France Battles Mediterranean Wildfires as Heatwave Fuels Fire Risk 
US Ambassador Prioritizes Cook Islands Critical Minerals, Warns of China’s Pacific Influence 
US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
Trump Administration to Launch Voluntary AI Standards for Frontier Models 
Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka as Putin Pushes Donetsk Offensive 
UN Warns of Looming Human Rights Catastrophe in Sudan’s Al-Obeid 
NRC Proposes Radiation Rule Changes to Boost U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion Under Trump 
Russian Attacks Kill Six Across Ukraine as Kyiv Mourns Deadly Strike 
EU Chip Industry Faces Growing Risks From China Export Controls and U.S. Technology Dependence: Report 
South Korea Warns Won Is Undervalued, Boosts FX Coordination With Japan 
Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Missile and Drone Attack Kills 27 as Zelensky Urges Faster Air Defense Support 
Trump Administration Declines USMCA Renewal, Opens Talks on New Trade Changes 
US-Iran Doha Talks Show Limited Progress as Hormuz Shipping Remains Key Focus 
Amy Coney Barrett Faces Conservative Backlash After Key Supreme Court Rulings Against Trump 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
Khamenei Funeral Draws Thousands as Iran Stages Nationwide Week of Mourning 
State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
There has been some debate on the situation between Israel and Palestine among lawmakers, and US Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to get caught in the center of the debate following her interaction with a student about Israel. Harris’s office is now scrambling to contain the backlash from this interaction which might have left pro-Israel advocates and companies with a bad impression of Harris.
In a statement regarding the latest issue, Harris’s spokesperson Symone Sanders said that the vice president does not agree with the student’s opinion on Israel. Sanders explained that Harris remains supportive of Israel and her record on that policy remains consistent. This comes as Harris visited a political science class at George Mason University to talk about national voter registration day last week when a student asked about the US funding of Israel.
The student cited the previous protests in support of Palestine, yet the US remains to financially back Israel, whom the student described as committing “ethnic genocide” of Palestinians. The student added that they believe that the issue is not addressed enough, to which Harris’s husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff -- who is Jewish, said that he is glad they did.
While Harris did not push back on the student’s criticism of Israel, progressives and other activists have been pushing Democratic lawmakers to become more critical of Israel. Following the interaction, Harris’s office began to reach out to the leadership of some pro-Israel organizations, according to people familiar with the matter. Those leaders expressed concerns regarding Harris’s response to the student.
In other news, Harris previously placed another significant figure in US politics in her ceremonial office as the vice president added the bust of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice. The bust is on loan from Harris’s alma mater, Howard University, according to Harris’s office. The bust was made by Dr. Randolph Craig, who worked with the University of Maryland Art Department.
“Vice President Harris has pointed to Justice Thurgood Marshall as an inspiration for her professional career as a lawyer,” Harris’s office said in a statement.
During her inauguration, Harris swore on two bibles, one of which belonged to Marshall.
