France strikes: One million protest against Macron’s rise in retirement age
More than a million people have joined a day of protests and strikes, according to France’s interior ministry, against plans to push back the age of retirement from 62 to 64. Some 80,000 protesters took to the streets of Paris, with demonstrations in 200 more French cities. President Emmanuel Macron called the reforms “just and responsible” – but they are facing a make-or-break moment. The … Continue reading France strikes: One million protest against Macron’s rise in retirement age
Nearly half a million UK workers set for mass strike demanding higher pay
Close to half a million workers are ready to strike on a single day as Britain faces an escalation of industrial action across a number of sectors. Unions representing civil servants, teachers, university staff and train drivers have said their members will walk out on Feb. 1 as part of demands for higher pay to cope with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. About … Continue reading Nearly half a million UK workers set for mass strike demanding higher pay
Russian ‘intelligence gathering ship’ off the Hawaii coast being monitored by US Coast Guard
THE US Coast Guard confirmed it is monitoring a suspicious Russian ship that has been sailing off the coast of Hawaii. The ship is believed to be a Russian intelligence vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement Wednesday. “In recent weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard has continued to monitor a Russian vessel, believed to be an intelligence gathering ship, off the coast of … Continue reading Russian ‘intelligence gathering ship’ off the Hawaii coast being monitored by US Coast Guard
Alec Baldwin charged with involuntary manslaughter
Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will face criminal charges for the October 2021 fatal shooting ofRustcinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the film’s set, the Santa Fe District Attorney said Thursday. Close to 16 months after Baldwin shot Hutchins and wounded the movie’s director Joel Souza with a loaded gun during rehearsal on the set of the indie Western, New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary … Continue reading Alec Baldwin charged with involuntary manslaughter
Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine
An ally of President Vladimir Putin warned NATO on Thursday that a defeat of Russia in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear war, while the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said the world would end if the West tried to destroy Russia. Such apocalyptic rhetoric is intended to deter the U.S.-led NATO military alliance from getting even more involved in the war, on the eve … Continue reading Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine
Republicans worry a national sales tax bill would be a ‘political gift’ for Democrats
As part of his deal to become House speaker, Kevin McCarthy reportedly promised his party’s conservative hardliners a vote on legislation that would scrap the entire American tax code and replace it with a jumbo-sized national sales tax. The assurance got relatively little attention at the time, drowned out by the many other concessions McCarthy made to win his gavel. But with Democrats already attacking … Continue reading Republicans worry a national sales tax bill would be a ‘political gift’ for Democrats
Dollar touches 7-month low as Fed rate rise expectations slide
The dollar touched a seven-month low on Wednesday, reversing a trend that dominated much of 2022 as lower expectations of sharp Federal Reserve rate rises eased pressure on global markets. The fall in the US currency, one of the steepest since the aftermath of the global financial crisis, came as US retail figures showed a 1.1 per cent year-on-year drop in sales in December — … Continue reading Dollar touches 7-month low as Fed rate rise expectations slide
US Treasury buys time for Biden and GOP on debt limit deal
The U.S. government bumped up against its debt limit Thursday, prompting the Treasury Department to take “extraordinary” accounting steps to avoid default — as friction between President Joe Biden and House Republicans raised concern about whether the U.S. can sidestep an economic crisis. The Treasury Department said in a letter to congressional leaders it had started taking “extraordinary measures” as the government had run up … Continue reading US Treasury buys time for Biden and GOP on debt limit deal
Another North Carolina power substation damaged by apparent gunfire
Another power substation in North Carolina has been damaged because of apparent gunfire, energy officials said Tuesday. The damage occurred at a power substation in Thomasville, about an hour away from Moore County, where just weeks ago two other substations were attacked by gunfire. EnergyUnited said that company officials learned of an “equipment issue” at the Pleasant Hill Substation on Tuesday morning, at which time … Continue reading Another North Carolina power substation damaged by apparent gunfire
The world’s oldest person, Sister André of France, dies at age 118
Sister André, the world’s oldest known person, died Tuesday at age 118 and 340 days. Less than a month away from her 119th birthday, she held the record for both oldest living person and oldest living nun, according to Guinness World Records. She was born in France on Feb. 11, 1904, as Lucile Randon and took the name Sister André in 1944. She spent most … Continue reading The world’s oldest person, Sister André of France, dies at age 118
Jailed ‘El Chapo’ drug kingpin sends ‘SOS’ to Mexico president
Notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has appealed to Mexico’s president for help due to alleged “psychological torment” he is suffering in a US prison, his lawyer said Tuesday. “In the six years that Joaquin has been in the United States, he has not seen the sun,” said Jose Refugio Rodriguez, a Mexico-based legal representative of the Sinaloa cartel founder. The message, described as … Continue reading Jailed ‘El Chapo’ drug kingpin sends ‘SOS’ to Mexico president
Davos elites see a major risk ahead for markets with looming U.S. debt standoff
The finance and tech CEOs gathering at the World Economic Forum this week expressed measured optimism about the economy in 2023 — but at least one major risk looms for markets, they said. The resilient U.S. economy, a mild European winter and China’s reopening have given investors and forecasters hope that a severe recession can be avoided, Citigroup The U.S. economy has slowed since the … Continue reading Davos elites see a major risk ahead for markets with looming U.S. debt standoff
Ukraine helicopter crash kills interior minister, others
A helicopter carrying Ukraine’s interior minister crashed into a kindergarten in a foggy residential suburb of Kyiv on Wednesday, killing him and about a dozen other people, including a child on the ground, authorities said. Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, who oversaw the country’s police and emergency services, is the most senior official killed since Russia invaded nearly 11 months ago. His death, along with the … Continue reading Ukraine helicopter crash kills interior minister, others
Putin could be ready to announce a second mobilization drive
Russian President Vladimir Putin could be ready to announce another mobilization round, as Russia looks to bolster its armed forces in Ukraine, analysts believe. “Putin may announce a second mobilization wave to expand his army in the coming days— possibly as early as January 18,” analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said Tuesday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced Tuesday that Putin will … Continue reading Putin could be ready to announce a second mobilization drive
Biden and McCarthy Square Off Over the Debt Ceiling
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) called on Democrats to begin talks immediately on raising the debt ceiling, a critical requirement that Republicans plan to use as leverage in their effort to slash federal spending. “I would like to sit down with all the leaders and especially the president and start having discussions,” McCarthy said Tuesday at the Capitol. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week … Continue reading Biden and McCarthy Square Off Over the Debt Ceiling
Goldman, M. Stanley profits plunge as dealmaking dries up
The profits for two iconic Wall Street firms — Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley — plunged sharply last quarter as volatile markets cut deeply into investment banking. Goldman’s profits tumbled 66% to $1.33 billion in the fourth quarter, it said Tuesday, well below what Wall Street had expected. Profits at Morgan Stanley slumped 40% to $2.2 billion, barely beating analyst projections. Expectations for Goldman and … Continue reading Goldman, M. Stanley profits plunge as dealmaking dries up
Obama’s ethics chief tears into Biden for ‘appalling negligence’ of classified documents
Obama-era Ethics chief Walter Shaub tore into President Biden’s ‘neglect’ in bringing home classified files and storing them in his garage at his Wilmington residence and in his think tank office. Shaub said the difference between the classified files found at Biden’s residence and the raid on Mar-a-Lago is ‘night and day,’ though he called the current president’s behavior ‘appalling.’ ‘Trump knowingly resisted demands by … Continue reading Obama’s ethics chief tears into Biden for ‘appalling negligence’ of classified documents
Kissinger Sheds Resistance to Ukraine Joining NATO
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said Ukraine joining NATO could be an “appropriate outcome” of Russia’s invasion, while reiterating his call for a negotiated solution to the conflict. “The idea of a neutral Ukraine under these conditions is no longer meaningful,” Kissinger, 99, told the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday. Kissinger, long an opponent of Ukraine’s membership of … Continue reading Kissinger Sheds Resistance to Ukraine Joining NATO
Justice Department Considered but Rejected Role in Biden Documents Search
The Justice Department considered having FBI agents monitor a search by President Biden’s lawyers for classified documents at his homes but decided against it, both to avoid complicating later stages of the investigation and because Mr. Biden’s attorneys had quickly turned over a first batch and were cooperating, according to people familiar with the matter. After Mr. Biden’s lawyers discovered documents marked as classified dating … Continue reading Justice Department Considered but Rejected Role in Biden Documents Search
Russia to Boost Troops in West, Expanding Army to 1.5 Million People
Russia will create new commands near Europe as it expands its military to 1.5 million people amid deepening tensions with the US and its allies over the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. New structures in the regions around Moscow, St. Petersburg and Karelia on the border with Finland will be created under the program, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told commanders Tuesday, saying the major changes will … Continue reading Russia to Boost Troops in West, Expanding Army to 1.5 Million People
B.C. Begley 