US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has poured cold water on speculation that he is gearing up for a presidential bid in 2028, instead throwing his support behind Vice President JD Vance as a potential Republican nominee. Speaking during an interview on Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump, Rubio, a former 2016 presidential contender, praised Vance’s performance in office and expressed hope that the vice president will enter the…

The death toll from a brutal attack on a Catholic church in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 34, according to local civil society leaders, with fears that the number may yet rise. The assault, believed to have been carried out by Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, took place in the early hours of the morning in Komanda, a town in Ituri province. According to Dieudonné…

A toddler born at just 21 weeks’ gestation has officially been recognised by Guinness World Records as the most premature baby to survive, after recently celebrating his first birthday. Nash Keen, born on 5 July 2024 at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, arrived 133 days before his due date, making his survival an extraordinary feat in modern neonatal medicine. Weighing just 10 ounces (approximately 283 grams), about…

The United States has withdrawn its negotiating team from ceasefire talks in Qatar, marking a significant setback in efforts to end the 21-month-long war in Gaza. The move follows a statement from Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who accused Hamas of lacking the will to reach an agreement. “While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff…

Australia and the United Kingdom will sign a landmark 50-year defence treaty this weekend to bolster their partnership under the Aukus submarine pact, even as the United States, the key partner in the trilateral alliance, hesitates amid a review of its commitments. The treaty, to be formally signed on Saturday, will be announced on Friday following the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (Aukmin) in Sydney. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and…

In a rare and unusually tense presidential visit to the headquarters of the US Federal Reserve, President Donald Trump clashed with Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday over the ballooning costs of ongoing renovations at the central bank’s historic buildings. The visit, part of Trump’s continued efforts to pressure the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates, quickly turned combative as the president criticised the $2.5bn bill for the renovation project,…

Google on Thursday announced a significant investment package of $37 million aimed at accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) development across the African continent. The U.S. technology giant pledged comprehensive support for local AI research and a diverse range of projects, from advanced crop monitoring systems to adapting AI for Africa’s many languages. This commitment also extends to backing promising startups, particularly within the health and education sectors. READ ALSO: FG partners Google…

A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday declared former President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship unconstitutional, affirming a lower court’s decision to halt the directive nationwide. Trump’s controversial order—which sought to deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil to undocumented immigrants or those on temporary visas—has been locked in legal disputes for months and is currently paused by a federal court. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court…

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration has reached a sweeping trade agreement with Japan, slashing U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%. The move marks a dramatic shift from the previously threatened rates of 24% and 25%, and follows months of pressure from the Trump administration on global trading partners. Taking to Truth Social, Trump described the deal as a “tremendous win” for American trade policy. The…

Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s office has issued a rare and scathing rebuke of Donald Trump after the current president accused his predecessor of “treason” and claimed he rigged both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” said Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush.…

The United States announced on Tuesday that it has officially withdrawn from UNESCO, the UN agency known for its work in culture and education, including the designation of World Heritage Sites. The decision, according to the U.S. government, stems from concerns over the organization’s alleged bias against Israel and its promotion of what it called “divisive” agendas. “Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United…

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a new measure that could see the deportation of certain lawful permanent residents from the United States, citing alleged support for Haitian gang leaders linked to a U.S.-designated terrorist organisation. In a statement released on Monday, Rubio said Washington had determined that some green-card holders had collaborated with gang figures connected to Viv Ansanm, an armed alliance that now controls large portions…