Category Archives: US News

Images of migrants on Texas streets in freezing temperatures spark concern

Posted on by

One video shows dozens of migrants wrapped in thin blankets as they slept on El Paso streets amid surge of arrivals in city

Images of migrants wrapped in blankets and sleeping on the streets of El Paso in freezing temperatures have raised welfare concerns as they circulated online this week amid a surge of people arriving in the west Texan city.

Over the last few days, thousands of migrants, including many hailing from Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela, huddled along the waters of the Rio Grande, while others waded across the river from El Paso’s sister city on the Mexican side of the border, Ciudad Juarez, to cross into the US.

Continue reading...

Easter Island rebounds from wildfire that damaged famous statues

Posted on by

October fire blackened with soot monolithic human figures, of which there are more than 900, carved centuries ago

The hillside of Rano Raraku volcano on Rapa Nui feels like a place that froze in time.

Embedded in grass and volcanic rock, almost 400 moai – the monolithic human figures carved centuries ago by this remote Pacific island’s Rapanui people – remained untouched until recently. Some are buried from the neck down, the heads seemingly observing their surroundings from the underground.

Continue reading...

Donald Trump’s digital trading card collection sells out in less than a day

Posted on by

NFTs were priced at $99 each and depict the former US president in guises including superhero, astronaut and race car driver

Despite being widely mocked online, former US president Donald Trump’s collection of digital trading cards have sold out in less than a day, netting US$4.5m in sales.

On Wednesday, Trump alerted fans to a “major announcement” on his Truth social media platform. A day later, the 45th president of the United States revealed he was offering “limited edition cards featur[ing] amazing ART of my Life & Career”, which he promised would prove “very much like a baseball card but hopefully much more exciting”.

Continue reading...

Highland Park shooting suspect’s father faces charges for sponsoring son’s gun license

Posted on by

Robert Crimo Jr was charged with seven felony counts of reckless conduct for helping his son obtain a license in December 2019

The father of the 19-year-old accused of killing seven people at a July 4 parade near Chicago has been charged with seven felony counts of reckless conduct, as a result of sponsoring his son’s application for a gun license in 2019.

The charges against Robert Crimo Jr were announced on Friday, and the Lake county state’s attorney, Eric Rinehart, said he surrendered to police and will have a bond hearing Saturday.

Continue reading...

US investigators were allowed access to Trump allies’ emails

Posted on by

Justice department was granted access to emails from former employees and loyalists

Federal investigators have been scrutinizing emails between lawyers for Donald Trump and a loyalist Republican congressman for months, it emerged on Friday, casting new light on the direction of the criminal inquiry into the former president’s alleged insurrection efforts.

Beryl Howell, the US district court chief judge, granted a request from the justice department to unseal an order she made in June.

Continue reading...

‘Several hundred’ UFO reports received by Pentagon’s new tracking office

Posted on by

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office was set up to track unidentified objects in the sky, underwater or in space

A new Pentagon office set up to track reports of unidentified flying objects has received “several hundred” new reports, but no evidence so far of alien life, the agency’s leadership has told reporters.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was set up in July and is responsible for not only tracking unidentified objects in the sky, but also underwater or in space – or potentially an object that has the ability to move from one domain to the next.

Continue reading...

Federal investigators focus on emails between Trump lawyers and congressman – as it happened

Posted on by

Revelation casts light on direction of the criminal inquiry into the former president’s insurrection efforts

Joe Biden is at a town hall for veterans in New Castle, Delaware, choking with emotion when talking about his late son Beau, a former National Guard major for whom the center he was speaking at is named.

The president kept his comments tightly focused on the expansion of benefits and services for veterans resulting from the Pact Act, introducing a second world war pilot, and talking of the need to support and improve the physical and mental health of retired military members.

The Pact Act was the first step of being sure that we leave no-one behind.

We also need to pass the bipartisan government funding bill so we can deliver on the act’s promise.

Continue reading...

Death of Utah skier who collided with tree highlights rising fatalities

Posted on by

Devon O’Connell was found dead Tuesday morning at one of Solitude Mountain Resort’s ski trails

A storm cycle dropped over a foot of snow along Utah’s Wasatch Front earlier this week, which came as a welcome site to the region’s large population of dedicated skiers and snowboarders. Devon O’Connell was one of them.

O’Connell was an experienced skier who had gone to Solitude Mountain Resort to enjoy a powder day Monday morning. The married father was scheduled to be home by 2pm on Monday. O’Connell’s wife called the resort after he failed to return home by 6.30pm. Authorities said O’Connell’s ski pass was last scanned at a lift shortly after noon.

Continue reading...

Five Louisiana officers charged in death of Black motorist Ronald Greene

Posted on by

Authorities initially blamed deadly 2019 on a car crash before body-camera video showed white officers beating Greene

Five Louisiana law enforcement officers have been charged with crimes ranging from negligent homicide to malfeasance in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, a death authorities initially blamed on a car crash before long suppressed body-camera video showed white officers beating, stunning and dragging the Black motorist as he wailed: “I’m scared!”

These were the first criminal charges of any kind to emerge from Greene’s bloody death on a roadside in rural north-east Louisiana, a case that got little attention until an Associated Press investigation exposed a cover-up and prompted scrutiny of top Louisiana state police figures, a sweeping US justice department review of the agency and a legislative inquiry looking at what Governor John Bel Edwards knew and when he knew it.

Continue reading...

US Starbucks workers to begin three-day strike in push for unionizing

Posted on by

More than 1,000 baristas at 100 stores are planning to walk out to show support for unionizing, an effort that Starbucks opposes

Starbucks workers around the US are planning a three-day strike starting Friday as part of their effort to unionize the coffee chain’s stores.

More than 1,000 baristas at 100 stores are planning to walk out, according to Starbucks Workers United, the labor group organizing the effort. The strike will be the longest in the year-old unionization campaign.

Continue reading...

First Thing: Senate rescinds army Covid vaccine mandate

Posted on by

Democrats agree to Republican demands to scrap vaccination requirement for service members to win support for $858bn defense bill. Plus, Trump’s superhero card collection

Good morning.

Joe Biden is to sign into law a bill to rescind the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for members of the US military and provide nearly $858bn for national defense after it passed in the Senate yesterday.

What else was passed? The Senate passed legislation to fund the government for an additional week as lawmakers race to finish work on a full-year spending package before they head home for the holidays and a new Congress is sworn in.

What have the news publications said? The Washington Post said in a statement that the suspension of their technology reporter, Drew Harwell, “undermines Elon Musk’s claim that he intends to run Twitter as a platform dedicated to free speech”. Meanwhile, CNN said: “Twitter’s increasing instability and volatility should be of incredible concern to everyone who uses the platform.”

Will they be reinstated? While the journalists had reported that the suspensions were permanent, in multiple tweets Musk said the suspensions would be for seven days. “Some time away from Twitter is good for the soul …” Musk tweeted.

Continue reading...

Amazon agrees deal with Games Workshop to create Warhammer TV series

Posted on by

Former Superman star Henry Cavill linked to project, and agreement includes film and merchandise plans

Amazon has struck a deal with the high street games chain Games Workshop to create a series based on its hit franchise Warhammer, the science-fiction fantasy miniature war game, potentially featuring the former Superman star Henry Cavill.

The London-listed Games Workshop, which has a £2.7bn market value and runs about 530 stores, has struck a deal with Amazon to develop the company’s intellectual property into film and TV productions as well as sell merchandise.

Continue reading...

Railroad workers pressure Congress and Biden to address working conditions

Posted on by

Workers and labor activists criticize Congress after it blocked a strike by voting to impose a contract agreement

Railroad workers and unions are ramping up pressure on the US Congress and Joe Biden to address poor working conditions in the wake of the recent move to block a strike when Congress voted to impose a contract agreement.

Workers and labor activists in America have criticized that action for undermining the collective bargaining process in the US and workers’ right to strike.

Continue reading...

‘Surreal spectacle’: US botched 35% of execution attempts this year

Posted on by

Annual review reveals that seven of the 20 execution attempts carried out this year were visibly problematic

As 2022 draws to a close, a new grim distinction can be attached to it: in America it was the year of the botched execution.

In its annual review of US capital punishment, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) reveals the astonishing statistic that 35% of the 20 execution attempts carried out this year were visibly problematic.

Continue reading...

Nancy Pelosi tells of ‘proud’ record as speaker in likely final press conference – live

Posted on by

Nancy Pelosi has given what she suggests will be her final press conference as House speaker, telling reporters this is “maybe the last time I see you in this way”.

She’s been reflecting on some of the successes of her tenure, and paying tribute to Joe Biden and Barack Obama for most of them, from the passing of the Affordable Care Act to this week’s signing of the same-sex Respect for Marriage Act.

He has been a remarkable president. He has a record that is so outstanding, and for such a short period of time as well.

People compare him to Lyndon Johnson, to Franklin Roosevelt, but I’d remind you all that Roosevelt had 319 Democrats in the House, President Biden 222, whatever it is, and even fewer now.

Passing the American rescue plan, getting vaccines at arms, money in pockets, children back to school and people safely back to work, the bipartisan infrastructure law, building roads, bridges, ports and water systems…

Bringing people together, not projects that divide communities but bringing people together, and this such a source of pride, putting justice and equity front and center.

We won’t relent until the job is done, until we can have background checks, and have banned assault weapons.

Continue reading...

‘Losing the plot’: Trump mocked after announcing superhero card collection

Posted on by

Cards cost ‘only $99 each’ and ‘would make a great Christmas gift’, said former president in video as he made ‘major announcement’

Donald Trump walked into a comic book universe of internet mockery on Thursday, when in a carefully trailed announcement he introduced his “official Donald Trump Digital Trading Card” collection with a picture of himself in superhero costume, cape and “Trump Champion” belt.

“Just when you thought this grifter couldn’t humiliate himself any more than he already has,” wrote John Kiriakou, a CIA whistleblower turned author, “there’s this. THIS is what the big announcement was.”

Continue reading...

Reparations panel deliberates on compensation for Black Californians

Posted on by

Taskforce to consider suggestions, including $350,000 proposal for descendants of enslaved Black people, and eligibility requirement

After more than a year delving into history and studies to make its case for reparations to California descendants of enslaved Black people, a first-in-the-nation taskforce began deliberations on Wednesday to quantify how financial compensation might be calculated and what might be required to prove eligibility.

Conversations for how to determine payments are in the early stages, with taskforce members acknowledging they have more questions than answers. Economists hired by the taskforce are seeking guidance in five harms experienced by Black people: government taking of property, devaluation of Black-owned businesses, housing discrimination and homelessness, mass incarceration and over-policing, and health.

Continue reading...

Florida pastor and son arrested in alleged $8m Covid relief fraud scheme

Posted on by

Christian missionaries who ran a faith-based organization allegedly used federal funds to buy a multi-million-dollar home

A Florida pastor and his son have been arrested for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $8m in federal Covid relief funds.

Evan and Joshua Edwards of Orlando were arrested on Wednesday, alleged to have used such funds for luxury expenses including a multi-million-dollar house near Walt Disney World.

Continue reading...

James Patterson to complete unfinished Michael Crichton book

Posted on by

Late author’s estate has shared a manuscript with the bestselling novelist centered on a volcanic eruption in Hawaii

The bestselling author James Patterson is set to complete an unfinished manuscript from the late Michael Crichton.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Crichton’s estate has provided him with over 100 pages of a novel about the imminent eruption of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, which threatens a secret cache of deadly chemical weapons. Just last month, the volcano did start erupting.

Continue reading...

Washington Post chief announces job cuts – and refuses to answer questions

Posted on by

Publisher Fred Ryan described as ‘embarrassing’ after walking out of meeting following revelation that up to 250 jobs could be lost

Turmoil at the Washington Post has intensified after a contentious town hall meeting on Wednesday in which the newspaper’s publisher, Fred Ryan, astounded staffers by announcing substantial job cuts to come, then quit the meeting, refusing to answer questions.

“This is embarrassing, this is embarrassing,” one staffer was heard saying as Ryan made his hasty exit, according to video footage posted on social media.

Continue reading...