Category: Policy
Greece’s conservatives win big in election
Greece’s main conservative party pulled a major victory in Sunday’s election, setting up a second vote in the summer that could give the party an outright majority in the parliament. According to election results, The New Democracy party, the party of current Greece prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, had a double-digit lead over its main rival the left-wing Syriza party. Even with the large lead, New…
Former executive of TikTok parent company claims China ‘maintained’ access to US data
Newsbreak 3 weeks ago in Around The World, Bytedance, Chinese Communist Party, Court Battles, Policy, Regulation, Technology, TikTok, user data, whistleblower, wrongful termination 0 A former executive for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has claimed that the Chinese government “maintained” access to the company’s U.S. data. Yintao Yu, who served as the head of engineering for ByteDance’s U.S. operations from August 2017 to November 2018, filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court for San Francisco County earlier this month alleging wrongful termination for serving as a whistleblower exposing what Yu…
Biden administration approves California’s electric truck mandate
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved California’s authority to set its own regulations requiring manufacturers to speed up the sales of electric trucks in the state. California has said that it will require an increasing percentage of trucks sold in the state to be electric from 2024 through 2035. New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington and Vermont have also adopted California’s truck standards. A…
Fauci says Redfield’s testimony of COVID call was ‘unequivocally incorrect’
Anthony Fauci, who led much of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said testimony from former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield that he was excluded from a conference call about the possible origins of the virus was “unequivocally incorrect.” Fauci told Fox News Channel’s Neil Cavuto in an interview on Thursday that he was not involved in deciding who…
Netanyahu’s judicial reforms have US lawmakers worried about Israeli democracy
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Around The World, Benjamin Netanyahu, Chris Coons, House, International, Israel, Jerusalem, Jim Risch, Joe Biden, News, Policy, Senate 0 President Biden and members of Congress are watching with deep concern how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moves forward with so-called judicial reforms that have drawn unprecedented opposition on the Israeli street. The reforms have been criticized by opponents as stripping Israel’s Supreme Court of its independence — an issue central to the nation’s democratic principles. Weeks of protests have drawn an estimated 100,000 people….
Buttigieg knocks ‘East Coast elite’ over criticism of East Palestine train derailment response
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Administration, Around The World, Donald Trump, Pete Buttigieg, Policy, Transportation 0 Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg fired back at Republican criticism over his response to the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, blasting his critics as “card-carrying members of the East Coast elite.” “It’s really rich to see some of these folks — the former president, these Fox hosts — who are literally lifelong card-carrying members of the East Coast elite, whose…
Nobel Peace Prize winner sentenced to 10 years in prison by Belarusian court
A Nobel Peace Prize winner was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in Belarus on Friday for what the human rights organization he leads is calling politically motivated charges. A statement from the Viasna Human Rights Center, a human rights organization based in the capital Minsk, says Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to a decade in prison. Bialiatski serves as the chair of the organization and won…
State Department says Israeli finance minister’s call to wipe out Palestinian village ‘repugnant’
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Administration, Around The World, Bezalel Smotrich, Hawara, International, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, News, Policy, riot, State Department, West Bank 0 The State Department denounced the Israeli finance minister’s call for the elimination of a Palestinian village as “repugnant,” calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials to repudiate the comments. Department spokesman Ned Price said at a press briefing on Wednesday that the remarks that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made, saying that Israel should “wipe out” the Palestinian town of Hawara…
GOP senators grill Garland on border security, weaponization of law enforcement
Senior Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday about the nation’s fentanyl crisis, the flow of drugs and migrants over the U.S.-Mexico border and the Justice Department’s stance on mandatory minimum sentences. The moments of drama came during the panel’s first oversight hearing of the Justice Department in the 118th Congress. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) challenged Garland over…
Youngkin says Biden should go to Ohio instead of Virginia to talk healthcare
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Administration, Around The World, Energy & Environment, Glenn Youngkin, Karine Jean-Pierre, News, Policy, President Biden, train derailment 0 Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said on Sunday that President Biden should visit the Ohio town reeling from the derailment of a train hauling toxic chemicals, rather than traveling to Virginia this week to speak about healthcare. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden plans to use his speech at an event in Virginia Beach on Tuesday to draw a contrast between his…
By the numbers: U.S. military aid to Ukraine
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Around The World, Budget, International, Military aid, News, Policy, russia ukraine war, Ukraine 0 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched only a year in the past, has resulted in a surprising quantity of U.S. military help for the war-torn country. It’s set off a deep political debate over how a lot help the U.S. ought to provide, although to date there’s been more settlement than disagreement about providing aid to Ukraine. Here’s a take a look at the numbers behind…
McConnell calls Ukraine aid a ‘direct funding’ for US against Putin’s ‘warfare machine’
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Around The World, Mitch McConnell, National Security, News, Policy, russia ukraine war, Senate, Vladimir Putin 0 Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) affirmed that U.S. aid to Ukraine is a “direct investment” in the country’s pursuits and against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war machine” on the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The senate minority chief said in a statement on Friday that U.S. nationwide safety is tied to stability and safety in Europe and stopping Russian forces from advancing in…
Four systemic safety issues the East Palestine crash report may point to
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Around The World, East Palestine, Energy & Environment, Equilibrium & Sustainability, Ohio, Policy, train derailment, Transportation 0 A brand new report on the catastrophic prepare derailment in East Palestine factors to a number of attainable systemic safety issues that advocates and safety consultants say go properly past this particular crash. The preliminary report released on Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) discovered that the runaway overheating of a ball bearing in certainly one of the prepare’s wheels prompted it to careen off…
Biden official says there’s no evidence that Ukraine is misusing US assistance
A prime Biden administration official affirmed that no evidence exists that Ukraine is misusing the monetary assistance it is receiving from the United States. Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), said throughout a CNN city corridor on Thursday night that Ukraine has made progress for years in working to root out corruption, however officers are frequently checking to make…
Russia’s suspension of nuclear pact brings US into new era of arms control
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Antony Blinken, Around The World, Defense, Joe Biden, NATO, Policy, Russia, START, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin 0 Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suspension of the last main nuclear arms treaty with the U.S. has shifted each nations into a more risky era of engagement on weapons of mass destruction. The risk of a nuclear battle nonetheless stays low, based on worldwide safety analysts, even with the battle in Ukraine and the now-suspended New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). But the newest nuclear saber-rattling…
Buttigieg pushes Norfolk Southern to support higher rail safety standards
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Administration, Alan Shaw, Around The World, Energy & Environment, News, Pete Buttigieg, Policy, Transportation 0 Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Sunday urging the corporate to support higher rail safety standards amid rising considerations concerning the environmental penalties of its prepare derailment in northeastern Ohio. “I am writing to emphasize the urgent need for Norfolk Southern to demonstrate unequivocal support for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding areas, and to be a…
Russian death toll in Ukraine war could be up to 60,000: UK intelligence
The death toll for Russian troopers in the war in Ukraine could be as high as 60,000, in accordance to intelligence from the United Kingdom. The U.Ok.’s Defense Ministry stated in an update posted to Twitter on Friday that forces for the Russian Defense Ministry and personal contractors have probably suffered 175,000 to 200,000 casualties for the reason that begin of the war. Intelligence signifies…
US calls off search for unidentified aerial objects shot down over Alaska, Lake Huron
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Alaska object, Around The World, Lake Huron object, National Security, Policy, UFO, Unidentified Flying Object, unidentified object 0 The United States has called off the search for two unidentified flying objects that had been respectively shot down over Alaska and Lake Huron last week, The New York Times reported Friday. A U.S. official told The Times that situations made finding the 2 objects too troublesome regardless of looking for them for days. The U.S. army shot down three objects last weekend in the…
The good news is markets look resilient — but the bad news is just about everything else
Newsbreak 3 months ago in 10 things, 10 things opening bell, Around The World, Fed, Federal Reserve, Interest Rates, Markets, Monetary Policy, Ned Davis, Newsletter, Policy, Real Estate, Stock Market Outlook, Stocks 0 TGIF. Phil Rosen right here, reporting from New York City. I’m completely satisfied to see that, lastly, the remainder of the world appears to be catching on to the magic that is Magic: The Gathering. Haven’t heard of it? Well the once-niche card game just became a $1 billion brand. That means gross sales of those fantastical playing cards that includes creatures, spells, and planeswalkers…
Ukraine claims Russian balloons shot down over Kyiv
Newsbreak 3 months ago in Around The World, China, Chinese spy balloon, Defense, Policy, Russia, Ukraine 0 Six Russian balloons have been noticed over the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, with most shot down by the town’s air defenses, in line with Kyiv’s navy administration. It’s unknown when the balloons flew over the town or whether or not they have been carrying reconnaissance gear, however air sirens have been used in Kyiv because the balloons have been in the skies, Reuters reported. “According to…
Biden IRS nominee pressed on ‘troubling’ reports on audit rates of Black taxpayers
Danny Werfel, who was tapped by President Biden to go up the Internal Revenue Service, on Wednesday dedicated before Congress to trying into current reports of racial disparities in who the company audits if he’s confirmed. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (R-Ore.) raised the problem throughout Werfel’s affirmation listening to before the panel on Wednesday morning. “There have been troubling recent reports that Black…
Ukrainian defense chief reshuffles ministry after reports of his removal
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has reshuffled his office following discussions of him being faraway from his post over allegations of corruption in his division. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Reznikov has appointed three new deputies: an information know-how specialist named Vitaliy Deynega, a lieutenant normal who led Kyiv’s defenses through the first wave of Russia’s invasion named Oleksandr Pavlyuk and a former ambassador named Andriy…
What we know about the ‘unidentified’ objects shot down over North America
Newsbreak 4 months ago in Around The World, National Security, NORAD, Policy, U.S. Northern Command, Unidentified Flying Object, unidentified object 0 Two unidentified objects have been shot down over North America in the past two days in the aftermath of the Chinese surveillance balloon that was taken down over the Atlantic Ocean after crossing the United States last week. The U.S. navy shot down the first object by Alaskan airspace on Friday, inflicting it to land in U.S. waters, whereas Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered…
Advocacy groups brace for looming decision that could end abortion pill access
Newsbreak 4 months ago in Abortion, abortion pills, Around The World, Healthcare, mifepristone, Policy 0 Doctors and reproductive rights advocates are bracing for a decision in a courtroom case that, if profitable, could end authorized access to abortion drugs nationwide. Abortion drugs have develop into one of many subsequent main fronts in the fight over reproductive health care in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and the lawsuit is seen by each side as the…
Lawmakers call for Labor Department to ‘rid Hyundai’s supply chain of child labor’
Newsbreak 4 months ago in Alabama, Around The World, Child Labor, child labor violations, Daniel Kildee, Department of Labor, Hyundai, Labor/Employment, Marty Walsh, Policy, Transportation 0 A bunch of 33 lawmakers called on the Labor Department on Friday to “rid Hyundai’s supply chain of child labor,” amid ongoing considerations that the carmaker is allegedly utilizing suppliers that make use of youngsters. “Clearly, there is a systemic effort within the Hyundai supply chain to recruit child labor from abroad, undermining workers in other parts of the U.S. auto industry. And it must…
Sports betting has risen tenfold in three years. Addiction experts fear the next opioid crisis
The sports activities betting market has multiplied tenfold in three years and should have reached $7 billion in 2022. More than half of the nation can now legally gamble on sports activities. Fifty million Americans are anticipated to wager on the upcoming Super Bowl. Five years in the past, betting on live video games was unlawful in most of the United States. A Supreme Court…
Lawmakers forming bipartisan Colorado River caucus
As Colorado River basin states battle to return to an settlement over proposed cutbacks to water consumption, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is pushing to judge the problem. An casual group launched by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) has now expanded to incorporate senators representing the seven Colorado River basin states: California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Details concerning the caucus have…
Obama defense secretary questions Biden’s response to Chinese balloon
Newsbreak 4 months ago in Administration, Around The World, Chinese surveillance balloon, Joe Biden, Leon Panetta, News, Policy 0 Leon Panetta, a former defense secretary in the Obama administration, questioned the Biden administration’s response to the suspected Chinese spy balloon that drifted throughout the U.S. earlier than being shot down off the Carolina coast on Saturday. During an look on CNN “Newsroom,” Panetta told host Jim Acosta that U.S. officers ought to’ve taken steps sooner and been more clear with the American public concerning…
FAA pauses flights at three airports in two states as Chinese balloon drifts toward Atlantic
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has paused flights at three airports in North Carolina and South Carolina as the Chinese surveillance balloon strikes throughout these states. The FAA said in an announcement on Saturday that it has paused departures and arrivals at Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina and Myrtle Beach International and Charleston International airports in South Carolina to assist the Defense Department in…
What are spy balloons and what is their goal?
Tensions between the United States and China heightened Friday when U.S. officers publicly recognized a Chinese surveillance balloon drifting throughout the country. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that the balloon belongs to China however have claimed that it is a climate balloon that went off track because of the wind. U.S. officers have rejected that declare. The U.S. has nonetheless not shot down the balloon,…