Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is on track to win a seventh term with 87.6% of the vote in Sunday’s election, according to an exit poll. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, faces criticism from the US and EU, who argue the election cannot be fair due to the suppression of independent media and opposition figures. Turnout was reported at 81.5%. Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, … Continue reading Belarus exit poll puts Lukashenko on 87.6% of vote in presidential election

South Korean prosecutors have indicted suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol on insurrection charges related to his brief declaration of martial law in December. Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law, which he justified by accusing the opposition of North Korean sympathies, sparked political turmoil and was quickly overturned by parliament. Yoon denies wrongdoing but was impeached and arrested last week. Prosecutors confirmed they have sufficient evidence … Continue reading South Korea’s president charged with insurrection over declaration of martial law

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the crisis in Ukraine might have been avoided if Donald Trump had won the 2020 election, agreeing with Trump’s assertion that the war wouldn’t have happened under his leadership. Putin also echoed Trump’s claim about the election being “stolen.” Trump has previously said he could end the war in a day and suggested that Ukraine’s President Zelensky wants peace … Continue reading Putin claims ‘Ukraine crisis’ may have been averted if Trump was president

The Trump administration is moving quickly to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs in federal agencies. A memo issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management directs agency heads to terminate DEI offices and positions within 60 days. Agencies are also instructed to lay off staff and cancel DEI-related programs, trainings, and contracts. The directive has created anxiety among workers, with some being … Continue reading Trump admin tells agencies to start firing DEI staffers

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, facing challenges in stabilizing his minority government after an election loss in October, plans to prioritize regional security and strengthen Japan-U.S. relations. He is preparing for talks with President Donald Trump to secure continued U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific amid growing threats from China and North Korea. I shiba emphasized the need for Japan to bolster defense capabilities and deepen … Continue reading Japan’s leader says he’s preparing for tough negotiations with Trump

President Donald Trump revoked security protection for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top US health official who faced death threats during the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump defended the decision, stating it’s standard for government workers not to receive lifetime security. Trump also withdrew security protections for other former officials, including Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and Brian Hook. Fauci, previously protected by federal marshals and a private … Continue reading Trump revokes security protection for Covid adviser Fauci

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense in a tense 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. Three Republicans opposed the nomination, including Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell. Murkowski cited concerns about Hegseth’s past behavior, including infidelity, allegations of sexual assault, and excessive drinking. Despite these issues, Hegseth’s supporters, including the advocacy group Concerned Veterans for America, praised … Continue reading Senate Confirms Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary as JD Vance Breaks Tie

House Republicans are forming a new committee to investigate the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, focusing on events leading up to and after the assault. Led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), the subcommittee under House Judiciary aims to uncover new information and challenge the narratives surrounding the attack. Republicans hope to work with soon-to-be-confirmed allies in the Justice Department and FBI to further their investigation. … Continue reading House GOP launches new panel to investigate Jan. 6

Former President Donald Trump announced key appointments Wednesday, including Sean Curran as director of the U.S. Secret Service. Curran, head of Trump’s personal security detail, gained recognition for protecting Trump during a 2024 assassination attempt. Trump praised Curran’s leadership and bravery, expressing confidence in his ability to strengthen the agency. Other nominees included Andrew F. Puzder as U.S. ambassador to the European Union, highlighted for … Continue reading Trump nominates head of his personal security detail, Sean Curran, to lead Secret Service

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Spain’s NATO contributions after former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized its low defense spending. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Sánchez highlighted Spain’s 70% defense spending increase over the last decade, making it NATO’s 10th-largest contributor by absolute terms. However, Spain’s defense budget of $21.3 billion in 2024 equated to just 1.28% of its GDP—the lowest among NATO members … Continue reading Sánchez hits back at Trump after criticism of Spain’s defense spending

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz adopted a tougher stance on migration following a fatal knife attack in southern Germany allegedly committed by a 28-year-old Afghan asylum seeker. The attack killed two people, including a two-year-old boy, and heightened migration as a key issue ahead of the February 23 election. Scholz criticized “misguided tolerance” and called for an investigation into why the suspect, who had applied for … Continue reading Scholz hardens rhetoric on migrants after fatal knife attack

EU foreign affairs official Kaja Kallas urged member states to increase defense spending, warning that Europe’s military weakness could embolden aggressors like Russia. Speaking at the European Defense Agency conference, Kallas echoed U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of low NATO contributions, advocating for greater investment in security. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for EU nations to spend 5% of GDP on defense, matching Trump’s … Continue reading EU leaders urge more defense spending amid Trump push

As President Joe Biden’s term ended, he pardoned his family members, including his siblings and their spouses, citing “unrelenting attacks and threats” against them driven by partisan politics. The pardons, which included his brother James, sister Valerie, and others, were issued just before Biden’s inauguration. In addition to family members, Biden also pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and allies targeted by former … Continue reading Biden pardons his siblings and their spouses on his way out of the White House

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump revoked the security clearances of 51 former national security officials who had claimed Hunter Biden’s laptop resembled a “Russian information operation” despite lacking evidence of Russian involvement. The officials, including James Clapper, John Brennan, and John Bolton, signed a 2020 letter after the New York Post reported emails linking Hunter Biden to Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. … Continue reading Trump revokes security clearances of 51 intel officials who signed discredited Hunter Biden laptop letter

Shortly after taking office, former President Donald Trump terminated Secret Service protection for ex-national security adviser John Bolton, Bolton confirmed. Bolton, a target of Iranian threats following Qasem Soleimani’s assassination, had his protection reinstated by President Joe Biden in 2021 due to ongoing risks. Bolton criticized Trump’s decision, emphasizing the continued danger and contrasting Biden’s actions. Known for his hardline stance against Iran, Bolton had … Continue reading Trump terminates John Bolton’s security detail within hours of taking office

An affidavit from Danielle Hegseth, the former sister-in-law of Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, alleges volatile and threatening behavior by Hegseth that caused his second wife, Samantha, to fear for her safety. Submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, the affidavit raises concerns about Hegseth’s fitness for the role, citing past allegations of abuse and misconduct. While Samantha denies claims of physical abuse, Danielle insists … Continue reading Senators receive affidavit containing new allegations against Hegseth

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of all 1,500+ people charged in the January 6 Capitol riot, including those convicted of assaulting police officers. This sweeping clemency undoes years of Justice Department efforts to prosecute participants in the attack, which left over 100 officers injured. Trump called the move a step toward “national reconciliation,” while critics, … Continue reading Trump grants sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 defendants

President-elect Donald Trump launched his own cryptocurrency, $TRUMP, on Friday, which quickly surged in value, reaching a market cap of over $72 billion by Sunday morning. The coin, billed as the “only official Trump meme,” saw its value skyrocket by more than 600% in the first 24 hours. Trump’s wife, Melania, also introduced her own coin, $MELANIA, which gained over $5 billion within hours. The … Continue reading Trump meme coin doubles again, stake worth $58 billion or more

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced on Friday that her administration will continue to uphold the state’s sanctuary law, despite a letter from the America First Legal Foundation, a group aligned with President-elect Donald Trump, warning of potential federal prosecution and lawsuits. The nonprofit claims Oregon’s sanctuary policy violates federal law and puts officials at risk of liability. Kotek reaffirmed her commitment to protecting civil liberties … Continue reading Oregon governor to stand by sanctuary law despite Trump-allied group’s warning of ‘serious consequences’

Vice President-elect JD Vance met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Sunday to discuss issues such as fentanyl, trade, and regional stability. Han is in Washington, D.C., for Donald Trump’s inauguration, along with other foreign leaders. Trump had invited Chinese President Xi to attend, signaling an open dialogue with both allies and adversaries. Meanwhile, ByteDance temporarily restricted access to TikTok in the U.S. over … Continue reading Vice President-elect JD Vance meets with Chinese counterpart

Donald Trump, in a victory rally before his inauguration, promised to act swiftly and decisively on his first day back in office, targeting issues like illegal immigration, transgender rights, and Biden administration policies. He vowed to repeal Biden’s executive orders and implement aggressive border security measures, including a large-scale deportation effort. Trump also discussed pardoning individuals involved in the January 6th attack, and promised to … Continue reading Trump promises ‘historic’ day one with barrage of executive orders

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech billionaire and former Republican presidential candidate, is expected to announce his campaign for Ohio governor, aiming to replace term-limited Governor Mike DeWine. Ramaswamy, who had considered running for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat, is also working with Elon Musk and Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency on a plan for major federal spending cuts. Ramaswamy will face competition for the GOP nomination from … Continue reading Trump’s DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy reportedly announcing campaign for Ohio governor

On his final day in office, President Biden granted pardons and commuted sentences for several individuals, emphasizing second chances as a core American value. Biden set a record for clemency, having commuted nearly 2,500 sentences earlier in the week. Among those pardoned were Marcus Garvey, posthumously, and advocates Ravi Ragbir and Kemba Smith Pradia. Don Scott, the first Black Speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates, … Continue reading Biden pardons Marcus Garvey, Don Scott and 3 others in final full day action

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to drop federal charges against Donald Trump’s former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, in the classified documents case. They believe this would allow the Justice Department to release the full report from Special Counsel Jack Smith about Trump’s alleged crimes. Nauta and de Oliveira are accused of obstructing the investigation into … Continue reading Democrats urge Garland to drop case against 2 former Trump co-defendants, release rest of special counsel report