Eyes on Senate Republicans as Trump and Musk feud over tax and spend bill

Posted on by

Lawmakers still weighing whether to pass ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ at root of rift between US president and tech boss

As the simmering tensions between Donald Trump and his once top adviser, the billionaire Elon Musk, erupted into public view on Thursday, eyes turned to the Republican lawmakers still weighing whether to pass the president’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill”.

It was approved by just a single vote in the House of Representatives with no Democratic support last month, and nonpartisan analysts have found the sweeping legislation could add a whopping $2.4tn-$5tn to the $36.2tn US national debt and make deep cuts to Medicaid and food-assistance programs. Seen as an outline of Trump’s “America first” agenda, the bill would also extend tax cuts, fund beefed-up immigration enforcement and impose new work requirements for enrollees of federal safety net programs.

Continue reading...

Butter madness: New Zealanders turn to churning as price of dairy staple soars

Posted on by

Dairy is the country’s largest export industry, but recent figures from Stats NZ show domestic butter prices have surged 65% and people are getting desperate

New Zealanders are driving cross-country for hours in pursuit of cheap butter while some are ordering it from Australia or even churning their own cream, as the country battles sky-high dairy prices.

Despite dairy being the country’s largest export industry, recent figures from Stats NZ show domestic butter prices surged 65% in the year to March, pushing the average price for 500g to $7.42 (£3.30) – that’s up about $3 from this time last year.

Continue reading...

‘Total discrimination’: Chinese students facing US visa ban say their lives are in limbo

Posted on by

Across the US, hundreds of thousands of Chinese students are now uncertain about their academic future and some are considering moving away

Chinese students in the United States are questioning their future in the country after the state department announced last week that it would “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students and enhance scrutiny of future applications from China and Hong Kong.

Chinese students hoping to study at Harvard, the US’s oldest and wealthiest university, are under particular pressure after the Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it was banning the school from enrolling new foreign students. The presidential proclamation cited Harvard’s links with China as a particular cause for concern.

Continue reading...

Judge threatens to remove Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs from court for nodding at jury

Posted on by

Music mogul warned to desist from looking and nodding at jury during sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial

The judge in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened to remove the music mogul from court for looking and nodding at the jury during testimony on Thursday.

The court also heard from a woman, under the pseudonym “Jane” and who previously dated Combs, as she began testifying about their relationship and the drug-fueled sexual marathons that she said Combs orchestrated.

Continue reading...

Tesla share plunge amid Trump feud wipes $152bn off Elon Musk’s company

Posted on by

Car company’s shares dropped by 14.2% and its billionaire CEO’s net worth reduced by $8.73bn

Tesla’s shares dropped by about 14.2% on Thursday at market close, wiping roughly $152bn off the value of the company as a feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump erupted into public view. The former political allies traded threats and insults through posts on their respective social media platforms throughout the afternoon as the company’s price fell.

Trump suggested on Truth Social that he could cut Musk’s government subsidies and contracts, of which both Tesla and SpaceX have been immense beneficiaries. Musk meanwhile threatened to decommission the SpaceX spacecraft that Nasa relies on for transport missions, called for Trump’s impeachment, derided the president’s signature tariffs and accused him of being affiliated with the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk said late Thursday evening his company will not decommission its spacecraft.

Continue reading...

After Putin call, Trump suggests Ukraine, Russia should ‘fight for a while’ – The Washington Post

Posted on by
  1. After Putin call, Trump suggests Ukraine, Russia should ‘fight for a while’  The Washington Post
  2. Trump Live Updates: Merz White House Visit, Travel Ban and More  The New York Times
  3. Trump says it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia ‘fight for a while’  The Guardian
  4. Trump compares Ukraine-Russia war to kids’ brawl: ‘Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight’  CNN
  5. 'Deadline is in my brain' — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions  The Kyiv Independent
Posted in Uncategorized

State Dept. Imposes Sanctions on International Criminal Court Judges – The New York Times

Posted on by
  1. State Dept. Imposes Sanctions on International Criminal Court Judges  The New York Times
  2. Trump administration defends US and Israeli sovereignty with new sanctions against four ICC judges  Fox News
  3. Rubio unveils new sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court for attempts to investigate US and Israel  CNN
  4. US sanctions International Criminal Court judges linked to Israel, Afghanistan probes  Politico
  5. Trump administration imposes sanctions on four ICC judges in unprecedented move  Reuters
Posted in Uncategorized

Trump travel ban includes exemption for World Cup and Olympic athletes – The Guardian

Posted on by
  1. Trump travel ban includes exemption for World Cup and Olympic athletes  The Guardian
  2. Trump Bans Citizens of 12 Countries From Traveling to U.S.  WSJ
  3. Venezuelans in Florida react to Trump's new travel ban  CNN
  4. Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats  The White House (.gov)
  5. Seven African Countries Are on Trump’s Travel Ban List. Why?  The New York Times
Posted in Uncategorized

Canada: premature baby with measles dies amid outbreak in Ontario

Posted on by

Infant had ‘contracted the virus before birth from their mother’, while the country has recorded 2,755 measles cases

A Canadian infant who was born prematurely and had measles has died, officials said on Thursday without confirming a cause of death, raising heightened concern about the virus’s resurgence.

Canada has recorded 2,755 measles cases – including 2,429 confirmed and 326 probable – according to federal health data updated on 2 June.

Continue reading...