Trump seeks criminal prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James

Donald Trump’s administration is accusing New York Attorney General Letitia James of mortgage fraud, and has made a criminal referral to the the justice department seeking federal prosecution. Officials with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) allege James falsified bank and property records to receive better loan agreements, an administration official told the BBC. James … Read more

EU names seven countries as safe in plan to speed up migrant returns

The European Union has identified seven countries it considers safe countries of origin, as part of proposals to speed up asylum applications, especially from those countries involved. Citizens from Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia would all have their claims fast-tracked within three months on the assumption that they were likely to fail. … Read more

Detained activist suspected immigration interview was trap

A university student and Palestinian activist arrested by US immigration authorities was worried that an American citizenship interview was a trap. Mohsen Mahdawi, who has permanent US residency or “green card” status, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) when he turned up to the appointment on Monday. One day before his arrest … Read more

UK and France in talks over migrant returns deal

The UK government is in negotiations with France on a scheme to return illegal migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats. In return, the British government would accept legal migrants seeking family reunion in the UK. The French interior ministry told the BBC this would be a pilot scheme based on “a one-for-one … Read more

Gambian ex-soldier convicted of torture in US trial

A former Gambian soldier has been convicted on torture charges by a US court for his involvement in crimes committed while feared strongman Yahya Jammeh was in power in the West African country. Michael Sang Correa was found guilty of being part of a conspiracy to commit torture against suspected opponents while serving under a … Read more

Elon Musk’s Starlink and the racially charged row over operating in South Africa

Khanyisile Ngcobo BBC News, Johannesburg Getty Images The tussle between Starlink boss Elon Musk and South Africa over the company’s failure to launch in the country stems from the nation’s black empowerment laws, and could be one factor behind the diplomatic row between the US and Africa’s most industrialised nation. To his more than 219 … Read more

Harvard just stood up to Trump. How long can it last?

Robin Levinson-King and Mike Wendling BBC News Watch: ‘It’s not right’ – Students react to Trump freezing Harvard’s federal funding Harvard University says it will not acquiesce to US President Donald Trump’s demands – federal funding or no. “No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can … Read more

India’s Gandhis charged in money laundering case amid opposition outcry

Getty Images Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been accused of laundering millions of dollars – charges they have strongly denied India’s opposition Congress party has said it will organise nationwide protests on Wednesday after the country’s financial crimes agency charged senior leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and others with money laundering. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) … Read more