
Sweden steps up security at embassies over threats - foreign minister
STOCKHOLM Sweden has ramped up security at embassies and other missions due to an incease in threats against
2023-08-18 20:21

'Too soft for football': Swifties advise Taylor Swift toughen up after video of her watching Travis Kelce fall goes viral
Some fans compared Taylor Swift's reaction to her friend Brittany Mahomes' as the latter has been with Patrick for over 10 years
2023-10-23 18:47

Debt limit agreement clears first hurdle despite Republican anger. Here’s what happens next
The bipartisan agreement to raise the debt limit cleared a key hurdle on Tuesday evening despite vehement criticism from many House Republicans. The House Rules Committee voted 7-6 to advance the legislation that codifies the bipartisan agreement struck between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s team and negotiators from President Joe Biden’s administration. The rule will now go to the full House floor before the agreement comes to a full House vote. The rule passed after an hours-long deliberation in the committee that included multiple amendment proposals. The vote comes as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the United States will be unable to satisfy its debt obligations come 5 June. The House of Representatives is set to vote But many House Republicans raised objections, including members of the House Freedom Caucus who had previously opposed Mr McCarthy’s bid for speaker in January. Rep Andy Biggs (R - AZ) told The Independent that Mr McCarthy’s deal with the White House was a repeat of his past behaviour. “When he was been in leadership for 13 years, it was not uncommon for him to be the point man to go negotiate a spending cap deal with the Democrats,” he said. Many Republicans criticised the fact that the legislation keeps in place Mr Biden’s student loan forgiveness, only claws back a small sliver of money meant to increase funding for the Internal Revenue Service and raises the debt limit until January 2025, after the 2024 presidential election. Rep Bob Good (R - VA) told The Independent that the bill symbolised a surrender from House Republican leadership. “We have literally come together and our leadership and their leadership and agreed on a Democrat bill,” Mr Good told The Independent. But many allies of Mr McCarthy also opposed the legislation. Rep Nancy Mace (R - SC), who voted for Mr McCarthy for speaker in January, announced her opposition to the bill. “Washington is, was and always will be lousy at responsibly spending your tax dollars,” she tweeted. “That won’t change unless we demand change.” Rep Chip Roy (R - TX) refuted the idea that conservatives would want the United States to default on its debt obligations. “The only person who would default in this town is Joe Biden unless Republicans default on the American dream by voting for this bad bill,” he said at a press conference. “That is why this group will oppose it, we will continue to fight it, today, tomorrow, and no matter what happens, there’s going to be a reckoning about what just occurred.” Mr Roy had tweeted on Monday that during the negotiations for the speakership, Republican leaders pledged that nothing would pass the Rules Committee without at least seven Republican votes and the committee would not allow for reporting out rules without unanimous Republican votes. During the negotiations, Mr Roy tried to stress his opposition and said why Republicans should oppose the bill. “We're not going to reduce spending through this deal. Unless we actually stand up and reduce spending it'll be on us to choose to,” he said during the hearing. “But this deal isn't going to reduce spending even though everybody's going around saying it will.” But some Republicans stressed that the agreement was the only one that could pass the House and Senate and end up on the president’s desk. “We only control one-half of one-third of government,” Rep Erin Houchin (R - IN) said. “There’s no better deal to be had.” Mr McCarthy expressed confidence in a press conference that he would have enough votes to raise the debt limit. “I’m not sure what in the bill people are concerned about,” he told reporters, saying it is the largest savings in congressional history. “We’re pulling money back for the hard-working taxpayers that are going to China. Are they opposed to work requirements for welfare?” The Congressional Budget Office estimated that if the bill passed, the budget deficit would be reduced by about $1.5 trillion through a period from 2024 to 2033. In addition, the provision in the legislation that would exempt for veterans, people experiencing homelessness and adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who were in foster care when they turned 18 from work requirements to obtain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, would mean 78,000 people would gain benefits. The increase comes despite the fact that the legislation would raise the age for work requirements for SNAP from 50 to 54. On the Senate side, both Republican and Democratic leaders praised the agreement. “Congress will vote on legislation that locks in that important progress,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R - KY) said in remarks on the Senate floor. “Republicans have a tremendous opportunity to take on an existential challenge facing our economy and future generations of Americans. We have a chance to start bringing Washington Democrats’ reckless spending to heel.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ((D - NY) said the bill was a reasonable compromise. “Of course, nobody is getting everything they want – there is give on both sides – but this agreement is the responsible, prudent and very necessary way forward,” he said on the Senate floor. Mr Schumer said he would bring the bill up as quickly as possible for consideration before the default deadline on 5 June. Read More Biden ‘optimistic’ about McCarthy negotiations as AOC slams ‘dysfunctional’ debt ceiling system Debt ceiling deal reached between Biden and McCarthy Conservatives bark after the debt limit deal. Will they actually bite McCarthy? GOP chairman moves to hold FBI director Wray in contempt over Biden doc Utah Republican Chris Stewart planning to resign from Congress, AP source says Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US government
2023-05-31 12:24

Taylor Swift fan Felipe Conrado aims to auction singer's broken Louboutin heel for cousin's cancer treatment funds
Felipe Conrado, the recipient of the broken heels Taylor Swift tossed into the crowd, decided to sell them to fund their cousin's cancer treatment
2023-11-23 18:54

USC Basketball head coach says LeBron James' son Bronny is making speedy recovery after missing first season practice
Bronny James' family announced that he was diagnosed with 'an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect' in August
2023-09-28 05:29

Who are Kylie Horne and Kylann Harper? Amber Alert issued for two girls, 11 and 4, abducted from Burger King in Columbus
Kylie Horne and Kylann Harper are 'believed to be in extreme danger' according to the alert
2023-10-16 19:19

Exclusive-Amazon has drawn thousands to try its AI service competing with Microsoft, Google
By Jeffrey Dastin (Reuters) -Amazon.com’s cloud division has drawn thousands of customers to try out its service vying with Microsoft
2023-07-27 00:54

Explainer-What is at stake for the United States in Niger?
By Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON Soldiers in Niger declared a military coup on Wednesday, overthrowing President
2023-07-28 05:17

Britney Spears disappointed in memoir's reception before release, says she didn't write to 'offend anyone'
'I don't like the headlines I am reading. That's exactly why I quit the business four years ago,' Britney Spears said
2023-10-21 08:27

Who is Hazel Monet? 'On My Mama' singer Victoria Monet's two-year-old daughter becomes youngest Grammy nominee in history
Victoria Monet's daughter, Hazel Monet, has been nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance for lending her voice to the track 'Hollywood'
2023-11-11 21:16

Who is Danelo Cavalcante's mom? Fugitive killer's mother justifies son's crime, claims he doesn't pose 'threat to anyone'
Danelo Cavalcante's mother believes that he murdered his partner because of the 'stranglehold she put on him'
2023-09-13 16:48

Videos, 911 calls capture frantic response to deadly New Mexico rampage
Police in New Mexico have released hours of officer body and dash camera videos and 911 recordings showing the chaos that unfolded when a gunman opened fire on a busy street in Farmington on May 15, killing three before police shot him dead
2023-05-27 06:27
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