List of All Articles with Tag 'politics'

The US will send cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed on Friday, following months of debate within the Biden administration about whether to provide Kyiv with the controversial weapons banned by over 100 countries including key US allies.

In the wake of the uprising by Wagner Group forces in Russia, the US and Europe have turned their gaze to an increasingly unpredictable Belarus -- a key Russian ally that Western officials fear could give the exiled mercenary troops a new home and serve as a staging ground for Russian nuclear weapons.

By Maria Carolina Marcello and Gabriel Araujo BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's lower house of Congress approved on Friday the main text

Britain and other European countries could be hit by riots on the scale France is currently experiencing, Francois Hollande has said. The former French president said the unrest, initially triggered by killing of Nahel Merzouk by a police officer, had been exacerbated by economic and social problems. Mr Hollande claimed the riots were in part spreading through a social media “domino effect" and that this would not respect borders. “Those people who sometimes look at us with a little irony should tell themselves that the same thing could happen there," he told the Times newspaper. "The images [of the riots] do not only circulate between Paris, Lyon and Marseilles, they also circulate in the towns and cities of the UK, Germany, the US.” The former Socialist Party head of state, held office from 2012 to 2017, said those taking to the streets had been motivated by "a desire to go and get goods that you cannot buy in ordinary times". He claimed in his analysis that some participants saw the protests as "an opportunity ... to break into shops and take everything inside". This urge had been exacerbated by inflation and Covid lockdowns which had caused social dysfunction among some French youth, he said. Nahel Merzouk, who was 17-years-old, was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop on Tuesday, triggering days of fierce clashes. More than 700 people were arrested following his funeral on Saturday as police fired tear gas and fought street battles with protestors late into the night in flashpoint Marseilles. Police initially reported that one officer had shot at the teenager because he was driving his car towards him. But this version of events was quickly contradicted by a video circulating on social media. London and other cities in England endured days of widespread rioting in 2011 following the shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan by police in Tottenham. Read More Fresh fears for house prices after fastest drop in 12 years Boris attacks ‘odious’ Ulez scheme – but Labour takes poll lead in Uxbridge Labour tells Jeremy Hunt his advisers must not undermine Bank of England Fresh fears for house prices after fastest drop in 12 years Boris attacks ‘odious’ Ulez scheme – but Labour takes poll lead in Uxbridge Labour tells Jeremy Hunt his advisers must not undermine Bank of England

An attorney disciplinary committee has recommended Rudy Giuliani be disbarred in Washington, DC, for his efforts on behalf of then-President

A top Oklahoma education official prompted swift criticism on Thursday by falsely claiming the 1921 Tulsa race massacre wasn’t about race. Ryan Walters, who took office as superintendent of public instruction, mades the comments during a forum at the Norman Public Library on Thursday, after he was asked how accurately teaching about the infamous white supremacist massacre which killed as many as 300 Black people wouldn’t violate a state ban on teaching critical race theory. “I would never tell a kid that because of your race, because of the color of your skin, or your gender or anything like that, you are less of a person or are inherently racist,” Mr Walters said in response. “That doesn’t mean you don’t judge the actions of individuals. Oh, you can. Absolutely, historically, you should. ‘This was right. This was wrong. They did this for this reason.’ But to say it was inherent in that because of their skin is where I say that is critical race theory. You’re saying that race defines a person.” “Let’s not tie it to the skin colour and say the skin colour determined it,” he added. The Tulsa race massacre is considered one of the worst acts of white supremacist terror in US history. During the 1921 massacre, rumours about a young Black man’s encounter with a white woman prompted a mob of white vigilantes, in some cases armed and deputised by Tulsa officials, to raze the thriving Greenwood district, a bustling centre of Black business in the city. The violence killed as many as 300 Black people, injured more than 800, and left tens of thousands of people homeless, according to the Tulsa historical society. After the massacre concluded, nearly all residents of Greenwood were arrested en masse, and could only be released on the application of a white person. No one was ever prosecuted for the violence. The state official’s coments attracted swift condemnation. “No matter what anyone says or does, Tulsa will continue teaching a full, honest, and complete history of our city, state, country, and world,” Tulsa superintendent Deborah Gist wrote on Twitter. “After 100 years we have an Oklahoma elected official still fighting the Tulsa Race Massacre,” Oklahoma congressional candidate and former FBI agent Dennis Baker added on Twitter. “MAGA State Superintendent Ryan Walters believes the Tulsa Race Massacre wasn’t about race. The Klan hide behind a white robe – Walters proudly displays his red cap.” Many were incredulous that Mr Walters didn’t see the role of race in the mob violence. “I’m sure in his opinion, the Civil War and the Holocaust had nothing to do with race either,” state representative Monroe Nichols tweeted. “[Ryan Walters] is a notorious sympathizer of the darkest moments of history and all those who perpetuated them.” The Independent has contacted Mr Walters for comment. The Tulsa controversy isn’t the first time the education official has provoked controversy. Last month, he called on Oklahoma schools to promote Christianity and display the Ten Commandments to encourage “Western heritage.” Read More Tulsa race massacre survivors are fighting for justice 102 years after catastrophic attack Scientist: Progress in identifying Tulsa massacre victims Indiana school board candidate under fire for saying “all nazis weren’t bad” Kansas attorney general sues to prevent transgender people from changing driver's licenses Toby Keith's shows at his Oklahoma music venue mark return to stage after revealing cancer diagnosis Viola Ford Fletcher, oldest living Tulsa Race Massacre victim, publishes memoir

The Biden administration wants to crack down on short-term health insurance plans, which it says can leave patients saddled with hefty medical bills.

The office of special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading several high-profile investigations into former President Donald Trump, has spent more than $5 million since his appointment in November, according to the first public accounting of his expenses.

The US economy added 209,000 jobs in the month of June, far lower than expectations, though wage growth remained resilient, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The number comes a day after ADP said that the economy added 497,000 jobs last month, far higher than the actual number reported by the US government. In addition, the BLS revised the jobs report from April from 294,000 jobs added down to 217,000 jobs and 339,000 jobs added in May down to 306,000 jobs. The unemployment rate ticked down from 3.7 per cent in May to 3.6 per cent in June. At the same time, hourly earnings remained robust, increasing 0.4 per cent in June and 4.4 per cent in the past 12 months. Unemployment for white people ticked down slightly from 3.3 per cent in May to 3.1 per cent in June. But jobless rates for other major groups including adult men, adult women, teenagers, Black, Asian and Hispanic workers remained unchanged. President Joe Biden, who has in recent days been touting his economic record with a series of appearances across the US, said in a statement that the continued job growth represents “Bidenomics in action” and pointed out that the 13.2 million jobs added to the US economy since the start of his term is more than any president has overseen in a full four-year term. “The unemployment rate has now remained below 4 percent for 17 months in a row—the longest stretch since the 1960s. The share of working-age Americans who have jobs is at the highest level in over 20 years. Inflation has come down by more than half. We are seeing stable and steady growth,” he said. “That’s Bidenomics—growing the economy by creating jobs, lowering costs for hardworking families, and making smart investments in America”. The news comes despite the fact that the Federal Reserve paused raising interest rates last month after it had consistently done so to cool down a hot labour market as a way to ease inflation. Increased jobs typically coincide with higher inflation given that employed consumers have more demand in the economy. Employment in government led the job increases, adding 60,000 jobs during June followed by health care, which added 41,000 jobs and social assistance, which added 24,000 jobs. But retail trade employment shed 11,000 jobs, while building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers lost 10,000 jobs. Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers lost 5,000 jobs. The decidedly mixed jobs report comes as Mr Biden has attempted to tout his economic record, adopting the term “Bidenomics” to describe his policies such as the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed last year. On Thursday, he visited South Carolina to talk about his record and tout the fact that the United States attracted almost half a billion dollar private investment in manufacturing. “It’s historic, and it’s Bidenomics in action,” he said. “Instead of exporting jobs to cheaper labor costs -- what we did for decades -- we’re creating jobs here and exporting American product.” Read More Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’ Watch: Antony Blinken visits China for high-stakes meeting after ‘spy balloon’ Biden administration says judge's social media order could cause 'grave harm' Trump’s ex-press sec’y says there’s ‘no way’ White House cocaine is Hunter Biden’s NATO leaders set to offer Ukraine major support package but membership is off the table for now The US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package: AP sources

In a crowded Pizza Ranch on Wednesday night, former Vice President Mike Pence found himself confronted about his role on January 6, 2021, by an Iowan who blamed him for President Joe Biden being elected president.

The team investigating Donald Trump led by special counsel Jack Smith has indicated their ongoing attention is on a 2020 Oval Office meeting during the last days of his administration, it has been reported. According to CNN, investigators have questioned multiple witnesses about the bizarre Oval Office meeting which involved former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne. The investigation has been ongoing for several months. Nearly a month after Donald Trump was arraigned on the 38-count federal indictment that he and his longtime aide Walt Nauta are facing for allegedly unlawfully retaining national defence information and obstructing justice, the ex-president’s co-defendant has pleaded not guilty to charges of having assisted Mr Trump in concealing classified documents from the government. Mr Nauta, a retired Navy chief petty officer who served as Mr Trump’s White House valet before following him to Florida after the end of the Trump administration, is on his own charged with a single count of making a false statement to federal investigators. Surveillance footage from the Mar-a-Lago estate, allegedly showed that dozens of boxes were moved in the days before investigators from the Department of Justice visited to retrieve records. Read More Special counsel zeroing in on ‘unhinged’ Oval Office meeting when Trump hosted conspiracy theorists – report DeSantis campaign video crossed a line for gay right-wing pundits despite governor’s record on LGBT+ rights Turnout spiked among younger voters in the last three elections. This is what’s needed for that to be repeated in 2024 Prosecutors knew Trump was hiding more documents thanks to Mar-a-Lago CCTV tapes

Special counsel Jack Smith's team has signaled a continued interest in a chaotic Oval Office meeting that took place in the final days of the Trump administration, during which the former president considered some of the most desperate proposals to keep him in power over objections from his White House counsel.