LONDON, Jan 26 Royal Bank of Scotland has taken a 3.1 billion pound provision as it prepares to settle claims in the United States that it mis-sold toxic mortgage-backed securities in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis. The provision means that state-backed RBS is unlikely to make a profit in 2016, the ninth straight year the bank has failed to make an annual profit.
Author: Editor
President Trump cracks down on illegal immigration
President Donald Trump is expected to sign two more key executive orders on immigration as he looks to make good on his campaign promises.
Trump inspires hope, fear in Peninsula residents
The president’s inauguration speech was everything Corrin Rankin needed to hear to know she had campaigned and voted for the right candidate. Rankin was ecstatic and emotional as she stood on the National Mall last Friday, tearing up even before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
Doing the wave: A primer on immigration in America
Immigration to the United States has come in swells and dips over the past two-plus centuries, driven by shifts in U.S. policy, the mood in the country and world events. “Here we are, the United States, a nation of nations, with the iconic symbol of the Statue of Liberty, and yet we are still arguing about the peopling of America,” says American University historian Alan Kraut.
Analysis: Trump’s border wall faces reality check
President Donald Trump’s vow to accelerate construction of a “contiguous, physical wall” along the Mexican border is slamming into a Washington reality – who’s going to pay for it and how? U.S. taxpayers will foot the bill, starting with existing money in the Department of Homeland Security account that amounts to a small down payment. Then it’s up to the Republican-led Congress to come up with possibly billions of dollars more, cutting money for other domestic programs to finance the wall.
Rogue Twitter accounts protest new limits on some federal agencies
A protest over climate change policies and new limits on the public release of climate-related data by certain federal agencies has grown into a larger social media demonstration against the Trump Administration, with over a dozen rogue government Twitter accounts expressing disapproval of the new President, as they make the case that more attention is needed on global warming. “He can take our official Twitter, but he’ll never take our FREEDOM,” reads @ActualEPAFacts.
US to Send Admiral to Thailand for Military Exercises
Royal Thai armed forces General Sommai Kaoteera and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies shake hands during the opening ceremony for Cobra Gold military exercise in Chonburi, east of Bangkok, Feb. 9, 2016. The highest ranking U.S. officer to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup will attend a military exercise next month in what the Thai army hailed Wednesday as a sign of improving relations.
Trumpa s immigration actions mark sharp shift in US policy
President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging executive actions tightening border security- and the prospect of additional measures restricting refugee flows – mark a sharp shift away from Washington’s elusive efforts to forge comprehensive immigration legislation. “We do not need new laws,” Trump said Wednesday during remarks at the Department of Homeland Security.
Congressional Republicans prepare to hear from Trump
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., joined by, from left, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., and Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Calif., meets reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, as he announced that he has invited President Donald Trump to address a Joint Session of Congress on Feb. 28.
Trump signals changes to US interrogation, detention policy
President Donald Trump ‘s renewed embrace of torture in the fight against Islamic extremism sets up a heated dispute with a long line of opponents both at home and abroad of Bush-era interrogation policies and CIA-run “black site” prisons. “We have to fight fire with fire,” Trump told ABC in an interview aired Wednesday after The Associated Press and other news organizations obtained a copy of a draft executive order that signals sweeping changes to U.S. interrogation and detention policy.
For most Americans, Dow 20,000 carries little benefit
While Wall Street celebrates yet another stock market record – surpassing 20,000 on the Dow Jones industrial average – many Americans have little reason to cheer. Despite the spread of 401 retirement plans, the wealthiest 10 percent of households own roughly 80 percent of stock market wealth.
Report: Trump called park official to dispute crowd photos
On his first full day in office, President Donald Trump called the acting director of the National Park Service to dispute widely circulated photos of Trump’s inauguration. The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump personally ordered park service head Michael Reynolds to produce additional photographs of the previous day’s crowds on the National Mall.
In Trump’s White House, a day of confusion and change
A meeting with a senator vanished from the White House schedule. A ceremonial executive order signing abruptly canceled.
How happy are MWC fans with their coaches?
The college football fan relationship with their favorite team’s head coach is highly volatile. Characterized by sharp autumnal mood swings and overreactions, it’s a bit like the Brangelina marriage – filled with drama.
Executive orders met with fear,a
Executive orders from President Trump prompted fear and uncertainty for some immigrant families and the organizations that support them in St. Louis. On Wednesday, Trump signed an order directing funding to start building a border wall with Mexico.
Immigration advocates draw battle lines after Trumpa s executive orders
Rev. Walter Contreras, from Pasadena Presbyterian Church, speaks during a vigil in front of Los Angeles City Hall to denounce immigration-related Executive Actions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday January 25, 2017. About 30 protesters gather as they light candles and say prayers.
Amid Trumpa s funding threats to a sanctuarya cities, police, county sheriffs perform balancing act
In the face of President Donald Trump’s order to pull federal dollars from so-called “sanctuary cities,” Southern California law enforcement officials from L.A. to the Inland Empire Wednesday stuck to walking a fine line with hands-off approaches in their treatment of undocumented immigrants. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck said his department will follow its decades-old policy of keeping officers focused on local crimes, leaving federal violations such as entering the country illegally in the hands of immigration officials.
GOP senators open to tax hikes
Recently, the Democratic and Republican Senate leaders put together a proposed package that would increase the state’s income tax, freeze property taxes for two years, expand gambling, borrow $7 billion to pay unpaid bills and tighten workers’ compensation rules, among other measures. Under the proposal, the state income tax would rise to 4.95 percent, from 3.75 percent.
Castro: Cuba can work with Trump if sovereignty respected
Heads of state pose for the official photo of the V Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Bavaro, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. BAVARO, Dominican Republic – President Raul Castro expressed Cuba’s willingness to continue negotiations with President Donald Trump’s new administration but warned that his country would not concede any of its sovereignty.
Today in History
On Jan. 26, 1942, the first American Expeditionary Force to head to Europe during World War II arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Governor Swears In First Latino state Attorney General
Gov. Jerry Brown administers the oath of office to Xavier Becerra, making him California’s 33rd Attorney and the first Latino in state history to hold this position. Becerra, 58, was Brown’s pick to succeed U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and will have to officially run for the influential post in 2018.
Wall builder in chief
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and other pro immigrant groups hold a vigil in front of Los Angeles City Hall to denounce immigration-related Executive Actions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday January 25, 2017. About 30 protesters gather as they light candles and say prayers.
.com | Mexico: We will not pay for any wall
President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered work to begin on building a wall across the Mexican border, angering his southern neighbour with his hardline stance on immigration. The US leader instructed officials to begin to “plan, design and construct a physical wall along the southern border” and – perhaps more problematically – see how it could be funded.
Durbin obstructs pro-Israel bill condemning UNSC
Sen. Dick Durbin has delayed a Senate bill assailing the United Nations Security Council for a resolution criticizing Israel, according to fellow Democrat Tom Udall . The New Mexico legislator told Jewish Insider outside of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that Durbin has placed a “hold” on the measure, but if the Democratic Whip were to remove his objection, Udall would offer his own independent opposition.
Complaint: Religious message on Wright-Patterson AFB boxes broke Air Force rules
PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – A complaint alleges an intelligence center at Ohio’s largest military base broke U.S. Air Force rules by allowing religious references on charity collection boxes that were inside two of its buildings. The Dayton Daily News reports a National Air and Space Intelligence Center employee filed the complaint Tuesday with the center’s Inspector General’s office.
Rudy Giuliani praised sanctuary as ‘exactly what America needs’
“We should not be looking for scapegoats – we should be looking for answers,” the ex-mayor said in 1996.
Reality, Rights Fade in Trump’s America
The president not only has the resources of the American government at his disposal, but also a coterie of billionaire buddies committed to disseminating ‘alternative facts’ on his behalf. This week a commercial titled ” Champion ” made the rounds on cable news networks, proclaiming that President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, the embattled Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, is “a civil rights champion” with “a lifetime of fighting for justice.”
Dow 20,000: What does it mean and where does it go?
A horse named Valentine who was left behind in the Wyoming wilderness by an excursion company and survived for six weeks has raised debate and prompted a criminal investigation Authorities identified two people found dead Tuesday at a home near Shelton, Washington, and said the suspect in the case shot and killed himself Wednesday in Pendleton, Oregon, after a standoff Police in Northern California have arrested a suspect in connection with the slaying of a Vacaville teenager after she attended a neighbor’s party 34 years ago Along the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump’s executive orders on border security and immigration seem more like a symbolic gesture of a new relationship between the two countries than a real deterrent for… Along the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump’s executive orders on border security and immigration seem more like a symbolic gesture of a new … (more)
May-Trump meeting to test UK-US ‘special relationship’
Britain’s government must get parliamentary approval before starting the process of leaving the European Union, the Supreme Court … . Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street to attend parliament in London, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017.
Don’t Tie The Safety of Immigrants To NYPD Militarism
After President Donald Trump signed the anti-immigrant executive order he said he would, the mayor, flanked by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and NYPD Commissioner Jimmy O’Neill, called for an emergency press conference to spell out the city’s response. Trump had just declared that so-called “sanctuary cities” like New York and other places where municipal governments vow to not prosecute undocumented immigrants for violating immigration laws, would have federal funding cut.
Dems to David Brock: You Are Killing Us
Democrats know they need someone to lead them out of the wilderness. But, they say, that someone is not David Brock.
Trump: Dead Voters Stole My Popular Win
President Donald Trump Wednesday again tried to justify his 2.9 million popular vote loss in November by claiming that 3 to 5 million illegal votes were cast, without providing a single piece of evidence or data to support that claim . “You have people that are registered that are dead, who are illegals, who are in two states.
US Senators from New Mexico push for bill to protect young immigrants
Both New Mexico U.S. Senators introduced a bill aimed at protecting thousands of young immigrants who arrived in the country as children. Democrats Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall are pushing the “Project Dreamer Confidentiality Act.”
Trump says he will order ‘safe zones’ for Syria
US President Donald Trump speaks to the staff at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2017. Trump vowed to restore “control” of US frontiers as he moved Wednesday to fulfil his pledge to “build a wall” on the Mexican border, signing two immigration-related decrees and sounding a hardline tone.
Gianforte to run in special election for US House
Recent gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte plans to seek the Republican nomination in a special election for Montana’s U.S. House seat. Gianforte joins four other Republicans who have paid that fee to be considered in a special nominating convention after U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke vacates his seat.
Spotlight on green news & views: Trump regime gags us all when it gags scientists and agencies
Spotlight on Green News & Views appears twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Here is the January 11 Green Spotlight.
TransCanada CEO vows to ‘diligently’ work on permit application for Keystone XL
The CEO of TransCanada says the company will work “diligently” to complete an application for a presidential permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would support its construction. In his first remarks since Trump’s endorsement, Russ Girling says he believes the project makes “imminent sense” for both Canada and the United States.
Noteworthy
In this Dec. 17, 2016, photo provided by ESPN, Brent Musburger smiles during the Las Vegas Bowl college football game. Musburger is calling an end to his broadcast career.
Two Breitbart Staffers Join Trump Administration
In his first days as president, Donald Trump has added two Breitbart staffers to his administration, highlighting his bond with the populist right-wing news outfit formerly run by his chief strategist Steve Bannon. Julia Hahn, who covered immigration issues for Breitbart through an aggressively anti-immigration lens, has been named special assistant to the president, a source with knowledge of the matter told CNNMoney.
Chaotic EPA Transition Rattles Stakeholders
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the EPA transition team had to push back on reports that political appointees would review the agency’s scientific publications. It’s just the latest in a series of public miscommunications from the agency’s transition, including public confusion on whether the agency would remove a webpage on climate change, whether it was freezing its public grant program, and whether it was muzzling employees from making public statements or using social-media accounts.