Ayoola Atitebi

Billionaire Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political party following President Donald Trump's signing of controversial budget legislation known as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill." Musk declared the creation of the "America Party" on X Saturday, stating it would "give back" Americans their freedom and challenge what he described as the nation's "one-party system." The announcement followed a poll Musk posted Friday asking whether respondents wanted "independence from the two-party (some would say uni-party) system" that has dominated US politics for approximately two centuries. The survey received over 1.2 million responses. "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!" Musk wrote Saturday. "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is […]

Hamas has delivered what it calls a "positive response" to mediators regarding the latest US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement. The Palestinian armed group announced Friday night that it was "seriously ready to enter immediately into a round of negotiations" but did not confirm acceptance of the specific terms. A senior Palestinian official informed the BBC that Hamas requested several modifications, including ending a US-backed aid distribution system and obtaining US guarantees that warfare would not resume if negotiations failed. Israel's government has not issued a statement. President Donald Trump, who said he had not been briefed on the details, described Hamas's positive response as "good" and told reporters aboard Air Force One that "there could be a Gaza deal next week." The timing appears significant as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit […]

Eight men in U.S. detention have lost their final legal challenge to avoid deportation to South Sudan, a country facing ongoing human rights concerns. On Friday, Judge Brian Murphy of Boston denied the last-minute appeal following extensive legal activity throughout the day. The men have been held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti since late May, when courts halted an earlier deportation flight to South Sudan. The U.S. Supreme Court has twice ruled that the Trump administration could deport the men to countries outside their homelands, with its latest decision issued Thursday. The appeal, filed that night, argued that repeated deportation attempts to South Sudan were "impermissibly punitive," citing the U.S. Constitution's prohibition of "cruel and unusual punishment." The U.S. State Department advises American citizens to avoid South Sudan due to ongoing armed conflict and has previously accused the […]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he and US President Donald Trump agreed to collaborate on strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities during a phone conversation Friday. The two leaders had a "very important and fruitful conversation," Zelenskyy stated, adding they "spoke about opportunities in air defence and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies." According to Axios, citing an unidentified Ukrainian official and a source familiar with the call, Trump expressed willingness to help Ukraine with air defense following escalating Russian attacks. Zelenskyy said the discussion included joint defense production, purchases, and investments. He emphasized Ukraine's readiness for "direct projects with the United States," particularly regarding drones and related technologies, calling such cooperation "critically important for security." The conversation occurred one day after Trump's call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the US president described as […]

President Donald Trump signed his major policy legislation into law Friday afternoon, one day after Congress narrowly approved the controversial measure. The White House signing ceremony, held during July 4th celebrations, implements significant portions of Trump's agenda including tax reductions, defense spending increases, and immigration enforcement measures. Trump celebrated the achievement at an Iowa rally Thursday night, promising supporters it would drive economic growth. However, he faces the challenge of convincing skeptical Americans, as polling indicates widespread disapproval of the legislation. Several Republicans opposed the bill due to concerns about rising national debt, while Democrats argued it favors wealthy Americans at the expense of lower-income citizens. The 870-page legislation includes several key provisions: extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts from his first presidency, significant reductions to Medicaid spending for low-income and disabled Americans, new tax exemptions for tipped income, overtime pay, […]

The US government will begin sending letters to countries detailing higher tariff rates that take effect on August 1st, President Donald Trump announced Thursday. Between 10 to 12 letters will be sent Friday, with additional notifications following over the coming days, Trump told reporters. The new import duties will range from "60% or 70% tariffs to 10 to 20% tariffs," with the upper limit exceeding previously outlined rates. Trump has established a July 9th deadline for negotiations over import tax rates as countries work to secure agreements. He previously indicated a baseline tariff of 10% on many economies with a maximum of 50%. The president did not specify which countries' goods would face the US taxes or whether rates would apply only to certain products. "My inclination is to send a letter out and say what tariff they're going to […]

Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives face a critical standoff over President Donald Trump's comprehensive tax and spending legislation, with several party members refusing to support the bill that has unanimous Democratic opposition. House debate continues following the bill's passage through its final procedural hurdle early Thursday morning in Washington, D.C. The final vote is anticipated within hours. The impasse surrounding the Trump administration's primary domestic policy initiative, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," extended into Thursday's early hours as Republican leadership worked intensively to convince holdouts ahead of the Friday, July 4 deadline. Trump criticized the dissenting Republicans on social media platforms. "For Republicans, this should be an easy yes vote. Ridiculous!" Trump posted on Truth Social. He added, "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a […]

President Donald Trump has renewed his call for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to resign, escalating tensions over the independence of the US central bank. Trump demanded Powell "resign immediately" on Wednesday following criticism from his administration's top housing regulator. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, posted on X that Powell should be investigated for "political bias" and "deceptive testimony" regarding renovations at the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington, DC. Responding to Pulte's comments, Trump posted on Truth Social that "Too Late" – his nickname for Powell – should resign. This criticism follows Trump's letter to Powell demanding the central banker lower the benchmark interest rate, currently set at 4.25 to 4.5 percent, by "a lot." Trump has consistently criticized Powell for not supporting faster rate cuts, arguing that the Fed chair's cautious approach constrains economic growth […]