing economic officials to make negotiations concerning the trade war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent supported this by claiming, “there is an opportunity for a big deal here”. However, on Thursday, Chinese officials contradicted these claims, saying these reports were entirely false. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated, “China and the U.S. have not engaged in any consultations or negotiations regarding tariffs, let alone reached an agreement.”  The U.S. has not yet responded to these claims. 

#intl-politics #asia #intl-econ

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced slashes to a ‘bloated’ State Department, citing a desire to maintain its effectiveness and pertinence. Although the plan is to cut around 15% of staff, including 132 domestic offices and 700 employees in D.C., it’s to serve as more of a proposal than a mandate. Notably, he plans to extinguish the Office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, a role which seeked to globally advance American ideologies. Additionally, the programs he plans to cut include the Office of Global Women’s Issues and DEI efforts in the department. 

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Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted Kyiv would not recognize Russian control of Crimea in response to US Vice-President JD Vance’s plan to “freeze the territorial lines… close to where they are today”. In an aggressive escalation, Vance threatened that if Ukraine failed to accept a US peace proposal, “the United States [would] walk away from this process”, lobbying that a freeze was the best scenario for Kyiv and critiquing Ukraine for not fighting harder for their territory when it was acquired in 2014.

#us-politics #intl-politics #conflict #europe

Pope Francis, leader of 1.3 billion Catholics, died Monday at 88, one of the oldest popes in history. Elected in 2013 as the first Latin American pontiff, he championed “a poor Church for the poor,” and spoke boldly for migrants, the environment, and women’s roles. Despite serious illness, he gave a final Easter blessing and, hours before his death, prayed for “a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and for those suffering in Gaza, Sudan, and the DRC. “Millions of Christians all over the world loved him,” said VP JD Vance. Obama praised him as “a rare leader,” Biden, “the People’s Pope,” and Putin remembered “this outstanding person.” As leaders across the entire world mourns, his final words will forever echo: “Let us hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves.”

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For recent weeks, Trump’s policy of “reciprocal Tariffs” has been making headlines with the US levying double digit tariffs on many countries around the world. The impact has particularly been felt the hardest in a single country: China, which we’ve had a trade war with in Trump's first term and who otherwise would be one of the United States' largest trading partners. However, the mutual importance the US has for China caused Beijing to just put out an announcement warning countries against colluding with the US to restrict trade with China. Clearly, China has already accepted the fact that they wouldn’t please the US, and are instead opting for a strategy of trying to beat the US on the international stage.

#us-politics #us-FoPo #intl-econ #intl-politics

The states of Louisiana, Missouri, and Virginia have reported their first measles cases in 2025, all of which have been credited to international travel. Victims of the virus include a young child in Northwest Virginia and another youngster in Missouri. Virginia state epidemiologist Laurie Forlano stated that the recent outbreak “is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international travel” and that “vaccination remains our best defense.”  These cases add fuel to the largest measles outbreak the nation has seen in six years. No American child has died of measles since 2003.

#us-health

Reports of U.S. officials leaking classified military plans are becoming more common. Two weeks ago, Atlantic Council editor Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a chat where strikes on Houthis were exposed. Now, on Easter Sunday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly leaked similar plans to his wife, brother, and lawyer via a second Signal group chat. Originally formed during his contentious hearing to coordinate with allies, Hegseth continued using the encrypted chat. This revelation surfaces as several of his closest advisers, including ex-press secretary John Ullyot and three recently fired senior officials, raise serious concerns about the secretary’s capabilities.

#us-politics #us-FoPo

Following the declaration of a 30-hour Easter Truce by Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, both sides have claimed to continue being under attack. Ukraine states it had been attacked “over 2,000 times” since the start of Sunday. A Ukrainian spokesperson said that from their perspective there “appeared to be no truce from Russia”. While Russia has claimed it has had to “repel” attacks from Ukraine. Experts claim these attacks were inevitable, as the short notice made coordinating stoppages difficult.

#intl-politics #conflict #europe

Demonstrations against President Donald Trump were held nationwide on Saturday, organized by the 50501 movement—short for 50 protests in 50 states, 1 movement—which mobilized over 3 million participants. The protests echoed the “Hands Off” marches held two weeks earlier across 1,400 cities. Rather than a single issue, demonstrators cited multiple grievances: the mistaken deportation of Abrego Garcia, Trump’s perceived friendliness toward Russia, cuts to university funding at institutions like Harvard, and Elon Musk’s firing of over 200,000 government employees. The demonstrations were intentionally scheduled to align with the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War.

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Russian President Putin declared an “Easter ceasefire” with Ukraine due to Easter falling on Sunday. However, there is skepticism in Kyiv, as US-led negotiations have stalled while President Zelensky demands that Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire. “According to the report from the commander-in-chief, Russian assault operations continue in some parts of the frontline, and Russian artillery continues to fire,” Zelensky said on Saturday night. “Unfortunately, we do not observe any ceasefire. The shelling continues, and civilians are under attack again,” said Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of Kherson’s regional military administration. “This is yet another confirmation that Russia holds nothing sacred.” 

#us-politics #intl-politics #conflict #europe

The United States Supreme Court temporarily halted the Trump administration’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used wartime law. Prior, the administration had sought to deport individuals allegedly associated with the Tren de Aragua gang without judicial review. Responding to an emergency request from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Court ruled that detainees are entitled to “notice and an opportunity to challenge removal.” The justices directed the government “not to remove any detainees in this case until further Court orders,” potentially setting a precedent on due process in similar immigration cases.

#us-politics #intl-politics #us-legal 

On Friday evening, President Donald Trump responded to reporters’ questions concerning the prospect of a Russo-Ukraine peace deal. The president most notably stated that the U.S. will, “take a pass” on the deals if not handled promptly, and that the administration is, “not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end”. This follows recent negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine concerning profits from Ukraine’s minerals, which was made possible due to the ceasefire deal. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has yet to respond to these threats. 

#us-politics #intl-politics #conflict #europe

The Trump administration has recently classified approximately 6,300 living immigrants as dead by moving their names and Social Security numbers to a federal database for the deceased. Titled the “Death Master File”, the administration stated that they hope this move will encourage immigrants to “self-deport” themselves. In reality, it has just made it harder for them to access basic services where Social Security numbers are required. However, these falsely-labeled-dead immigrants have been showing up at federal offices with legal documents proving they are alive. In the past week, the Social Security Administration has already had to reinstate around three dozen people of their living status as more immigrants move to prove their legitimacy. 

#us-politics #us-health 

On Thursday, April 17th, a shooting at Florida State University left two dead and six injured after a gunman opened fire near FSU’s student union during lunchtime. The suspect is a 20 year old FSU student named Phoenix Ikner, who is the son of veteran Leon County officer Jessica Ikner. Authorities say he used her former service weapon during the attack.  Police were able to catch the gunman and Ikner was shot and hospitalized. Ikner's motive remains unknown, but court records reveal that he had a troubled childhood.  Due to this devastating event, FSU is on high alert as investigations continue. 

#us-politics

On Thursday night, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported from the United States recently. This meeting marked the first public glimpse of Abrego Garcia since the march deportation. Van Hollen, who is a Democrat, was initially stopped by military officials when he tried to visit Abrego Garcia. In response to a photo of the meeting, El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, said Abrego Garcia is now “sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador”, though there are reports that the picture was staged.

#us-politics #intl-politics #democrats

The UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a woman is defined based on biological sex. The court sided with campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), which argued against the 2010 Equality Act’s protection of individuals undergoing a gender reassignment process and holding a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as women. The court explained that added protections for GRC holders discriminated against non-holders. Judge Lord Hodge emphasized that transgender people will still be protected from discrimination and that this ruling should not be treated as a triumph of one group over another.  Judges and UK spokespeople have indicated support for single-sex spaces.

#intl-politics #europe #health

The conflict between Harvard University and President Trump has escalated, with Trump threatening to ban international students from attending or applying to the prestigious institution. This comes after Harvard issued a detailed statement refusing to comply with the administration’s demands regarding DEI programs and ICE procedures—a move applauded by opponents of the administration. In retaliation, the administration has frozen or cut federal funding to the university, launched investigations into antisemitism, and moved to revoke tax-exempt status. The foreign student ban would be the latest escalation into the ongoing fight between the Trump administration and American Universities. 

#us-politics #education

This afternoon’s French-language debate in Montreal was dominated by the question, “Who is going to face Mr. Trump?” The liberals, currently headed by incumbent prime minister and former economic adviser Mark Carney, have been in power for over 9 years. Yet, despite expressing bipartisan alignment in retaliatory tariffs against the US, conservative leader Pierre Poilievre claimed that Carney is “just like Justin Trudeau”, a claim seconded by Yves-François Blanche of the separatist Bloc Québécois. Regardless, 3 in 5 Canadians reported stronger confidence in Carney’s approach to negotiations with the US, leading up to elections on April 28th, conveying discontent with the alternate 3 major party leaders’ broader campaigns.

#intl-politics #north-america

Recently appointed US Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., has resurfaced after remaining mostly silent about the Measles outbreak that has infected more than 700 Americans in 25 states as of April 10th. Surprisingly, yesterday during a press conference, he endorsed the Measles vaccine, but also contradicted himself by claiming the vaccine is “leaky” and the effectiveness declines 5% each year, which has been refuted by medical professionals. Later today in Washington, Mr. Kennedy suggests that rising autism rates are entirely due to an “environmental toxin” and vows to pledge more funding to "find the answer". RFK Jr. later adds that autism is “a preventable disease”. 

#us-politics #health

On April 14, 2025, Hungary passed a series of constitutional amendments to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. The amendments, which were passed by the two-thirds majority of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party, would permanently ban events and gatherings held by the LGBTQ+ community. The legislature also voted to mandate that all Hungarians are either male or female, thus providing a constitutional basis for denying the gender identities of transgender people. The government claims that these amendments are aimed at protecting children morally and physically, but the majority of people view it as an attempt by Orbán to reinforce his conservative ideals. 

#intl-politics #europe

Through Trump’s deferred resignation program, the Trump Administration offered workers full pay and benefits until September 30th, 2025, aiming to trim the size of the government. A recent statement from the IRS revealed that 22,000 employees took Trump’s latest buyout offer. This derives from the IRS’s total employee count of 100,000 at the beginning of the Trump Administration. With the mass exodus of workers, fiscal watchdog groups warn that losing so many workers will hamper the agency's tax processing and make collection less efficient, significantly reducing revenue for the US Government.

#us-politics

In 2019, Abrego Garcia was outside a Home Depot when he was asked about a murder. After denying knowledge of the crime, he was put in immigration proceedings, and a US immigration judge agreed to a deportation order - just not for El Salvador. The US government acknowledged that they deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia by mistake. The administration claimed that Garcia, who had lived in the US for 14 years, was related to the MS-13 gang. Instead of facilitating his release as the US Supreme Court has ordered, President Bukele retorted, “How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I’m not going to do it”. At the same time, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the U.S. would facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return if El Salvador wanted to send him back.

#intl-politics #us-politics

Incumbent President Daniel Noboa, a conservative, beat left-wing lawyer Luisa Gonzalez in Ecuador’s presidential elections just today. Noboa clinched around 56% of the vote, while Gonzalez held 44%. Noboa won a snap election in 2023 and is now given the reins for another four years to carry out his promises to eliminate drug cartels and gang violence. Gonzalez claimed that the election was rigged due to the first round elections being tight, however, the Organization of American States has expressed its confidence in the result. Donald Trump has congratulated President Noboa on his victory. 

#intl-politics #latin-america

Retaliating against President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, which now total 145% on Chinese products, China increased its retaliatory tariffs against America to 125% starting Saturday. China was the only country not included in Trump’s 90-day tariff pause announced on April 9th, possibly because its government promises to stand its ground in fighting Trump’s global trade war. China’s retaliatory tariffs were already at 84% before the increase. Economists now worry that rising trade tensions may crash America’s economy as businesses and their investors panic over a historically volatile market, worsening supply chain shortages and high prices across the United States.

#intl-politics #intl-econ

The US has announced a lift on tariffs for electronics coming from all countries, including China, which has seen a rise in hostilities with the US. This is bound to quell investor fear about tech tariffs because industry estimates show tech products like the iPhone getting far more expensive, especially those from China. However, there is ambiguity in scope, such as the confusion over whether this will be indefinite.  Overall, this sets the stage for a big tech-sector rally in the markets, however, nothing is certain as of now.

#intl-econ #tech #us-econ

On Thursday afternoon, a helicopter crashed into New York’s Hudson River, leading to six fatalities. There were no survivors of the horrific crash. Among those aboard were husband and wife Agustin Escobar and Merce Camprubi Montal, alongside their three children aged 4, 5, and 11 years old. The pilot’s identity has not yet been released. Escobar was a renowned executive of Siemens, a European technology company. New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated at a press briefing, “Our hearts go out to the family and those on board”. The crash follows a recent pattern of extreme aircraft errors. 

#democrats #us-politics

On Friday, Taiwan held its first tariff talks with US officials, with both sides eager for further discussions soon. Taiwan is set to face tariffs of 32% from the US, a rate they have said is unfair. In proposals to the United States, Taiwan has offered a zero-tariff regime in exchange for greater purchases and investments to the nation. 

#intl-econ #asia

In response to what he coined as an “economic emergency”, President Donald Trump announced a series of base level 20% tariffs on nearly all US trade partners early into his second term, citing hefty trade surpluses and a desire for centralized domestic trade as his incentives. Yet, with global market value wiped $6.6tr in value and the S&P 500 plummeting by more than 10% in 3 days, Trump abruptly implemented a 90-day “tariff back off”, lowering tariffs to 10% on most nations. Contrastingly, he raised the pressure on China, implementing a series of 125% “reciprocal tariffs” to further the present 54%.

#us-politics #intl-econ #intl-politics

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced today that the DoD is gaining a $5.1 billion budget cut. The funding that is being cut targets contracts, services like consulting, cloud IT, and help desk support. He emphasized a desire to redirect these funds to better health care for service members and eliminate inefficiencies. The cuts also include 11 contracts related to DEI initiatives, climate change, and pandemic responses, along with halting over $500 million in funding to universities that support DEI. 

#us-politics #us-econ

A U.S. export control investigation surrounding a chip made by semiconductor manufacturing company TSMC that ended up inside a Huawei AI processor could land Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company with a $1 billion or more penalty. After a TSMC-designed chip matched one in Huawei's high-end Ascend 910B artificial intelligence processor, concerns about trade secret theft could cause TSMC to be punished for export control violations and potentially harm its standing with the Trump administration. 

#us-politics #intl-econ #tech

President Donald Trump ordered reciprocal tariffs to be paused for 90 days to the baseline 10%, except China’s effective tariff being raised to 125%. Tariffs have been a bewildering and central part of Trump’s economic policy, which many of his allies have displayed annoyance with. This news was well received, with Nasdaq and the S&P 500 having their best days since 2001 and 2008, respectively.  However, President Trump is being accused of illegal market manipulation, given his Truth Social post telling his followers to buy his DJT stock hours before announcing the pause on tariffs. 

#us-politics #intl-econ

The US Supreme Court is permitting the Trump Administration to freeze $65m in teacher training grants to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in education systems. This order was the first in 3 attempts that America’s highest court allowed the Trump administration what it wanted on an emergency basis. Two programs included in these cuts include the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development, encompassing ~$600m in grants to prepare teachers in essential subjects. The Education Department claims that “divisive ideologies” like critical race theory, social justice activism, and anti-racism are part of these grant programs, warranting their cut. 

#us-politics #us-legal #education

Over 100 chemical weapons remain in Syria after the fall of dictator Bashar Assad as the new transitional government struggles to assert control over the country. The government has promised to work with international partners to destroy the remaining chemical weapons stockpile. However, locating all of the chemical weapons will be difficult, as many are probably hidden in caves or other places that are tough to find using satellite images. That means some weapons could be insecure and increases the possibility that terrorist and insurgent groups could gain access to them.

#middle-east #intl-politics #conflict

On Thursday, April 3rd, a federal judge stated that there is a strong likelihood that the Trump administration violated his orders by allowing two flights carrying migrants to proceed to El Salvador last month, when he ordered them to return to the U.S. Because of this, he suggested he could move to hold the government in contempt of court. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg urged the Justice Department to clarify its use of the Alien Enemies Act–a rarely invoked wartime power. He stresses this need for crucial flight details, which state protections protect the Trump administration claims. Boasberg remarked that if the actions were truly legal, the administration wouldn't have handled the situation in such a way.

#us-politics #us-legal #intl-politics

South Korea’s Constitutional Court officially ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday after a months-long legal battle that caused chaos in the South Korean government. South Korea’s parliament impeached President Yeol in December 2024 for declaring martial law earlier that month, an act many South Koreans considered a coup. However, Yeol remained in office while prosecutors brought his case before the law. Protests occurred across South Korea as Yeol’s trial progressed, and the government fell into turmoil as opposition officials attempted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo alongside Yeol. With Yeol ousted, South Korea’s presidency remains vacant until its next election.

#asia #intl-politics

On Monday evening, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker began a speech on the Senate floor dedicated to criticizing the Trump administration. He swore to speak for as long as he was “physically able”. It wasn’t until 25 hours and 5 minutes later on Tuesday evening that he yielded the floor, breaking the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes set by Senator Strom Thurmond in 1957. Upon the end of the historic speech, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned, “Do you know how proud this caucus is of you, Mr. Booker?” Booker is now recovering from the marathon speech. 

#us-politics #democrats

On April 1st, Susan Crawford won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election against conservative Brad Schimel, maintaining the court’s 4-3 liberal majority, margins expected until 2028. The race was the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, costing $98 million, with Elon Musk’s personally founded political action committee spending over $12 million. Elon Musk has also attempted to use personal financial incentives and rallies to sway the vote in his crusade against “activist judges”. Crawford’s slogan is “Fair. Impartial. Common Sense.” She emphasized judicial independence in this campaign, as well as championed union and abortion rights in the past.

#us-politics #us-legal

Pam Bondi, the current U.S. Attorney General, directed federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Pam Bondi repeatedly cites the premeditated nature of the crime as the justification for laying out a federal recommendation for the death sentence, a recommendation last issued in 2017. Mangione’s legal team has called the move “barbaric” and “political”. 

#us-politics #us-legal

Chinese air and naval military drills were conducted in Taiwan, a move that represents the mounting pressure on Taiwan as the 2027 invasion date inches closer. According to the Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command, these drills were to evaluate troop proficiency in “blockade and control” and “precision strikes.” Taiwan counted 71 Chinese aircraft and 13 navy ships, with drills being on all sides except the west of the island. They criticized the drills and sent their own warships in retaliation. Accompanying this move was a video from Beijing's Eastern Theatre Command labeling secessionist Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as a “parasite.” 

#asia #intl-politics