Kosovo Heads to Early Parliamentary Election Amid Prolonged Political Deadlock 
Zelenskiy to Meet Trump in Florida as Ukraine-U.S. Peace Framework Nears Completion 
South Korea Prosecutor Alleges Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Abused Power for Bribes 
Trump–Netanyahu Talks Aim to Revive Gaza Ceasefire and Address Iran, Hezbollah Tensions 
Lebanon Cabinet Approves Financial Gap Law to Tackle Ongoing Economic Crisis 
Argentina Congress Approves 2026 Budget Under Milei, Marking First Legislative Passage Since 2023 
Bolsonaro Undergoes Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure After Surgery-Related Complications 
FBI Surges Resources to Minnesota Amid Fraud Investigations Linked to Somali Community 
Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Holds After Deadly Border Clashes 
California Drops Lawsuit Over Federal Funding Cuts to High-Speed Rail Project 
Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability 
Kim Jong Un Signals Continued Missile Development as North Korea Plans Five-Year Military Modernization 
Australia Orders Independent Review After Bondi Mass Shooting, Albanese Resists Royal Commission Calls 
Myanmar Election 2025 Faces Global Scrutiny Amid Civil War and Political Repression 
Trump and Zelenskiy Signal Progress Toward Ukraine Peace Deal, Donbas Still Unresolved 
Kim Jong Un Oversees Strategic Cruise Missile Launch to Reinforce North Korea’s Nuclear Deterrence 
Japan Approves Record ¥122.3 Trillion Budget as Takaichi Seeks Fiscal Balance 
The United States Congress is set to posthumously award civil rights icon Emmett Till with the Congressional Gold Medal. The award was meant to honor Till, whose murder helped fuel the country’s civil rights movement.
The US House of Representatives passed the legislation to award Till with the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. The bill, which passed the Senate in January, honors Till and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley. Till-Mobley insisted on an open-casket funeral for her son, who was murdered in a racially-motivated attack in the 1950s.
The medal would be given to the National Museum of African American History to be displayed near the coffin where Till was buried.
The Senate bill was introduced by Democratic Senator Cory Booker and Republican Senator Richard Burr. The House version of the legislation was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush, who previously introduced a bill to issue a commemorative postage stamp of Till-Mobley, who passed away in 2003.
“The courage and activism demonstrated by Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, in displaying to the world the brutality endured by her son helped awaken the nation’s conscience, forcing America to reckon with its failure to address racism and the glaring injustices that stem from such hatred,” said Booker in a statement following the bill’s passage in the Senate.
The passage of the legislation in the House follows months after President Joe Biden signed the anti-lynching bill named after Till into law. The legislation was finally passed this year after 200 unsuccessful attempts since a version of the legislation was introduced in 1900 by Rep.George Henry White of North Carolina, the only Black member of Congress at that time.
The Senate on Thursday passed the $1.7 trillion government spending bill, including hundreds of billions of dollars for military spending. However, the bill that passed left out spending to address Afghan refugees in limbo. The chamber passed the legislation with bipartisan support of 68-29, with the bill providing the government with money until September 30 next year.
The bill must pass the House on Friday to avoid a government shutdown. $858 billion would be allocated for military spending, $772.5 billion for domestic programs and an additional $45 billion for another set of military and economic assistance for Ukraine.
