The Rev Al Sharpton condemns President Donald Trump while speaking at the Juneteenth celebration in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Continue reading...Category Archives: US Politics
Juneteenth: rallies and celebrations across America commemorate end of slavery – live
- Thousands celebrate Juneteenth with anti-racism marches
- Fauci and Birx both raised concerns about Tulsa event
- President warns ‘agitators, looters or lowlifes’ will be treated more harshly than they have been in liberal-run cities
- Officer involved in shooting of Breonna Taylor to be fired
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In Oakland, thousands rallied with members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), whose workers arranged a strike at 29 ports up and down the West Coast.
I was there, earlier today. The union workers were joined by a motorcycle brigade, a car caravan, a fleet of cyclists, and thousands on foot. Activist and scholar Angela Davis and filmmaker Boots Riley addressed the crowd.
In Wisconsin, governor Tony Evers called on the state legislature to ban police chokeholds, among reforms that he unveiled today.
The Democratic governor did not ask for a special legislative session to take up the policy as soon as possible, as the Brack Legislative Caucus had requested.
Our country promises the opportunity of justice and equity and in the wake of the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the calls for justice across our state and nation, and as we celebrate Juneteenth today, we are called to deliver on that promise.
Continue reading...On eve of Trump visit, Tulsa still haunted by memory of white supremacist massacre
The president prepares to hold a rally in a city where, in 1921, up to 300 people were murdered in one of the most horrific acts of racist violence in US history
Brenda Alford stood at the spot where her grandfather’s business was burned to the ground.
Related: Why is Trump's comeback rally in Tulsa: the site of a massacre?
Continue reading...Democrats and Republicans react to John Bolton’s bombshell book on Trump – video
Political figures have criticised Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, for his new book, The Room Where It Happened, which makes a series of explosive claims about the US president.
Democrat speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, echoed Bolton in saying Trump was 'unfit' to be president but added that the Republican 'chose loyalty over patriotism'
- John Bolton’s bombshell Trump book: eight of its most stunning claims
- Trump battles to halt memoir as Bolton calls president 'not fit for office'
- John Bolton's bad reviews don't stop him topping US book charts
Trump again threatens to cut China ties after US official ruled it out
President contradicts top China trade negotiator as Washington questions Beijing Covid-19 outbreak numbers
Donald Trump has renewed his threat to cut ties with China, a day after his diplomats held high-level talks with Beijing and his top US trade negotiator said severing the trade relationship was not a viable option.
The conflicting stances emerged as Washington questioned China’s credibility on accurately reporting the new Covid-19 cluster in Beijing.
Continue reading...Trump battles to halt memoir as Bolton calls president ‘not fit for office’
- Former security adviser calls Trump ‘stunningly uninformed’
- DoJ lawyers likely to face battle to halt memoir’s publication
The Trump administration will go to court on Friday in an effort to halt publication of John Bolton’s memoir of his time as national security adviser, on the grounds it contains classified material.
Related: John Bolton says Trump is 'not fit for office' as fallout continues over book – live
Continue reading...US supreme court rejects Trump’s bid to end Daca program
John Roberts wrote in 5-4 majority opinion the administration’s decision to end program was ‘arbitrary and capricious’
The US supreme court has rejected Donald Trump’s bid to end the program that made it possible for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children to live and work in the US without fear of deportation.
More than 652,800 people, including doctors fighting the coronavirus, were waiting on the decision about the program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, commonly known by its acronym Daca.
Continue reading...Trump administration seeks emergency order to block Bolton’s memoir
Last-ditch attempt to quash release comes as copies have already been shipped and news outlets report on startling details
- Full report: Trump offered ‘favors’ to dictators, book says
- Bolton’s book: the eight most stunning claims
The Trump administration has made an aggressive last-ditch attempt to block the release of John Bolton’s bombshell book, in which the former national security adviser writes that the US president offered favors to dictators and asked China to help him with his 2020 re-election.
On Wednesday night, the justice department sought an emergency order from a judge to block the publication of Bolton’s memoir, after explosive excerpts were printed by various news organizations.
Continue reading...Pacific data cable not safe from China if Hong Kong included, says US
Justice department says ‘recent actions’ by China towards its territory indicate landing station could expose US communications to spying
The US government wants a high-capacity undersea data cable system proposed by Google and Facebook to bypass Hong Kong, citing potential national security concerns following China’s moves to exert greater control in the territory.
The Pacific Light Cable Network, pending approval by the federal communications commission (FCC), should connect the US, Taiwan and the Philippines but not go through Hong Kong as planned, a US Justice Department committee has recommended.
Continue reading...Bolton’s book shows it’s still possible to be shocked by Trump’s presidency
Damaging revelations may disrupt Trump’s anti-China re-election strategy, but will it change any votes?
The conventional Washington wisdom before Wednesday afternoon was that it was hard to imagine anything that would still have the capacity to shock us about Donald Trump and his presidency.
Then John Bolton’s memoir leaked, with recollections of his time as national security adviser that appeared to have gone beyond parody and just kept travelling.
Continue reading...Trump was willing to halt criminal investigations as ‘favor’ to dictators, Bolton book says
- Trump pleaded with China’s Xi to help re-election effort
- President urged Xi to build concentration camps for Muslims
- White House has fought to stop book’s release
- Bolton’s book: the eight most stunning claims
Donald Trump was willing to halt criminal investigations to “give personal favors to dictators he liked”, according to a new book written by his former national security adviser John Bolton.
Related: How Trump's missteps undermined the US's recovery from pandemic
Continue reading...Facebook unveils plans to boost voter turnout in US elections
Firm aims to double number of registered voters of previous drives and prevent ‘malicious’ interference
Facebook will launch “the largest voting information effort in US history” in the run-up to November’s general election, the company has said, aiming to help 4 million Americans register to vote with a new voting information centre.
That goal, spread across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, is double the number of voters registered as a result of its previous drives, in the 2016 and 2018 elections. The company is also hoping it can prevent a repeat of the foreign interference that plagued the last US presidential election.
Continue reading...Trump administration sues to block publication of John Bolton’s book
Officials claim book, which is critical of administration, contains classified information and would compromise national security
The Trump administration has sued to block the publication of a forthcoming book by John Bolton, the US president’s former security adviser, about his time in the White House, arguing that it contained classified information and would compromise national security.
The civil lawsuit came one day after Trump said Bolton would be breaking the law if the book were published. Trump fired Bolton last September after roughly 17 months as national security adviser.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: New Zealand records first new cases for weeks as Beijing bans high-risk travellers from leaving city
China reimposes partial lockdown in capital to tackle new cluster; US authorities revoke emergency use of hydroxychloroquine; two imported cases in NZ. Follow the latest updates
- New Zealand ends Covid-free run with two cases from UK
- Beijing lockdown tightens as new coronavirus outbreak spreads
- US revokes emergency approval of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19
- Covid-19 can damage lungs of victims beyond recognition, expert says
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Germany has launched their coronavirus tracing app today, which officials say is so secure even government ministers can use it.
Smartphone apps have been touted as a high-tech tool in the effort to track down potential Covid-19 infections. Experts say finding new cases quickly is key to clamping down on fresh clusters, especially as countries slowly emerge from lockdowns and try to avoid a second wave of infections and deaths.
Russia has reported 8,248 new coronavirus cases today, bringing its nationwide infection tally to 545,458. The authorities said 193 people had died of the virus in the last day, raising the official death toll to 7,284.
Continue reading...Trump reportedly to take legal action to block John Bolton’s tell-all book
- ABC News says Trump expected to file suit seeking injunction
- The Room Where It Happened due for publication next week
Donald Trump is set to sue to stop the publication of a tell-all book by John Bolton, his third national security adviser, ABC News reported on Monday.
At an event in the White House later in the day, Trump said it would be up to the attorney general, William Barr, to issue any charges, but he hinted that the matter would end up in court. “We’ll see what happens. They’re in court or they’ll soon be in court,” Trump said about the book.
Continue reading...Pandemic, what pandemic? Trump sees mass rallies as path to re-election
Tens of thousands of Americans are dead from Covid-19, millions have lost their jobs but the president hopes adoring crowds will change the narrative
On the day that America reached a world record 2m coronavirus infections, Donald Trump announced a campaign rally and his deputy, Mike Pence, posted (then deleted) a tweet of campaign staff gathered indoors without face masks or physical distancing.
Related: It's the economy, stupid – but will Trump or Biden win the argument?
Continue reading...Why Trump loves the US military – but it doesn’t love him back
The president’s West Point speech went smoothly but protests have focused a harsh light on his use of the military
Donald Trump attempted to solidify his bond with the US army on Saturday, delivering the graduation speech to cadets at the United States Military Academy and boasting of a “colossal” $2tn rebuilding of American martial might.
Related: Top US military general Mark Milley apologizes for Trump church photo-op
Continue reading...ABC News executive placed on leave after allegations of racist remarks – live
- Barbara Fedida on administrative leave after HuffPost article
- Trump gives address amid tensions with military leaders
- Has Trump been left behind by America’s awakening on racism?
- Black candidates and political groups see a surge of support
- UK protests: BLM counter-demonstrators clash with London police
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The Fulton county district attorney’s office has opened an investigation into an incident in which Atlanta police shot and killed a man on Friday night. Police responded to reports that a man had fallen asleep in his car at a Wendy’s drive-thru and was blocking traffic. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) says the man was shot and killed after police tried to take him into custody. One report says the man tried to grab a police taser. The GBI is conducting its own investigation. Unverified reports on social media say the man who died was black.
JUST IN: The #FultonCounty DA’s statement about the @Atlanta_Police involved shooting Friday night. pic.twitter.com/Z3mwwvOnNz
Athletes at the University of Texas have asked the school song to be changed along with the names of buildings on campus.
“The recent events across the country regarding racial injustice have brought to light the systemic racism that has always been prevalent in our country as well as the racism that has historically plagued our campus,” the athletes said in a statement.
Continue reading...‘He just doesn’t get it’: has Trump been left behind by America’s awakening on racism?
The killing of George Floyd has been a turning point for for everyone but the president – who has seldom been so isolated from his own party and the public
Longtime observers of Donald Trump have often compared him to an old man sitting at the end of a bar, holding forth with crazed opinions, overwhelming self-assurance and taboo-busting shock value guaranteed to draw a crowd.
Now, perhaps for the first time, it seems the US president may have lost the room.
Continue reading...‘Trump thought I was a secretary’: Fiona Hill on the president, Putin and populism
She was the White House’s top Russia expert catapulted to fame by Trump’s impeachment. She reflects on her journey from County Durham to Washington
In the last days before Washington was locked down, Fiona Hill was standing on the street on her phone dealing with a domestic crisis.
Hill’s daughter had become ill, it was unclear whether it was coronavirus (it later turned out to be regular flu) and the family had relatives flying in that weekend for a visit. As she paced up and down making contingency plans, passersby on Connecticut Avenue looked and looked again on recognising her. The British-born White House adviser had temporarily become one of the most famous faces in America after testifying in Donald Trump’s impeachment hearings in November.
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