PoliticsWally Funk, the pioneering aviator who secured her place in history as the oldest woman to reach space, has died at her home in Grapevine, Texas, at age 87. A trailblazer who spent decades fighting gender barriers in flight, she finally achieved her lifelong ambition during a 2021 suborbital voyage.
PoliticsA sweeping purge of the Election Assistance Commission unfolded Thursday as President Donald Trump abruptly removed the remaining members of the federal agency responsible for certifying voting systems and managing national voter registration standards. The terminations leave the bipartisan body leaderless amid intensifying scrutiny over election administration protocols.
PoliticsFrom the escalating civil war in Sudan and renewed military friction in the Gulf to domestic unrest in Ukraine and South Africa, a series of crises on Thursday forced world leaders to navigate a landscape defined by hardening policies, shifting alliances, and an intensifying struggle for internal stability.
PoliticsAyatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest at the Shrine of Imam Reza on Friday, concluding a week of state-orchestrated funeral processions across Iran and Iraq. As mourners in Mashhad chanted for revenge against the United States, the newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained entirely absent from public view.
PoliticsTyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, reportedly wept and expressed immediate remorse for the shooting. In a video interview played in court Thursday, Robinson’s former roommate, Lance Twiggs, detailed how the suspect returned home the day after the killing and considered surrendering to authorities.
PoliticsAfter weeks of speculation following South Africa’s historic World Cup knockout stage run, 74-year-old Hugo Broos has confirmed his departure from the national team. The veteran Belgian manager, who led the squad to its first tournament appearance in 16 years, insists his decision to leave the bench is final.
PoliticsRobert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine currently serving a decade-long prison sentence in Russia, has been admitted to a hospital for an undisclosed illness. The transfer prompted a Voronezh court to postpone a hearing regarding a prosecutor's appeal, casting fresh uncertainty on the status of a detainee identified as a key figure in potential prisoner exchange negotiations.
PoliticsThe U.S. House of Representatives will vote next week on the Sunshine Protection Act, a measure seeking to end the biannual tradition of shifting clocks. Having cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee with a 48-1 vote, the bill aims to lock in daylight saving time year-round, pending final legislative approval.
PoliticsFlowers and candles now mark the pavement on Canal Street where Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer this week. The incident in the historic East End neighborhood has shattered the relative calm of Magnolia Park, a community built by generations of Mexican families.
PoliticsPresident Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine and the United States have reached a political agreement to license the domestic production of PAC-3 Patriot interceptors. The deal, finalized following talks with President Donald Trump, aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense against Russian ballistic missile strikes on its major cities.
PoliticsIranian armed forces launched a wave of strikes against U.S. military infrastructure across Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain on Thursday, shattering a fragile three-week ceasefire. The offensive follows reports of explosions near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, occurring just as the nation concluded the funeral rites for late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Sudanese army has effectively stalled a new U.S.-brokered peace proposal, demanding that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) vacate all cities occupied since May 2023. Documents reviewed by Reuters reveal this condition serves as a core hurdle to a humanitarian truce intended to pave the way for a civilian-led transition.
PoliticsA senior Syrian security official confirmed on Thursday that the militant cell behind this week’s deadly bombings in Damascus operated under the banner of Islamic State. The findings emerge from preliminary investigations launched immediately after the Tuesday attack, which targeted the heart of the Syrian capital.
PoliticsThe U.S. Department of Justice has secured a settlement with the Jersey City Board of Education to terminate race-based admissions practices at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School. This agreement marks a significant shift in the administration's ongoing campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public education.
PoliticsUnder the banner of securing true peace, Kim Jong Un has authorized a quantitative and qualitative expansion of North Korea’s nuclear forces. Following an enlarged meeting of the Workers' Party’s Central Military Commission, the state-run KCNA confirmed a sweeping directive to modernize the nation's military infrastructure and intelligence capabilities.
PoliticsAfter months of legislative stagnation, the U.S. House of Representatives is finally moving toward a floor vote on the Sunshine Protection Act. The measure, which seeks to establish daylight saving time as the permanent year-round standard, faces a critical test next week following a decisive committee endorsement earlier this spring.
PoliticsEuropean Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has dismissed speculation regarding a potential run for the French presidency in 2027, though she signaled an intent to remain an active voice in domestic politics to defend pro-European values, leaving open the question of how she will exert that influence.
PoliticsUnder the shadow of a heightened military posture, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has mandated a significant upgrade to the nation’s nuclear capabilities. During an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party Central Military Commission on Thursday, the regime formally committed to expanding its atomic forces both quantitatively and qualitatively.
PoliticsFlowers and candles line the pavement on Canal Street, marking the spot where Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by an ICE officer. The incident has shattered the atmosphere of Magnolia Park, a historic Hispanic enclave, leaving residents to grapple with a newfound sense of vulnerability and deep-seated mistrust.
PoliticsTechnical discussions between the United States and Iran remain active, according to a senior American official speaking on Thursday. Despite persistent geopolitical friction, the White House maintains that a diplomatic path remains open as both sides continue to exchange details through specialized channels aimed at finding a long-term resolution.
PoliticsThe Maine Democratic Party faces a July 27 deadline to select a new candidate after Graham Platner withdrew from the U.S. Senate race following sexual assault allegations. The party must now pivot to a new nominee to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins in one of November’s most pivotal contests.
PoliticsWith Graham Platner exiting the U.S. Senate race following a sexual assault allegation, the Maine Democratic Party faces a July 27 deadline to select a new challenger. The vacancy in this high-stakes contest against incumbent Republican Susan Collins has triggered a rapid mobilization of six potential candidates vying for the nomination.
PoliticsIranian forces launched a wave of retaliatory strikes against U.S. military infrastructure across Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain on Thursday, effectively shattering a three-week-old ceasefire. The escalation followed claims of renewed American air attacks on Iranian provinces, marking a volatile turning point in a conflict that has already crippled global energy stability.
PoliticsA bloc of Democratic senators is threatening to stall a massive military spending bill, demanding a formal debate on deeper intelligence and defense ties with Israel. The maneuver signals a sharp departure from traditional party consensus, exposing deep-seated friction regarding the current trajectory of U.S.-Israel relations under Benjamin Netanyahu.
PoliticsA sudden vacancy in Maine’s high-stakes U.S. Senate race has triggered a frantic scramble among Democrats, with six candidates entering the fray in less than 24 hours. The political scramble follows the abrupt withdrawal of progressive nominee Graham Platner, who exited the contest amid mounting scandals and a rape allegation.
PoliticsDonald Trump contacted Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to discuss shifting dynamics in the Middle East, marking a renewed push for alignment between Washington and Jerusalem. The conversation focused on U.S. maneuvers across the Gulf, signaling a potential recalibration of regional security priorities under the incoming administration.
PoliticsPolitical barriers to manufacturing PAC-3 Patriot interceptors in Ukraine have fallen, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announcing a breakthrough agreement with the United States. While the deal clears the path for domestic production, officials are now racing to finalize the technical licensing required to begin manufacturing these critical air defense assets.
PoliticsTen people died and hundreds of homes were destroyed after a Russian missile struck an ammunition depot in Vyshneve, triggering a series of massive secondary explosions. The strike on the Kyiv suburb has prompted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to launch a criminal investigation into the facility's security and management.
PoliticsTyler Robinson reportedly broke down in tears and expressed deep regret just hours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a video interview with his former roommate, Lance Twiggs, played during a preliminary court hearing in Utah on Thursday.
PoliticsCrowds in Mashhad buried Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday, capping a week of mourning just as Iranian forces launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military infrastructure across the Gulf. The assault, targeting bases in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, signals the definitive end of a three-week-old ceasefire agreement.