Author: Andrew Rogers

President Donald Trump has called on the Justice Department and FBI to investigate convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with prominent Democrats and major financial institutions. In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and federal authorities to examine Epstein’s ties to figures including former President Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, and institutions such as JPMorgan Chase. Trump claimed Democrats were using the “Epstein hoax” to deflect attention from the recent government shutdown. Trump wrote that records show many individuals “spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island,’” and compared…

A Tennessee police officer was hospitalized in critical condition Friday night after two law enforcement vehicles collided while supporting Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade. The crash occurred in Maryville, about 17 miles south of Knoxville, involving a state trooper and a Maryville Police Department motorcycle officer, according to a city statement. Both officers were taken to the hospital, though officials have not released the trooper’s condition. Katherine Pierce, the U.S. Secret Service’s resident agent in charge in Knoxville, said the agency is closely monitoring the situation. She added that the safety and movement of the vice president and other protectees…

The Georgia election interference case involving President Donald Trump and 18 others is now under a new prosecutor, Pete Skandalakis, who must decide how to move forward with the complex indictment. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case over an “appearance of impropriety” stemming from her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she appointed. The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council, a nonpartisan agency, stepped in to find a replacement. Unable to find another prosecutor willing to take the case, Council Executive Director Skandalakis appointed himself. The indictment, returned by a grand jury in August 2023, uses Georgia’s anti-racketeering…

Protesters blocked the main entrance to the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, on Friday morning, demanding to speak to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about the plight of Indigenous peoples. About 50 members of the Munduruku people from the Amazon basin, with support from international environmental groups, staged the blockade. Riot police, soldiers, and military vehicles stood by as the protesters tried to deliver their message. One protester said, “We demand the presence of President Lula, but unfortunately we are unable to do so, as always. We were never listened to.” The group instead met with André Corrêa…

A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from cutting federal funding to the University of California, calling the government’s actions an effort to force ideological changes on elite universities. US District Judge Rita Lin of San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction late Friday. The ruling prevents the administration from demanding payments or imposing fines on the University of California over claims that it violates civil rights through its handling of antisemitism and affirmative action policies. Judge Lin said the plaintiffs, including faculty, researchers, and students, provided “overwhelming evidence” that the administration is running a “concerted campaign to purge ‘woke,’…

Pakistan’s parliament approved a major constitutional amendment on Thursday granting lifetime immunity to President Asif Ali Zardari and current army chief Asim Munir. The 27th amendment passed with a two-thirds majority, consolidating military power under a new Chief of Defence Forces role and creating a Federal Constitutional Court. The law allows Munir, promoted to field marshal after Pakistan’s clash with India in May, to command the army, navy, and air force while enjoying lifelong protections. Other top military officials now also retain rank and privileges for life, remain in uniform, and gain immunity from criminal prosecution. Critics warned the amendment…

Chicago residents are taking action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids under the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” which began on 9 September 2025. The raids have affected nearly every part of the city. Estimates from the National Center for Immigrant Justice and the Illinois Coalition on Immigrant and Refugee Rights indicate about 1,300 people have been detained illegally, with violations of a court order to stop warrantless arrests continuing. Communities are fighting back with a mix of training, awareness, and aid. PUÑO volunteer Diego Morales has led MigraWatch trainings since 2016, teaching over 2,000 Chicagoans how to spot…

The public groping of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has prompted swift government action to tackle sexual abuse nationwide. Citlalli Hernández, Mexico’s secretary for women, unveiled a presidential plan aimed at combating sexual violence. The initiative includes ensuring prison sentences for sexual abuse across the country, encouraging victims to report incidents, and training prosecutors and officials to handle cases effectively. The plan also involves public awareness campaigns in schools, workplaces, public transport, and other spaces to prevent violence against women. Hernández said the measures aim to reassure women that they are not alone and that the government is taking their safety…

The Queensland Liberal-National government has appointed conservative figures to the state’s school curriculum board, ousting two union-linked members in a controversial move. Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson and Independent Education Union branch secretary Terry Burke will be removed from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) board. They will be replaced by Leesa Jeffcoat, a former diocesan director of Catholic Education, and James Power, a businessman and founding chair of the right-wing lobby group Advance. Jeffcoat has more than 20 years of experience in senior roles within the Queensland Catholic education system, while Power is involved in establishing St…

Property experts are urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to abolish the “sin tax” of stamp duty in the upcoming budget and replace it with an annual property tax. The call comes as buyers hesitate ahead of the November 26 budget. TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, known for Channel 4 property shows, told MPs that buying a home should not be considered a sin. “You are actually punished for wanting to buy a more expensive property than the previous one, and that is wrong,” she said. Allsopp emphasized that encouraging people to move house is economically positive. The Treasury is reportedly considering a…