Author: Lester Holt

Commission Rules Company Gave Itself an Unfair Edge The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion, finding that the company leveraged its dominant position in the digital advertising market to favor its own ad exchange and publisher tools. Regulators said this restricted competition and limited options available to both advertisers and media companies. Firm Must Submit Compliance Plan Within 60 Days Brussels has ordered Google to provide a corrective plan within two months. Officials cautioned that if the proposal does not meet requirements, stronger measures—including the potential breakup of parts of Google’s advertising operations—could follow. Google confirmed it will appeal…

Statement at Eastern Economic Forum Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday issued a warning that any European or Western soldiers entering Ukraine during ongoing hostilities would be considered legitimate targets by Russian forces.Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin emphasized that Moscow would view foreign troop presence amid active combat as a direct threat. Response to European Security Commitments The comments came shortly after a summit in Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had pledged long-term security support for Ukraine.These commitments include financial aid, military training, and the possible establishment of a multinational reassurance…

Billions in Funding Reinstated A U.S. district judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it tried to strip Harvard University of more than $2.2 billion in federal research funding. On September 3, Judge Allison Burroughs ordered the government to restore the money and barred further attempts to withhold it. The decision lifts a freeze that had stalled major research efforts in medicine, science, and engineering since the spring. Political Retaliation at Issue In a detailed 84-page opinion, Burroughs concluded that the administration’s cancellation of the grants violated constitutional protections and federal administrative law. She found…

Trump frames strike as warning to traffickers President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that American forces launched a deadly strike on a vessel allegedly tied to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel, leaving 11 people dead in the southern Caribbean. The incident occurred in international waters, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described it as part of a wider crackdown on cartel activity in the region. Rubio said the targeted boat had departed from Venezuela and was identified as part of the cartel’s drug trafficking network. Trump justifies the strike Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: “This morning, under my…

Rescue operations hindered by landslides and broken roads A strong magnitude-6 earthquake shook eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing over 800 people and injuring about 2,500, Taliban officials reported. Emergency teams face major challenges reaching remote mountain villages as landslides and damaged roads cut off access. The epicenter was near the Pakistan border, with Kunar province experiencing the worst damage. Its shallow depth intensified the destruction, and aftershocks continued into Monday, affecting areas as far away as Kabul, over 100 miles from the epicenter. Hospitals overwhelmed by injured Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the death toll is expected to rise, with…

Court issues emergency pause on removals A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Guatemalan children. The emergency order followed urgent filings from lawyers who said the planned flights violated legal protections. Ten minors identified, ruling applies broadly The case involves 10 unaccompanied children, ages 10 to 17, who lawyers said were hours away from being sent back to Guatemala late Saturday. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan issued a 14-day halt, requiring that the children remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She clarified that the order…

Washington, August 30, 2025 — Senator Bernie Sanders has publicly urged Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down from his position as health secretary, arguing that his leadership is placing Americans’ health at risk. Sanders Criticizes Kennedy’s Leadership In an op-ed for The New York Times, Sanders accused Kennedy of endangering the public and insisted he should resign immediately. He criticized the administration’s slogan, “Make America Healthy Again,” saying that Kennedy’s actions have consistently undermined scientific guidance and weakened the nation’s public health systems. Sanders cited the recent firing of CDC director Susan Monarez and the resignation of four senior…