Category Archives: US News

Biden accuses Trump of echoing Nazis with ‘vermin’ remark

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President says comment from predecessor at New Hampshire rally ‘echoes language you heard in Nazi Germany in the 30s’

Joe Biden has attacked Donald Trump for using the word “vermin” to refer to his political enemies, saying it echoed the language of Nazi Germany.

At a recent rally in New Hampshire, Trump repeated his false claim that fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election and told the crowd he would “root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections”.

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‘No ceasefire!’: tens of thousands march for Israel in Washington DC

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Speakers from Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer to Republican House speaker Mike Johnson greeted crowds

Tens of thousands of Israel supporters gathered in Washington DC on Tuesday to show support for its war against Hamas, declare their opposition to a ceasefire and decry a global rise in antisemitism.

Massed ranks of demonstrators bearing placards and draped in Israeli flags gathered in the capital’s National Mall amid ultra-tight security and under clear blue skies in an event designed, at least partially, as a riposte to large recent US rallies demanding an immediate halt to Israel’s military offensive.

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US army overturns 1917 convictions of 110 Black soldiers charged with mutiny

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Officials announced ceremony honoring the Buffalo Soldiers, 19 of whom were executed, to atone for Jim Crow-era racism

The US army is overturning the convictions of 110 Black soldiers – 19 of whom were executed – for a mutiny at a Houston military camp a century ago, an effort to atone for imposing harsh punishments linked to Jim Crow-era racism.

US army officials announced the historic reversal Monday during a ceremony posthumously honoring the regiment known as the Buffalo Soldiers, who had been sent to Houston in 1917, during the first world war, to guard a military training facility. Clashes arose between the regiment and white police officers and civilians and 19 people were killed.

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China and US pledge to fight climate crisis ahead of Xi-Biden summit

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Announcement fuels hope rivals can use Apec summit as a chance to reduce tensions

China and the US have pledged to work together more closely to fight global heating, declaring the climate crisis “one of the greatest challenges of our time”, hours before a key meeting in San Francisco between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.

The announcement further fuels hopes that the two nations can mend relations after years of turmoil over issues including trade, human rights and the future of Taiwan.

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White House seeks to restrain Israel in Gaza amid growing internal dissent

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More than 500 appointees and staff members criticized Biden’s unwavering support for Israel in letter demanding ceasefire

The Biden administration is increasingly seeking ways to restrain the Israeli military in an effort to slow the civilian toll and limit the risk of a wider conflict, while it faces a rising level of internal dissent over its Middle East policy.

In a letter presented to Biden and his cabinet on Tuesday, more than 500 political appointees and staff members from about 40 agencies across the administration criticised the extent of the president’s support for Israel in its war in Gaza.

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House passes bill to avert shutdown – as it happened

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The blog is now closed, but read about the House vote here:

Donald Trump’s disdain for Letitia James, the New York attorney general who brought a $250m fraud case against the former president, and Arthur Engoron, the judge adjudicating it, is pretty well known. Trump was fined twice last month for breaching a gag order.

On Tuesday, Trump ramped up the rhetoric further, promoting a post on his Truth Social network calling for a citizen’s arrest of the pair “for blatant election interference and harassment”.

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US House passes bill to avert government shutdown

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Democrats and mainstream Republicans join forces with vote of 336 to 95 to advance stopgap spending package

The House on Tuesday approved a novel plan to prevent a government shutdown, with the recently-installed Republican House speaker Mike Johnson relying on Democratic votes as the far-right flank of his caucus dissented.

By a vote of 336 to 95, a coalition of nearly every Democratic representative and more mainstream Republicans joined forces to advance the stopgap spending package that would fund government departments into early 2024, easily clearing the two-thirds threshold needed for passage under an expedited process. Ninety-three Republicans and two Democrats opposed the measure.

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Pelosi attacker planned to wear unicorn costume and post interrogation online

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David DePape, accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband in a home invasion last year, testified for an hour on Tuesday

David DePape, the man accused of attacking the husband of Nancy Pelosi with a hammer last year, told a federal jury how his fringe political beliefs brought him to the Pelosis’ home to interrogate the former house speaker.

In emotional testimony that lasted for more than an hour, DePape offered detailed insight into his motivations that evening in October, which he described as part of a bigger plan to end corruption in the United States.

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‘West v rest’ no longer seen as template for global alliances, survey finds

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Research in 21 countries suggests a growing ‘a la carte’ approach where states ‘mix and match’ partners on different issues

As the US and Chinese presidents meet on Wednesday in high-stakes diplomacy intended to reduce tensions between the world’s two superpowers, a survey of 21 countries shows that geopolitical alliances no longer fit a “west v the rest” frame.

Many in the west think it is in decline, many outside it want China to be more active in their economies and believe Russia will win its war against Ukraine, and many beyond Europe reckon the EU will not last another 20 years, according to the research, which concludes that global relations are becoming increasingly “a la carte”.

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Trump can appear on Republican primary ballot in Michigan, judge rules

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Setback for challengers who say Trump should be barred from presidential run under ‘insurrection’ clause of 14th amendment

Donald Trump can appear on the ballot for the Republican primary in Michigan, a state judge ruled on Tuesday, a setback to challengers who argue he is constitutionally disqualified from being president because of his actions on 6 January 2021.

The lawsuit is one of several that left-leaning groups have filed across the country arguing that section 3 of the 14th amendment bars Trump from holding office. The provision says anyone who takes an oath to the United States and then engages in “insurrection” or “rebellion” against the nation cannot hold office unless Congress votes by two-thirds majority to allow them. The measure was adopted after the civil war and has not been tested.

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Woman who fled Saudi Arabia with daughter wins court battle to stay in US

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Bethany Alhaidari granted permission to defy custody order because of serious risk of death if she returned to Saudi Arabia

A US court has ruled that an American activist who fled Saudi Arabia with her daughter in 2019 will be allowed to defy a Saudi custody order and remain in the country with her child because she would face a serious risk of being put to death if she returned to the kingdom.

The case represents the first time that Saudi rules governing child custody and its use of the death penalty against female activists have faced judgment in a US court.

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Biden and Xi to announce deal cracking down on fentanyl export

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Under deal, China will go after chemical companies to halt flow of fentanyl while US will lift restrictions on forensic police institute

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping are set to announce an agreement for China to crack down on the manufacture and export of fentanyl, the primary culprit in a synthetic drug epidemic blamed as the leading killer of Americans between 18 and 49.

Bloomberg reported that under the deal – which the US and Chinese presidents are still finalizing – China would go after chemical companies to halt the flow of fentanyl and the source material used to make it.

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US House votes to pause impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas

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Republicans had accused the homeland security secretary of dereliction of duty in his management of the US-Mexico border

The US House of Representatives voted on Monday to pause the effort to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, halting a Republican campaign that alleges he has been derelict in his duty in managing the US-Mexico border.

The articles of impeachment, introduced by Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican representative, on Thursday, contend that Mayorkas, an appointee of Joe Biden, violated his oath of office by failing to constrain the record numbers of migrants arriving at the border.

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‘Traumatic’: Paul Pelosi testifies on being attacked by man with hammer

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Nancy Pelosi’s husband recounts publicly for the first time details of David DePape’s reported assault in their San Francisco home

Paul Pelosi has recounted publicly for the first time details of the harrowing night he was attacked by a hammer-wielding man in the San Francisco home he shares with his wife and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Testifying in the trial of David DePape, the man accused of attacking him last year, Paul Pelosi recalled his alarm at seeing a man standing in his bedroom.

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US health officials warn of fruit pouches tainted with lead after 22 toddlers fall ill

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WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis fruit puree recalled as reported symptoms include headache, vomiting and diarrhea

US health officials are warning doctors to be on the lookout for possible cases of lead poisoning in children after at least 22 toddlers in 14 states were sickened by lead linked to tainted pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce.

Children ages one to three were affected, and at least one child showed a blood lead level eight times higher than the level that raises concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

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Body of missing hiker found in Colorado mountains with his dog alive by his side

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Rich Moore, 71, failed to return home after a plan to scale a 12,500ft peak in August with a hunter finding his remains and the dog

The body of an elderly hiker missing since August in Colorado’s San Juan mountains was discovered by a hunter who also found the man’s dog alive at the scene, authorities said.

Rich Moore, of Pagosa Springs, southern Colorado, and his Jack Russell terrier, Finney, failed to return from a trip to the mountains on 19 August. The 71-year-old outdoor enthusiast had planned to reach the 12,500ft summit of Blackhead Peak, about 20 miles from his hometown, according to family members.

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Shiny sidewalks, scrubbed walls: San Francisco aims to sparkle at Apec meet

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City’s mayor promoting beleaguered downtown as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is expected to draw nearly 20,000 people

With the world watching San Francisco this week as it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, the California city has been making use of an opportunity to rehabilitate its reputation as a struggling metropolis in decline.

Apec – San Francisco’s largest international gathering since 1945 when dignitaries gathered to sign the charter creating the United Nations – is expected to draw 20,000 people to the city. The summit will bring together leaders from 21 member countries to promote trade and economic development in the Pacific region.

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House speaker Mike Johnson faces race against the clock as shutdown is just days away – US politics live

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Johnson’s proposal unveiled at weekend would stretch funding until 19 January but doesn’t include cuts Republican colleagues are asking for

“Tim Scott is a good man of faith and an inspiration to so many. The Republican primary was made better by his participation in it,” Haley said on X. “South Carolina is blessed to continue to have him as our senator. Scott announced conceded on Sunday, just six months after launching his campaign.”

Scott conceded on Sunday, just six months after launching his campaign.

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Donald Trump Jr takes stand in Trump fraud trial again as defense team calls witnesses – live

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Former US president’s son tells court about Trump Organization’s early achievements

Ever been to a gym in a hotel? Donald Trump Jr thinks you should thank his father, who was a pioneer in making things that are “commonplace today in luxury real estate”, like gyms.

“Maybe someone had put a gym in a building somewhere, but no one did it at the scale of my father,” Trump Jr said.

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Trump Jr hails ‘sexiness’ of father’s properties at New York fraud trial

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Donald Trump’s son showers praise on former president as he returns to the stand at $250m real estate fraud trial

Donald Trump’s eldest son hailed the “sexiness” of his father’s properties after returning to the stand at the $250m fraud trial over the former president’s real estate empire.

Lawyers for the Trump Organization summoned Donald Trump Jr at the start of the seventh week of the New York civil trial.

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