In a dramatic exchange at the United Nations in Geneva, France’s envoy fervently criticized the United States following a divisive vote that extended Volker Türk’s tenure as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. The French mission accused Washington of relinquishing its leadership in global human rights advocacy.

“The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore,” the official French mission account posted on X Saturday. “Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it.”

Accompanying their critique was the provocative hashtag “#AmericaAlone.”

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz quickly retorted, accusing France of attempting to deflect attention from its backing of Türk.

“It’s both disappointing and predictable for France to sidestep their disgraceful support of someone who panders to human rights abusers,” Waltz asserted on X. “France backed a figure who admonishes free, independent states like the United States, the UK, and Israel, while aligning with some of the world’s most oppressive regimes.”

During the vote by Ambassador Jeff Bartos, the U.S. representative for U.N. management and reform, declared that the U.N. human rights system “has been losing credibility for decades.”

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“Mr. Türk has guided it to its deathbed,” Bartos said. “And if you vote to reappoint Volker Türk for a four-year term, it will kick the bucket.”

Bartos accused Türk of disproportionately condemning democracies while failing to respond adequately to abuses committed by authoritarian governments.

He said Türk had criticized the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Italy and, more than any other country, Israel. Bartos also accused Türk of remaining silent for 12 days after the Iranian government allegedly began a new wave of violence against its citizens, while quickly condemning U.S. military action against Iran.

Bartos further criticized Türk’s office for calling on Washington to lift sanctions on Cuba, maintaining what he called a discriminatory database targeting American companies and enabling the U.N.’s “anti-Israel machinery.”

France’s U.N. Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont offered a sharply different assessment during the General Assembly debate, saying Türk had demonstrated “rigor and impartiality” during a first term marked by growing attacks on multilateral institutions and the universality of human rights.

“He has been a voice of conscience, confronting states with reality and their responsibilities,” Bonnafont said.

An official familiar with the U.S. position told News Media on background that American officials were surprised by France’s “brazen” public attack and rejected the suggestion that opposing one U.N. official’s reappointment amounted to opposing human rights.

The official said Washington and other delegations were also caught off guard by the expedited vote because Türk’s current term does not expire until Oct. 11.

The United States sought to postpone consideration for one week to allow additional consultations, but member states rejected the request. The General Assembly then approved Türk’s reappointment by a vote of 144-10, with 13 abstentions, extending his tenure from Oct. 12, 2026, through Oct. 11, 2030.

The assembly also rejected a Russian proposal to extend Türk’s term only through the end of 2026, which would have allowed the next U.N. secretary-general to participate in selecting the human rights chief.

France’s post grouped Washington with authoritarian governments that also opposed Türk, but did not address whether those countries voted against his reappointment for the same reasons. The U.S. said its opposition reflected both concerns about Türk’s record and objections to the accelerated process.

UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog, published a 2024 analysis of public statements initiated by Türk or his office between Oct. 17, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2024.

The organization concluded that Türk criticized the United States more frequently than China, North Korea, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Qatar combined. It also said it found no self-initiated criticism during that period concerning abuses by Cuba, North Korea, Algeria, Eritrea, Mauritania, Lebanon or Qatar.

UN Watch’s methodology excluded statements required by the Human Rights Council, comments in mandated reports, broad updates to the council and other remarks that were not initiated at Türk’s discretion. Its findings therefore do not encompass every country reference, report or action by Türk’s office.

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer called the renewal “rushed and unprecedented” and said it was “unseemly” for French President Emmanuel Macron’s government to attack the United States while celebrating Türk’s reappointment.

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, responded more bluntly.

“Perhaps show some gratitude instead?” Gardiner wrote on X. “The French owe their very existence as a sovereign nation to The United States.”

Türk’s supporters argue that his willingness to criticize powerful democracies is part of his responsibility to apply human rights standards universally. France and the European Union maintained that he had performed his duties objectively and that Secretary-General António Guterres acted within the rules allowing a high commissioner to serve a second four-year term.

Türk is set to become the first U.N. human rights chief to serve two complete four-year terms since the position was established in 1993.

The United States will facilitate the upcoming negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome, slated for August 4-6. This development follows notable advancements, according to a U.S. State Department official, highlighting the forward momentum as these talks approach.

“Significant progress marks these discussions, especially after initiating the first pilot zone in southern Lebanon and the productive meeting last week between President Aoun and President Trump,” stated the official, as reported by JNS correspondent Mike Wagenheim.

In Rome, technical teams will concentrate on the comprehensive application of the trilateral framework agreement. Their efforts will include extending pilot zones, addressing unresolved border disputes, and working towards a comprehensive peace and security pact, the official explained.

“The establishment of the first pilot zone represents a tangible step towards progress, aiming to reestablish Lebanese state authority through the verifiable disarmament of terrorist groups. This initiative is crucial for building the trust required for subsequent actions,” the official elaborated.

The framework is deemed “the only path to lasting peace,” and the Trump administration remains dedicated to its successful implementation, the official affirmed.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter confirmed the Aug. 4 resumption date to JNS following the sixth round of talks, which took place in the Italian capital earlier this month. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also told parliament about the Aug. 4 date in Rome.

The Rome meetings follow initial rounds of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington which led to representatives of Beirut and Jerusalem reaching a framework agreement on June 26 during the fifth round of negotiations.

The 14-point Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework Agreement calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, and Jerusalem has emphasized that a full Israeli withdrawal will occur only once the threat from the Iranian terror proxy is removed.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on July 21, with Trump pledging to support Lebanon’s efforts to restore stability and expressing hope that the country will eventually join the Abraham Accords.

A Michigan man shattered the picture-perfect life he shared with his family, reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, by engaging in a tryst with a young intern—a decision that ultimately led to the tragic end of their lives in a devastating house fire.

Last Friday morning, the bodies of Kristopher Karolkiewicz, aged 47, his 39-year-old wife Amanda ‘Mandy’ Karolkiewicz, and their six children ranging from ages five to 15 were discovered in their $750,000 residence in Grand Haven Township.

Investigations revealed that Kristopher fatally shot his wife and children before igniting several fires within their home, concluding the horrifying act by taking his own life.

Approximately eight years preceding this tragic event, Kristopher had embarked on a so-called ’emotional affair’ with a significantly younger intern from his workplace, a detail Amanda disclosed in a Reddit post she made two years prior.

Living in the idyllic beach town of Grand Haven had been a dreamlike existence for Amanda, akin to a Hallmark movie. She recounted how her journey with Kristopher began when she was an intern, just like his later paramour.

‘He was divorced and older than me … fast forward ten years and five kids, he was cheating with the intern again — the same age I was when I was the intern,’ she wrote. 

‘After about a year of self-loathing, I remember crying and looking at myself in the mirror and realizing how f***** up it was that I was the one who was living so miserably because of what he did. I finally realized that I had been the only person who has ever showed up for myself my whole entire life.’

She wanted to end her marriage but the idea of leaving Kristopher was ‘insanely terrifying,’ she said, adding that she decided to try and work through the problems in the marriage for the sake of their six children.

‘I kept telling myself, “I love my kids more than I hate my husband right now.” They have no idea — I faked it ’till we made it,’ she wrote in the 2024 post. ‘We’re in a much better place 4.5 years out, but it’s still a fight to stay in a healthy place.’

Kristopher claimed his affair never turned physical, but Amanda said she ‘never quite believed him.’

She said the ‘evidence [made] it all seem like it would be very unlikely that they were never physical.’

She admitted on the forum that she once shoved her husband after learning of his affair, a remark suggesting that the issues in their marriage stemmed beyond his infidelity. 

‘I don’t feel bad still,’ Amanda wrote of the incident. ‘He towers over me and destroyed me mentally. It felt like I was being assaulted and needed to fight back. I think it’s a fight or flight thing.’

The couple started attending individual therapy and marriage counseling, which Amanda said would often infuriate Kristopher.

‘He was having trouble sleeping and was so angry and mad at himself because the counselor asked him if he heard me. It seems like such a big reaction to that pretty normal question from a marriage counselor. He is so sensitive to correction that I’m feeling so discouraged that we’ll ever be able to make progress,’ she wrote.

Throughout their years of therapy, the couple seemingly made positive strides in their marriage.

Amanda said they both adapted a lifestyle of sobriety and that although they still had their struggles, she was ‘happy’ with her life. 

‘For me, “safety” is the ability to trust that (he) will not get angry or defensive when I’m triggered, and will help to carry me through it,’ she wrote. 

‘We’re almost five years out, and he’s trying, but still struggles with defensiveness. But in general, am I happy? Yes. I wouldn’t say I feel safety in my emotions, because he still struggles with receiving my triggers without defensiveness, and that’s slowing down my ability to regain feelings of safety.’

Amanda and her children’s deaths have been ruled a homicide, and Kristopher’s has been ruled a suicide, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said.

Police believe that Kristopher shot and killed his wife and their six children before starting several fires throughout the home. 

It remains unclear how the blazes began, and Michigan State Police arson investigators are looking into the case. 

Four of the six children were Kristopher’s biological children. The other two were adopted by the couple. 

None of the children has been named, but four of them were boys, aged 15, 12, 11, and five. Their daughters were 11 years old, police said. 

The family’s pets also died after inhaling smoke from the fires. It is unclear how many there were. 

Amanda and Kristopher were wed in 2009. 

Their youngest child was about to begin kindergarten at Peach Plains Elementary, where Amanda was a teacher.

The oldest, 15, was heading into high school and had recently begun driver’s education. 

Amanda was a stay-at-home mom in 2024, her Reddit post revealed. She recently returned to the workforce and was serving as a substitute teacher for Grand Haven Area Public Schools.

Last Friday, the district offered support to the community.

‘It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge reports of a devastating incident in Grand Haven Township earlier today involving the loss of multiple lives, including several school-aged children,’ Superintendent Kristin Perkowski wrote.

‘Regardless of the details that may emerge, this is a devastating incident and a tragic loss for our community.

‘Our hearts are with all those impacted, and we know many throughout our community may be grieving and struggling to process this news.’

Amanda was also honored by the district in a social media post in January. 

Kristopher, however, was recently unemployed after his ’employment ended’ at the American Heart Association earlier this month, WDIV reported.

He had been the organization’s national vice president of sales and marketing since September 2023 and predominantly worked from home in a remote capacity.

‘As an organization with professional staff who are dedicated to helping others, we are devastated by the news out of Grand Haven, and our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragedy,’ the American Heart Association said in a statement to the news outlet.

Kristopher’s affair occurred before he started working for the nonprofit.