Category Archives: US News

US steps up efforts to help Bolsonaro avoid jail over alleged coup plot

Posted on by

State department condemns judge’s decision to place former Brazil president under house arrest as trial proceeds

The US has intensified its campaign to help Jair Bolsonaro avoid punishment for allegedly masterminding a failed coup, with the state department denouncing the decision to place Brazil’s former president under house arrest.

“Let Bolsonaro speak!” the department’s bureau of western hemisphere affairs tweeted on Monday night after the far-right populist was confined to his mansion in the capital, Brasília, and police seized his mobile phone.

Continue reading...

Two killed and six wounded in mass shooting at LA music festival afterparty

Posted on by

Police arrived to shut down ‘big party’ after possibly armed person was seen going inside building in warehouse district

Two people were killed and six others were wounded in a mass shooting at a music festival afterparty in downtown Los Angeles early on Monday, officials said.

Police first responded around 11pm on Sunday evening to shut down a “big party” after officers saw a person possibly armed with a gun go inside a building in the city’s warehouse district, Los Angeles police department spokesperson Norma Eisenman told the Associated Press. That person was arrested at the scene, she said.

Continue reading...

Speaker Mike Johnson visits occupied West Bank to support Israeli settlers

Posted on by

Palestinian foreign ministry condemns Republican visit for ‘undermining efforts to stop the war and cycle of violence’

Mike Johnson became the highest ranked US official to visit the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Republican House speaker drawing measures of praise and condemnation for his trip in support of Israeli settlements amid a worsening starvation crisis in Gaza.

The excursion followed Johnson’s arrival in Israel on Sunday on an unannounced visit with other Republican lawmakers, and his meeting with Israeli defense minister Israel Katz and foreign minister Gideon Saar.

Continue reading...

Canada wildfires prompt severe air quality alerts across country and US

Posted on by

More than 700 active wildfires burning across Canada and about two-thirds are currently out-of-control

Billowing smoke from hundreds of out-of-control wildfires – most of which are in the Canadian Prairies – have caused severe air quality alerts across Canada and the United States.

Detroit, Michigan, and the Canadian cities of Montreal and Toronto, recorded some of the worst air quality in the world on Monday, according to a ranking by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.

Continue reading...

Trump’s demand that India stop buying Russian oil puts Modi in tight spot

Posted on by

Prime minister faces a choice between high tariffs or giving up cheap oil, putting New Delhi’s non-alignment policy under severe strain

The relationship between India and the US is facing one of its most significant challenges in decades, as the Trump administration doubles down on its demands that India stop buying Russian oil or face punitive tariffs.

The US president, Donald Trump, has refused to cut tariffs on Indian exports to the US, as he has for other countries, and on Monday said he would significantly raise them over its purchases of cheap Russian oil, which now account for one-third of its imported oil.

Continue reading...

Swiss president under fire after Trump call leads to US tariffs shock

Posted on by

Karin Keller-Sutter accused of mishandling talks as shares dive after Switzerland hit with 39% tariff

The Swiss stock market has plunged, the cabinet has been holding emergency talks and President Karin Keller-Sutter has been accused of mishandling a vital phone call with the White House after Donald Trump hit the country with a shock 39% export tariff.

Switzerland, home to some of the world’s best-known luxury brands, was left stunned after the US president on Friday imposed one of the highest tariff rates in his global trade reset. Industry associations warned that tens of thousands of jobs were at risk.

Continue reading...

Israeli forces kill at least 27 at food site while minister’s al-Aqsa visit causes outrage | First Thing

Posted on by

Six more people die from malnutrition, and Itamar Ben-Gvir is first minister to publicly pray at sensitive site. Plus, head of Google’s DeepMind on our AI future

Good morning.

At least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get food and six others died from starvation or malnutrition in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian officials said, amid a regional outcry over the visit by Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.

Where did Ben-Gvir visit and what was the reaction? Ben-Gvir led prayers at al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, provoking outrage among regional powers. The compound, which Jews call the Temple Mount, is a highly revered site – the holiest in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. The site is under Jordanian custodianship; under a decades-old agreement, Jews are allowed to visit but not pray there.

What do the Republicans want to do? Last week, Texas Republicans released a proposed new congressional map that would give the GOP a path to pick up five seats in next year’s midterm elections, typically when the governing party loses representation in Congress.

Continue reading...

Trump contorting justice department into his ‘personal weapon’, experts warn

Posted on by

Critics say DoJ has been ‘politicized like never before’ and the main job requirement is now ‘loyalty to Donald Trump’

As Donald Trump’s Department of Justice expands investigations of his foes and ousts dozens of lawyers and staff who worked on cases targeting himself and his allies, scholars and ex-prosecutors say the rule of law is under siege in the US as the department morphs into Trump’s “personal weapon”.

The justice department’s politicization to please Trump was underscored by an announcement on 23 July of a new “ strike force” to investigate unsubstantiated charges that ex-president Barack Obama and top officials conspired to hurt Trump’s 2016 campaign and his presidency with inquiries into Russian influence operations to help Trump win, say critics.

Continue reading...

Montana shooting victims named as manhunt for suspect continues

Posted on by

Suspected gunman still at large and possibly armed after four people were fatally shot at a bar in Anaconda on Friday

Montana’s attorney general on Sunday released the names of the four people who were shot to death in a mass murder at a bar two days earlier.

The victims were Daniel Edwin Ballie, 59; Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. All four were residents of Anaconda, Montana, where the quadruple murder took place, a statement from the Montana attorney general, Austin Knudsen, said.

Continue reading...

Trump administration denies daily quota for immigration arrests

Posted on by

In May reports revealed that White House officials had set goals for Ice agents to arrest 3,000 people per day

In a new court filing, attorneys for the Trump administration denied the existence of a daily quota for immigration arrests, despite reports and prior statements from White House officials about pursuing a goal of at least 3,000 deportations or deportation arrests per day.

In May, reports from both the Guardian and Axios revealed that during a meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) leaders on 21 May, the White House adviser Stephen Miller and the Department of Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, demanded that immigration agents seek to arrest 3,000 people per day.

Continue reading...

US Boeing defense workers slated to strike after rejecting latest offer

Posted on by

Over 3,200 union machinists around St Louis expected to strike at midnight on Monday as they seek new contract

More than 3,200 unionized workers who assemble Boeing’s fighter jets in the St Louis area rejected Boeing’s latest offer on Sunday and will strike at midnight on Monday, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said.

“IAM District 837 members ... deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense,” the union’s business representative, Tom Boelling, said.

Continue reading...

White House officials rush to defend Trump after shaky economic week

Posted on by

US trade representative says ‘the president is the president’ after firing of labor statistics chief amid slow job growth

Donald Trump administration officials fanned out on Sunday’s US political shows to defend the president’s policies after a bruising week of poor economic, trade and employment numbers that culminated with the firing of labor statistics chief Erika McEntarfer.

The US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, said Trump had “real concerns” about the jobs numbers that extend beyond Friday’s report that showed the national economy added 73,000 jobs in July, far below expectations. Job growth numbers were revised down by 285,000 for the two previous months as well.

Continue reading...

Senate confirms Trump ally Jeanine Pirro as top federal prosecutor for DC

Posted on by

Former Fox News host boosted lies that Trump lost 2020 election because of electoral fraud

The US Senate has confirmed Jeanine Pirro – a former Fox News host and staunch Donald Trump ally who boosted lies that he lost the 2020 presidential race because of electoral fraudsters – as the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital.

Pirro – a former New York state district attorney and county judge who joined Fox News in 2011 – was confirmed on Saturday in a 50-45 vote along party lines.

Continue reading...

Police continue to search for Montana gunman who killed four people in a bar

Posted on by

Law enforcement were looking for 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, a US army veteran who lived in Anaconda

Authorities continued to search Saturday afternoon for the man accused of killing four people at a Montana bar.

Local, state and federal law enforcement were looking for 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, a US army veteran who lived in a small town, Anaconda, next to The Owl Bar, where on Friday morning he allegedly opened fire and killed a bartender and three patrons.

Continue reading...

Federal agency opens inquiry into ex-special counsel Jack Smith over Trump investigations

Posted on by

Smith led investigations into Trump’s part in the January 6 Capitol attack and the mishandling of classified documents

The US office of special counsel, an independent federal agency, confirmed to NBC News on Saturday that it is investigating former Department of Justice prosecutor Jack Smith for possible violations of the Hatch Act.

Smith led investigations into Donald Trump’s part in January 6 US Capitol riot and alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Continue reading...

Forged signatures listed on New York City mayor’s re-election campaign petition – report

Posted on by

More than 50 signatures were revealed to be fraudulent on Eric Adams’ petition to run as an independent in election

More than 50 signatures on New York mayor Eric Adams’ petition to run as an independent candidate in November’s election are fraudulent, according to a report published on Friday.

The Gothamist said it had found 52 signatures from people who said their names were forged, including signatures of three people who turned out to be dead. The publication cited others who said they were deceived into signing the petitions.

Continue reading...

Forged signatures listed on New York City mayor’s re-election campaign petition – report

Posted on by

More than 50 signatures were revealed to be fraudulent on Eric Adams’ petition to run as an independent in election

More than 50 signatures on New York mayor Eric Adams’ petition to run as an independent candidate in November’s election are fraudulent, according to a report published on Friday.

The Gothamist said it had found 52 signatures from people who said their names were forged, including signatures of three people who turned out to be dead. The publication cited others who said they were deceived into signing the petitions.

Continue reading...

Man allegedly hijacks transport cart at Buffalo airport and destroys moving walkways

Posted on by

Kevin Sinning was charged with criminal mischief and larceny after allegedly driving cart over walkways while drunk

A man commandeered a transportation cart at New York’s Buffalo Niagara international airport and destroyed moving walkways with it at the facility, according to authorities investigating the unusual incident.

Kevin J Sinning, 29, of Wyoming, faces charges of second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, criminal nuisance, third-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property worth more than $3,000 after his arrest at about 1am on 28 July, the Niagara frontier transportation authority police department said.

Continue reading...

Man allegedly hijacks transport cart at Buffalo airport and destroys moving walkways

Posted on by

Kevin Simmons was charged criminal mischief and larceny after allegedly driving cart over walkways while drunk

A man commandeered a transportation cart at New York’s Buffalo Niagara international airport and destroyed moving walkways with it at the facility, according to authorities investigating the unusual incident.

Kevin J Sinning, 29, of Wyoming, faces charges of second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, criminal nuisance, third-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property worth more than $3,000 after his arrest at about 1am on 28 July, the Niagara frontier transportation authority police department said.

Continue reading...

Republicans slam Trump’s firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics chief

Posted on by

President claimed that recently released figures showing jobs slowdown were ‘rigged’ to make him look bad

Senior Republican lawmakers are condemning the decision of their party leader, Donald Trump, to fire the leading US labor market statistician after a report that showed the national economy added just 73,000 jobs – far fewer than expected – in July.

The disappointing figures – coupled with a downward revision of the two previous months amounting to 258,000 fewer jobs and data showing that economic output and consumer spending slowed in the first half of the year – point to an overall economic deterioration in the US.

Continue reading...