Derk Sauer, the Dutch media entrepreneur who founded one of Russia’s few independent newspapers, The Moscow Times, died on Thursday at age 72, following an accident, his family confirmed in a statement.
One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck off the eastern coast of Russia on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings and mass evacuations from Japan and Hawaii to Chile and the U.S. West Coast.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday called for the immediate start of a process leading to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, saying Berlin continues to oppose unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood–at least for now. His remarks come amid mounting international pressure on Israel following a wave of European declarations backing statehood for Palestine.
President Donald Trump warned Thursday that reaching a new trade agreement with Canada may now be unlikely after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his government’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state. The move, unveiled ahead of September’s United Nations General Assembly, immediately escalated tensions between the longtime allies, injecting geopolitics into sensitive economic negotiations.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will delay a planned increase in tariffs on Mexican imports by 90 days following what he called a “very successful” call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The move postpones a threatened hike in the blanket tariff rate from 25% to 30%, giving both nations additional time to strike a more permanent trade agreement.
The Trump administration announced Thursday it will impose sanctions on multiple officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) over what it described as continued support for terrorism and efforts to undermine Israel through international legal channels.
Just days before the Jewish people mark the solemn day of Tisha B’Av–the Ninth of Av–a rare bronze coin dating to the final year before the destruction of the Second Temple has been discovered near the Temple Mount. The coin, bearing the stirring inscription “For the Redemption of Zion,” was minted in Jerusalem during the fourth year of the Great Revolt against Rome (69-70 C.E.). Archaeologists view the find as a powerful echo of Jewish longing for deliverance in the face of overwhelming despair.
The Trump administration is reportedly ramping up pressure on the Lebanese government to commit to Hezbollah’s disarmament, making it a central requirement for resuming ceasefire talks to halt Israeli military action in Lebanon.
In a development that could reshape the historical understanding of the Trump-Russia investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday released the long-classified appendix to Special Counsel John Durham’s 2023 report. Known as the “Durham annex,” the newly public document reveals extensive intelligence pointing to a Clinton campaign-backed scheme to falsely link Donald Trump to Russia, and a disturbing pattern of inaction and political bias within the FBI and intelligence community under the Obama administration.
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected two resolutions Wednesday that sought to block arms sales to Israel, as lawmakers debated America’s ongoing support for its closest ally in the Middle East amid growing concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza.