Author: Onu Akter

The European Union has agreed to a major trade deal with the United States, raising tariffs on most European exports to 15%, a 10% increase from current levels. The agreement, finalized after a brief meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former U.S. President Donald Trump, has drawn criticism across Europe. Many view it as a symbol of Europe’s growing security dependence on the United States. France’s prime minister called it a “dark day” for the EU, saying the decision looked like “submission” to U.S. pressure. Critics were quick to highlight von der Leyen’s public handshake with…

The UK and Australia have signed a landmark 50-year treaty to design and build a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The pact, called the Geelong Treaty, was signed in Geelong on Saturday by Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Secretary John Healey. It forms a critical part of the broader Aukus defence agreement between Australia, the UK, and the United States. This long-term treaty focuses on building the SSN-Aukus submarines, which will feature advanced technology shared by all three Aukus countries. The UK will build its submarines in northern England for its Royal Navy, while Australia will construct…

A senior Hamas leader has rejected recent US accusations that the group stole humanitarian aid intended for Gaza, calling the claims “politically motivated and baseless.” In an official statement on Saturday, Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Rishq said the accusations were designed to justify new US policies rather than reflect facts on the ground. “The allegations about Hamas stealing aid are politically motivated and baseless,” Rishq said, pointing to findings from a recent, unpublicized US Agency for International Development (USAID) report. The USAID study reviewed 156 cases of lost or stolen humanitarian aid between October 2023 and May 2025. It…

Lashed by cold winds and facing the gray waters of the North Sea, the sand dunes of Balmedie, Scotland, have long been a favorite spot for President Donald Trump. Now, at 79 and back in the White House, he’s making good on his 2023 pledge to expand his golf empire there. Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday for a five-day visit to celebrate the upcoming opening of a new golf course near Aberdeen. The course is set to officially open on August 13 and already has tee times available for booking. His son Eric Trump is expected to cut the…

A far-right Israeli minister sparked national and international backlash on Thursday after stating that Israel has no duty to relieve hunger in the Gaza Strip. His comments came as the humanitarian crisis worsens in the territory, where starvation is rising. Amichay Eliyahu, head of Israel’s Heritage Ministry, said in a radio interview that “there is no nation that feeds its enemies.” He compared the situation to historic wartime scenarios, referencing how Britain and the U.S. treated Axis powers during World War II. “The British didn’t feed the Nazis,” he claimed, adding that “the Russians don’t feed the Ukrainians now.” Eliyahu…

New South Wales politician Gareth Ward has been found guilty of multiple sexual assault charges, including the rape of a young political staffer. The 44-year-old state MP, who still holds his seat in the NSW parliament, was convicted by a jury on three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. The verdict was delivered after three days of jury deliberations following a nine-week trial at the NSW District Court. The case centered around the accounts of two men who met Ward through political circles and were assaulted at his home between 2013 and 2015. The victims, aged 18…

With a September deadline approaching to keep the government funded, Democrats are facing a difficult choice: cooperate on spending bills crafted by Republicans and risk appearing to cave to President Donald Trump, or oppose them and risk triggering a government shutdown. Earlier this year, Democrats reluctantly supported a Republican-written stopgap funding bill. That vote, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a handful of others, was meant to prevent a shutdown that could give the Trump administration more power over federal spending. However, the decision drew sharp criticism from Democratic voters and activists, who accused their leaders of giving…

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn announced on Thursday that he is launching a new political party, marking a bold return to the national stage. Corbyn, who led Labour through two general elections and was later expelled from the party, said the time had come to build something fresh alongside fellow former Labour MP Zarah Sultana. Although the group referred to their movement as “Your Party” during the initial announcement, they later said the name was still under discussion. In a joint statement, Corbyn and Sultana declared their intention to build a political force “rooted in our communities, trade unions…

President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy oil from Russia is unlikely to be carried out, according to several energy analysts and trade experts. The policy, which aims to pressure Moscow into agreeing to a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days, faces strong headwinds due to its potential to cause a surge in global oil prices. The tariff proposal mirrors a similar warning issued in March against countries buying oil from Venezuela. That measure, however, has not been enforced, and Venezuela’s oil exports have risen sharply, especially to China. Trump said earlier this…

Health officials across the U.S. are raising concerns about possible cuts to a major overdose prevention program. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may face up to $140 million in funding reductions. The affected program, known as Overdose Data to Action (OD2A), supports the fight against the opioid crisis. It funds tracking, treatment access, and emergency response efforts. OD2A began in 2019 and expanded under the current administration. It provides grants to 90 state and local health departments. With overdose deaths falling in 2023 for the first time in years, experts fear these cuts could reverse that progress.…