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The US Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the removal of three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), siding with the Trump administration.

The justices overturned a lower court ruling that had reinstated the Biden-appointed officials, agreeing with the administration’s argument that the president can dismiss commissioners without cause, according to Al Jazeera.

The decision highlights growing legal tensions over presidential control of federal agencies. The Court’s three liberal justices dissented, while critics warned the move could weaken the CPSC’s independence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged new legislation following protests and international criticism over a law placing Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies under the control of the prosecutor general, a presidential appointee.

Critics warn the move threatens institutional independence and risks undermining Ukraine’s EU hopes. Zelensky defended the law as a response to alleged Russian influence but said a new bill would safeguard anti-corruption agencies’ autonomy and uphold the rule of law, according to Al Jazeera.

The pledge comes after rare public protests in Kyiv and other cities despite wartime restrictions.

Columbia University said on Wednesday it will pay over $200 million to the U.S. government in a settlement with President Donald Trump's administration to resolve federal probes and have most of its suspended federal funding restored, Reuters reported.

Trump has targeted several universities since returning to office in January over the pro-Palestinian student protest movement that roiled college campuses last year. He welcomed the agreement between his administration and Columbia in a post on social media late on Wednesday.

In March, the Trump administration said it was penalizing Columbia over how it handled last year's protests by canceling $400 million in federal funding. It contended that Columbia's response to alleged antisemitism and harassment of Jewish and Israeli members of the university community was insufficient.

"Under today's agreement, a vast majority of the federal grants which were terminated or paused in March 2025 - will be reinstated and Columbia's access to billions of dollars in current and future grants will be restored," the university said in a statement, according to Reuters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned top European Union officials on Thursday to "make correct strategic choices", state media said, during a key summit in Beijing set to be dominated by thorny issues ranging from trade frictions to the Ukraine war, Reuters reported.

Expectations were low for the summit marking 50 years of diplomatic ties after weeks of escalating tension and wrangling over its format, with the duration abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing's request.

Issues of trade imbalance, market access and rare earths are on the agenda as Xi and Premier Li Qiang meet visitors Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union Commission, and Antonio Costa, the European Council president.

"The more severe and complex the international situation, the more China and the EU must strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation," Xi told von der Leyen and Costa, state broadcaster CCTV said, according to Reuters.