分类： politics

In a significant address to the United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas unequivocally rejected any future governance role for Hamas, distancing himself from the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Speaking via video after being denied a U.S. visa to attend in person, Abbas emphasized that Hamas’s actions did not represent the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom and independence. He also condemned antisemitism, asserting that solidarity with Palestine should not be conflated with anti-Jewish sentiment. Abbas’s speech, which received applause from delegates, highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling it one of the most tragic chapters of the 20th and 21st centuries. He proposed an interim committee led by the Palestinian Authority to temporarily govern Gaza, a region controlled by Hamas since 2007. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, despite recent recognitions by several Western powers. U.S. President Donald Trump, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has backed Israel’s stance while engaging in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron noted alignment with the U.S. on opposing annexation, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto offered 20,000 troops to support peacekeeping efforts. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank under the Oslo Accords, faces mounting challenges as global powers debate the path to peace.

The White House has escalated tensions in a looming government shutdown crisis, instructing federal agencies to prepare for potential mass layoffs under President Donald Trump’s administration. In a memo obtained by AFP, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) warned that this shutdown would deviate from past practices of temporary furloughs, instead considering permanent staff reductions. The memo directed agencies to issue Reduction in Force (RIF) notices and submit plans for workforce cuts, particularly in departments most affected by a shutdown. This approach mirrors the Trump administration’s earlier large-scale firings under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The White House accused congressional Democrats of making “insane demands” and breaking a decade-long bipartisan tradition of avoiding shutdowns. However, the OMB expressed hope that Democrats would avert a crisis. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the threats, calling OMB chief Russ Vought a “malignant political hack” and vowing not to be intimidated. A shutdown would halt non-essential operations and leave hundreds of thousands of federal employees temporarily unpaid. The standoff stems from a funding dispute ahead of the September 30 fiscal deadline, with Democrats rejecting a stopgap bill passed by the Republican-controlled House. Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders, demanding they “become realistic.” With Congress in recess and time running out, Republicans warned they would not return before the deadline, forcing the Senate to accept their proposal or face a shutdown. The bill, if passed, would only provide temporary funding until November 21. The last shutdown in March resulted from Republican refusal to negotiate over Trump’s budget cuts and layoffs.

In a significant escalation of his ongoing legal battles against political adversaries, former U.S. President Donald Trump has seen his long-time critic, former FBI Director James Comey, indicted on two criminal charges. The indictment, announced on Thursday, accuses Comey of making false statements and obstructing justice during his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. This development comes just days after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived enemies. Trump, who has repeatedly denounced Comey as ‘one of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to,’ celebrated the indictment. Federal prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, a former personal lawyer to Trump with no prior prosecutorial experience, stated that Comey could face up to five years in prison if convicted. The charges have sparked controversy, with critics alleging that the move is part of a broader pattern of Trump using legal mechanisms to target political opponents. Current FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the ‘politicization of law enforcement’ during the Russiagate investigation, calling it a ‘disgraceful chapter in history.’ The indictment also follows a series of aggressive actions by Trump against critics, including the removal of security clearances from former officials and the withdrawal of federal funding from universities. This latest legal maneuver underscores the deepening political divisions in the U.S. and raises questions about the impartiality of the justice system under Trump’s influence.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Thursday, signaling the potential for a government shutdown as tensions escalate between the White House and congressional Democrats. The standoff centers on spending negotiations ahead of the September 30 fiscal deadline, after which critical federal services could face severe disruptions. Trump, in a candid remark from the Oval Office, accused Democrats of being ‘crazed’ and unprepared, further intensifying the political rift. The White House has escalated the confrontation by instructing government agencies to prepare for mass layoffs, a move that goes beyond the typical temporary furloughs during shutdowns. A memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed agencies to consider issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices to employees, adding to the strain on federal workers already impacted by earlier layoffs orchestrated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Democrats have firmly rejected Republican proposals, demanding the reversal of certain spending cuts and the extension of healthcare subsidies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the layoff threats, urging the White House to ‘get lost’ and accusing OMB chief Russ Vought of being ‘out of control.’ A shutdown would halt non-essential government operations and leave hundreds of thousands of civil servants temporarily unpaid. The White House blamed Democrats for ‘insane demands,’ accusing them of disrupting a decade-long bipartisan tradition of avoiding shutdowns. With both chambers of Congress in recess and senators not returning until Monday, the day before the deadline, the window for reaching a resolution is rapidly closing. House Republicans have warned they will not return before the deadline, leaving the Senate to either accept their proposal or face a shutdown. The proposed bill, if passed, would only provide temporary funding through November 21. This latest impasse echoes the March shutdown, which was resolved at the eleventh hour after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed a Republican-drafted proposal.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has issued a crucial reminder to the public regarding the upcoming deadline for voter registration. Eligible individuals must submit their applications by Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to be included in the updated voters’ list, which will be published on November 30, 2025. Applications received after this date will be processed for the subsequent list scheduled for May 31, 2026. The EOJ emphasizes that individuals already registered should refrain from reapplying. To register, applicants must visit any EOJ constituency office in person during specified hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Fridays. Applicants are advised to wear dark-colored clothing to facilitate the photograph-taking process. Following the in-office application, a residence verification team will visit the provided address to finalize the registration. The process is free of charge. Eligibility criteria require applicants to be at least 18 years old and either Jamaican citizens or Commonwealth citizens who have resided in Jamaica for at least 12 consecutive months prior to registration. Commonwealth citizens must present relevant documentation during the application process. The voters’ list is updated and published biannually on May 31 and November 30, ensuring the accuracy and inclusivity of Jamaica’s electoral system.