World News
US Seeks Stronger Alliance with India to Counter Indo-Pacific Security Challenges as Putin Visits Delhi
Dec 05, 2025 03:08 pm CST
The United States is prioritizing improved relations with India despite recent trade tensions, as highlighted in a new National Security Strategy Report that emphasizes India's vital role in the Quad alliance and Indo-Pacific security. This strategic push comes as Russian President Putin visits Delhi, underscoring the complexities of India's international relationships and the importance of maritime security cooperation to prevent any single nation from controlling critical sea lanes in the region.
Trump Appoints Shalom Baranes as New Architect for $300 Million White House Ballroom Project
Dec 05, 2025 03:05 pm CST
President Donald Trump has selected architect Shalom Baranes to lead the $300 million White House ballroom project after reported disagreements with the original designer James McCrery. The ambitious privately-funded initiative, which has already resulted in the demolition of the entire East Wing, aims to create a space capable of hosting 1,000 guests but has raised concerns about potentially overshadowing the historic presidential residence.
Desperate Choices: The Hidden Crisis of Illegal Abortions in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan
Dec 05, 2025 02:38 pm CST
This article explores the dangerous reality of illegal abortions in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, where desperate women risk their lives using hazardous methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies. With strict abortion laws, limited healthcare access, and the ban on female education and employment, Afghan women face impossible choices in a system that offers them little support or autonomy over their reproductive health.
Trump Administration Reduces Work Permit Validity for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to 18 Months Following Security Concerns
Dec 05, 2025 02:21 pm CST
The Trump administration has reduced work permit validity for refugees and asylum seekers from five years to 18 months, citing security concerns following a National Guard shooting incident. This policy change, announced by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, is part of a broader immigration crackdown that includes halting applications from 19 countries already under travel restrictions.
Pete Hegseth Maintains Trump's Support Despite Controversies as Defense Secretary
Dec 05, 2025 02:06 pm CST
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to enjoy President Trump's backing despite a series of controversies, including mishandling sensitive information via Signal texts and questionable military operations in the Caribbean Sea. Unlike Trump's first term marked by frequent staff turnover, Hegseth's resilience reflects the administration's current emphasis on loyalty over experience. Despite criticism and low approval ratings, Trump continues to publicly praise Hegseth's performance while the Defense Secretary aggressively advances the president's agenda.
US Delegation to Visit India Next Week for Critical Trade Agreement Negotiations
Dec 05, 2025 01:40 pm CST
A Trump administration delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer is heading to India next week to advance discussions on a potential trade agreement that could reduce the 50% tariffs currently imposed on Indian goods. Both nations are working toward a phased trade understanding, with Indian officials expressing optimism about reaching a solution by the end of the year that would provide relief to India's export sectors heavily impacted by current tariffs.
Climate Change Explained: Is Earth Becoming Too Hot for Human Habitation?
Dec 05, 2025 11:26 am CST
A climate scientist explains the real impacts of global warming on human habitability, exploring how increasing temperatures and humidity create dangerous conditions in certain regions while addressing common concerns about Earth's future livability and potential solutions through clean energy.
UK Inquiry Concludes Putin Ordered 2018 Novichok Attack on Ex-Russian Spy Skripal
Dec 05, 2025 11:03 am CST
A UK public inquiry has determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England. The "recklessly" executed operation led to the death of innocent civilian Dawn Sturgess and represents what investigators called a deliberate "public statement" of Russian power. Despite Moscow's denials, the report cites "overwhelming evidence of Russian state involvement" in the chemical weapons attack on British soil.
US Military Strike Kills Four on Alleged Drug-Trafficking Vessel: Controversy Deepens Over Pacific Ocean Operations
Dec 05, 2025 09:45 am CST
The US military conducted a strike on an alleged narcotics vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in four fatalities and intensifying controversy over a counter-drug campaign that has claimed over 87 lives. Lawmakers who viewed classified footage of a previous September strike described troubling scenes of attacks on shipwrecked survivors, raising questions about military protocols and international law as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Bill Gates Warns: International Aid Cuts Will Cause Millions of Preventable Child Deaths
Dec 05, 2025 08:23 am CST
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warns that reductions in international aid from wealthy Western nations are causing child mortality rates to rise for the first time this century. The Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers report projects 4.8 million children will die before age five this year—200,000 more than in 2024—with potential long-term consequences of 16 million additional child deaths by 2045 if current funding cuts persist.