DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson says Trump right on trade and immigration, but won't commit to policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Eric Rosenbaum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But as the speaker of the House and the leader of my party in the Congress, I'm going to be very careful about what I commit to on the front end." But I certainly have great respect for what President Trump did," Johnson said during the CNBC appearance. But on immigration, another top issue for Trump, Johnson again pushed back against committing to policy. I mean, I think that's right. Because of redistricting and gerrymandering, we're probably going to have small majorities on one side or the other for the foreseeable future.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, CNBC's Eamon Javers, Johnson, I'm, reflexively, Trump, Joe Biden, Javers, Jay Powell Johnson, Jerome Powell, Powell, they're, It's, we're, who's Organizations: CNBC, Summit, Washington , D.C, Trump, Reagan Republican, Federal Reserve, Capitol, Republican, Committee, Biden Locations: Manhattan, New York, Washington ,, lockstep, China, .

☆ Opinion | Alito No Longer Tries to Hide His Theocratic Worldview
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Jesse Wegman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Alito has long made clear his special solicitude for religious claims, whether before the court or on the flagpole outside his house. Still, it should shock us to hear him lay out his worldview so bluntly — and to a woman he never met before. It shows an utter lack of regard for the court’s delicate posture of neutrality in the constitutional system and American society. For a long time, Alito seemed like an outlier on the court, lobbing his sour, grievance-filled dissents from the sidelines. In that regard, this is really the Alito court.

Persons: Roberts, Samuel Alito can’t, “, ”, Alito, Mike Johnson, theocrats Locations: godliness

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to 'defund' the entire state of New York over the Trump verdict
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Trump was found guilty of 34 felony charges by a New York jury on Thursday. Now, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to cut off all federal funding to the state as punishment. It's not going to happen — but don't be shocked if other Republicans get on board with the idea. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene now wants to cut off all federal funding to the country's second-largest state.

Persons: Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, It's, —, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: New, Service, Georgia Republican, Business Locations: New York

☆ Timing for Netanyahu address to Congress uncertain after floated date is ruled out
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A date for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress remains uncertain after one date initially floated was ruled out because it fell on a Jewish holiday. A US congressional leadership aide initially said Monday that Netanyahu was scheduled to speak on June 13, which falls on Shavuot. Scheduling the speech while Biden is on another continent would skirt that question, though with the timing still uncertain, a meeting could take place. But the New York Democrat nonetheless signed on to the letter inviting the prime minister to speak to Congress. “We’re comfortable that it represents fairly and honestly an Israeli proposal – a very forward-leaning Israeli proposal, and we’re confident that Hamas needs to take it,” he said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Chuck Schumer, “, ”, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, White, New York Democrat, Foreign Affairs, Defense, National Security Locations: Shavuot, Italy, Washington, Puglia, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, of Israel, Israeli

☆ FCC ends affordable internet program due to lack of funds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —The Affordable Connectivity Program, which helped low-income Americans get online, is no more. The program’s lapse threatens to throw nearly 60 million Americans into financial distress, CNN has reported. The program officially ends on June 1, said the Federal Communications Commission, which administered the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to approximately 1 in 5 households across the country and on tribal reservations. “The Affordable Connectivity Program filled an important gap that provider low-income programs, state and local affordability programs, and the Lifeline program cannot fully address,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement, referring to the name of another, similar FCC program that subsidizes wireless and home internet service. He also announced a series of voluntary commitments by a handful of internet providers to offer — or continue offering — their own proprietary low-income internet plans.

Persons: ”, Jessica Rosenworcel, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson didn’t, Biden, Kathryn de Wit, Wit, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Program, Republicans, Democratic, CNN, Federal Communications Commission, Lifeline, FCC, Republican, Comcast, Cox, Verizon, ACP, Congress, Pew

☆ ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag meaning: A closer look at the flag flown outside Alito’s house
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Aj Willingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Like many flags and historical symbols, the Appeal to Heaven flag has multiple meanings and has been used in differing capacities. What is ‘An Appeal to Heaven?’The Appeal to Heaven flag, or “Pine Tree” flag, features a green pine tree on a white field, with the words “An Appeal to Heaven” in black text above it. The pine tree retained this meaning of resistance, and has appeared on some state flags and seals. However, the polarizing recent history of the Appeal to Heaven flag is starting to become known. This week, the city of San Francisco made the decision to remove an “Appeal to Heaven” flag that flew alongside several other flags over City Hall.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Mike Johnson’s, George Washington’s, Alito, Johnson, ”, John Locke’s “, Donald Trump, Trump, Carolyn Kaster, Jemar Tisby, Tisby, Barack Obama’s, Sheets, “ It’s, it’s, ” Sheets, “ There’s, Mike Johnson, CArlos Barria, George Washington, “, ” Alito, San Francisco, Daniel Montez, Josh Du Lac Organizations: CNN, American, Continental Army, Trump, Simmons College, Tea Party, Republican, Christian, Associated Press, ’, City, Francisco Recreation, Parks Locations: New Jersey, Massachusetts, San Francisco’s, British, New England, Washington ,, Kentucky, Gadsden, Ohio, San, Francisco

☆ Analysis: Trump conviction heralds a somber and volatile moment in American history
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“Today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality,” said campaign communications director Michael Tyler. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president,” Tyler said. Supporters hold placards and flags following the announcement of the verdict in Trump's criminal trial. Or, the guilty verdict could play into Biden’s campaign theme that his predecessor is too corrupt and extreme to serve as president again. In another age, a guilty verdict would have immediately ended Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, ” Trump, foreperson, Trump, “, Joe Biden’s, ”, Michael Tyler, Donald Trump, ” Tyler, he’s, he’ll, he’d, jubilation, He’s, Biden, Andrew Kelly, ignominy, Timothy Naftali, ” Naftali, Stormy Daniels, —, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Prosecutors, Michael Cohen, Todd Blanche, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Eric Trump, Justin Lane, Elise Stefanik, Joe Biden, ” Stefanik, Mike Johnson, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Larry Hogan, who’s, ” Hogan, Chris LaCivita, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Trump Tower, Republican, Republican National Convention, Reuters, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney, Manhattan Criminal, New York, GOP, ”, Louisiana Republican, Senate, “ Locations: United States, New York, York, America, South Carolina

☆ Congressional leaders invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address joint meeting of Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The top four congressional leaders have formally invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. The invitation comes after much speculation as additional military aid to Israel remains in question and Democrats are facing pressure from their left wing as the party remains divided over Israel’s handling of the war against Hamas. President Joe Biden on Friday laid out a three-phase proposal Israel has submitted to wind down the grinding crisis in Gaza. Less than an hour after Biden detailed the Israeli proposal, Netanyahu’s office insisted Israel would not end the war until Hamas is defeated and “all of its goals are achieved.”CNN previously reported that during a closed-door conference meeting in March, House Republicans raised the idea of inviting Netanyahu. CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona, Clare Foran, Kevin Liptak, Nikki Carvajal and Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, ”, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Israel, Biden, Netanyahu, Johnson, CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona, Clare Foran, Kevin Liptak, Nikki Carvajal, Samantha Waldenberg Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United States House, United States Senate, Republicans, Senate, Hamas, ” CNN, House Republicans, Israel Locations: of Israel, Israel, Gaza

The meeting, between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun, is the first face-to-face talks between the two defense chiefs and Austin’s first such discussions with a Chinese counterpart since late 2022. The meeting, on the sidelines of an annual defense conference in Singapore, takes place against a fraught regional backdrop. Austin is expected to raise concerns with Dong about China’s support for Russia, US officials said ahead of the meeting. Talks between Austin and Dong are not expected to see substantive progress towards resolving many entrenched issues between them. Several weeks later, US and Chinese top generals spoke in a video call, paving the way for this week’s in-person meeting between the defense chiefs.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, Austin’s, China’s, Austin, Dong, Nancy Pelosi, Li Shangfu, Li, won’t, Xi Jinping’s, Xi, Joe Biden Organizations: Singapore CNN, US, National Defense, South China Seas, Communist Party, Coast Guard, Defense, Washington, Russia, America, East, Communist, Central Military Commission Locations: Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Taiwan, Beijing, East, South, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, China, South China, American, Russia, Ukraine, Austin, Asia –, San Francisco

☆ Biden fundraises off guilty verdict in Trump’s hush money case as GOP rushes to play defense
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden was quick to fundraise off the guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, while top congressional Republicans rushed to Trump’s defense. In the aftermath of Trump’s conviction, Biden called attention to what’s at stake in the 2024 presidential election and made an appeal for donations to his campaign. “There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,” Biden posted on X, alongside a link for donations. If he defeats Biden in November, he will be the first sitting president in history to be a convicted felon. Video Ad Feedback Donald Trump convicted of falsifying business records in hush money scheme 03:41 - Source: CNNThe verdict in the hush money trial was announced after jurors deliberated for nearly 12 hours over two days.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald, Biden, “, Donald Trump, ” Biden, Trump, he’s, ” Trump, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Elise Stefanik, ”, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot, Kristin Wilson, Lauren Fox Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, White, CNN, Capitol, Republicans, “, WIN, ”, GOP, America, Democrat Locations: Manhattan, Biden’s

☆ Trump found guilty in hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying business records Thursday, an unprecedented and historic verdict that makes Trump the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony. And if he defeats President Joe Biden in November, he will be the first sitting president in history to be a convicted felon. The verdict in the hush money trial was announced after jurors deliberated for nearly 12 hours over two days. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to the media after a jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, on Thursday, May 30, in New York. “There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,” Biden wrote on X, linking to a fundraising page.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Joe Biden, ” Trump, ”, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Bragg, Donald J, Seth Wenig, Daniels, Juan Merchan, Todd Blanche, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, “, ” Blanche, Biden, ” Biden, ” Michael Tyler, Hunt, Mike Johnson, Kaanita Iyer, Annie Grayer, Celina Tabor, Kara Scannell, Lauren del Valle, Laura Dolan Organizations: CNN, Trump, White, CNN Manhattan, Attorney, Democrat, Manhattan, Republican National Convention, GOP, “ Locations: Manhattan, “, New York, Milwaukee, Celina

☆ Texas House Speaker Survives Challenge From Hard Right
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The speaker of the Texas House, Dade Phelan, won renomination in a runoff on Tuesday, surviving a bruising Republican primary challenge from a party activist and first-time candidate who was backed by former President Donald J. Trump and his Texas supporters. The race, in a southeast Texas district that includes part of the city of Beaumont, was a bitter political showdown among some of the most powerful players in Texas politics, and was likely to have been one of the most expensive ever for a Texas House seat. Millions poured in to the campaigns during the primary, including large donations from West Texas oil and gas billionaires and out-of-state school-choice advocates who backed the challenger, David Covey. For his part, Mr. Phelan had help from deep-pocketed donors like Miriam Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate and widow of the Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson. Covey, a technical adviser to the oil and gas industry who has described himself as a “very committed Christian and a conservative,” led Mr. Phelan in the first round of voting in March, when neither candidate won a majority.

Persons: Dade Phelan, Donald J, Trump, David Covey, Phelan, Miriam Adelson, Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, . Covey, Christian, ” Organizations: Texas House, Las, Republican Locations: Texas, Beaumont, West Texas, Las Vegas

☆ Trump braces for final act of his historic criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s first criminal trial has arrived at its dramatic final act with lawyers for both sides primed on Tuesday to hammer home their cases before jurors consider a verdict that could make history. They argued during the trial that there was no evidence of criminal intent. The trial has not gripped the attention of the country as it might have were television cameras allowed in the courtroom. And Trump used his multiple criminal indictments to his political advantage in clearing the Republican nominating field. The time off only seems to have escalated Trump’s fury as one of the defining weeks of his life dawns.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan, Trump, president’s, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, CNN’s Kara Scannell, Joshua Steinglass, Blanche, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Stormy Daniels, Cohen, ”, Elliot Williams, “, ” Cohen, Jeremy Saland, you’d, Matthew Colangelo, Daniels, David Pecker, Hope Hicks, Joe Biden, Yorkers, Mike Johnson, Biden, he’s, Merchan, ” Trump, Jean Carroll Organizations: CNN, Manhattan, Attorney, Democrat, “ CNN, Trump, White House, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Republican Locations: New York

☆ RFK Jr. super PAC chair to publish tell-all memoir by mother of Hunter Biden's child
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The meeting is part of the Republicans' impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The co-chairman of a super PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s presidential campaign announced plans Tuesday to publish a tell-all memoir this summer by an Arkansas woman who had a child with Hunter Biden, the youngest son of President Joe Biden. "Out of the Shadows: My Life Inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden" is written by Lunden Roberts, who gave birth to Hunter Biden's daughter in 2018. Roberts' memoir will be published by Skyhorse Publishing, a company whose president, Tony Lyons, is a co-founder of the pro-Kennedy super PAC American Values 2024. Lyons said a press release that Roberts' memoir contains "revelations that could well impact the outcome of the 2024 election."

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Lunden Roberts, Hunter Biden's, Biden —, —, Roberts, Biden, Tony Lyons, AV24, Lyons, Skyhorse, Alex Jones, Sen, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Skyhorse Publishing, Kennedy, Skyhorse, PAC, CNBC, Democratic, Calif, Republican, NBC Locations: O'Neill, Washington ,, Arkansas, Texas, Iraq

☆ US lawmakers vow to bolster Taiwan’s defense with bipartisan visit days after China’s ‘punishment’ military drills
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —US lawmakers vowed to bolster Taiwan’s deterrence against China on Monday during a bipartisan congressional visit to the self-governing democracy just days after Beijing surrounded the island with massive military exercises. US Representative Michael McCaul, Republican-Texas, has vowed to bolster Taiwan's deterrence against China. China’s military drills, he said, were “to express their displeasure with President Lai, a president democratically elected by the people of Taiwan.”But he added they had another objective. The delegation also met with Lai, Taiwan’s new leader, on Monday morning. China responded with a show of military force and later imposed sanctions on McCaul.

Persons: Lai Ching, Michael McCaul, ”, McCaul, Lai, ” McCaul, China’s, Xi Jinping, Xi, “, Mao Ning, Michael Brochstein, Lin Chia, ” “ It’s, ” Lin, Taiwan’s, “ Taiwan’s, ” Lai, Ronald Reagan’s, Tsai Ing, Nancy Pelosi’s Organizations: CNN, China, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Taiwan, US, Party, Republican, Ministry, Taiwan’s Locations: Beijing, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Texas, United States, America, People’s Republic of China

☆ Opinion: Alito’s second red flag
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Kirsi Goldynia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

This is not the first time Alito has found himself in hot water over displaying a controversial flag on his property. The upside-down flag, a signal of distress, was adopted by Trump supporters who believed the false claim that the election had been stolen. (Alito said his wife had raised the upside-down flag in response to a disagreement with a neighbor. The discovery also comes at a time when the Supreme Court will be making a decision about Trump’s claims of sweeping presidential immunity, his get-out-of-jail-free card for the federal cases he faces. “The notion that the Supreme Court can be trusted to be an arbiter above partisan politics has suffered major blows in recent years.

Persons: ”, Scott Peck, Samuel Alito, “, Alito, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Julian Zelizer, Walt Handelsman, Michael J, Broyde, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Donald Trump, ‘, ’, ” Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Nancy Pelosi, She’s, Joe Biden ‘, I’ve, ” Clay Jones, Drew Sheneman, Judge Juan Merchan, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, Norm Eisen, Costello, ’ Merchan, cautioning, …, Eisen, Sunak, Rishi Sunak, Henry Nicholls, Holly Thomas, Sunak —, Thomas, Joel Pett, Adolf Hitler, Ruth Ben, Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Said Ben, Anna Sauerbrey, Sauerbrey, Biden, America —, Richard Curtis ’, Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Laura Beers, it’s, —, Ebrahim Raisi, Frida Ghitis, Ali Khamenei, Peter Kuper, Cagle, “ I’m, What’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al, Masri, Ismail Haniyeh, Peter Bergen, ” Netanyahu, Israel’s, Netanyahu, Kerri Kennedy, Biden “, Israel, ” Don’t, Agency Carrie Sheffield, Noah Berlatsky, Singleton, Biden’s Morehouse, Jill Filipovic, Diddy, Cassie Ventura, Catherine Tan, Shanahan, Brian Castrucci, Frank Luntz, Mark Zandi, Trump Will Cathcart, Joyce M, Davis, Bill Maher, Jimmy Kimmel, Randy Holmes, Bill, ” Nicole Hemmer, Said Will, Maher, Hemmer, ” “ Maher, It’s Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Agency, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Republican, NHS, Labour, Tory, Social, Italiana, European Union, ”, Islamic, Education, Workforce, Harvard, University of California, Columbia University, Columbia, Criminal Court, ICC, Israeli, International Court of Justice, United Nations Security, American Friends Service Committee, RFK, Disney, Entertainment, Democrats Locations: Alito’s Virginia, New Zealand, AFP, ”, England, Trump’s America, America, Italian, Germany, Poland, France, Berlin, Hill, American, British, London, Notting Hill, Iran, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic, University of California Los Angeles, Gaza, United Kingdom, Rafah, Georgia’s, Moscow, Africa

☆ Opinion | Marjorie Taylor Greene Has a Decision to Make
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Michelle Cottle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene seems even thirstier for attention than usual. Days later Ms. Greene dialed up the lunacy, claiming knowledge of a deep state plot to assassinate Donald Trump. “The Biden DOJ and FBI were planning to assassinate Pres Trump and gave the green light. Ms. Greene was just running wild with new details about the government’s 2022 efforts to recover the piles of documents Mr. Trump hoarded at Mar-a-Lago and spinning out a bonkers conspiracy theory. For weeks this spring, her threats against Mr. Johnson had reporters swarming all over her like flies on … honey.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jasmine Crockett, Greene, Donald Trump, “, Pres Trump, Trump, Greene’s, Mike Johnson, MAGA, Johnson Organizations: Democratic, Biden DOJ, FBI Locations: Georgia, Mar

☆ Bipartisan congressional delegation visits Taiwan following days of Chinese military drills around island
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Avery Lotz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on Sunday following the election of the island’s new president and after days of Chinese military drills. The US will continue to stand by our steadfast partner and work to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. US officials condemned the drills, with the State Department urging the Chinese to “act with restraint.”Two years ago, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island, marking the first time a US House speaker had traveled to Taiwan in 25 years. Her visit was met with days of large-scale military drills and warnings of a “severe impact” on US-China relations from the Chinese government. In April 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy similarly defied threats from China, presenting a united front with then-President Tsai Ing-wen in a California meeting.

Persons: Michael McCaul, Lai Ching, China’s, Putin, Xi, ” McCaul, Xi Jinping, ”, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Tsai Ing, “, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN — House Foreign, Communist Party, US, Taiwan, House Foreign Affairs Committee, ” CNN, State Department Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, “ Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, America, Asia, China, California

☆ China's war drills around Taiwan enter Day 2. Here's what it means for cross-strait relations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Members of Taiwan's military conduct routine exercises at Liaoluo Port in Kinmen on May 24, 2024. (Photo by I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images) I-hwa Cheng | Afp | Getty ImagesChina's latest military exercises around Taiwan risk escalating cross-strait tensions — but war remains unlikely, political observers say. Beijing warned that the two-day drills, which continued on Friday, were aimed at punishing the island's new President Lai Ching-te for his "hostility and provocations." The drills are "legitimate, timely and entirely necessary," as acts of "Taiwan independence" in any form "cannot be tolerated," it added. "This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also highlights its hegemonic nature," the ministry said.

Persons: HWA CHENG, Cheng, Lai Ching, Lai, Xi Jinping, China's, Lai —, Wang Yi, Nancy Pelosi's, Xi, Joe Biden, Gabriel Wildau Organizations: HWA, Getty, Afp, Xinhua, Atlantic, China's Ministry of National Defense, Liberation Army, PLA, Eastern, Command, U.S ., Fujian, Guard, U.S, APEC, Teneo Intelligence, Republicans Locations: Liaoluo, Kinmen, China, Taiwan, AFP, Beijing, Eurasia, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, United States, U.S

☆ Nikki Haley says she’s voting for Trump in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Eric Bradner | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Nikki Haley plans to vote for Donald Trump, she said Wednesday in her first public remarks since exiting the Republican presidential primary more than two months ago. Earlier this year, Haley and Trump were engaged in what had become a bitter primary feud. Yet even in her absence, she’s been winning votes in one Republican primary after another. And I made that pitch to President Trump and also to Nikki Haley.”Norman said that while Haley has not expressed interest in joining Trump’s ticket, he believes she would be interested. As other former Republican contenders have fallen in line behind Trump, Haley has intentionally kept her distance – not hostile, but also not hungry for his adulation.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Haley, Trump “, Joe Biden “, ”, Haley’s, Walter P, Stern, “, “ Trump, ” Haley, Trump, Biden, MAGA, he’s, Haley didn’t, “ Biden, Mike Johnson, Michael, she’s, Michael Tyler, Biden’s, Ralph Norman of, ” Norman, Haley “, ” Haley’s, CNN’s Kit Maher Organizations: CNN, Former South Carolina Gov, Republican, Trump, United Nations, Hudson Institute, GOP, Committee, Institute, Hamas, South, Democratic Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Ukraine, Israel, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Indiana, ’, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Trump’s, –, America

China launched two days of military drills starting Thursday surrounding Taiwan in what it called a “strong punishment” to its opponents on the self-governing island, after Taiwan’s new president pledged to defend its sovereignty as he took office. The drills were the first substantive response by China to the swearing in of President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing dislikes, in Taipei on Monday. Mr. Lai’s party asserts Taiwan’s separate status from China, and in a high-profile inaugural speech on Monday, he vowed to keep Taiwan’s democracy safe from Chinese pressure. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has mainly responded to Mr. Lai’s speech with sharply worded criticisms. China did not say how many planes and ships it was deploying in the exercise, but the last major drill in multiple locations around Taiwan that China has conducted was in April of last year in response to the visit to Taiwan by the former House speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Persons: Lai Ching, Kevin McCarthy Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Kinmen, Taiwan Strait

☆ New York Times: Another controversial flag spotted outside an Alito property
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Citing photographs and interviews with neighbors, the Times reports that the “Appeal to Heaven” flag was seen on display at his property last summer. It’s the second revelation in as many weeks about a controversial display outside Alito’s property. Like the inverted US flag, the Appeal to Heaven flag – also known as the Pine Tree flag – was seen during the attack on the Capitol. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced blowback for displaying the same flag outside his office last year before assuming the leadership post. An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside Speaker Mike Johnson's personal office in the Cannon House Office Buiding on Wednesday, May 22.

Persons: Samuel Alito’s, Donald Trump, ”, Alito, Shay Horse, –, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, George Washington’s, I’ve, ” Johnson, Mike, Trump, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jim Jordan, Judge Thomas –, Judge Kavanaugh, ” Jordan, CNN’s Manu Raju, CNN’s Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Morgan Rimmer, Manu Raju Organizations: CNN, Capitol, New York Times, Times, Trump, Capitol ., Cannon, Texas, ” Locations: New Jersey, Virginia, Washington , DC

☆ Blinken says he wants to work with Congress to penalize International Criminal Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Michael Conte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he wants to work with Congress on legislation to penalize the International Criminal Court after it applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan also issued warrants for senior Hamas officials, including its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The Biden administration came out forcefully against Khan on Monday for his decision to apply for the warrants against top Israel officials on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has faced questions about its condemnation of the ICC’s actions while saying it continues to support the court’s investigation into Russian war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration previously sanctioned ICC officials by executive order in 2020 over its investigation of possible war crimes by US military and intelligence officials in Afghanistan, sanctions that the Biden administration lifted the next year.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, “, ” Blinken, Biden, Karim Khan, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, Republican Sen, James Risch, ”, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Khan, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Lloyd Austin, Matthew Miller, “ We’ll, ” Miller, Trump Organizations: CNN, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations, Republican, ICC, Israel, American Heritage, Republicans, “, White House, ”, Ukraine Defense Contact, . State Department Locations: Netherlands, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Afghanistan

☆ What to Watch as Voters Head to Polls in Georgia, Oregon and Elsewhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Voters are headed to the polls on Tuesday in several states. Vince Fong, a state lawmaker and onetime aide to Mr. McCarthy, had a significant lead in the primary. Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon and Idaho have primary contests today. In Kentucky and Oregon, voters will also weigh in on the presidential primaries, raising the possibility of protest votes against both President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump. Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, will face a challenger in the Democratic primary for her position.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Vince Fong, Mr, McCarthy, Mike Boudreaux, Biden, Donald J, Fani Willis, Fani, Willis, Christian Wise Smith, Scott McAfee, Trump’s, Robert Patillo II, Tiffani Johnson Organizations: Congressional District, Trump, Democratic Locations: Tulare County, Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon, Idaho, Fulton County

☆ The Rise of a New Centrism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Washington, you often hear, is a place so polarized that our leaders barely get anything done. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a progressive leader, has worked on legislation with several conservative Senate Republicans, including Josh Hawley and J.D. My editors recently asked me to make sense of this conundrum: A polarized country in which bipartisanship has somehow become normal. To do so, I spoke with Congress members from both parties, as well as Biden administration officials and outside experts. I emerged from the project believing that the U.S. was indeed a polarized country in many ways — but less polarized than people sometimes think.

Persons: Biden —, Donald Trump’s, —, Elizabeth Warren, Josh Hawley, J.D, Vance, Lina Khan —, Biden, ” Biden, bipartisanship Organizations: Democrats, Republican, Republicans, Federal Trade Commission Locations: U.S

Search resuls for: "House Speaker"

25 mentions found