Author: US News

“America is ready for a new chapter. America’s ready for a better story” – Former President Barack Obama, DNC speech ‘Obamas back Harris’ Paper Talk The second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a popular story for the front pages this morning as the DNC brought out Democratic heavyweights Barack and Michelle Obama. The former president and first lady delivered back-to-back speeches praising Harris and warning the race against Trump will be tight. The Washington Post claims the “The Obamas electrify DNC” whilst The Boston Globe reports on the “diverse lineup” of speakers the second night but noting the…

DNC day 2: Obamas call on US to back Harris and usher in a ‘new chapter’ The second night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) saw speeches from former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.  They called for voters to come out in force this November to vote for Kamala Harris and ensure Donald Trump is defeated in November.  The Obamas remain the most popular figures in the Democratic Party. They praised the vice president during their back-to-back speeches describing her as a leader who is ready for the Oval Office whilst critising Donald Trump’s term as…

“Now, it’s summer. The winter has passed. With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered, and now democracy must be preserved” – Joe Biden, DNC speech ‘Biden passes the torch to Harris’ What are the US newspaper headlines this morning? Paper Talk Politics continues to dominate America’s front pages this Tuesday morning as the Democratic Party “ushers in a new guard” at the Democratic National Convention, according to The Washington Post. As President Joe Biden “hands off to Harris,” the Chicago Sun-Times says, the Democrats have…

Iran hacked Trump campaign, US intelligence confirms US intelligence officials have confirmed that Iran was behind a recent hack targeting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. In a joint statement, the FBI and other federal agencies said Iran’s actions were intended to “stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions.” The Trump campaign first pointed to Iran on August 10, accusing it of hacking internal communications, a claim that Iranian officials denied. Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that Iranian hackers likely also targeted Kamala Harris’s campaign. US intelligence noted that Iran has been using social engineering tactics to gain access…

Thousands protest for Gaza outside DNC as Harris accepts nomination Thousands of protesters marched near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on its opening day, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US support for Israel. While the protest was mostly peaceful, several demonstrators were arrested after breaking through a security fence around the venue. The turnout was lower than expected, with far fewer than the 15,000 organisers claimed. In his primetime convention speech, President Joe Biden acknowledged the protesters’ concerns, stating that “a lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides,” and called for…

Trump falsely implies Taylor Swift endorses him Donald Trump is facing backlash after sharing fake images on social media that falsely implied he had Taylor Swift’s endorsement. The Republican presidential candidate posted a message saying “I accept!” alongside the images, which were reportedly created using AI and taken from other social media accounts. One image showed Swift fans wearing “Swifties for Trump” t-shirts, while another mimicked a World War I recruiting poster with Swift’s face and a call to vote for Trump. The post angered many of Swift’s fans, who accused Trump of spreading misinformation. Swift has not endorsed any…

VP Kamala Harris arrives in Chicago for Democratic convention Kamala Harris has arrived in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), where she will be officially confirmed as the party’s presidential candidate. After a day of campaigning in Pennsylvania with her running mate, Tim Walz, Harris flew into O’Hare airport on Air Force Two. Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, has seen close races in recent elections, with Donald Trump winning in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. A CBS News poll shows Harris and Trump are currently tied in key swing states. During a speech on Sunday, Harris indirectly criticised…

Trump calls Google ‘crooked election interference machine’ in Truth Social rant Donald Trump has said Google is ‘crooked’ and ‘illegal’ after allegations of the search engine ‘altering headlines’ to be used in adverts for Kamala Harris’ campaign. He said Google will ‘pay a big price’ and shared a link to an article which claimed Harris-Walz campaign had been editing headlines and descriptions in paid Google adverts. Trump posted on Truth Social: ‘Google is a Crooked, Election Interference Machine. Totally Illegal, they will pay a big price for what they are doing!’ In multiple advertisements, the Harris-Walz campaign has been accused…

FBI probes claims Iran hacked Trump campaign The FBI has launched an investigation into claims by the Trump campaign that it was targeted by hackers linked to the Iranian government. While the FBI confirmed the investigation, it did not explicitly name Trump or Iran. The Trump campaign alleges that “foreign sources hostile to the United States” illegally obtained documents, a claim Iran denies. The U.S. government has not officially accused Iran. The investigation also explores whether Iranian hackers targeted the Biden-Harris campaign, according to reports from CBS News. This follows a Microsoft report suggesting that Iranian hackers attempted a spear-phishing…

Musk claims Trump interview targeted by cyber attack Elon Musk’s interview with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump faced significant technical difficulties, which Musk claims was due to a cyber attack. The conversation, aimed at “open-minded independent voters,” was delayed by over 40 minutes as many users struggled to access the livestream on X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk claimed that a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack had “saturated all of our data lines,” causing the disruptions. Despite the rocky start, the two-hour conversation continued, with Musk reaffirming his support for Trump and urging moderate voters to back the Republican’s…

4.4 magnitude earthquake hits Los Angeles area A 4.4 magnitude earthquake rattled Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, with its epicentre near Highland Park, close to the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. The quake, which struck around 12:20 PM PST, was felt across the region, including in Pasadena, Glendale, and coastal areas like Manhattan Beach. The US Geological Survey initially reported the quake as a 4.7 magnitude but later downgraded it. Despite the strong tremors, no tsunami warning was issued, and there have been no reports of injuries or significant damage. The Los Angeles Fire Department is conducting a thorough survey…

Trump-Harris TV debate set for September will be hosted by ABC News  ABC News has announced it will host the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on September 10. The network confirmed the event in a post on X (formerly Twitter) after Trump expressed his willingness to debate Harris multiple times before the November election. He suggested a total of three debates, with the others hosted by Fox News and NBC. Kamala Harris, speaking at an event in Michigan, confirmed her participation in the ABC debate and expressed openness to additional debates. The debate will be moderated by…

Two astronauts on an 8-day mission could be stuck in space until 2025  When American astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5th, they anticipated a short mission. However, nearly two months later, they’re still orbiting Earth with no definitive return date. The duo’s mission was to test Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft, marking its first manned flight. Despite reaching the ISS safely, the Starliner encountered significant issues, including propulsion system leaks and thruster failures, rendering it potentially unsafe for their return journey. NASA officials are exploring alternatives, with the primary option…

US arrests Pakistani man in alleged plot to kill politicians Asif Merchant, 46, has been charged with orchestrating an alleged plot to assassinate prominent U.S. politicians and officials. The FBI has described the scheme as a “dangerous murder-for-hire plot,” with FBI Director Christopher Wray noting that it appeared to be “straight out of the Iranian playbook.” Merchant, who arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan in April after spending time in Iran, is accused of attempting to hire a hitman in New York. According to sources reported by CBS, former President Donald Trump was among the targets. The indictment suggests that…

Harris and Walz attack Trump in first rally as Democratic ticket Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has announced her running mate for the upcoming presidential race. Tim Walz joined Harris on stage at a campaign rally in Philadelphia where the vice president praised Walz’s record as Minnesota governor, saying “I set out to find a partner to help build this brighter future.” Waltz touted his small-town upbringing and career as a teacher, before attacking his Republican opponents Donald Trump and JD Vance. Harris and Walz now begin their tour of the key battleground states as the race for the White House…

Google’s online search monopoly is illegal, US judge rules In a significant ruling, a US judge determined that Google acted illegally to stifle competition and maintain its monopoly on online search and related advertising. This decision marks a major setback for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and may significantly impact how tech giants operate. The lawsuit, initiated by the US Department of Justice in 2020, accused Google of controlling roughly 90% of the online search market. This case is among several legal actions targeting big tech companies as US antitrust authorities push for greater competition in the industry. The case has…

Elon Musk to shut X San Francisco office Elon Musk announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the platform’s main office will be relocating out of San Francisco. This decision follows a report by the New York Times detailing an email from X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, which informed staff about the closure and upcoming move to San Jose and Palo Alto. Musk’s announcement comes on the heels of his recent declaration to relocate both X and his aerospace company, SpaceX, to Texas. He cited dissatisfaction with California’s new law that restricts schools from making rules requiring staff to disclose…

Former President Trump introduced Michaelah Montgomery at Atlanta rally A Georgia activist stole the show after being introduced by former President Trump at his rally in Atlanta Saturday. Trump invited Michaelah Montgomery up on stage toward the end of his speech at the Georgia State University Convocation Center. He introduced Montgomery by explaining he met her at a restaurant this year. Trump said Montgomery, who attended Clark Atlanta University, had recognized him in public and commended him for funding historically Black colleges and universities. “She looks at me, says ‘It’s President Trump. You saved my college.’ And I said, ‘How…

Freed Americans in Russian prisoner swap now back on US soil American reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan were among four former prisoners released from Russia yesterday who finally stepped foot on American soil again Thursday night. A plane carrying the Americans freed by Russia during the large prisoner swap landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the tarmac. “Welcome home,” Biden told reporters on the tarmac after visiting with the freed prisoners. “There’s nothing beyond our capacity if we work together. Nothing…we’re the United States of…

US hints at September interest rate cut The US Federal Reserve may lower borrowing costs for the first time in over four years, as inflation cools and worries about the job market increase. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinted that a rate cut “could be on the table” at the central bank’s September meeting if current economic trends continue. This week’s meeting saw officials debating a rate cut but ultimately deciding to maintain the current target range of 5.25%-5.5%, where it has been since last July. The Fed has kept rates high to cool the economy and manage inflation but…

Joe Biden criticises Supreme Court in push for reform President Joe Biden has called for major reforms to the Supreme Court, criticising its recent “extreme opinions.” His proposals include ending lifetime appointments for justices, suggesting an 18-year term limit, and introducing an enforceable ethics code to “restore trust and accountability.”  These suggestions follow controversial rulings from the conservative-majority court, such as overturning the constitutional right to abortion and granting broad immunity to presidents for “official acts.” The push for reform comes as Democrats aim to energise their base ahead of the November election, although the Republican-controlled House of Representatives presents…

California suspect in court accused of starting huge wildfire Ronnie Stout, 42, appeared in court on Monday, accused of starting the Park Fire, which has ravaged over 370,000 acres and forced thousands from their homes in Northern California. Stout allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine, igniting the blaze. The fire, now the sixth largest in state history, has destroyed 109 buildings and remains only 12% contained. Despite the extensive damage, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Stout did not speak or enter a plea during his court appearance and was ordered to be held without bail by…

Huge California wildfire tears through 5,000 acres every hour A massive wildfire, known as the Park fire, has been expanding by 8 square miles (20 sq km) per hour in northern California. Since its suspected arson-related start on Wednesday, it has scorched over 350,000 acres northeast of Chico and was only 10% contained by Sunday, according to Cal Fire. Around 3,700 firefighters are combating the fire, which has been exacerbated by steep terrain and strong winds. A 42-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, suspected of starting the fire by rolling a burning car into a gully in Butte County. This…

Kamala Harris tells Netanyahu it is time to end war in Gaza US Vice-President Kamala Harris, likely to be the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, held “frank and constructive” discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a firmer stance than President Joe Biden, Harris expressed “serious concerns” about Gaza casualties, emphasising the importance of how Israel conducts its defence. “It is time for this war to end,” Harris declared after their meeting at the White House. She also highlighted the need for a path to a two-state solution and urged Americans to recognise the “nuance” of the…

Netanyahu defends Gaza war as protesters rally outside US Congress In an address to the US Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that “our enemies are your enemies,” aiming to garner US support for the war against Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu’s speech was warmly received by predominantly Republican lawmakers, marking his fourth address to a joint session of Congress. “When we fight Iran, we’re fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States of America,” Netanyahu said. “Our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory,” he added. However, the event highlighted political divisions,…