Sri Lanka's president will appoint a committee to probe allegations of complicity in 2019 bombings
Sri Lanka’s president says he will appoint a committee chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate allegations made in a British television report that the South Asian country’s intelligence was complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people
2023-09-10 18:48
NATO summit boosted by deal to advance Sweden's bid to join alliance
NATO’s summit will begin Tuesday with fresh momentum after Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance
2023-07-11 11:19
Florida agency appeals ruling blocking anti-drag show law
Florida is appealing a federal judge's decision to block a new state law targeting drag shows
2023-06-30 05:51
Ukraine war: Russia demands UN court throw out case against it
Kyiv says Moscow falsely used genocide law to justify its invasion, but Russia wants the case thrown out.
2023-09-18 20:15
Republicans demand yet more information on Hunter Biden plea deal
A trio of Republican House committee chairs is demanding information from the Department of Justice on the pending plea and diversion agreements between prosecutors and Hunter Biden as part of their ongoing effort to inflict political damage on his father, President Joe Biden. In a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, and Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith said the decision by Delaware US Attorney David Weiss to allow Hunter Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanour tax charges and enter into a deferred sentencing agreement on a single charge of lying on a gun background check form “raise serious concerns ... that the Department has provided preferential treatment toward Mr. Biden in the course of its investigation and proposed resolution of his alleged criminal conduct”. Mr Biden, who is President Biden’s youngest and only surviving son, has admitted to what have been well-documented struggles with alcohol and drugs, and during an aborted plea hearing last week said he’d been in and out of rehabilitation facilities on numerous occasions over the last few decades. During that court appearance, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika objected to a provision of the diversion agreement which stated that she — not prosecutors — would be responsible for determining whether Mr Biden might have breached the agreement’s terms, which would necessitate new criminal charges. The judge said the provision in question was “not standard” and “different from what I normally see” and suggested it violates the separation of powers in the US Constitution because it would put the judicial branch in the position of making a charging decision that is an executive branch function. Legal experts have opined that the provision at issue was an attempt by the department to protect Mr Biden from a situation in which a future Republican administration would manufacture charges against him. The current GOP frontrunner for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination, Donald Trump, has repeatedly pledged to jail Mr Biden, his father, and numerous other prominent Democrats. The GOP representatives asked Mr Garland to provide them with data on how often, if at all, the Delaware US Attorney’s office and the Justice Department have included similar provisions in diversion agreements. They also demanded information on who — prosecutors or Mr Biden’s defence attorneys — suggested that the agreement should place a final decision on new charges in a judge’s hands, and asked Mr Garland to provide a list of pretrial division agreements for other defendants who’ve been charged with the same gun-related offence as Mr Biden, as well as “all documents and communications referring or relating to each similar pretrial diversion agreement entered into by the Department in the last ten years”. Additionally, the committee chairs asked Mr Garland to provide a “generalized description of the nature of the Department’s ongoing investigation” into Mr Biden and an “explanation of why the Department originally agreed to a plea agreement” with Mr Biden if there are ongoing probes into him. It is unlikely that Mr Garland will provide any response that satisfies the GOP representatives, as the Justice Department’s policy for decades has been to not comment on ongoing investigations, even in response to congressional inquiries. Read More House Oversight chair admits GOP can’t back up Biden bribery accusations Hunter Biden’s ex-business partner testifies to Congress. Here’s what to know Biden acknowledges Hunter’s daughter Navy in public for first time
2023-08-02 02:58
New US sanctions target workarounds that let Russia get Western tech for war
The United States is sanctioning more than 150 businesses and individuals as it tries to crack down on evasion and deny Russia access to technology, money and financial channels that fuel Moscow's war in Ukraine
2023-09-14 21:23
Japan Faces Another Typhoon With Trains, Flights Canceled
Japan is preparing for its second typhoon in a week, with airline companies canceling flights and rail operators
2023-08-14 10:29
Southern California wildfire prompts evacuation order for thousands as Santa Ana winds fuel flames
Fire officials are battling a wildfire fueled by gusty Santa Ana winds that's ripping through rural land southeast of Los Angeles, forcing about 4,000 people from their homes
2023-10-31 23:28
Baidu, SenseTime Among First Firms to Win China AI Approval
China approved a first batch of generative artificial intelligence services for public rollout, freeing up homegrown technology champions
2023-08-31 09:16
Arizona mom never stopped looking for her missing daughter. She showed up 4 years later in Montana
An Arizona mother never stopped searching for her daughter after she went missing in 2019 just days before her 15th birthday
2023-07-28 18:24
Norway’s GDP Misses Estimates With Biggest Drop in 15 Months
Norway’s economy trailed expectations in April by contracting the most in 15 months, painting a dimmer picture than
2023-06-13 17:28
Ludwig finally addresses Kick verification controversy, says 'fully contracted here at YouTube'
Ludwig said that he's 'happy with how things are' on YouTube while explaining why he got a verified account on Kick
2023-06-24 21:17
You Might Like...
Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US government
Biden tests negative again for COVID-19 -White House
Kansas must stop changing trans people's sex listing on driver's licenses, judge says
'Perfectionist' Bella Poarch candidly shares experience of working in US Navy
Selena Gomez fans defend her after backlash over Rare Beauty plans to donate to relief efforts in Gaza
US House China panel recommends Congress take action over Taiwan, Uyghurs
Five top dance companies give NY fans a treat at free outdoor festival founded during pandemic
Germany bans neo-Nazi group Hammerskins
