标签： North America

In a decisive legal ruling, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has formally dismissed the high-profile criminal case against former President Donald Trump and his alleged co-conspirators regarding efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. This dismissal represents the conclusive termination of the last remaining criminal prosecution against Trump concerning election interference allegations.

The case’s dismissal originated from Peter J. Skandalakis, Executive Director of Georgia’s Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council, who assumed prosecutorial authority this month after reporting an inability to find attorneys willing to接手 the complex litigation. Skandalakis formally petitioned the court for dismissal, asserting the matter properly belonged within federal jurisdiction rather than state courts.

This legal saga commenced in 2023 when a Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and eighteen co-defendants under racketeering statutes. The original prosecutor, District Attorney Fani Willis, was removed from the case in 2024 following conflict-of-interest allegations stemming from her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had appointed to the case.

Skandalakis’s dismissal motion presented multiple legal rationales. He emphasized the impracticality of prosecuting a sitting president, noting Trump’s current term extends until January 2029—nearly eight years after the controversial January 2021 phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wherein Trump reportedly pressured officials to “find” sufficient votes to reverse his electoral defeat.

The prosecutor acknowledged the recorded phone call as “concerning” but contended that reasonable interpretations could differ regarding whether Trump sought to fabricate votes or genuinely believed in investigating alleged fraud. “When multiple interpretations are equally plausible,” Skandalakis wrote, “the accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt.”

While four co-defendants had previously pleaded guilty and agreed to testify, Skandalakis determined that pursuing remaining defendants—including those involved in organizing alternate electors, breaching Coffee County election systems, and harassing election worker Ruby Freeman—would be unjustifiably burdensome and costly for the state.

Political reactions divided sharply along partisan lines. Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon praised the dismissal as “profound relief” and vindication for “brave patriots,” while state Democratic Chair Charlie Bailey condemned it as “a travesty and a slap in the face to Georgia voters.”

The dismissal occurs alongside the earlier termination of federal election interference cases by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who concluded that prosecuting a sitting president would violate legal protocols. This series of developments effectively closes all criminal proceedings against Trump related to 2020 election challenges.

The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive re-examination of green cards issued to immigrants from 19 nations deemed security risks, following a recent shooting incident involving an Afghan national in Washington DC. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow announced the policy shift, stating President Trump had directed “a full scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”

The review targets countries previously identified in a June White House proclamation, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo and Libya. The administration cited security concerns and high visa overstay rates as primary factors for inclusion on the list.

The policy announcement comes days after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through special immigration programs following America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, allegedly shot and gravely injured two National Guard troops. While Edlow’s social media announcement did not explicitly reference the attack, he emphasized that “the protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount.”

President Trump characterized the shooting as underscoring “the greatest national security threat facing our nation,” criticizing previous administration policies that he claimed admitted “20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world.”

The June proclamation highlighted by USCIS to the BBC specifically noted Afghanistan’s Taliban control, lack of competent central authority for document issuance, and inadequate screening measures as justification for enhanced scrutiny. This move follows last week’s announcement of a review of all refugees admitted under former President Biden, signaling a broader immigration policy reassessment.

In a landmark political development, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have finalized a comprehensive energy agreement that establishes the framework for a proposed oil pipeline to the Pacific coast. The Thursday signing in Calgary represents a significant policy shift from previous federal administrations, granting the prospective project exemptions from select federal environmental regulations, including the coastal tanker ban off British Columbia’s shoreline and the federal oil and gas emissions cap.

The accord establishes a reciprocal arrangement where Alberta must intensify its environmental commitments by accelerating carbon pricing mechanisms and expanding carbon capture initiatives to counterbalance emissions. The agreement explicitly mandates that the pipeline must secure Indigenous co-ownership and private sector financing, prohibiting the use of public tax dollars for its development.

This arrangement marks a substantial departure from the policies of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and addresses Alberta’s longstanding grievances about federal impediments to resource development. Premier Smith characterized the agreement as signaling the end of “dark times” for her province’s energy sector.

Despite this bilateral progress, the project faces formidable opposition. British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed vehement opposition, labeling the pipeline “fictional” and criticizing the exclusion of his province from preliminary negotiations. The project currently lacks both private financial backing and support from First Nations communities whose territories would be traversed by the pipeline.

Prime Minister Carney defended the initiative as crucial for Canada’s economic diversification, noting that over 90% of Canadian crude exports currently go to the United States—a vulnerability highlighted by recent protectionist trade policies. The administration aims to double non-U.S. exports within the next decade, with Asian markets representing a key strategic objective.

The agreement commits both federal and Alberta governments to immediately engage British Columbia in subsequent discussions, though the project remains in preliminary stages without a defined route to BC’s northern coast.

The Quebec government has unveiled sweeping new secularism legislation that significantly expands restrictions on religious expression in public spaces. The Coalition Avenir Québec government introduced Bill 9 on Thursday, marking what officials term ‘secularism 2.0’ – a substantial enhancement of the controversial 2019 religious symbols law that has sparked national debate.

The comprehensive legislation extends religious symbol prohibitions to staff in subsidized daycares and bans unauthorized collective religious practices, including prayer, in public areas such as parks. It further mandates that students and staff from daycare through post-secondary education cannot wear face coverings, while also limiting exclusively religion-based menus like kosher and halal meals in public institutions.

Jean-François Roberge, Minister Responsible for Secularism, defended the measures as balancing individual and collective rights. The government cites recent protests where public spaces were used for prayer gatherings as partial motivation for the new restrictions. ‘It’s shocking to see people blocking traffic, taking possession of public space without permits, and turning our streets, parks, and squares into places of worship,’ Roberge stated.

The legislation builds upon Bill 21, which previously prohibited judges, police officers, teachers and public servants from wearing religious symbols including kippahs, turbans, and hijabs while working. That law invoked Canada’s notwithstanding clause to override certain constitutional freedoms, a move currently facing Supreme Court review scheduled for early next year.

Opposition parties and advocacy groups have strongly criticized the expanded measures. The Parti Québecois accuses the governing coalition of creating social division to bolster support ahead of provincial elections, while the National Council of Canadian Muslims condemned the legislation as ‘doubling down on identity politics and division.’

Secularism (laïcité) has remained a persistent issue in Quebec since the 1960s decline of Catholic Church influence. Recent polling indicates 68% of Quebec residents consider secularism an important value, aligning the province with similar legislation in several European Union nations including France, which implemented religious symbol bans in 2004 and face covering restrictions in 2010.

A former Afghan security contractor with documented ties to U.S. intelligence agencies stands accused of executing a targeted shooting against two National Guard members in Washington D.C. this week. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, allegedly traveled cross-country from Washington state to carry out what authorities describe as an ‘ambush-style’ attack just blocks from the White House.

The victims, identified as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, both remain hospitalized in critical condition after being shot at close range Wednesday afternoon. Lakanwal was subsequently shot and detained by other Guard members present at the scene.

According to official statements and background investigations, Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome—a special immigration program established following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. His admission was based on previous service with Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force (locally known as Scorpion Forces), which initially operated under CIA direction before transitioning to Afghan intelligence control.

A former military commander who served with Lakanwal described him to BBC Afghan Service as a GPS tracking specialist and ‘sporty, jolly character’ who helped secure Kabul airport during the chaotic evacuation. His entire unit was airlifted to the U.S. days after the Taliban entered Kabul.

The incident has triggered significant policy repercussions. President Donald Trump, who characterized the shooting as an ‘act of terror,’ immediately suspended all Afghan immigration applications and ordered a comprehensive review of all special immigration programs. USCIS Chief Joseph Edlow confirmed the administration would conduct ‘a full scale, rigorous re-examination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.’

Additionally, the president announced deployment of 500 additional National Guard members to Washington D.C., augmenting the existing force of 2,000 troops deployed since August to address urban crime concerns.

Lakanwal currently faces multiple felony charges including three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, potentially carrying more than a decade imprisonment if convicted. He remains under guard while receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during his apprehension.