The Washington Post issued a correction to a Sunday article claiming Israeli troops killed over 30 people near a Gaza aid site, citing unnamed “health officials.” The correction stated the article failed to adequately weigh Israel’s denial of involvement and presented unverified claims as fact, thus not meeting the newspaper’s fairness standards. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation also denied any IDF attack or casualties at its aid distribution center, contradicting Hamas reports. The Post’s correction followed a significant online backlash.
Read More
Senator Sanders condemned the Republican reconciliation bill, citing a Yale and University of Pennsylvania study projecting over 51,000 excess annual deaths resulting from its passage. This figure encompasses increased mortality due to Medicaid and ACA coverage losses, reduced prescription drug subsidies for low-income seniors, eliminated nursing home safety requirements, and the lapse of ACA tax credits. Sanders characterized the bill as not only bad policy but a death sentence for vulnerable Americans, emphasizing the bill’s prioritization of tax breaks for the wealthy over healthcare access. He vowed to fight the bill’s passage.
Read More
President Trump publicly contradicted his special envoy’s proposal regarding Iran’s nuclear program, insisting on complete dismantlement of enrichment capabilities. This directly opposes previous, inconsistent messaging from both Trump and envoy Steve Witkoff on whether Iran could retain limited enrichment for civilian purposes. While the White House defended Trump’s stance as “the cold, hard truth,” the envoy’s reported proposal suggested allowing low-level enrichment under strict conditions, including a regional consortium managing it. This new proposal bears similarities to aspects of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Trump previously rejected.
Read More
Cologne is undertaking its largest evacuation since World War II due to the discovery of three unexploded Allied bombs. Approximately 20,000 residents are being displaced, necessitating the closure of numerous facilities including bridges, rail lines, and several businesses. The three bombs, two 1,000kg and one 500kg, will be defused Wednesday morning following a pre-dawn check to ensure complete evacuation. This large-scale operation underscores the ongoing presence of unexploded ordnance from the city’s extensive bombing during the war.
Read More
President Trump’s executive order doubling steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% temporarily excludes the UK due to a May 2025 US-UK economic prosperity deal. This deal, not yet in effect, aims to eliminate these tariffs entirely but could be revoked if the UK fails to comply with its terms. Until the deal’s parliamentary implementation, UK steel exporters remain subject to the 25% tariff. The UK government is working to finalize the agreement and protect British businesses.
Read More
Satellite imagery has revealed the extent of damage inflicted on Russian bombers during a recent Ukrainian attack. The images clearly show multiple aircraft destroyed and severely damaged, grounding a significant portion of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. Even aircraft deemed “just damaged” are effectively out of commission due to Russia’s ongoing struggles with corruption and supply chain issues, making repairs improbable in the near term.
Initial reports suggested the destruction of several Tu-160 bombers, a significant loss considering the limited number actively deployed. Satellite photos indicated a substantial number of destroyed aircraft, with initial counts suggesting at least ten, possibly more. These counts included Tu-22Ms, Tu-95s, and other aircraft.… Continue reading
President Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%, impacting businesses reliant on imported metals. While the move aims to bolster the domestic steel industry, critics foresee negative consequences, including retaliatory tariffs from trade partners and substantial job losses in other US sectors. The UK received an exemption, maintaining a 25% tariff, due to ongoing trade negotiations. Economists predict further economic damage from the increased prices resulting from this protectionist measure.
Read More
Facing a July 8th deadline for its “90 deals in 90 days” initiative, the Trump administration sent letters urging countries to submit their best trade offers. These letters, a “friendly reminder” according to the press secretary, follow the April pause on new tariffs. However, the need for such reminders has sparked skepticism, with critics questioning the administration’s claims of successful negotiations and the likelihood of meeting the ambitious goal. Social media users have highlighted the shift from assertive pronouncements to what they perceive as pleading with trading partners.
Read More
Yunqing Jian, a University of Michigan doctoral student, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, are accused of smuggling the plant pathogen *Fusarium graminearum* into the United States. Liu, who also studied the pathogen, was apprehended at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with the contraband, falsely claiming its purpose. The complaint alleges a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. involving visa fraud and false statements, citing electronic communications between Jian and Liu as evidence. The University of Michigan has stated it cooperated with the investigation and received no funding related to the accused individuals’ research.
Read More
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a large-scale drone attack on Russian air bases, was not pre-approved by the White House, Press Secretary Leavitt confirmed. While Trump was not informed beforehand, Leavitt emphasized his desire for the war’s conclusion and attributed recent Ukraine-Russia talks to his efforts. She deflected questions regarding Trump’s stance on further sanctions against Russia, stating that such decisions would follow the president’s judgment. Finally, U.S. defense officials are currently assessing the implications of the operation for American security.
Read More