Vigil planned for Massachusetts teen who died after taking part in One Chip Challenge
The family of a teenager who died after eating an extremely spicy tortilla chip as part of a social media challenge will gather to remember the promising basketball player at a vigil Friday while they await word from Massachusetts authorities about what caused his death
2023-09-08 23:28
A pig farm that stood on the site of a Nazi-era 'Roma camp' is finally demolished
Čeněk Růžička looked euphoric as he swung the pickaxe against the wall. He had spent decades campaigning for the pig farm to be torn down. It was finally happening.
2023-07-03 12:15
China Drills in Deeper Waters to Cut Reliance on Foreign Oil
A concrete expanse the size of Monaco jutting off China’s southern coastline is the imposing centerpiece in Beijing’s
2023-06-12 09:22
Baltimore teen accused of firing into crowd during block party mass shooting
A second teenager has been arrested in connection with Baltimore mass shooting that left two people dead and 28 others injured during a neighborhood block party earlier this summer
2023-08-18 23:53
Israel-Hamas conflict: What is the Iron Dome missile system?
Israel says casualties from rocket attacks would have been "far higher" without the system.
2023-10-31 00:49
Who are Michael and Karen Halstead? Alabama parents detained after 19-year-old son's corpse found in backyard freezer
The Halsteads stashed their son's corpse in the freezer before moving out of the house in Alabama, which was found by the new homeowners
2023-10-31 18:58
German government launches a drive to get more Ukrainian and other refugees into jobs
The German government has announced a drive to get more Ukrainian and other refugees into jobs now that many have a usable knowledge of the German language
2023-10-18 21:58
Asia Stocks, Treasuries Fall; Yen Flat Before BOJ: Markets Wrap
Equity markets in Asia drifted lower after US stocks suffered the biggest slump in six months, while the
2023-09-22 11:15
Biden says debt deal 'very close' even as two sides far apart on work requirements
Work requirements for federal food aid recipients have emerged as a final sticking point in negotiations over the looming debt crisis, even as President Joe Biden said Friday that a deal is “very close.” Biden’s optimism came as the deadline for a potentially catastrophic default was pushed back to June 5 and seemed likely to drag negotiations between the White House and Republicans over raising the debt ceiling into another frustrating week. Both sides have suggested one of the main holdups is a GOP effort to boost work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other federal aid programs, a longtime Republican goal Democrats have strenuously opposed. Even as they came closer to a framework on spending, each side seemed dug in on the work requirements. White House spokesman Andrew Bates called the GOP proposals “cruel and senseless” and said Biden and Democrats would stand against them. Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves, one of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s negotiators, was blunt when asked if Republicans might relent on the issue: "Hell no, not a chance,” he said. The later “ X-date,” laid out in a letter from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, set the risk of a devastating default four days beyond an earlier estimate. Still, Americans and the world uneasily watched the negotiating brinkmanship that could throw the U.S. economy into chaos and sap world confidence in the nation’s leadership. Yet Biden was upbeat as he left for the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, declaring, “It’s very close, and I’m optimistic.” With Republicans at the Capitol talking with Biden’s team at the White House, the president said: “There’s a negotiation going on. I’m hopeful we’ll know by tonight whether we’re going to be able to have a deal.” But a deal had not come together when McCarthy left the Capitol Friday evening. In a blunt warning, Yellen said failure to act by the new date would “cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests.” Anxious retirees and others were already making contingency plans for missed checks, with the next Social Security payments due next week. Biden and Republican McCarthy have seemed to be narrowing on a two-year budget-slashing deal that would also extend the debt limit into 2025 past the next presidential election. But talks over the proposed work requirements for recipients of Medicaid, food stamps and other aid programs seemed at a standstill Friday afternoon. Biden has said the Medicaid work requirements would be a nonstarter. But he initially seemed open to possible changes on food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The Republican proposal would save $11 billion over 10 years by raising the maximum age for existing standards that require able-bodied adults who do not live with dependents to work or attend training programs. While current law applies those standards to recipients under the age of 50, the House bill would raise the age to include adults 55 and under. The GOP proposal would also decrease the number of exemptions that states can grant to some recipients subject to those requirements. Biden's position on the SNAP work requirements appeared to have hardened by Friday, when spokesman Bates said House Republicans are threatening to trigger an unprecedented recession “unless they can take food out of the mouths of hungry Americans.” Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress. Failure to lift the borrowing limit, now $31 trillion, to pay the nation’s incurred bills, would send shockwaves through the U.S. and global economy. But many of the hard-right Trump-aligned Republicans in Congress have long been skeptical of Treasury’s projections, and they are pressing McCarthy to hold out. As talks pushed into another late night, one of the negotiators, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., called Biden’s comments “a hopeful sign.” But he also cautioned that there’s still “sticky points” impeding a final agreement. While the contours of the deal have been taking shape to cut spending for 2024 and impose a 1% cap on spending growth for 2025, the two sides remain stuck on various provisions. House Republicans had pushed the issue to the brink, displaying risky political bravado in leaving town for the Memorial Day holiday. Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, but now their return is uncertain. Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the country’s full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities. “We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point,” said McCarthy. One idea is to set the topline budget numbers but then add a “snap-back” provision to enforce cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals. Lawmakers are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in unspent COVID-19 funds now that the pandemic emergency has officially been lifted. McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting. The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Biden’s desk. ___ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri, Seung Min Kim and Kevin Freking and videojournalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this report. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Lauren Boebert claims Biden plan to combat antisemitism will target ‘conservatives’ Defense secretary tells Navy graduates they are ready to serve Doctor's supporters, hospital at odds with Indiana penalty for talking about 10-year-old's abortion
2023-05-27 12:28
Is Joe Rogan a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan? Podcaster shares memories of listening to 'most iconic hip hop band' during his touring days
During an episode of the 'JRE' podcast, Joe Rogan discussed the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan with his guest MMA star Khalil Rountree
2023-08-21 19:23
Gal Gadot's dating history: 'Wonder Woman' star has had long-term relationships with only two men
Gal Gadot has been married to her husband Jaron Varsano since 2008 and the couple has three daughters together
2023-11-08 17:23
NFL views Spain as likely next European city to host a game, being assessed for 2024
Spain is a strong contender to be the next international host of a regular-season NFL game and it could happen as soon as 2024
2023-09-25 05:29
You Might Like...
Why the UK is talking to China
Yellen set to travel to Beijing as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize relationship with China
Hong Kong court backs same-sex married couples on equal housing rights
Daniel Penny surrenders over NYC chokehold death of Jordan Neely
Republicans hope the chaos of recent weeks will become a distant memory in next year's elections
Carlos Correa stars against former team as Twins beat Astros 6-2 in Game 2 to tie ALDS
Exclusive-China invites global investors for rare meeting as economy sputters-sources
'The View' host Sunny Hostin stuns fans as she poses in 'short shorts' at NYFW
