Category Archives: World/National

Trump orders a plan to dismantle the Education Department while keeping some core functions

Trump orders a plan to dismantle the Education Department while keeping some core functions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the Education Department. The Republican president announced his plan Thursday. Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. And the White House says the department would not close completely right now. It is to retain certain critical functions, like managing federal student loans and Pell grants.… Continue Reading

Unredacted JFK assassination files released, sending history buffs hunting for new clues

Unredacted JFK assassination files released, sending history buffs hunting for new clues

DALLAS (AP) — Unredacted documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been released following an order by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office. The documents were posted on the website of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration on Tuesday evening. The vast majority of the National Archives’ collection of over 6 million pages of records, photographs, motion pictures, sound recordings and artifacts related to the assassination have previously been released.… Continue Reading

Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients

Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures — which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone. Beginning March 31st, people will no longer be able to verify their identity to the Social Security Administration over the phone and those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency’s “my Social Security” online service, will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process, agency leadership told reporters Tuesday.… Continue Reading

Americans increased spending tepidly last month as anxiety over the economy takes hold

Americans increased spending tepidly last month as anxiety over the economy takes hold

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending just a bit in February after a sharp pullback the previous month, signaling that Americans are shopping more cautiously as concerns about the direction of the economy mount. Retail sales rose just 0.2% in February, a small rebound after a sharp drop of 1.2% in January, the Commerce Department said Monday. Sales rose at grocery stores, home and garden stores, and online retailers. Sales fell at auto dealers, restaurants, and electronics stores. The small increase suggests Americans may be growing more wary about spending as the stock market has plunged and President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and government spending cuts have led to widespread uncertainty among consumers and businesses.… Continue Reading

St. Patrick’s Day brings boisterous parades and celebrations to New York and other cities

St. Patrick’s Day brings boisterous parades and celebrations to New York and other cities

NEW YORK (AP) — St. Patrick’s Day is being marked in cities across the country with boisterous parades and celebrations. New York City hosts one of the largest and oldest parades in the U.S. The celebration stepped off Monday along Manhattan’s famed Fifth Avenue with some 150,000 participants. Major celebrations are also planned in Savannah, Georgia and other American communities. But some major cities have already held their parades. Chicago’s celebration was Saturday. Boston and Philadelphia marked the occasion Sunday. St. Patrick’s Day parades are meant to commemorate Ireland’s patron saint but have become a celebration of Irish heritage globally.… Continue Reading

Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and issues new warning

Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and issues new warning

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen say a series of airstrikes have hit the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday evening. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a social media post, says he ordered the airstrikes. The Houthis say 13 civilians have been killed. The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then. Images circulating online show plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.… Continue Reading

Trump signs a bill funding the government for 6 months, avoiding a shutdown

Trump signs a bill funding the government for 6 months, avoiding a shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed into law legislation funding the government through the end of September. His signature Saturday ends the threat of a partial government shutdown and caps off a struggle in Congress that deeply divided Democrats. The bill largely keeps government funding at levels set during Joe Biden’s presidency, though with changes. It trims non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increases defense spending by about $6 billion. The Senate cleared the legislation on Friday in a 54-46 party line vote, with Democrats helping advance it despite problems with the bill.… Continue Reading

Wall Street tumbles after Trump escalates his trade war; S&P 500 sinks 1.2%, and Dow drops 500

Wall Street tumbles after Trump escalates his trade war; S&P 500 sinks 1.2%, and Dow drops 500

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s sell-off is accelerating after President Donald Trump upped the stakes in his trade war. Not even a double-shot of good news on the U.S. economy could stop the bleeding, and the S&P 500 fell 1.2% Thursday. The index is threatening to close more than 10% below its record, which would be its first such drop since 2023. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 507 points, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.6%. Trump’s escalating trade war is raising worries about the economy’s strength, though reports came in better than expected during the morning on both inflation and joblessness in the United States.… Continue Reading

Putin agrees in principle with proposal for Ukraine ceasefire and says more discussions are needed

Putin agrees in principle with proposal for Ukraine ceasefire and says more discussions are needed

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agrees in principle with a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. But he emphasized that the terms are yet to be worked out and noted that any truce should pave the way to lasting peace. Putin spoke Thursday at a news conference in Moscow. He said more discussions are needed with the U.S., including President Donald Trump. In Washington, Trump offered guarded optimism about Putin’s statement and reiterated that he stood ready to speak with him. The Russian leader made the remarks just hours after the arrival of Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow for talks.… Continue Reading

Trump threatens retaliatory 200% tariff on European wine after EU proposes American whiskey tax

Trump threatens retaliatory 200% tariff on European wine after EU proposes American whiskey tax

WASHINGTON (AP) — American retailers say President Donald Trump’s threatened 200% tariff on European wine would harm consumers. Holly Seidewand owns First Fill Spirits in New York state and says a tariff war hurts importers, distributors and retailers but “consumers will bear the brunt of it.” Ronnie Sanders is CEO of Vine Street Imports in New Jersey and says customers aren’t prepared to pay two or three times more for their favorite wine. Trump on Thursday called the EU among “the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities.” Because of the Republican president’s threat, a previously untariffed $15 bottle of Italian Prosecco could cost $45. The European Commission says Europe wants to “negotiate to avoid tariffs.”… Continue Reading

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