The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has welcomed “the unanimous decision” by French legislators to posthumously promote a captain to the rank of brigadier general, 130 years after his wrongful conviction in “one of the most infamous antisemitic scandals in modern European history.”

President Donald Trump announced a renewed round of U.S.-China trade talks following what he called a “very positive” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first direct conversation between the leaders since the trade war erupted.

The Kremlin declared Thursday that Russia will retaliate for a string of Ukrainian attacks–most notably a deadly explosion targeting a passenger train in Bryansk–at a time of its own choosing, firmly rejecting Ukraine’s offer of a summit and ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled Ukraine’s leadership a “terrorist regime” and vowed that the response will be decisive.

Residents were reeling Wednesday from the collapse of two bridges in Russian regions bordering Ukraine that killed seven people after authorities said they were “caused by explosions” in “acts of terrorism.”

A disturbing surge in antisemitic attacks has swept across France in recent days, triggering alarm among Jewish communities and prompting renewed calls for urgent government action.

Europe is on the front lines of a growing water crisis, as climate change accelerates drought conditions and threatens water security for millions across the continent. With over 50% of European and Mediterranean territory experiencing drought in mid-May — the highest level since monitoring began in 2012 — experts warn that the situation demands urgent, coordinated action.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Donald Trump on Wednesday that Moscow will retaliate for Ukraine’s surprise drone strike deep inside Russian territory, while also offering to assist U.S. efforts to bring Iran to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected a revised U.S. proposal to limit and eventually end uranium enrichment in the country, declaring it a direct affront to Iran’s sovereignty and independence. The rejection throws U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations into renewed crisis, as the Trump administration considers its next move.

President Donald Trump’s trade team sent letters to foreign nations facing reciprocal tariffs seeking their best trade offers by Wednesday as the administration looks to make deals.

The United States will drastically scale back its military presence in Syria, consolidating forces into a single base, part of a sweeping policy overhaul declared by newly appointed U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack.

In an interview with Israel’s newspaper Maariv on Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Colonel Anan Abbas, Head of Control at the Northern Command’s central operations room, disclosed that the recent operation against Hezbollah was the result of months of meticulous preparation. “Hezbollah is trying to assess the extent of the damage they’ve sustained,” he stated.

Since the war in Gaza began last October, Israel reported on Monday that 500 transport planes and 107 ships have delivered over 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment from the United States to Israel.

Israel’s military said Monday it used a drone to attack “an operations room,” killing “five terrorists” in Tulkarm in the Palestinian enclave of the West Bank, also known by its biblical names Judaea and Samaria.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant cautioned that “Iran’s aggression has reached an all-time high” during a Monday meeting with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown in a meeting held in Tel Aviv on Monday.

Hamas said late Sunday that it rejects new Israeli conditions put forward in Gaza ceasefire-hostage talks, raising concerns there won’t be a breakthrough in efforts to end the 10-month-old war as fears mount of a broader armed conflict in the region.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah did not rule out more massive attacks against Israel on Sunday after his group fired hundreds of rockets and drones into the Jewish nation, following Israeli air strikes in Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that it conducted “extensive” overnight airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon, targeting weapon depots, buildings used by the group, and a rocket launcher across 10 areas, signaling an escalation in the conflict.

A county court judge has permanently blocked an effort by Ohio’s attorney general to enforce a 2019 law banning abortion at six week’s gestation, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Ohio’s Republican Attorney General Dave Yost sought to enforce the ‘heartbeat bill’ despite last year’s voter-approved amendment to enshrine the right to abortion under Ohio’s state constitution.

U.S. tech giant Microsoft has fired two influential employees after they organized a vigil at the company’s headquarters in honor of “victims of the Palestinian genocide.”

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris are fighting for attention in their final campaign sprint toward the November 5 presidential poll after holding competing rallies attended by tens of thousands of people.

Chinese espionage activities are on the rise, with the Communist regime systematically targeting overseas dissidents in the U.S. and increasing cases of sensitive information theft and intelligence gathering, according to a House subcommittee report.

A federal judge has said he will issue a ruling by November 15 on whether Louisiana can enforce a new law requiring every public school classroom to have a poster on the wall with the Ten Commandments, the Advocate reports.

A nearly year-long investigation into ActBlue, a Democratic Party online donation platform, alleges a large number of suspicious donations have been made, resulting in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton petitioning the Federal Election Commission to get involved.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris faced a backlash on Monday after she pressured devoted Christian students to leave a campaign rally last week.