All articles tagged with #politics and international relations
The first ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president, Donald Trump, is set to begin with both sides carefully selecting jurors; Israel is contemplating its next move after Iran's recent barrage, raising concerns about the Gaza War; and a significant number of homeowners are holding onto low mortgage rates, which is hindering mobility in the housing market.
Florida's Supreme Court allows a proposed amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state's constitution to go on the November ballot, while also allowing a 15-week abortion ban to take effect, potentially paving the way for a six-week ban. Iran blames Israel for a bombing at its embassy compound in Syria, vowing retaliation, and a U.S.-based aid group's workers in Gaza were killed in a separate airstrike. Google settles a class action lawsuit by agreeing to destroy the private browsing data of millions who used its "incognito" mode, and a Pew Research Center report reveals that 1 in 10 people of Asian descent in the U.S. live in poverty, with varying rates across different Asian American groups.
The U.S. government is seeking permission to sell a $230 million yacht seized from Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, citing nearly $1 million monthly maintenance costs. The legal battle over the yacht highlights the challenges of seizing and selling assets owned by Russian oligarchs, with similar disputes involving other billionaires' assets. The government alleges that Kerimov disguised his ownership of the yacht through shell companies, while attorneys for another ex-Rosneft CEO claim ownership and object to the rushed sale. The proceeds from any potential sale would be held while the ownership and forfeiture battle continues in court.
The Justice Department has announced a series of criminal and civil actions targeting sanctioned Russian oligarchs and individuals supporting the Kremlin and its military, with the aim of cutting off the flow of illegal funds fueling Putin's war in Ukraine. The enforcement actions, led by the Task Force KleptoCapture, have resulted in about 70 criminal cases against individuals and five against corporate entities, as well as the seizure of approximately $700 million worth of assets. The department also plans to transfer these assets to Ukraine or use them in aid. Additionally, the White House is set to announce a new sanctions package against Russia, aimed at holding President Vladimir Putin accountable for Russia's war in Ukraine and the death of opposition figure Alexey Navalny.
Senator Lindsey Graham criticized the retaliatory strikes in the Middle East as insufficient to deter Iran, arguing that the targets had too much advance warning and that the national security is in freefall. The Biden administration has carried out two sets of retaliatory strikes in response to the drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan last month. National Security adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that more strikes and actions are planned to send a clear message to Iran. Graham also commented on the border flap in Congress, while the White House criticized Republicans for their opposition to a bipartisan border deal.
Funding for the UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for delivering aid to Palestinian refugees, has been suspended by at least a dozen countries, including the U.S., following allegations of employee involvement in a Hamas attack. This move, not in line with precedent, will affect 1.7 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza and 400,000 Palestinians without refugee status. The politicization of refugee aid, particularly for Palestinian refugees, reflects a wider pattern of using funding as a foreign policy tool, impacting the ability to provide essential services to those in need.