World/National

House approves budget framework for Trump’s ‘big’ bill after intense wrangling sways GOP holdouts

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have narrowly approved their budget framework. The 216-214 tally was a turnaround for Speaker Mike Johnson after abruptly postponing Wednesday’s vote. Johnson worked into the night to satisfy conservative lawmakers who refused to support the plan. He and Senate Majority Leader John Thune assured conservatives they were on track seeking at least $1.5 trillion in cuts. President Donald Trump had admonished the holdouts to “stop grandstanding.” The bill is central to President Donald Trump’s agenda of tax breaks, spending cuts and mass deportations. There are still more votes ahead as lawmakers draft a final package in the weeks to come.… Continue Reading

Supreme Court allows Trump’s firings of independent agency board members to take effect, for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to oust two board members who oversee independent agencies, for now. The action Wednesday seems to signal the court’s support for President Donald Trump’s effort to remove some limits on executive power. Chief Justice John Roberts signed an order pausing an appellate ruling that had temporarily restored the two women to their jobs. They were separately fired from agencies that deal with labor issues, including one with a key role for federal workers as Trump aims to drastically downsize the workforce. The immediate issue confronting the justices is whether the board members can stay in place while the larger fight continues over what to do with a 90-year-old Supreme Court decision disfavored by conservatives.… Continue Reading

Roof collapse at Dominican club kills at least 113 as officials scramble to identify victims

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The legendary Jet Set club in Santo Domingo was packed with musicians, professional athletes and government officials when dust began falling from the ceiling and into people’s drinks. Minutes later, the entire roof collapsed. Concrete slabs killed more than 113 people and trapped dozens of others on a dancefloor where hundreds had been dancing to a lively merengue concert early Tuesday. More than 255 people were injured, authorities said. The victims include merengue icon Rubby Pérez, who had been singing to the crowd before disaster struck, said emergency operations director Juan Manuel Méndez.… Continue Reading

White House keeps world guessing as clock ticks down to Trump’s new tariffs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is sending mixed messages on tariffs as it pursues conflicting goals, frustrating foreign leaders and business executives who are desperate for clarity on a generational overhaul of international trade. Administration officials have alternated between talking about seeking negotiations or pushing forward with tariffs no matter what. President Donald Trump tried to have it both ways this week, saying “there can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.” That has left world leaders and businesses holding their breath as the stock market craters and the clock ticks down to the new tariffs taking effect Wednesday.… Continue Reading

US stocks dip after careening through a manic day following Trump’s latest tariff threat

NEW YORK (AP) — US stocks careened after President Donald Trump threatened to crank his tariffs higher, despite a stunning display showing how much Wall Street wants him to do the opposite. The S&P 500 sank 0.2% Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 349 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%. The Dow was earlier down as many as 1,700 points following even worse losses worldwide on worries that Trump’s tariffs could torpedo the global economy. It then surged to a gain after a rumor circulated that Trump may pause his tariffs. But the White House quickly called that fake news, and Trump then threatened to raise tariffs further on China.… Continue Reading

Trump says he’s not backing down on tariffs, calls them ‘medicine’ as markets reel

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t back down on his sweeping tariffs on imports from most of the world unless countries even out their trade with the U.S. He’s digging in on his plans to implement the taxes that have sent financial markets reeling, raised fears of a recession and upended the global trading system. Speaking to reporters Sunday aboard Air Force One, Trump said he didn’t want global markets to fall, but also that he wasn’t concerned about the massive sell-off either, adding, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” His comments came after Trump’s aides sought to soothe market concerns by saying more than 50 nations had reached out about launching negotiations to lift the tariffs.… Continue Reading

The skyrocketing cost of weight-loss drugs has state Medicaid programs looking for a solution

Some of the more than a dozen states that cover the high cost of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Zepbound through Medicaid or state employee insurance programs are scrambling to lessen the budgetary squeeze from fast-rising costs. In Pennsylvania alone, Medicaid coverage of the drugs is projected to cost $1.3 billion. That’s up from practically nothing several years ago. Pennsylvania and Connecticut are looking to tighten guidelines for people who want to use GLP-1s solely for weight loss. But there remains interest in covering the drugs. An Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural shows at least a half-dozen states have bills this year proposing Medicaid coverage.… Continue Reading

Dow drops 1,600 as US stocks lead worldwide sell-off after Trump’s tariffs cause a COVID-like shock

NEW YORK (AP) — Financial markets around the world reeled following President Donald Trump’s latest and most severe set of tariffs, and the U.S. stock market took the worst of it. The S&P 500 fell 4.8% Thursday, more than other major stock markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,679 points, and the Nasdaq composite sank 6%. Little was spared as fear flared globally about the potentially toxic mix of weakening economic growth and higher inflation that tariffs can create. Everything from crude oil to Big Tech stocks to the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies fell. Even gold pulled lower.… Continue Reading

Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 3,145 as more bodies found

BANGKOK (AP) — The death toll from the earthquake that hit Myanmar nearly a week ago has risen to 3,145 as search and rescue teams find more bodies. State television reported Thursday that the information minister also said that another 4,589 people were injured and 221 are missing. The 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 had an epicenter near Myanmar’s second-largest city of Mandalay. It brought down thousands of buildings, buckled roads and destroyed bridges. Local media reports of casualties have been much higher than the official figures. The numbers could rise sharply as more details come in.… Continue Reading

Trump announces sweeping new tariffs to promote US manufacturing, risking inflation and trade wars

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is imposing a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and even higher tariff rates on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States. It threatens to upend much of the architecture of the global economy and trigger broader trade wars. Trump is declaring a national economic emergency to launch the tariffs, which are expected to produce hundreds of billions in annual revenues. He has promised that factory jobs will return back to the United States as a result of the taxes, but his policies risk a sudden economic slowdown as consumers and businesses could face sharp price hikes on autos, clothes and other goods.… Continue Reading

Category Archives: World/National