NATO chief voices full confidence in Trump
On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed full confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump and defended his initiatives ahead of a plann...
California lawmakers have fast-tracked a redistricting plan giving Democrats a potential five-seat gain in Congress, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing the measure on Thursday to counter Republican efforts in Texas.
The Democratic-led legislature approved three bills in both chambers within hours, meeting a Friday deadline to place the measure on the 4 November ballot. If backed by voters, the new boundaries would offset a Trump-backed Texas plan designed to flip five Democratic seats to Republican control.
Governor Newsom, seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, called the move “fighting fire with fire” in a post on X. He later signed the bills, securing what observers described as one of his biggest political victories since taking office.
Democrats argue the plan is a temporary “emergency” measure in response to Republican redistricting efforts in Texas, which they denounce as unfairly partisan. They said more than 70% of the proposed California districts mirror boundaries drawn by the state’s independent redistricting commission.
Republicans, however, criticised the process. State Senator Tony Strickland said the maps were “drawn behind closed doors,” while former President Donald Trump hailed the Texas effort as a “big win” on his Truth Social platform.
The Texas plan passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday and is expected to clear the Senate before heading to Governor Greg Abbott, who has pledged to sign it. Civil rights groups and Democrats say the new Texas maps dilute the voting power of Hispanic and Black residents, potentially violating federal law.
The California initiative marks a break with the state’s 2008 voter-approved tradition of using a bipartisan commission for redistricting. Analysts say both states’ mid-decade moves highlight an escalating national battle over political maps ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
Former President Barack Obama endorsed the California strategy as a necessary response to Republican overreach, while warning of risks to democratic norms. Polling by Reuters/Ipsos suggests most Americans oppose gerrymandering, viewing it as harmful to democracy.
Other battlegrounds are emerging, with legislatures in Ohio, Florida, Indiana and Missouri, as well as Democratic-led states including Maryland and Illinois, considering similar steps.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday ruled that Israel is obliged under the Geneva Convention to permit and facilitate humanitarian aid from third states and neutral organisations,
On Wednesday, Russia reported that its military had carried out large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities, while Ukraine said its forces had targeted a Russian chemical plant.
On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed full confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump and defended his initiatives ahead of a planned meeting with the Russian leader.
According to the UN, the majority of methane leaks identified by satellites — around 90% — are still not officially acknowledged by governments or oil and gas companies.
A bill extending Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, a move widely seen as tantamount to annexation of territory sought by Palestinians for a future state received preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament on Wednesday.
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