GEN

U.S. toughens sanctions against Russia’s Wagner mercenary group

by

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday tightened sanctions against the Wagner Group, labeling the company of Russian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine a transnational criminal organization responsible for widespread human rights abuses. Wagner is engaged in a battle to take the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar in the Donetsk region of eastern … Read more

McCarthy to discuss debt limit, spending with Biden

by

WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) – House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Sunday he would meet with President Joe Biden on Wednesday to discuss raising the federal debt ceiling while controlling government spending, adding that Republicans would not allow a US default. “I know the president said he doesn’t want to have discussions. But … Read more

Odds ‘very high’ of U.S. military conflict with China, top Republican says

by

WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) – A leading Republican in the U.S. Congress said on Sunday the risks of conflict with China over Taiwan “are very high”, after a U.S. general caused consternation with a memo of service warning that the United States would fight China in the next two years. In a memo dated Feb. … Read more

U.S. lawmakers seek repeal of Biden solar tariff waiver

by

Jan 26 (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution on Thursday to repeal President Joe Biden’s suspension of import duties on solar panels from four Asian countries Southeast, according to a statement provided to Reuters. The move aims to support domestic solar makers, which are struggling … Read more

Memphis disbands police unit after fatal beating as protesters take to streets

by

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Jan 28 (Reuters) – The specialized police unit that included the five Memphis officers charged with the fatal beating of Tire Nichols was disbanded on Saturday as fresh protests swept across U.S. cities a day after a harrowing video of the attack emerged. released. The police department said in a statement that it … Read more

Frank talks and frustration: How the U.S. got to yes on Abrams tanks

by

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) – They are expensive and difficult to maintain. They run on kerosene. And they are difficult to operate. The US Pentagon has made its best case, publicly and privately, against sending Abrams – its most advanced battle tanks – to Ukraine. But President Joe Biden ultimately decided to approve the delivery … Read more

U.S. finds Louisiana deliberately kept inmates past release date

by

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) – The Justice Department has found Louisiana violated the U.S. Constitution by confining people in its custody beyond the dates they were legally entitled to release, adding that authorities of the state were “deliberately indifferent to systemic over-detention”. “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety … Read more

U.S. seeks tighter bail for FTX founder Bankman-Fried to prevent tampering

by

NEW YORK, Jan 27 (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors on Friday asked a Manhattan judge to impose stricter bail conditions on Sam Bankman-Fried, fearing the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX tampering with witnesses or destroying evidence in his criminal case. Citing Bankman-Fried’s “recent attempts to contact potential witnesses,” prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to … Read more

Turkey alerts citizens to risk of attack in United States, Europe on heels of Western warnings

by

ANKARA, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Turkey on Saturday warned its citizens against “possible Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist attacks” in the United States and Europe after its Western allies warned their citizens in Turkey against possible terrorist attacks. In two separate travel advisories, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry advised its citizens of the United States and European countries … Read more

Trump rips Democrats in New Hampshire, heads to South Carolina in campaign kickoff

by

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump slammed “radical Democrats” and dismissed concerns over momentum on Saturday in the first two stages of a presidential campaign that has largely stopped since its launch in November. Addressing a small crowd at the New Hampshire Republican Party’s annual meeting in Salem, ahead … Read more