United States Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump following his announcement that he had removed her from office, a move she describes as illegal and unprecedented.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, challenges Trump’s authority to dismiss her from her role at the Federal Reserve Board, which traditionally operates independently from the presidency.

“This case challenges President Trump’s unprecedented and illegal attempt to remove Governor Cook from her position, which, if allowed to occur, would be the first of its kind in the Board’s history,” the court documents state.

Cook is seeking a court order affirming her continued status as a Federal Reserve governor, alongside immediate declaratory and injunctive relief that would prevent political interference in the central bank’s operations.

The case aims to reinforce the congressionally mandated independence of the Federal Reserve.

The dispute escalated after Trump posted a letter on his Truth Social platform earlier in the week, claiming he had dismissed Cook based on allegations of her making false statements related to mortgage agreements.

Specifically, she was accused of claiming two separate primary residences, one in Michigan and another in Georgia,  prior to her appointment.

Despite the claims, Cook has not been charged with any crime, and the incidents referenced occurred before her appointment to the Federal Reserve.

Analysts say the move represents a serious challenge to the Fed’s independence and could set a dangerous precedent if upheld.

The United States has approved the potential sale of $825 million worth of air-launched missiles and related equipment to Ukraine, in a move aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s defense capabilities amid its ongoing war with Russia.

The deal, which includes 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles, was confirmed on Thursday by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The sale will be funded by Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, with additional support through a US loan guarantee.

According to the DSCA, “This proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions.”

The agency also noted that the deal aligns with America’s foreign policy and national security goals.

“It will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”

The US State Department has given its approval for the transaction, but the sale still requires final authorization from Congress.

Meanwhile, Russia’s war in Ukraine, which began with the full-scale invasion in 2022, continues with little sign of de-escalation from Moscow.

Despite repeated calls from Washington and its allies, President Vladimir Putin has remained firm in pursuing military operations.

The announcement comes as US President Donald Trump continues to urge European nations to take on greater financial responsibility for Ukraine’s military support.

Under former President Joe Biden, the US pledged over $65 billion in military aid to Kyiv, but Trump has expressed skepticism about continuing that level of assistance unilaterally.

The Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, has been sentenced to 56 months in prison in the United States for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko handed down the sentence on August 26, 2025, in Ohio.

In addition to his prison term, the 62-year-old monarch, who holds dual citizenship in Nigeria and the U.S, was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $4.4 million in restitution.

Oloyede also forfeited his home in Medina, Ohio, which was purchased with fraud proceeds, along with $96,006.89 in cash seized during the investigation.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Oloyede conspired with Edward Oluwasanmi, 62, to exploit federal emergency loan programs set up under the CARES Act to support small businesses during the pandemic.

Between April 2020 and February 2022, the duo submitted dozens of fraudulent loan applications to the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA), using fabricated information to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

Both men pleaded guilty in April to wire fraud and tax fraud charges after prosecutors revealed the extent of the scheme, which saw over $4.2 million in pandemic relief funds fraudulently obtained.

Oloyede, a tax preparer by profession, ran multiple businesses and a nonprofit organization, while Oluwasanmi operated three business entities.

The U.S Attorney’s Office said Oloyede was responsible for around $1.7 million in fraudulent loans tied to his businesses, while Oluwasanmi received $1.2 million.

Investigators further revealed that Oloyede expanded the scam by filing fake loan applications in the names of some of his tax clients and their businesses, taking a 15-20% cut as a “processing fee.” None of that income was reported on his tax returns.

The fraudulent funds were used to buy land, construct a home, and purchase a luxury car, authorities said.

In total, Oloyede was responsible for 38 fraudulent SBA loan applications, resulting in $4.2 million being disbursed.

His co-conspirator, Oluwasanmi, was sentenced in July to 27 months in prison, ordered to repay over $1.2 million and forfeit assets including a commercial property and over $600,000 in bank accounts linked to the fraud.

The case was part of a broader investigation into pandemic-related financial crimes and was jointly handled by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit, under the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force.

Prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and James L. Morford.

A son of Equatorial Guinea’s long-serving president has been convicted of illegally selling a plane that belonged to the country’s national airline, according to court officials.

Ruslan Obiang Nsue, 50, a former director of Ceiba Intercontinental, the national carrier, was found guilty of selling an ATR 72-500 aircraft to a company in Spain and keeping the proceeds.

The verdict was delivered by the country’s Supreme Court.

Speaking to reporters via WhatsApp, Hilario Mitogo, director of press for the Supreme Court, said Obiang Nsue faces a six-year prison sentence unless he reimburses the state.

To avoid jail time, the court ordered him to repay approximately $255,000 to Ceiba Intercontinental and also cover additional fines and damages to the government.

Obiang Nsue, who has also held the role of secretary of state for sports and youth, was placed under house arrest in 2023 by his half-brother, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the country’s vice-president and another son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled the oil-rich Central African nation for over four decades.

Though found guilty of illegally selling the aircraft, Obiang Nsue was acquitted of separate charges of embezzlement and abuse of office.

This case is the latest in a series of corruption scandals involving members of the presidential family.

Notably, in 2021, a French court convicted Obiang Mangue of embezzling public funds, handing him a suspended sentence and ordering him to pay a $35 million fine.