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2023-09-08 16:20
Drive a Hyundai or Kia? See if your car is one of the nearly 3.4 million under recall for fire risks
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Biden laughs off idea of Trump pardon after DeSantis pledges to consider it
President Joe Biden on Monday scoffed at the idea of granting his predecessor, former president Donald Trump, a pardon absolving him of any crimes he may have committed during or after his presidency. Mr Biden was asked if he’d consider a reprieve for Mr Trump as he departed the White House en route to his Delaware home on Monday, the day before the eighth anniversary of his late son Beau Biden’s death. Asked whether he’d heard that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he’d pardon the disgraced ex-president — and if he’d consider doing so himself, the president flashed a smile and chuckled as he turned towards the South Lawn and his flight aboard Marine One. During his 2020 campaign for the presidency against Mr Trump, Mr Biden was asked if he’d commit to not following the example of the late Gerald Ford, who famously awarded his disgraced predecessor, Richard Nixon, “a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States” committed between the start of his aborted second term and his August 1974 resignation, if the same issue might arise with Mr Trump. The question about pardoning his then-opponent came during a Covid-era virtual town hall hosted by MSNBC in May 2015. The then-former Vice President replied: “Absolutely, yes. I commit”. He added that the question of whether to prosecute Mr Trump was “hands-off completely” because, in his view, the attorney general of the United States is “the people’s lawyer” and not “the president’s lawyer”. Mr Trump has already been indicted by a New York grand jury on more than 30 counts of falsifying business records, but US presidents cannot grant any pardons or reprieves for crimes prosecuted by state or local prosecutors. The twice-impeached former president could face federal charges as a result of two investigations being supervised by a Department of Justice Special Counsel, Jack Smith. Mr Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, was appointed in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland shortly after Mr Trump declared his candidacy in next year’s presidential election, He is currently overseeing an investigation into Mr Trump’s alleged unlawful retention of national defence information at his Palm Beach, Florida home, and his alleged obstruction of that investigation, and has reportedly wrapped up questioning of witnesses before a Washington DC grand jury. Mr Smith is also looking into the ex-president’s role in fomenting the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, which came as Mr Trump pushed to remain in office despite losing the 2020 election to Mr Biden. Read More Ron DeSantis says he will consider pardon for Trump if elected Biden says he congratulated Turkey’s Erdogan in phone call Biden invokes late son Beau’s memory as he pays tribute to fallen US soldiers UK condemns ‘appalling’ Ugandan anti-gay legislation Beau Biden: The story of Joe Biden’s late son Biden marks Memorial Day nearly 2 years after ending America's longest war, lauds troops' sacrifice
2023-05-30 05:49
'His gift to the world will be remembered': Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Bethenny Frankel, and more celebs mourn Matthew Perry's death
Hollywood is mourning the loss of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry, 54, as tributes come pouring in from costars and fans alike
2023-10-29 21:52
NY woman charged over threats after Club Q shooting
Sharon Robinson, 40, allegedly told one Colorado venue it would get “shot up like Club Q”.
2023-05-26 09:26
Offset feels relieved after collaborating with Quavo for BET Awards: 'It cleared my soul'
Offset also appreciated Quavo for putting in the energy and time to make everything best as he took care of lighting and stage positioning
2023-07-04 08:27
Wanted activists should surrender or 'spend days in fear': Hong Kong leader
Hong Kong's leader has called on eight overseas activists to turn themselves in a day after police put out bounties on them for violating...
2023-07-04 11:47
Inside Putin’s attempts to indoctrinate Russia’s youth by encouraging ‘self sacrifice’
Russian textbooks praising President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine are an attempt to encourage “self-sacrifice” among schoolchildren, experts have warned. In September, Russia rolled out new history textbooks to schools that claim Ukraine is an “ultranationalist state” being used as a “battering ram” by the United States to “destroy Russia”. One chapter claims Ukrainian membership of NATO could have led to a catastrophic war and “possibly the end of civilisation” that Russia had to prevent. Jaroslava Barbieri, academic and author of dozens of articles on Russian affairs, said the textbooks and lessons instructing children on how to use drones were all part of a wider plan. “Patriotic education is nothing new,” Ms Barbieri, doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham, told The Independent. “But it has acquired new momentum under Putin. It is an attempt to indoctrinate the next generation, by equating patriotism to self-sacrifice.” The textbook, which devotes 28 pages to Russia’s war in Ukraine, is also intended to convince children Russia has “always been surrounded by enemies,” Ms Barbieri said. “It is about militarising the youth, making them believe they have always been surrounded by constant enemies and that they should serve the needs of the state,” she said. In July, the Russian Defence Ministry approved plans for new lessons instructing schoolchildren on how to operate combat drones, assault rifles and hand grenades. Deputy Minister of Defence Ruslan Tsalikov said the programme will include basic operating information and methods to counter enemy weapons, including UAVs. Ms Barbieri said this was evidence the Kremlin had recognised the changing nature of warfare and Ukraine’s extensive use of commercial drones – as well as contributing to a militarised society. Katie Stallard, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center think tank, said Putin has always been obsessed by history and the textbooks reflect his desire to have a firmer grip on Russia’s historical narratives. “Mr Putin has poured government money into patriotic education and other so-called patriotic initiatives during his two decades in power,” she told the Independent. “It has long been clear he was not just seeking to promote a glorious, idealised version of the Russian past, but to limit challenges to the official narratives so he can consolidate power.” Between 2016 and 2020, Russia’s federal budget allocated about £18.5m to military-patriotic education, research shows. The implementation of military-patriotic education is guided by the military, schools and clubs, research suggests. “Control of the past has become a political priority as Mr Putin attempts to consolidate power in the present, particularly since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” Ms Stallard added. But so far, the Kremlin’s indoctrination tactics have not led to “queues of would-be soldiers lining up outside recruitment offices”, Ms Stallard said. “In fact, the opposite has happened, with the authorities tightening controls to make it harder for citizens to avoid military service,” she added. “There is little evidence that this will make much difference to the Russian war effort in the short term by generating an outpouring of public support.” In February 2022, an estimated 300,000 people fled Russia when its military invaded Ukraine. This number increased to about 700,000 by the end of the year, some estimates suggest. “Tighter education doesn’t mean Mr Putin will succeed and people will unquestionably believe what they read in their school history books. “The Soviet approach did not succeed either. It was a population skilled in understanding the correct sentiments to voice in public, while voicing their dissatisfaction in private,” Ms Stallard said. Read More Russian students are returning to school, where they face new lessons to boost their patriotism The Ukraine war, propaganda-style, is coming to Russian movie screens. Will people watch? Kremlin rushes out schoolbook praising Putin’s Ukraine invasion
2023-09-24 15:25
Guatemalans Elect Anti-Graft Campaigner Arévalo in a Landslide
Anti-graft campaigner Bernardo Arévalo won Guatemala’s presidential election in a landslide after pledging to weed out the “systemic
2023-08-21 10:46
Florida man Samuel De Jesus Cartagena arrested for hitting woman and holding knife to another man's throat on September 2
The 20-year-old Florida man, Samuel De Jesus Cartagena, was arrested for aggravated assault and battery
2023-09-04 21:59
'Tour wife' Kourtney Kardashian shares steamy video supporting husband Travis Barker amid Blink-182 tour
Kourtney Kardashian, 44, showed off her toned physique while celebrating National Sunscreen Day
2023-05-28 20:26
Israel is at war with Hamas. Here's what to know
Israel has declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after it carried out an unprecedented attack by air, sea and land on Saturday.
2023-10-10 19:49
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