Fighting between Yemen’s government forces and Iran-backed Houthis has intensified, displacing more than 100,000 people within the country and sending thousands more abroad, the United Nations said Tuesday.

YemenHouthisdisplacement

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted to open the door for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada was seeking a “unique alliance” with the EU, not membership. Gerardo Fortuna, author of Brussels Playbook, discusses the proposal.

EUCanadaassociate membershipEU-US ties

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was attending her annual keynote speech, that she wanted to work with him to open the way for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member. Lawmakers gave Carney a standing ovation.

EUCanadaMark Carneydiplomacy

Canada is holding early discussions with the EU about joining Erasmus+ and potentially Horizon Europe. Ottawa and Brussels are considering an unprecedented form of EU “associate membership” that would fall short of full accession.

CanadaEuropean UnionErasmus+associate membership

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the way for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member”. The idea follows Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for a “unique alliance” with the EU rather than membership, with closer cooperation proposed in manufacturing, AI, critical minerals and energy.

European UnionCanadadiplomacyassociate membership

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged EU countries on Wednesday to build a new partnership with Canada and confront climate change, competition from China and other major challenges in what she called an “openly hostile world.”

European UnionCanadaclimate changeChina competition

On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed creating an opening for Canada to take the European Union’s inaugural associate-member position.

European UnionCanadaassociate membershipdiplomacy

Celebrated playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer has died at the age of 77. She was known for incisive appearances on television and radio, as well as novels, plays and essays examining politics, culture and identity.

Bonnie Greerobituaryliterature

U.S. playwright and author Bonnie Greer has died at the age of 77, British media reported on Wednesday.

Bonnie GreerObituaryLiterature

The Donald Trump-backed Kennedy Center board voted to close the main building for $250 million in repairs. Trump said the center’s reconstruction and renovation would not go ahead until his name is added to the building.

Kennedy CenterDonald Trumprenovationsnaming dispute

The Kennedy Center will close for renovations after a judge blocked efforts to restore Donald Trump’s name to the landmark venue. Trump said the $257 million in congressional repair funding would be released only if the renaming could proceed, but federal courts have twice ruled that this would require congressional approval.

Kennedy CenterDonald Trumprenovationscourt ruling

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will propose a law banning social media for children under 13. Those aged 13 to 15 could use supervised “mini accounts” with time limits. The plan must be approved by the European Parliament and the 27 member states.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union is moving to ban social media use by children under 13 and impose restrictions on older children’s use of digital technology.

European Unionsocial mediachild safety

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, is seeking a minimum age of 13 for social networks, internet gaming and chatbot services.

European UnionUrsula von der Leyensocial mediachild safety

Eight members of Turkish LGBTQ+ rights group Kaos GL were jailed pending trial on Tuesday in a nationwide operation. The government says it is protecting family values and children, while rights groups say the action targets fundamental rights.

TurkeyLGBTQ+ rightspretrial detention

All eight state premiers from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union have issued a joint statement backing him and urged the party to rebuild public trust rather than debate personnel. Merz is under pressure after the CDU’s poor result in Saxony-Anhalt. The coalition is also weighing rapid relief as record fuel prices strain households.

German politicsFriedrich MerzCDUfuel prices

Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz is facing growing doubts after the party’s crushing defeat in Saxony-Anhalt. Support for the federal government has hit a record low, while the CDU is polling at just 7% ahead of elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Critics point to Merz’s abrasive communication, lack of empathy and unclear explanations of reforms, but no viable successor has emerged.

German politicsFriedrich MerzCDUstate elections

Three Real Madrid players appeared to cover up a “We are all Caballas” message on shirts worn to show solidarity with Spain’s Ceuta after migrants arrived there from Morocco.

Real MadridCeutamigration

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rejects the displacement of Palestinians as Israel vows to “finish the job” in Gaza. Sisi met Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Cairo.

EgyptGazaPalestiniansIsrael

All supporting acts on Ed Sheeran’s upcoming US Loop Tour have withdrawn after rapper Macklemore was removed for expressing support for Palestine. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga and Lukas Graham cited opposition to silencing artists and, in some cases, Ireland’s experience of occupation and suffering.

Ed SheeranMacklemorePalestinemusic tour

The fallout over Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour is widening, with all of Sheeran’s music openers and his onstage band saying they will no longer participate. Sheeran said Macklemore’s departure was the promoter’s decision, not his.

Ed SheeranMacklemoretourmusic

Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour was thrown into chaos Tuesday when four supporting acts abruptly withdrew in solidarity with rapper Macklemore. He had been dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.

Ed SheeranMacklemoretourPalestine

All support acts have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after rapper Macklemore was dropped for pro-Palestinian remarks made during a concert earlier this month.

Ed SheeranMacklemoreUS tourPalestinian advocacy

More artists booked for Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour have withdrawn in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage. The departures include Irish acts Rowe and Lukas Graham, along with Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas.

Ed Sheerantourpro-Palestinianartist withdrawals