
Biden says there is need to address security, economic risks posed by AI
By Trevor Hunnicutt SAN FRANCISCO The risks of artificial intelligence to national security and the economy need to
2023-06-21 06:53

Honduras prison violence: At least 41 killed in women's jail riot
The country's president says she will take "drastic measures" after the loss of at least 41 lives.
2023-06-21 06:49

Kim Kardashian admits to suffering from 'impostor syndrome', says 'that’s part of what keeps me going'
'At the beginning, when I didn’t really understand where my career was going because I was just kind of winging it,' said Kim Kardashian
2023-06-21 06:48

UK unveils $3bn backing for Ukraine reconstruction
The UK will back Ukraine's economy to the tune of $3 billion over the next three years while it fights back against Russian forces, Prime Minister...
2023-06-21 06:25

At recovery summit, UK's Sunak to unveil major Ukraine support
LONDON British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will unveil a major package for Ukraine, including $3 billion of additional
2023-06-21 06:16

US EPA to increase biofuel blending mandates in 2023-2025 -sources
By Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Biden administration plans to increase the amount of biofuels that
2023-06-21 05:15

What it's like to get a Wes Anderson education, from 'Rushmore' to 'Asteroid City'
Much has been made of Wes Anderson’s often-recurring troupe of actors like Bill Murray, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson
2023-06-21 04:53

‘I’m very proud of my son’: Joe Biden defends son Hunter Biden after deal with DoJ to plead guilty to federal charges
President Joe Biden said he was proud of his son Hunter Biden, after the younger Mr Biden reached a plea deal with the Department of Justice, agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges following an investigation into his taxes. The president responded to shouted questions from reporters in San Francisco, who asked if he had spoken to his son. “I’m very proud of my son,” he said. He did not respond to a question about if he encouraged his son to take a guilty plea. The president’s son will plead guilty to two federal charges, the Justice Department said in a court filing on Tuesday morning. Mr Biden has been the subject of not only the ongoing federal investigation but a focus of Republicans’ probe into the Biden administration. A court filing from David Weiss, the US Attorney for District of Delaware, said that the president’s only living son will plea guilty to two federal charges of willful failure to pay federal income tax one charge of a firearm by a person who is “an unlawful user or addicted to a controlled substance.” At the time, Mr Biden, the sole surviving son of the president’s first marriage, was actively addicted to drugs. “The parties jointly request that the Court schedule a consolidated Initial Appearance on the firearm Inform and an Initial Appearance and Change of Plea Hearing on the tax charges,” the filing said. Mr Weiss was appointed by former president Donald Trump and has been in charge of the probe into Mr Biden. The case says that in 2017, Mr Biden had received taxable income in excess of $1.5m, $100,000 of which was taxable to the federal government, but he failed the pay it to the Internal Revenue Service by 17 April 2018. He reportedly failed to do the same the following year. Mr Biden also agreed to a pretrial diversion agreement to regarding the firearm charge. According to the legal filing, Mr Biden knew he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance and possessed a Colt Cobra 38SPL firearm, which was shipped through interstate commerce. White House Spokesman Iam Sams put out a statement after the charges were made public. “The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life,” he said. “We will have no further comment.” Mr Biden’s attorney Christopher Clark said in a statement that the announcement of the two agreements meant that the investigation that began five years ago was concluded. “Hunter will take responsibility for two instances of misdemeanor failure to file tax payments when due pursuant to a plea agreement,” he said. “A firearm charge, which will be subject to a pretrial diversion agreement and will not be the subject of the plea agreement, will also be filed by the Government. I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life. He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.” But a statement from Mr Weiss to Fox News said “The investigation is ongoing.” The charges come days after former president Donald Trump’s indictment and arraigment related to his alleged mishandling of documents related to national security. The former president criticised Mr Biden’s agreement with the federal government. "Wow! The corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere 'traffic ticket,'” Mr Trump posted on Truth Social. “Our system is BROKEN!” Mr Trump attacked the younger Mr Biden for his addictions in his debate with his father in September of 2020. Mr Biden has discussed his addictions in the past and his father addressed them in that debate. “My son like a lot of people, like a lot of people we know at home had a drug problem,” the then-Democratic nominee for president said. “He’s overtaken it. He’s, he’s fixed it. He’s worked on it. And I’m proud of him. I’m proud of my son.” Mr Biden is the sole surviving son of the president’s first marriage to Nelia Hunter Biden. Shortly after his father’s election to the Senate in 1972, his mother and his sister Naomi were killed in a car crash that left him and his elder brother Beau severely injured. Beau Biden, who later served as attorney general of Delaware, died of brain cancer in 2015. The elder Mr Biden later remarried Jill Biden, the current first lady, and the two had a daughter Ashley Biden. Since taking back the House majority in November, Republicans have made Mr Biden the chief focus of many of their investigations and have attempted to show a link between his business dealings and his father’s work as vice president. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer intimated that this would not deter the committee. “Hunter Biden is getting away with a slap on the wrist when growing evidence uncovered by the House Oversight Committee reveals the Bidens engaged in a pattern of corruption, influence peddling, and possibly bribery,” he said. Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrat on the committee, said that the charges were a sign of an equal justice system. “This development reflects the Justice Department’s continued institutional independence in following the evidence of actual crimes and enforcing the rule of law even in the face of constant criticism and heckling by my GOP colleagues who think that the system of justice should only follow their partisan wishes,” he said. “ Oversight Committee Republicans have advanced debunked conspiracy theories about President Biden and are now, again, wailing about the work of a Trump appointed U.S. Attorney. Meanwhile, our colleagues have refused to investigate Jared Kushner and Donald Trump’s receipt of billions of dollars from autocratic regimes after handing them a string of outrageous policy favors and concessions.” So far, the House Oversight Committee has not been able to produce clear evidence of a link between Mr Biden’s actions and his father’s work as either vice president or president. -Andrew Feinberg and John Bowden contributed to this report Read More Donald Trump and GOP fume over Hunter Biden’s ‘traffic ticket’ indictment as House investigation sputters Democratic lawmaker Stacey Plaskett accidentally says Trump ‘needs to be shot’ in slip-up on live TV Trump-appointed judge sets trial date in classified documents case Donald Trump and GOP fume over Hunter Biden’s ‘traffic ticket’ indictment as House investigation sputters Fox News host rips ‘incoherent’ Trump after Bret Baier interview
2023-06-21 04:47

U.S. Justice antitrust chief details renewed bank merger scrutiny
By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department antitrust division plans to expand the scope of its bank merger
2023-06-21 04:20

The Hunter Biden story is far from over
The legal cloud hanging over Hunter Biden, the president's son, may be lifting, but the political cloud resulting from his awkward business arrangements and frequently troubled life are not going anywhere.
2023-06-21 04:16

Democrats push abortion rights bills in the Senate ahead of Dobbs anniversary
Senate Democrats intend to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade by pushing a collection of abortion rights messaging bills.
2023-06-21 03:21

Who is David Weiss, US prosecutor in Hunter Biden case?
By Andrew Goudsward David Weiss, the top federal prosecutor in Delaware, wrapped up the most closely watched investigation
2023-06-21 03:17