Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

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…

President Donald Trump has unveiled a new round of tariffs on a wide range of imported goods, including a 100 per cent duty on branded pharmaceuticals, a 25 per cent tariff on heavy-duty trucks, and a 50 per cent levy on kitchen cabinets. Additional tariffs of 50 per cent on bathroom vanities and 30 per cent on upholstered furniture will follow next week, with all measures due to take effect from 1 October. The announcement marks a sharp escalation in Trump’s trade policy, particularly with regard to pharmaceuticals. The United States imported nearly $233bn in pharmaceutical and medicinal products in…

President Donald Trump has declared that he will not permit Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, rejecting calls from far-right members of Israel’s governing coalition who have urged the extension of sovereignty over the territory. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.” The remarks came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York ahead of his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Netanyahu’s…

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order outlining the terms of a deal to transfer TikTok into American hands, ending months of uncertainty over the app’s future in the United States. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Trump said he had reached an agreement with China’s president, Xi Jinping, to allow the social media platform to continue operating in the country, provided it was separated from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. “I spoke with President Xi and he said, ‘Go ahead with it,’” Mr Trump told reporters. “This is going to be American-operated all the way.” Under the…

New Zealand is set to make it easier for migrant workers to settle in the country, in a bid to strengthen its workforce and stimulate economic growth. On Tuesday, Minister for Economic Growth Nicola Willis announced two new residency pathways aimed at attracting skilled and experienced migrants to fill gaps in the labour market. “Businesses told us it was too hard for some migrants to gain residence, even when they had crucial skills and significant experience that was not available in the existing workforce,” Willis said in a statement. The initiative comes amid record levels of emigration and a contracting…

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed three counts of crimes against humanity against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders during his controversial “war on drugs”. A heavily redacted charge sheet, dated 4 July but released publicly on Monday, outlines the accusations against the 80-year-old former leader, who is currently in ICC detention in The Hague. The first count concerns Duterte’s alleged role as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders committed between 2013 and 2016, during his tenure as mayor of Davao City. The second relates to 14 killings of so-called “high…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to advocate for greater global peace and security during high-level meetings in New York this week, as senior allies of US President Donald Trump caution that Australia’s planned recognition of Palestinian statehood could trigger punitive measures from Washington. Mr Albanese arrived in New York on Sunday morning, Australian time, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and a possible first meeting with President Trump. Australia intends to use the UN talks to formally recognise Palestine, in coordination with France, Canada and the United Kingdom. The move has drawn strong criticism from Israel and from…

President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation introducing an annual fee of $100,000 for H-1B visa applications, a move that could have significant repercussions for the US technology sector, which depends heavily on skilled workers from India and China. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the measure at a press briefing on Friday, saying that “all the big companies” had been informed. Speaking alongside the president at the Oval Office, Lutnick said: “A hundred-thousand dollars a year for H-1B visas, and all of the big companies are on board. We’ve spoken to them. If you’re going to train somebody, you’re…

Humanitarian workers in northern Gaza have been told by the Israeli military that only hospitals will be considered protected sites, with all other aid infrastructure potentially subject to attack. Messages and conversations seen by the Guardian show the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stating that its evacuation order for “all Gaza residents and inhabitants” of Gaza City applies to “all humanitarian locations [there], except hospitals”. The IDF warned that, in order to defeat Hamas, its forces would operate “with great force”. On Friday, the IDF said it had expanded operations in Gaza City, targeting what it described as “Hamas infrastructure”. Between…