Page 32 - United States

US Senate rejects measure to grant rail workers 7 days of paid sick leave

It also made an imminent strike illegal

US Supreme Court to rule on Prez Biden student loan cancellation plan

The Supreme Court agreed Thursday to decide whether the Biden administration can broadly cancel student loans, keeping the programme blocked for now but signalling a final answer by early summer. That's about two months before the newly extended pause on loan repayments is set to expire. The administration had wanted a court order that would have allowed the program to take effect even as court challenges proceed. The justices didn't do that, but agreed to the administration's fallback, setting arguments for late February or early March over whether the program is legal. President Joe Biden's plan promises USD 10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than USD 125,000, or households earning less than USD 250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional USD 10,000 in relief. The Congressional Budget Office has said the program will cost about USD 400 billion over the next three decades. More

House Judiciary Republicans delete Kanye tweet after antisemitic rant

"Kanye. Elon. Trump," the tweet appeared to be a statement of support for the rapper after he was suspended from Instagram and Twitter for several antisemitic posts

Racism uproar at Buckingham Palace threatens to eclipse royal visit to US

Renewed allegations of racism at Buckingham Palace threatened to overshadow Prince William's trip to the United States after campaigners said the palace needed to acknowledge a wider problem that goes beyond one member of staff. The controversy erupted Wednesday when a Black advocate for survivors of domestic abuse said a senior member of the royal household interrogated her about her origins during a reception at the palace for people working to end violence against women. Coverage of the issue filled British media on Thursday, clouding a much-anticipated visit the prince hoped will highlight his environmental credentials and show that the monarchy is still relevant in a multi-cultural world. Shortly after the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston for a three-day visit, a royal spokesman said racism has no place in our society and noted that the household member involved had resigned and apologized for the hurt caused.'' But Mandu Reid, who witnessed the exchange, said she

Donald Trump knew about company exec's tax fraud scheme, claims Prosecutor

Donald Trump knew exactly what was going on" with top Trump Organisation executives who schemed for years to dodge taxes on company-paid perks, a prosecutor said Thursday, challenging defence claims that the former president was unaware of the plot at the heart of the company's tax fraud case. Manhattan prosecutor Joshua Steinglass lobbed the bombshell allegation during closing arguments. He promised to share more details when he resumes on Friday, buoyed by the judge's decision to grant prosecutors permission to veer into territory that had been considered off limits because Trump is on trial. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan, overruling a defence objection after the jury had left court, said the company's lawyers opened the door by asserting in their closing arguments that Trump was ignoring of the scheme, hatched by his longtime finance chief just steps from his Trump Tower office. It was the defense who invoked the name Donald Trump numerous times," Merchan said, setting up a potential

The US and UK should be welcoming foreign talent, not driving it away

The US and UK are threatening their long-term prospects with foolish policy

US Congress votes to avert freight rail strike amid dire warnings

Legislation to avert what could have been an economically ruinous freight rail strike won final approval in Congress on Thursday as lawmakers responded quickly to President Joe Biden's call for federal intervention in a long-running labour dispute. The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by four of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning Dec. 9. The Senate vote was 80-15. It came one day after the House voted to impose the agreement. The measure now goes to Biden's desk for his signature. Congress' decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country," Biden said in a statement after the vote. Communities will maintain access to clean drinking water. Farmers and ranchers will continue to be able to bring

Trump probe: Court halts Mar-a-Lago documents' special master review

A federal appeals court on Thursday ended an independent review of documents seized from former President Donald Trump's Florida estate, removing a hurdle the Justice Department said had delayed its criminal investigation into the retention of top-secret government information. The decision by the three-judge panel represents a significant win for federal prosecutors, clearing the way for them to use as part of their investigation the entire tranche of documents seized during an Aug 8 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. It also amounts to a sharp repudiation of arguments by Trump's lawyers, who for months had said that the former president was entitled to have a so-called special master conduct a neutral review of the thousands of documents taken from the property.

Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron vow unity against Russia, discuss trade row

Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron vowed to maintain a united front against Russia on Thursday amid growing worries about waning support for Ukraine's war effort in the US and Europe. Biden also signalled he might be willing to tweak aspects of his signature climate legislation that have raised concerns with France and other European allies. Biden was honouring Macron with a grand state dinner Thursday evening - the first of the US president's COVID-19 shadowed presidency for a foreign leader. But following up on Biden's upbeat comments might not go as smoothly as that fancy affair. Republicans who are about to take control of the House have shown less willingness than Biden to spend billions on Ukraine, and Democratic lawmakers said Thursday they were not about to jump back into the climate legislation. In fact, for all the positive statements, Macron's visit to Washington has been tempered by his criticism of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and the challenges both leaders fa

Over 12 killed, houses burnt in Haiti as gangs vie for control, says Mayor

More than 12 people were slain and numerous homes set on fire in a community near Haiti's capital as gangs fight to control more territory, a mayor told The Associated Press on Thursday. The incident occurred in the small town of Cabaret northwest of Port-au-Prince at nearly midnight Tuesday, Mayor Joseph Jeanson Guillaume said. The community recently appointed local residents to serve as guards given a spike in violence across Haiti, but they were overpowered by gangs with machine guns, he said. There was nothing they were able to do to defend themselves, Guillaume said. This is a terrible incident. Pictures and videos shared on social media show the bodies of mutilated victims strewn outside their homes and fires burning through the night, consuming more than 20 houses. Guillaume called on Haiti's National Police to bring those responsible to justice and to strengthen the presence and resources of officers in Cabaret, which he said has become a lawless zone. He also urged town

US House gets access to Trump's tax returns after years-long fight

The Ways and Means Committee obtained the tax returns following a Supreme Court decision clearing their release

UN makes record aid appeal of $51.5 billion amid disasters, Ukraine war

The United Nations said on Thursday that it is asking member states for a record USD 51.5 billion in aid funding for next year, as disasters and the ongoing war in Ukraine drive up humanitarian needs worldwide. The global body's humanitarian office said the funds are needed to help 339 million people in 69 countries, an increase of 65 million people compared with the same time last year. The appeal is a 25 per cent increase on that made for 2022, it said. Humanitarian needs are shockingly high, as this year's extreme events are spilling into 2023, said the UN's emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths. He cited droughts in the Horn of Africa, floods in Pakistan and the conflict in Ukraine, which have pushed the number of displaced people worldwide above 100 million. All of this on top of the devastation left by the pandemic among the world's poorest, said Griffiths. For people on the brink, this appeal is a lifeline. For the international community, it is a strategy to make

Biden hosts his french counterpart Macron amid friction over US climate law

Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron are celebrating the longstanding US-French relationship but these are friends with differences. The French president is using his visit to Washington to sharply criticize aspects of the US president's signature climate law as a bad deal for Europe. Biden is set to honour Macron with the first state dinner of his presidency on Thursday evening. First, the two leaders will sit down in the Oval Office for morning talks that officials from both sides said were expected to largely center on the leaders' efforts to stay united in their response to Russia's war in Ukraine and to coordinate their approach to an increasingly assertive China. But ahead of Thursday's meeting, Macron made clear that he and other European leaders remain deeply concerned about the incentives in a sweeping new climate-related law that favour American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles. Macron on Wednesday criticised the legislation, known as the Inflatio

Maryland Guv Hogan raises money amid speculation of White House bid

Term-limited Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan raised money and launched a political action committee on Wednesday amid speculation he will run for president in 2024, telling hundreds of supporters he'll make a decision after he leaves office in January. Hogan has positioned himself to run as an alternative to Donald Trump. The former president already has announced he's running for president in 2024. The governor acknowledged the speculation about his political future in a speech to supporters. Next year, I'm going to sit down and talk to my family, talk to my friends and determine how I can best serve our great nation," Hogan said. Hogan, who has been a fierce critic of Trump, would be an underdog in a Republican primary, a point he noted that in his speech. I know there is no shortage of naysayers, but I've always been an underdog, and people have always counted us out, but every single time, we've beaten the odds, Hogan added. The Republican candidate Hogan endorsed for governor, Kel

Tornadoes hit US south, two fatalities reported in Alabama, several injured

Two people died after severe storms with tornadoes hit the south of the US

US House passes legislation aimed at averting national rail shutdown

The US House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at averting a national rail shutdown

China's repressive action against Covid protesters shows weakness: Blinken

As millions have been affected by China's Covid Zero policy, US's Antony Blinken called Beijing's "repressive" action against the protesters over the Covid lockdown "a sign of weakness"

China building Army outpost near LAC disturbing sign: US Congressman

China building a military post near the Line of Actual Control with India is a disturbing sign of Chinese aggression with its neighbours, a top Indian American lawmaker said on Wednesday, following the appearance of a media report in this regard. Politico on Wednesday reported that China had built a military outpost near its disputed border with India. It cited new satellite imagery as showing the outpost, a move that signals Beijing's intentions for a long-term deployment at the global flashpoint. "The pictures, obtained by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies' China Power project and shared with NatSec Daily, show the People's Liberation Army constructed a headquarters and garrison to house troops at Pangong Tso, a remote lake that stretches across the Line of Actual Control between the two countries, Politico reported. The report of a new People's Liberation Army outpost near the Line of Actual Control between Indian and the People's Republic of China is another ..

Biden, Macron ready to talk Ukraine, trade during French Prez' state visit

French President Emmanuel Macron is headed to Washington for the first state visit of Joe Biden's presidency a revival of diplomatic pageantry that had been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden-Macron relationship had a choppy start. Macron briefly recalled France's ambassador to the United States last year after the White House announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia, undermining a contract for France to sell diesel-powered submarines. But the relationship has turned around with Macron emerging as one of Biden's most forward-facing European allies in the Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This week's visit it will include Oval Office talks, a glitzy dinner, a news conference and more comes at a critical moment for both leaders. The leaders have a long agenda for their Thursday meeting at the White House, including Iran's nuclear programme, China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and growing concerns about security a

Battlegrounds in the global AI war

A revolution is underway in several aspects of our life. "When AI Rules the World" details these groundbreaking changes