US President Donald Trump pressed his advisers and Pentagon officials about sending tanks and military equipment as part of a show of force against protests over the death of George Floyd, according to a new report. While pushing governors in a conference call to “dominate” the protests that have lasted …
Read More »National Guard troops positioned at Lincoln Memorial, drawing ‘police state’ comparisons
As protesters marching against police brutality took to the streets of Washington, troops from the National Guard assembled on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial – leading some protesters to say “We’re living in a police state.” The assembly came after the US capital imposed a 7 pm curfew to …
Read More »Trump thanks himself for great job on DC protests.
US President Donald Trump thanked himself for a great job on handling protests across the country, including in Washington DC, where, he claims, there are “no problems,” despite evidence to the contrary. “DC had no problems last night. Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination. Likewise, Minneapolis …
Read More »Biden vows to heal U.S. racial wounds, slams Trump as divisive
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday vowed in a speech to try to heal the racial divide in America and blasted President Donald Trump’s response to protests over racism and police misconduct. Speaking in Philadelphia – a city rocked by sometimes violent demonstrations in recent days – the former …
Read More »Twitter suspends hundreds over #DCBlackout hoax
Twitter has suspended hundreds of accounts for spreading claims about a Washington DC “blackout” which never happened. Amid widespread civil unrest in the US, thousands to tweets using the #DCBlackout hashtag claimed that communications had been blocked in the capital to cripple protests. But there was no evidence of this. …
Read More »Four times US presidents have used the Insurrection Act to stop riots
As the protests over the death of George Floyd have spread across the US, many of them seeing vandalism, looting, and police violence, Donald Trump has spent days calling for “law and order”. But while some cities have called in the National Guard to help calm the situation, the protests …
Read More »Multiple police officers injured hours after Floyd’s death ruled a homicide
Hours after two autopsies revealed George Floyd was killed by police, officers came under fire overnight. In St. Louis, four officers were struck by gunfire during protests. Their injuries are non-life-threatening, Chief John Hayden Jr. said. Las Vegas police are investigating two officer-involved shootings overnight, one in which an officer …
Read More »Trump responds to protests with a strongman act: Report
US President Donald Trump’s made-for-TV embrace of authoritarianism’s imagery and tools at a brittle national moment risks unleashing toxic political forces that threaten America’s democratic traditions. Trump on Monday turned security forces on peaceful protesters in front of the White House, as tear gas and rubber bullets flew, before declaring …
Read More »China threatens to ‘counter-attack’ US over Hong Kong curbs
Beijing warned Washington Monday of retaliation after President Donald Trump announced restrictions on Chinese students in the US in protest against a new national security law in Hong Kong. China also said ongoing unrest in the US highlighted its severe problems of racism and police violence — and exposed Washington’s …
Read More »Fury as dozens of Minneapolis protesters nearly mowed down by truck ‘arrested without being read their rights’
Up to 150 peaceful protesters – many of whom had narrowly escaped being hit by a speeding fuel truck – were arrested and handcuffed after police in Minneapolis fired tear gas and flash rounds to surround them. A number of those being arrested said they were not read their rights …
Read More »Trump slams governors as ‘weak,’ urges crackdown on protests
President Donald Trump on Monday derided the nation’s governors as “weak” and demanded tougher crackdowns on protesters in the aftermath of another night of violent protests in dozens of American cities. Trump spoke to governors on a video teleconference with law enforcement and national security officials, telling the local leaders …
Read More »Trump was rushed to secret underground bunker during George Floyd protests outside White House
Protests near the White House at the death of George Floyd and police racism grew so intense on Friday night that Donald Trump was taken to an underground bunker as a precaution, according to reports. CNN quotes sources saying that during the third night of violent clashes between the police …
Read More »Serious divide among Trump advisers over protests
A serious divide has emerged among Donald Trump’s top allies and advisers over how the President should address several nights of protests and riots across the nation following the death of George Floyd. Trump is being urged by some advisers to formally address the nation and call for calm, while …
Read More »Atlanta protesters attack CNN building as mayor says ‘go home’
Hundreds of demonstrators poured into the streets near Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on Friday night, smashing windows and clashing with police officers in a protest that grew so tense that the city’s mayor forcefully told people to go home. Not far from the park, the city’s iconic tourist destination, some …
Read More »Trump threatens White House protesters with ‘vicious dogs and most ominous weapons’
Donald Trump has threatened people protesting the death of George Floyd with “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons” if they had breached the fence outside the White House, where members of the US Secret Service are “waiting for action”. In a Twitter thread posted after another night of protests and uprisings …
Read More »U.S. senator steps aside as committee chair amid stock trade probe
U.S. Senator Richard Burr is stepping aside as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee during an investigation of stock trades he made before the sharp market downturn triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate’s Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Burr contacted him on Thursday morning to inform of his …
Read More »FBI names Saudi diplomat suspected of aiding 9/11 hijackers
The FBI has accidentally revealed the name of a Saudi official suspected of providing crucial support to the 9/11 hijackers. The mistake was made in a declaration filed in federal court by Jill Sanborn, assistant director of the US intelligence agency’s counterterrorism division, in response to a lawsuit that accuses …
Read More »Interpol issues wanted notice for wife of US diplomat sought over fatal UK car crash: ITV
Interpol has issued a wanted notice for Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. diplomat, who is wanted in Britain over a fatal car crash in a case that has caused friction between London and Washington, ITV reported on Monday. “An Interpol Red Notice has been issued for 42-year-old Anne …
Read More »Trump pushes reopening of economy, warns virus could kill 100,000 Americans
Pushing to reopen the economy, US President Donald Trump insists that states can gradually lift lockdowns and still protect people from the coronavirus pandemic, even as he’s also suggesting US deaths could reach 100,000. The president, fielding questions from Americans Sunday night in a virtual town hall from the Lincoln …
Read More »Robots on hand to greet Japanese coronavirus patients in hotels
Coronavirus patients with light symptoms arriving to stay at several Tokyo hotels are likely to get a lift from a pleasant surprise – a robot greeter in the lobby. Japan is now using hotels to house patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus but whose symptoms are too light …
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