Top World News

Jul 2, 2025 - World

Comments from Simon Case come as UK defence review highlights Chinese military exercises around Taiwan as driver of global instabilityThe former head of the UK’s civil service has described the Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a “dictator” and said Donald Trump had put “helpful pressure” on Europe to increase defence spending.Simon Case, who served as the cabinet secretary until December, when he stepped down on health grounds, said China had sent a clear message to “prepare for serious conflict” in Taiwan. Continue reading...

Jun 30, 2025 - World

Federal judges have found a way to get under the skin of Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's "border czar." And it involves protecting the rights of migrants that Homan wants to deport. On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes agreed to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia in federal custody until at least mid-July over fears that he could be deported again. Abrego Garcia was deported to the infamous Salvadoran prison CECOT in March, even though an immigration judge granted him the legal right to remain in the United States in 2019 because of a well-founded fear of persecution if he returned to El Salvador. Abrego Garcia was returned to the United States in June after months of wrangling between the Trump administration and federal courts. The judge's decision irked Homan, and he appeared on Fox News' "The Will Cain Show" to voice his displeasure. "It's just another disgusting story," Homan said. "These judges are telling us, 'I don't want you to abide by federal court orders issued by two judges that say this person needs to be deported.'"The situation between federal officials and Abrego Garcia came to a head last week. Holmes granted Abrego Garcia's request for a pre-trial release while he fights federal human trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty to charges. However, Abrego Garcia's lawyers told Holmes there was a high probability that immigration officials would detain Abrego Garcia again if he were released. The Department of Justice acknowledged this possibility in court, which caused Holmes to delay issuing her ruling on Abrego Garcia's release. Homan described Holmes delaying her order to release Abrego Garcia as a "radical, independent decision." He said the Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi are "on top of this" recent ruling, and that they will "take this fight all the way." "Bottom line is, there is no place in this country for this man," Homan said. You can watch the entire exchange here.

Jun 30, 2025 - World

Fashion house acknowledges work of traditional artisans after accusations of cultural appropriationPrada has acknowledged that its new leather sandal design was inspired by India’s famous Kolhapuri “chappals” – handcrafted shoes known for their toe-loop design – after facing criticism over its failure to credit the footwear’s origins.“We acknowledge the sandals … are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage,” Lorenzo Bertelli, the corporate social responsibility chief at the Italian fashion house, said in a letter to the Maharashtra chamber of commerce. Continue reading...

Jun 29, 2025 - World

There is reportedly a fatwa, or religious edict, against Donald Trump.Trump recently ratchetted up the language against Iranian officials on his social media, leading to a "murder fatwa" against him, according to an ex-insider. In 1989, Iran's Supreme Leader issued a fatwa against author Salman Rushdie.Lev Parnas, a former "trusted operative" of Trump, flagged the news over the weekend.In a post called "BREAKING: U.S. Intelligence Intercepts Iran’s Private Response to Strike — Fatwa Issued Against Trump," Parnas says, "After Trump’s latest unhinged Truth Social post attacking Ayatollah Khomeini, a second Grand Ayatollah — Noori Hamedani — issued an official murder fatwa against Donald Trump."He highlights the following quote:“Any insult to the Ayatollah Khamenei is an insult to the foundations of Islam. Any individual or state threatening or striking him or aiding in such a crime is Mohareb — an enemy of Allah.""This is unprecedented," he said. "The geopolitical fallout from Trump’s actions isn’t just theoretical — it’s personal, global, and explosive."Parnas continued:"At the same time, Putin and Trump’s carefully choreographed theater from last week is unraveling, just as I warned. And now Trump is teasing a 'major announcement' related to Russia tomorrow — a cryptic post that has my sources working overtime. I’m hearing this could involve a shift on sanctions, an energy deal, or even an announcement tied to Ukraine."Parnas isn't the only one reporting the news. Tehran Times also Sunday published similar claims in a story, "Fatwas draw a red line: No tolerance for threats against Ayatollah Khamenei."Read more here.

Jun 29, 2025 - World

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly disputed details from an intercepted Iranian call that suggested damage to the country's nuclear program was not as extensive as President Donald Trump has claimed.On Sunday, The Washington Post first reported the existence of signals intelligence, which included Iranian government officials discussing the recent U.S. attack on nuclear facilities. "The communication, intended to be private, included Iranian government officials speculating as to why the strikes directed by President Donald Trump were not as destructive and extensive as they anticipated, these people said," the Post noted.For his part, Trump has claimed that Iran's nuclear program was "completely and totally obliterated."Leavitt did not deny that the call had been intercepted but disagreed with conclusions suggesting Trump's statements were wrong."It's shameful that The Washington Post is helping people commit felonies by publishing out-of-context leaks," she told the paper. "The notion that unnamed Iranian officials know what happened under hundreds of feet of rubble is nonsense. Their nuclear weapons program is over."A senior U.S. intelligence official also told the Post that "one slice of signals intelligence on its own does not reflect the full intelligence picture.""A single phone call between unnamed Iranians is not the same as an intelligence assessment, which takes into account a body of evidence, with multiple sources and methods," the person insisted.