Author: US News

China on Monday kept its medium-term lending rate steady, as the country’s central bank seeks to stabilize the yuan which has come under pressure following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election. The People’s Bank of China kept the medium-term lending facility rate unchanged at 2.0% on 900 billion yuan ($124.26 billion) worth of one-year loans to some financial institutions, according to the bank’s official statement. “It is a well-expected move, given that the market liquidity [has] remained ample,” said Bruce Pang, chief economist and head of Research, Greater China at JLL, citing PBOC’s move in October that…

Pipeline operator ONEOK said on Sunday it would buy the remaining shares of peer EnLink Midstream, for $4.3 billion in an all-stock deal, boosting its presence in the Permian Basin amid increased consolidation in the U.S. energy sector. In August, ONEOK acquired a 43% controlling interest in Enlink, which has a solid presence in the Permian basin, from Global Infrastructure Partners for about $3.3 billion in cash. ONEOK said it will offer 0.1412 shares of its common stock for each EnLink unit. The deal values Enlink at about $7.6 billion, while the stake purchase would be at a premium of about 5% to…

Six travelers have died from suspected methanol poisoning after visiting the tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos, this month. The travelers — two from Australia, two from Denmark, one from United Kingdom and one from United States — are believed to have consumed alcohol tainted with methanol, which is sometimes illegally added to regular or home-brewed alcohol to cut costs. Some fourteen people were sickened following a night out in Vang Vieng around Nov. 12. One such traveler recently returned home to New Zealand, according to local news reports. Methanol is cheaper than ethanol, which is the alcohol that’s…

People walk past the logotype at the venue for the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on November 11, 2024. Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images Countries agreed on Sunday to an annual finance target of $300 billion to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change, with rich countries leading the payments, according to a hard-fought deal clinched at the COP29 conference in Baku. The new goal is intended to replace developed countries’ previous commitment to provide $100 billion per year in climate finance for poorer nations by 2020. That goal was…

Richard “Ric” Grenell, the former acting director of National Intelligence in President-elect Trump’s first administration, is reportedly under consideration to be special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Currently, there is no special envoy responsible for bringing an end to the war in Eastern Europe. Trump is strongly considering whether to create the role, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with the president’s deliberations. If he does create the new position, Grenell is said to be a leading candidate, though Trump may select someone else, the sources told Reuters. There is also no guarantee that Grenell would accept the position if…

Scott Bessent, founder and chief executive officer of Key Square Group LP, during an interview in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, June 7, 2024. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump signaled Friday his intention to nominate hedge fund executive Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary, in a move that puts a seasoned market pro and a close Trump loyalist in a critical economic position. The founder of Key Square Group had been considered a strong favorite for the position along with a few other close contenders including former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and private equity…

Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s initial pick for attorney general ahead of his White House return, has withdrawn from consideration for the post. Trump’s decision to choose Gaetz shocked Washington and the country.

Gaetz had faced significant scrutiny over a previous federal investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl that cast doubt over his ability to be confirmed as the country’s top legal official.

He has also been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over wider allegations including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts.

The top newspapers in the United States all lead with the news of Gaetz’s withdrawal.

“Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said in a statement, external. “We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”

Strange Massachusetts laws including pigeons, haunted houses, milk cartons and more Laws on pigeon frightening, milk cart vandalization and belting the national anthem are all present in the state of Massachusetts.  The 1780 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the oldest functioning written constitution in the world, according to Mass.gov. The historical document was drafted by John Adams. Scanning through laws in Massachusetts, you are sure to find some head scratchers, but the state is far from the only one that has bizarre laws still technically on the books. Below are a few strange laws present in the state…

A real mixture of domestic news features on the US front pages this morning, with ongoing speculation what Donald Trump’s second term in office will look like, continued scrutiny of his picks for Cabinet.

International news is splashed across the front pages, with the escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war following Joe Biden authorising Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russia. The outgoing president will also send landmines – a move that has been criticised by charities and rights groups.

Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Thursday, with investors watching tech shares in the region after chipmaker Nvidia reported better-than-expected results. Nvidia reported a 94% year-on-year surge in revenue for the third quarter to $35.08 billion. However, that is still a consecutive slowdown from the previous three quarters, when sales rose 122%, 262%, and 265%, respectively. Net income during the quarter rose to $19.3 billion, versus $9.24 billion in the same period a year ago. All eyes are on Indian stocks related to billionaire Gautam Adani, after the chair of India’s Adani Group was indicted with others in New York federal court on charges…

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The UN Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution demanding an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, along with the release of all hostages. However, the United States, a key ally of Israel, may block the draft, which has already drawn criticism from Israeli officials.  

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Linda McMahon, co-founder of WWE and a long-time ally, as his nominee for education secretary. McMahon previously served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency and is known for her significant financial support of his campaigns.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham sent a letter to each of the 51 former intelligence officials who signed a memo suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop had the hallmarks of Russian disinformation. Over the summer, US News asked all 51 officials whether they regretted signing on to the now-debunked letter.  Sen Graham asks 51 intel officials on Hunter laptop letter if they’d still sign it now amid threats to clearances “In your letter, you claimed that the laptop story was ‘Russia trying to influence how Americans vote,’” Graham’s letter read to former CIA directors Leon Panetta and Michael Hayden, former Director…

The US front pages cover a wide variety of mostly American news. The arrival of the next president Donald Trump – who will take office in January – also continues to make the front pages, as his cabinet choices continue to be scrutinised.

Publications also look ahead at what the next Trump term could look like. 

There’s speculation over Trump’s economic plans for the country with experts warning that it could lead to higher inflation and interest rates.

Several front pages report on Donald Trump’s promise to mass deport illegal immigrants using the American military, and that he will declare a national emergency to help force millions out of the United States.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed plans to use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants, marking one of the most ambitious immigration initiatives in U.S. history. On his Truth Social platform, Trump endorsed claims that he would declare a national emergency to mobilise military resources, including the National Guard, to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the effort.  

Monday’s US front pages – like many others around the world – lead with news the US president has given Ukraine the green light to use American-made missiles in Russia.

Away from the policy shift, many of the major American newspapers continue their coverage of domestic politics as Donald Trump’s picks for cabinet continues to be scrutinised – as does the role of Elon Musk.

Male model charged in gruesome New York City apartment lobby stabbing A 20-year-old male model has been charged in the stabbing death of a man in New York City, prosecutors said Saturday. On late Friday, 20-year-old Dynus Saxon was arraigned and charged in the Nov. 10 killing of 35-year-old Kadeem Grant. He has been charged with second degree murder, first degree manslaughter, and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that they found the 35-year-old victim stabbed in his chest in a Mott Haven apartment building. “Police…

Politics continues to dominate the headlines this morning, as American commentators react to incoming president Donald Trump’s choice for health secretary. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a known vaccine sceptic, has received the nod from the president-elect and it has led to some strong reactions on the front pages. 

Elsewhere, there is also reaction from Trump’s other picks, including the controversial choice of Matt Gaetz for attorney general.

Incoming US President Donald Trump has picked RFK Jr as his health secretary calling him a great mind in his first speech since election night. Trump said RFK Jr, a known vaccine sceptic, will “help make America healthy again” by protecting them from “harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives”.

America Weekly US Politics Weekly The United States political scene has been busy since the presidential election early in the month. Since Donald Trump’s landslide win, the president-elect has been appointing his cabinet ahead of taking office in January. Trump has already appointed some high-profile names and has even carved out a role for tech billionaire Elon Musk. Everything has gone a little quiet on the Democratic side. The party are still trying to understand how it went so horribly wrong for them. It’s been a week of finger-pointing with everyone from Joe Biden to George Clooney being blamed for…

Almost all the main US front pages lead with images of President-elect Donald Trump meeting with Joe Biden at the Oval Office on Wednesday. The pair met to discuss the transition of power – Trump will take office in January. 

The front pages are filled up with various political stories from Donald Trump’s Cabinet appointments, to the new role to be undertaken by billionaire Elon Musk. Online, there is running coverage of Trump’s picks – FOX News host Pete Hegseth will become the country’s new defence secretary, and Congressman Matt Gaetz will become attorney general.

Many of the papers report on the GOP winning the House of Representatives which now means they control both chambers of Congress (House and Senate) and with Trump in power in January, the Republicans will have little issues passing their agenda.

Pentagon stunned after Trump picks Pete Hegseth for defence secretary The Pentagon has been stunned by Donald Trump’s pick for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, a national guard veteran and Fox News presenter who has called for a purge of generals for pursuing “woke” diversity policies. Hegseth has questioned whether the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Charles Brown, was given the top job because he is black and accused him of “pursuing the radical positions of leftwing politicians”. Hegseth was a major in the Minnesota national guard who served as a prison guard at Guantánamo Bay detention camp…

Republicans have officially won control of the US House of Representatives, securing the 218 seats needed for a majority. Alongside victories in the Senate and Donald Trump’s return to the White House as president-elect, the GOP now holds full control of the federal government.