Judge Juan Merchan runs a mental health court when he’s not hearing a Trump case

Judge Juan Merchan runs a mental health court when he’s not hearing a Trump case

NEW YORK (AP) — Judge Juan M. Merchan looked across his high-ceilinged courtroom, facing the defendant in a complicated case. Not the one everyone knows about. Yes, Merchan could become the first judge ever to oversee a former U.S. president’s criminal trial: Donald Trump’s hush money case. But on a recent morning, the judge was … Read more

Surge in far-right support underscores European trend

Surge in far-right support underscores European trend

Democratic Alliance (AD) leader Luis Montenegro celebrates his victory as he addresses supporters at the party’s election night headquarters, in Lisbon on March 10, 2024. Miguel Riopa | Afp | Getty Images The result — which saw the parliamentary representation of the Chega party quadruple to at least 48 lawmakers — gives the political right … Read more

India inks ‘watershed’ $100 billion free trade deal with four non-EU nations

India inks ‘watershed’ $100 billion free trade deal with four non-EU nations

India flag, stock market, exchange economy and Trade, oil production, container ship in export and import business and logistics. Texbr | Istock | Getty Images India will lift most tariffs on four nations in Europe in a “watershed” deal that is expected to yield $100 billion worth of investment over 15 years and one billion … Read more

Nikki Haley suspends campaign, leaving Trump as last major Republican candidate

Nikki Haley suspends campaign, leaving Trump as last major Republican candidate

NEW YORK (AP) — Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign on Wednesday after being soundly defeated across the country on Super Tuesday, leaving Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination. Haley didn’t endorse the former president in a speech in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, she challenged him to win … Read more

‘Congress needs to get a spine’

‘Congress needs to get a spine’

Officials told NBC News in February that Biden is thinking about implementing harsher asylum standards without Congress. The rules would raise the bar for asylum-seekers and deport any migrants who do not meet those elevated standards. Tightening asylum grants is just one of the policy options that Biden is considering to handle the border unilaterally, … Read more

Biden and Utah’s governor call for less bitterness and more bipartisanship in the nation’s politics

Biden and Utah’s governor call for less bitterness and more bipartisanship in the nation’s politics

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox disagree on many issues but they were united Saturday in calling for less bitterness in politics and more bipartisanship. “Politics has gotten too personally bitter,” said Biden, who has practiced politics since he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. “It’s just not … Read more

China demands the US stop any official contact with Taiwan following a congressional visit

China demands the US stop any official contact with Taiwan following a congressional visit

WASHINGTON (AP) — China responded sternly Thursday to a U.S. congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan, demanding the U.S. stop any official contact with the self-governing island. “China opposes any form of official interaction between the U.S. and Taiwan authorities and rejects U.S. interference in Taiwan affairs in whatever form or under whatever pretext,” Foreign Ministry … Read more

Houthis claim ‘catastrophic’ attack in Red Sea as crew abandons ship

Houthis claim ‘catastrophic’ attack in Red Sea as crew abandons ship

“Vessel at anchor and all crew are safe,” the UKMTO said. Houthi militants later claimed the attack, with spokesperson Yahya Sare’e identifying the vessel as general cargo ship Rubymar and describing it as British. VesselFinder and MarineTraffic.com data indicate the ship sails under the flag of Belize. Houthi forces have previously said they are targeting … Read more

Trump will quit NATO, Hillary Clinton says, as U.S. commitment in question

Trump will quit NATO, Hillary Clinton says, as U.S. commitment in question

Former U.S. President and current GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the press at Mar-a-Lago on February 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images “He will pull us out of NATO,” Clinton told attendees during a lunchtime session. Trump stoked fresh concerns over the U.S.’ commitment … Read more

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says 2% defense spending just the start

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says 2% defense spending just the start

However, Boris Pistorius, Germany’s federal minister of defense, stressed that spending 2% was always designed to be a minimum. “2% can only be the start of it. We might — we’ll probably need more — in the next years,” Pistorius said on a CNBC-moderated panel at the Munich Security Conference. Former US President and 2024 … Read more