Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

Moldova’s ruling pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) has retained its parliamentary majority following Sunday’s closely watched election, a result seen as a decisive test of President Maia Sandu’s efforts to steer the country towards European Union membership. With more than 99.5 per cent of ballots counted, PAS secured 50.03 per cent of the vote, according to figures released by the Central Election Commission. The result translates into a majority in the 101-seat parliament. By contrast, a Moscow-leaning alliance of parties led by former president Igor Dodon won 24.26 per cent. The outcome exceeded expectations for Sandu’s party, which had…

The state of Oregon has launched legal action in federal court to prevent the deployment of 200 National Guard troops to Portland, accusing President Donald Trump of misrepresenting the city as “war ravaged”. Governor Tina Kotek said she had been informed by the Pentagon that the president had assumed control of the state’s reservists, citing powers to quell “rebellion” or disorder. Speaking at a press conference, she insisted there was no justification for military intervention. “When the president and I spoke yesterday, I told him in very plain language that there is no insurrection, or threat to public safety that…

Sandu’s electoral hopes rest heavily on the Moldovan diaspora, which has traditionally supported PAS, as well as younger, urban voters.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

A Polish adventurer has become the first person to climb Mount Everest and ski back down without the use of supplementary oxygen. Andrzej Bargiel, 37, reached the summit of the world’s highest peak, standing at 8,849 metres (29,032ft), on his third attempt. Dangerous conditions forced him to abandon earlier efforts in 2019 and 2022. “The summit itself was arduous and difficult. I’d never spent so much time at such an altitude in my life, so that was a challenge in itself,” he said. “Skiing down Everest without oxygen was a dream that had been growing inside me for years.” According…

Democratic lawmakers have released a tranche of documents from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, revealing apparent links between the disgraced financier and several prominent conservative figures, including Elon Musk, Steve Bannon and Peter Thiel.

Argentina has been shaken by the torture and murder of two young women and a teenage girl, whose ordeal was livestreamed to a private Instagram group by suspected drug traffickers.

President Donald Trump has suggested that further criminal charges could be brought against individuals he regards as political adversaries, following the indictment of former FBI director James Comey. Speaking as he departed the White House for the Ryder Cup golf tournament on Friday, Mr Trump said: “It’s not a list, but I think there’ll be others. I mean, they’re corrupt. They were corrupt radical left Democrats.” The remarks came a day after the Justice Department filed charges against Mr Comey in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. The indictment accuses him of misleading lawmakers during testimony in September 2020, when he…

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on Thursday on two felony counts: making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges, filed in federal district court, relate to Comey’s testimony in September 2020 concerning the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The indictment alleges that Comey misled lawmakers when he stated he had never authorised any FBI personnel to leak information to the media regarding investigations into Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors contend this claim was false, referencing disclosures believed to have been approved by Comey himself. Attorney General Pam…

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced it will convene an online meeting in November to vote on whether Israeli broadcaster Kan should be permitted to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The move follows mounting pressure from several European broadcasters who have threatened to boycott the event should Israel remain involved. In a letter circulated to member broadcasters on Thursday, EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci acknowledged the “unprecedented diversity of views” surrounding Israel’s continued participation. She stated that the matter required “a broader democratic basis” and would be put to a vote by the general assembly. A formal…