World

Biden visits Kentucky pledging federal support for tornado hit state

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2021

Offering hugs of support to locals who’ve lost everything to a devastating storm US President Joe Biden visits the devastation zone in Kentucky after the state was lashed with deadly tornadoes and severe storms

President Biden flew to Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the damage wrought over the weekend reprising a role comforting disaster victims as he pledged that the Federal Government will cover the costs of the rebuild.

The president announced that the white house would cover 100% of costs of emergency work for the first 30 days after the extreme weather event.

Late Monday, Biden approved disaster declarations for Tennessee and Illinois, and had previously approved a major disaster declaration for Kentucky.

On Wednesday, Biden amended the Kentucky disaster declaration to make additional assistance available, increasing federal funding.

The President said during his remarks in Dawson Springs that he previously “wasn’t sure” he had the authority to make the change to the disaster declaration, but added, “it turns out I do.”

Joining local leaders earlier at a storm briefing in Mayfield in Kentucky… the President expressed shock at some of the images he saw during his aerial tour of the area pledging the full force of the federal government to help rebuilding and recovery efforts.

Kentucky hit by devastating storms / Image: File

Biden said he was “amazed” at the way the community has come together in the wake of the storm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent search-and-rescue and emergency response teams to Kentucky, along with teams to help survivors register for assistance.

Dozens of generators have been into the state following mass power outages along with 135,000 gallons of water, 74,000 meals and thousands of cots, blankets, infant toddler kits and pandemic shelter kits.

Mayfield was the hardest hit of several western Kentucky communities in the 200-mile path of a twister that turned cities into piles of debris that are now being hauled away by work crews and National Guard troops.

The city of 10,000 is under a boil-water order and accounts for more than one-third of the state’s 14,000 power outages.

World

TikTok CEO testifies as U.S. considers nationwide ban

Published

2 days ago

March 24, 2023

Veronica Dudo

FBI says TikTok threatens U.S. national security

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified in Washington D.C. on Thursday.

The hours-long fiery hearing on Capitol Hill was incredibly tense as Chew was grilled by both Republicans and Democrats.

With bipartisan support, both parties are pushing for a nationwide ban on the app which the FBI has said threatens the national security of the United States.

TikTok says it has 150 million America users – almost half the country.

The CEO gave testimony to try and reassure lawmakers and Americans that TikTok is not an agent of the Chinese Communist Party, but critics aren’t convinced.

Chew was bombarded with questions from representatives from both sides of the aisle about the company’s ties to the CCP, security, data storage, well-being, and mental health.

Many lawmakers are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of answers from the company.

Congress is now weighing a nationwide ban on the popular social media platform amid concerns that it is used to harvest Americans’ information and harm children online.

World

Protests continue across France over pension reforms

Published

2 days ago

March 24, 2023

ticker NEWS

Protestors blocked a terminal at an airport and sat on train tracks

The ongoing nationwide protests in France over plans by the government to raise the retirement age by two years saw another day of disruption – events which President Emmanuel Macron has recently compared to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump supporters two years ago.

Protestors blocked a terminal at Paris’s Charles De Gaulle airport.

Protesters also sat on train tracks, and reportedly triggered a brief fire in the yard of a police station in once city.

Protests have been mostly peaceful, but tear gas has been used against them on occasions.

The plan is to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

For comparison, the U.S. is slowly raising its retirement age to 67 and the UK plans to go to 68.

Polls have long shown that a majority of voters in France oppose the move.

Macron earlier in the week said he was standing firm on the law and that it would come into effect by the end of the year.

The government says the change is needed to keep pension budgets from running a deficit – failure would create an annual deficit of about $14 billion by 2030.

World

Prosecutors allege Donald Trump misled people on potential arrest

Published

2 days ago

March 24, 2023

ticker NEWS

The move prompted Republicans in Congress to interfere with the course of justice

Manhattan prosecutors say Donald Trump has misled people to expect he would be arrested, prompting Republicans in Congress to interfere with the course of justice.

A probe is currently under way into his alleged hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

On Saturday, the former President said he would be arrested on Tuesday.

This saw three Republicans launching an offensive against the District Attorney, who is a Democrat.

They accused him of abusing authority, while also seeking communications, documents and testimony.

A grand jury hearing evidence in the Stormy Daniels case is yet to issue an arrest warrant for Trump.

The attorney’s office has since sent the committee chairmen a letter.

It says the lawmakers’ accusations “only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation he would be arrested”.

It also confirms the attorney’s office is “investigating allegations that Donald Trump engaged in violations of New York State penal law.”

If indicted, Trump would be the first U.S. President to face criminal charges.