The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Virginia on Thursday over its new requirements, including a mask ban, for federal agents operating in the commonwealth, alleging the laws are an “unconstitutional attempt to regulate” federal law enforcement operations.  “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Virginia on Thursday over its new requirements, including a mask ban, for federal agents operating in the commonwealth, alleging the laws are an “unconstitutional attempt to regulate” federal law enforcement operations.  “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to…

Agents seized phones and laptops of Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a group that does voter registration work

The FBI raided the office of a voting rights group in Ohio on Thursday, prompting immediate concerns the Trump administration is cracking down on such organizations ahead of the midterm elections.

FBI agents raided the Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a grassroots group that does voter registration work, said Prentiss Haney, a board member of the group. Agents seized computers and phones, he said, and also showed up at homes of people affiliated with the group throughout the state and interviewed them.

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© Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

A federal judge on Friday rejected an eleventh-hour attempt by the Kennedy Center to pause the removal of President Trump’s name from the renowned performing arts center while an appeal plays out. The institution’s board had asked Judge Christopher Cooper to halt his previous order requiring that Trump’s name come off the facade of the…

A federal judge on Friday rejected an eleventh-hour attempt by the Kennedy Center to pause the removal of President Trump’s name from the renowned performing arts center while an appeal plays out. The institution’s board had asked Judge Christopher Cooper to halt his previous order requiring that Trump’s name come off the facade of the…

US president dismisses Iranian media reports agreement is close, despite earlier suggesting a deal could be signed this weekend

Prospects for an immediate end to the war between Iran and the US remained uncertain on Friday amid a chaotic series of conflicting claims and counter-claims by US and Iranian officials about ongoing negotiations.

Donald Trump seemed to distance himself from his earlier comments that suggested a preliminary agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend, with a series of angry social media posts describing the Iranians as “very dishonorable people to deal with”.

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© Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

© Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

© Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

A federal judge on Friday refused two Virginia residents’ request to block this weekend’s UFC event on the White House South Lawn, ruling they have no right to challenge the fight. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said the two had no legal standing because they hadn’t shown the event, timed to Flag Day and President Trump’s 80th…

A federal judge on Friday refused two Virginia residents’ request to block this weekend’s UFC event on the White House South Lawn, ruling they have no right to challenge the fight. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said the two had no legal standing because they hadn’t shown the event, timed to Flag Day and President Trump’s 80th…

New batch of government documents takes no position on origin of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs)

A possible UFO sighting over a busy southern African airport, and yet more mysterious glowing orbs in the sky above the US, feature in the latest batch of previously classified documents released by the Pentagon on Friday in its stated quest for “transparency” amid the irrepressible debate about the chances of extraterrestrial life.

In keeping with the first two document drops of government papers last month, Friday’s tranche of more than 50 files contains no proof that the tantalizing videos and written accounts of possible alien encounters are anything other than perception, vivid imagination or conspiracy theories.

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© Photograph: War Department

© Photograph: War Department

© Photograph: War Department

The prime minister of Pakistan said Friday the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a peace framework to end the more than 100-day war. The country has been leading the mediation efforts between the two sides to bring the Middle East hostilities to an end and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure…

The prime minister of Pakistan said Friday the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a peace framework to end the more than 100-day war. The country has been leading the mediation efforts between the two sides to bring the Middle East hostilities to an end and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure…

The Trump administration is pushing back against reported details regarding the proposed deal with Iran, with Vice President Vance insisting Tehran would not be “receiving any cash” under the agreement. Vance on Friday morning reupped President Trump’s dismissal of details leaked by Tehran about a possible memorandum of understanding between the two sides.  “I’m seeing…

The Trump administration is pushing back against reported details regarding the proposed deal with Iran, with Vice President Vance insisting Tehran would not be “receiving any cash” under the agreement. Vance on Friday morning reupped President Trump’s dismissal of details leaked by Tehran about a possible memorandum of understanding between the two sides.  “I’m seeing…

Trump administration created fund to resolve his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns

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A federal judge in Virginia has extended an order blocking the Trump administration’s nearly $1.8bn slush fund, saying the administration’s public statements that the fund was dead were not assuring enough.

The US district judge Leonie Brinkema, an appointee of Bill Clinton, said she would lift her order if the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, and the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, filed a declaration under penalty of perjury that the fund was not moving forward in the next week.

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© Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

Iran hawks are already circling as details emerge about an agreement that President Trump said Thursday could be signed as soon as this weekend between Washington and Tehran.  “Any version of this deal with Iran means the leverage is out the window,” said Miad Maleki, a former Treasury Department official now at the Foundation for…

Iran hawks are already circling as details emerge about an agreement that President Trump said Thursday could be signed as soon as this weekend between Washington and Tehran.  “Any version of this deal with Iran means the leverage is out the window,” said Miad Maleki, a former Treasury Department official now at the Foundation for…

A federal judge in Virginia agreed to indefinitely block the Justice Department’s “anti-weaponization” fund after previously agreeing to temporarily block any payments.  The decision from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema came during a Friday hearing on whether to bar any payments from the $1.776 billion fund for the duration of the case. Democracy Forward, a…

A federal judge in Virginia agreed to indefinitely block the Justice Department’s “anti-weaponization” fund after previously agreeing to temporarily block any payments.  The decision from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema came during a Friday hearing on whether to bar any payments from the $1.776 billion fund for the duration of the case. Democracy Forward, a…

President Trump on Thursday suggested the federal government could “take back” Washington if the democratic socialist candidate wins the race to replace outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I wouldn’t like it — and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis,” Trump said when asked what he would do if a “crazy socialist”…

President Trump on Thursday suggested the federal government could “take back” Washington if the democratic socialist candidate wins the race to replace outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I wouldn’t like it — and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis,” Trump said when asked what he would do if a “crazy socialist”…