Culture
White House Presses U.S. Firms to Skip Macron’s Space Summit, Stoking Diplomatic Tension
The White House privately urged several U.S. space companies to skip French President Emmanuel Macron’s space summit in Paris next week — a move that surprised executives and left many wondering wheth
US says it launched ‘large and powerful’ strikes on Iran as talks stall
The U.S. on Tuesday launched a new series of strikes against Iranian targets as peace talks remain stalled and President Donald Trump again aired his frustration with Tehran’s leadership.
France and Germany push for faster EU foreign- and security-policy decisions, risking national vetoes that protected sovereign interests
Paris and Berlin have thrown their weight behind a call to make EU decision-making on foreign policy and security more efficient, according to a letter seen by European media.
Israel and Greece clinch €3B ‘Achilles Shield’ air-defense pact
Israel agreed to build a multilayered air‑defense network for Greece in a new €3 billion defense deal published on Monday.
US strikes Iran’s Larak Island — another hardline display of American power
U.S. forces struck Iran’s Larak Island on Sunday, a U.S. official said, after observing military personnel preparing to deploy rockets loaded with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
Belgium summons US ambassador again after mocking health minister
Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has called in U.S. Ambassador Bill White for a second time this year after White posted an Instagram story ridiculing the country’s Health Minister Frank Vande
xAI pushes back — suing users as claims over Grok deepfake abuse pile up
Elon Musk’s xAI has taken an unusually aggressive tack to fend off lawsuits alleging its AI chatbot, Grok, was used to generate child sexual abuse material.
Poland urges EU to slap Meta with €250 million fine over rampant scam ads
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski has asked the European Commission to fine Meta €250 million, arguing the tech giant is failing to stop scams and fake ads on its platforms.
