News24 | Republican civil war: Mike Johnson 'definitely not going to be speaker next Congress'

Senate Passes $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package

Senate Passes $95 Billion , Foreign Aid Package. On April 23, the U.S. Senate voted 79-18 to approve foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, 'The Guardian' reports. . Today the Senate sends a unified message to the entire world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement. Make no mistake, America will deliver on its promise to act like a leader on the world stage, to hold the line against autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin. , Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement. The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan. The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan. The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan. A provision to ban TikTok after the election if ByteDance refuses to sell the platform is also included. The legislation will now head to President Biden, who told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 23 that he will "move quickly" to provide aid. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, . Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, . with whom he worked "hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to get this bill done.". A lot of people inside and outside the Congress wanted this package to fail. But today those in Congress who stand on the side of democracy are winning the day, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also issued a statement. Today’s action is overdue, but our work does not end here. Trust in American resolve is not rebuilt overnight. Expanding and restocking the arsenal of democracy doesn’t just happen by magic, Senate Majority Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, via statement

House GOP Advances Aid Bills for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan

House GOP Advances Aid Bills , for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The foreign aid bills were advanced by a 9-3 vote, thanks to the help of four Democrats on the committee, CBS News reports. . Those Democrats are Jim McGovern, Mary Gay Scanlon, Joe Neguse and Teresa Leger Fernández. Those Democrats are Jim McGovern, Mary Gay Scanlon, Joe Neguse and Teresa Leger Fernández. Those Democrats are Jim McGovern, Mary Gay Scanlon, Joe Neguse and Teresa Leger Fernández. Those Democrats are Jim McGovern, Mary Gay Scanlon, Joe Neguse and Teresa Leger Fernández. Conservatives who voted against the bills, because border security wasn't lumped in, include Tom Massie, Ralph Norman and Chip Roy. . Conservatives who voted against the bills, because border security wasn't lumped in, include Tom Massie, Ralph Norman and Chip Roy. . A final vote on the foreign aid package will take place on April 20. . The three bills would support Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan with $26.4 billion, $60.8 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively. . The three bills would support Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan with $26.4 billion, $60.8 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively. . The three bills would support Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan with $26.4 billion, $60.8 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively. . $9.1 billion of the Israel package would go toward Palestinian humanitarian efforts. . A fourth bill seeks to allow the sale of Russian oligarchs' assets that have been frozen in order to continue funding Ukraine. possibly "force the sale of TikTok and authorize stricter sanctions on Russia, China and Iran," CBS News reports. . possibly "force the sale of TikTok and authorize stricter sanctions on Russia, China and Iran," CBS News reports. . Some far-right Republicans have threatened to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position for supporting additional Ukraine funding. Johnson defended his actions, calling lethal aid for Ukraine "critically important.". If I operated out of fear over a motion to vacate, I would never be able to do my job, House Speaker Mike Johnson, via statement. Look, history judges us for what we do. This is a critical time right now critical time on the world stage. , House Speaker Mike Johnson, via statement. I could make a, you know I can make a selfish decision and do something that, that's different. But I'm doing here what I believe to be the right thing, House Speaker Mike Johnson, via statement

Zelensky Says Ukraine ‘Will Lose the War’ if US Doesn’t Approve More Aid

Zelensky Says Ukraine ‘Will Lose the War’ , if US Doesn’t Approve More Aid. The president of Ukraine made the remarks on April 7 during a video meeting with UNITED24, a Ukrainian fundraising group, CNN reports. . It’s important to specifically address the Congress: if the Congress doesn’t help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war, Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, via video meeting with UNITED24. If Ukraine loses this war, other countries will be attacked. This is a fact, Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, via video meeting with UNITED24. Zelensky's statement comes as Congress has failed to pass an aid package for the war-torn nation in months, CNN reports. . A $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, which contained aid for both Ukraine and Israel, was passed by the Senate in February. but House Speaker Mike Johnson has not yet held a vote on it. According to Franz-Stefan Gady of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Ukraine has entered a "transitional phase" of the war. Russia is conducting probing attacks along the front line. It is trying to advance where it can. And it is preparing what seems to be a future offensive down the road, Franz-Stefan Gady, an associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, to CNN. This year, Ukraine really needs U.S. support. There’s certain weapons systems, certain logistical support which the European countries simply cannot provide to Ukraine, Franz-Stefan Gady, an associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, to CNN

Warnock Calls GOP’s Criticism of Trans Visibility Day ‘Opposite of Christian Faith’

Warnock Calls GOP’s Criticism , of Trans Visibility Day , ‘Opposite of Christian Faith’. This year, Trans Day of Visibility coincidentally fell on Easter Sunday. President Joe Biden was attacked by Conservatives for making a declaration about the day, as he does every year, because it fell on the Christian holiday. One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous and abhorrent" attack on the religion. . One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous and abhorrent" attack on the religion. . Senator Raphael Warnock, a reverend, has denounced GOP criticism, calling it the "opposite of the Christian faith," 'The Hill' reports. . Apparently, the Speaker finds trans people abhorrent, and I think he ought to think about that, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash. This is just one more instance of folks who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash. This is the opposite of the Christian faith. Jesus centered the marginalized. He centered the poor, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash. And in a moment like this, we need voices, particularly voices of faith, who would use our faith not as a weapon to beat other people down but as a bridge to bring all of us together, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash. The White House also issued a statement. As a Christian who celebrates Easter with Family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement. Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement

Advocates Fight For Those Sickened By US Nuclear Testing Program on Capitol Hill

Advocates Fight For Those , Sickened By US Nuclear Testing , Program on Capitol Hill. On June 7, the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program is set to expire, ending a lifeline for families sickened by the country's nuclear testing. . On June 7, the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program is set to expire, ending a lifeline for families sickened by the country's nuclear testing. . NPR reports that advocates have gathered on Capitol Hill to fight for so-called atomic veterans and save the RECA program. Over the past year, multiple bipartisan bills were approved by the Senate to reauthorize and expand the program. . Those bills stalled out in the House, due to some Republicans objecting to the cost of the program. . According to sponsors of the bills, those concerns were addressed by reducing the initial 2023 estimate of $143 billion down to between $50 and $60 billion. . NPR reports that RECA has provided payments up to $75,000 to those sickened by the nuclear testing program, totaling $2.7 billion to over 400,000 recipients. . One of the groups fighting to have the program extended is the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. . The group works to raise awareness of illnesses linked to Trinity, the government's code word for the first nuclear bomb test, which took place in 1945. Martinez White, a member of the group, says fallout from those tests resulted in at least six cases of cancer in her family of ten. . I would often go home for funerals and everybody in Tularosa was dying of cancer. We knew something was very weird. , Martinez White, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium member, via NPR. There's no industry in the whole Tularosa Basin but for White Sands Missile Range, where the Trinity bomb was detonated, Martinez White, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium member, via NPR

Youth Vote: Challenges and Strategies in the US Presidential Election Campaign | Oneindia News

In the United States, the presidential election campaign is in full swing. Young voters are often considered difficult to reach. And with both Democrats and Republicans fielding candidates born in the 1940s, the parties are worried about how to get the youth vote out. #USPolitics #ElectionCampaign #YouthVote #VoterEngagement #PoliticalParties #GenerationZ #MillennialVoters #GetOutTheVote #YouthEngagement #USPresidentialElection #OIDW #DWVideos ~HT.178~PR.152~ED.103~GR.124~

Biden Asserts Executive Privilege Over Audio of Interview With Robert Hur

Biden Asserts Executive Privilege , Over Audio of Interview With Robert Hur. In February, Hur's yearlong investigation into whether President Biden mishandled classified documents ended without enough evidence to support criminal charges. In February, Hur's yearlong investigation into whether President Biden mishandled classified documents ended without enough evidence to support criminal charges. House Republicans were provided a transcript of Biden's interview with Hur, but they wanted the audio, which the DOJ denied. As a result, House Republicans were moving to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. On May 16, the Department of Justice told House Republicans that the president asserted executive privilege over audio from his interview with the special counsel. The move protects Garland from criminal exposure as GOP lawmakers seek to hold him accountable. Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte explained the DOJ's actions in a letter. The Attorney General must draw a line that safeguards the Department from improper political influence and protects our principles, our law enforcement work, and the people who carry out that work independently, without fear or favor, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, via letter . The Committees seek to hold the Attorney General in contempt not for failing in his duties, but for upholding them, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, via letter . With the information you now have, the Committees ought not to proceed with contempt and should instead avoid unnecessary and unwarranted conflict, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, via letter . White House Counsel Ed Siskel also wrote a letter supporting the assertion of executive privilege. . The absence of a legitimate need for the audio recordings lays bare your likely goal—to chop them up, distort them, and use them for partisan political purposes, White House Counsel Ed Siskel, via letter

Fighting intensifies in Kharkiv region as missile strike kills six, including pregnant woman

Ukrainian forces continue to face a Russian offensive near Kharkiv as the war intensifies.

There's no safe haven for impunity, ICC's chief prosecutor tells Euronews

With evidence of appalling war crimes in Ukraine following a UN Human Rights Committee investigation, Euronews spoke to Karim Khan about his role as chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

At least 11 people killed as Russian attacks intensify in northeastern Ukraine

Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region late last week, significantly adding to the pressure on Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned forces which are waiting for deliveries of weapons and ammunition from Western partners.

Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, 3 Hamas Leaders Sought by ICC Prosecutors | Oneindia News

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors are seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity following the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Get the latest updates on this developing story from Oneindia News. #BenjaminNetanyahu #IsraelHamasWar #IsraelPalestine #GazaWar #InternationCriminalCourt #ICC #YoavGallant #Oneindia ~HT.99~PR.274~ED.194~

ICC prosecutor's bid for PM arrest warrant is 'scandalous', Israeli minister says

Who killed Raisi?: Israel Behind Iran's Raisi's Chopper Crash Or Rare Technical Glitch?

Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian President known for his hard-line stance and close ties to the country's supreme leader, passed away at the age of 63. Raisi was heavily involved in the large-scale executions of thousands in 1988 and subsequently oversaw Iran's efforts to enrich uranium to levels close to those required for nuclear weapons. Additionally, he led Iran as it conducted a significant drone and missile strike against Israel. Given Raisi's polarising leadership and the myriad internal and external challenges confronting Iran, conjecture has arisen regarding the potential involvement of domestic adversaries or even external entities such as Israel. #WhoKilledRaisi #IsraelIranTensions #EbrahimRaisi #HelicopterCrash #PoliticalConspiracy #TechnicalGlitch #MiddleEastPolitics #IranianLeadership #MossadSuspicions #RaisiDeath #GeopoliticalUnrest #IranianTragedy #InvestigationOngoing #LeadershipCrisis #GlobalSpeculation ~PR.152~ED.155~