"I Didn't Do It": Woman Who Abducted UK Couple Over Bike Row, Avoids Jail Term

12/21/24 12:00 PM

Helen Rae's defence during sentencing was marked by her claim of innocence despite ample evidence of her involvement in the kidnapping.

"Target Is Insurance": How Luigi Mangione's Notebook Helped Prosecutors

12/21/24 11:33 AM

The writings in a notebook found in Luigi Mangione's possession are helping investigators build a federal case against the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, authorities said.

"Time For You To Step Aside": Canada MP's Letter To Justin Trudeau

12/21/24 12:07 PM

Canadian MP Chandra Arya has added to the uncertainty of the future of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership in the country as he said that he believes it is "time" for the PM to "step aside".

'Big deal': Elon Musk raises alarms by endorsing what's known as 'German neo-Nazi party'

12/20/24 12:16 PM

Elon Musk raised alarm by endorsing Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which has called for the nation to leave the European Union.The tech billionaire and Donald Trump adviser commented on an X post by far-right influencer Naomi Seibt, who had criticized German politician Friedrich Merz, saying the potential next chancellor was "horrified by the idea that Germany should follow Elon Musk’s and [Argentina President] Javier Milei’s example," and Musk replied with a brief endorsement.“Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk posted at 1:03 a.m.ALSO READ: We're watching the largest and most dangerous 'cult' in American historyThe anti-immigrant AfD has been making electoral gains in recent years despite being classified as a “suspected extremist party” by the German judiciary, and it's expected to make further gains in the next election.Musk's political profile continues to rise in the U.S., where he has become ensconced as a leading adviser to the president-elect after pouring $277 million into his campaign, and he played a leading role in the failure of a stopgap government funding bill that had been negotiated between House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) suggested Musk serve as House speaker instead of Johnson, who has angered Republicans and frustrated Democrats as the continuing resolution failed, setting up the possibility of a government shutdown if a deal cannot be reached by the end of Friday.Trump also lobbed a volley toward Europe by threatening to impose tariffs against the European Union if it didn't begin buying more oil and gas from the U.S."I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas," Trump posted on Truth Social at 1:08 a.m. "Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!"The Tesla CEO's post set off alarms around the world, with many commentators expressing concern that he would align himself with a party that uses Nazi-era slogans and imagery to promote its opposition to immigration and Islam."Musk endorses German neo-Nazi party," said noted conservative Bill Kristol. "I think this should be kind of a big deal: [Musk] tweeting at 1:03am, 'Only the AfD can save Germany.' The AfD is Germany’s neo-Nazi party.""Musk’s megalomania grows apace," posted Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times. "He’s clearly trying to engineer a far-right revolution across the western world. He’s now backed the AfD. Before that Reform. And he’s the dominant figure in Trump world. He’ll clearly get behind Le Pen.""Funnily enough, Elon Musk doesn't even seem to know that the party that called for 'more Musk & Milei' in Germany is the FDP, not the AfD," added Manuel Müller, a senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs."Musk seems focused on destabilizing Europe while strengthening russia and china," said Joni Askola, a Finnish geopolitical analyst. "He will support anti-EU candidates as much as possible. Germany should be prepared, as he has already started influencing elections by openly backing the pro-russian and pro-chinese far-right AfD.""In the meantime, on X, Elon Musk openly endorses the radical right-wing AfD and actively intervenes in the current election campaign in Germany," posted Daniel Witte, a sociologist at the University of Münster."Many European countries have electoral laws, limiting spending," added The Atlantic's Anne Applebam. "If they care about enforcing those laws, they might have to suspend social media that won't respect those laws during campaigns."

'Clearly illegal': Trump megadonors reportedly employ undocumented migrants

12/20/24 6:33 PM

Two of Donald Trump's top megadonors routinely brought reportedly undocumented workers to the U.S. from Mexico to work at their warehouses in Wisconsin and elsewhere.Uline, the office and shipping supply company controlled by billionaire Republican donors Liz and Dick Uihlein, staffed its facilities with Mexican workers using tourist visa and B1 visas meant for employees entering the country temporarily to receive professional training, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, but have them instead perform normal work duties, reported The Guardian.“It does not allow them to obtain wages for labor in the United States, it absolutely does not,” said Marc Christopher, a Wisconsin-based immigration lawyer. “If they’re doing warehouse work, especially second or third shift, that’s not a close call ... absolutely 100 percent not allowed."ALSO READ: New Trump foreign affairs pick has history of forging ties with right-wing authoritariansThe sources said Uline launched the so-called "shuttle support" program about three years ago, even as Dick Uihlein’s Restoration PAC paid for pro-Trump TV advertisements attacking Kamala Harris for supposedly allowing an immigrant “invasion," and sources added that Liz Uihlein and other top executives were aware of the practice.“They were not able to staff their warehouses, especially in Pennsylvania," said one source with close knowledge of the matter, the report says. "So they looked at Mexico for workforce."Sources weren't sure why the company employed the Mexico-based workers, but they suspect it could be related to Uline's strict and complicated hiring practices, which include hair follicle drug testing, and immigration lawyer Ira Kurzban said the program was “clearly illegal.”“This is the whole false premise of Trump," Kurzban said. "I mean, the idea that these people are taking jobs away from Americans – they’re not. We need millions of people to do this kind of work. We’ve always looked away even though we know most people who fulfill these kinds of jobs are not allowed to be working in the U.S.”Immigrant and labor rights activist Christine Neumann-Ortiz suspects the shuttle program was undermining wages for all of Uline's workers.Christine Neumann-Ortiz, director of the Wisconsin immigrant and labor rights group Voces de la Frontera, said she believed the program was clearly undermining wages for all workers at the company.“It is a way for Uline to undercut wages for U.S. workers, while also not paying justly the Mexican workers for what their co-workers are earning here for the exact same work, while also having to sacrifice time away from their families and communities,” said Neumann-Ortiz, director of the Wisconsin immigrant and labor rights group Voces de la Frontera.

'Tariffs all the way!!!' Trump threatens allies in late-night comments

12/20/24 11:36 AM

Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on U.S. allies in an overnight post demanding that the European Union close its trade gap. The president-elect told the EU to reduce its trade gap with the U.S. by purchasing oil and gas or face tariffs, which he's also threatened to levy on Canada, China and Mexico. “I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas," Trump posted on Truth Social shortly after 1 a.m. "Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way." ALSO READ: We're watching the largest and most dangerous 'cult' in American history A senior EU diplomat told CNBC they were not surprised by Trump's comment and agreed energy was a "good option" to buy more goods from the U.S., while another EU official said that German chancellor Olaf Scholz had spoken with Trump on Thursday night after the final meeting of the year between EU heads of state. “The message is clear: the European Union is committed to continue working with the United States, pragmatically, to strengthen transatlantic ties,” said European Council president António Costa after the meeting. The U.S. accounts for nearly a fifth of the EU's exports, and the the biggest U.S. trade deficit with the block is in machinery and vehicles, while the EU is reportedly already buying the bulk of U.S. oil and gas exports, and no additional volumes are available unless the U.S. increases output or oil is rerouted from Asia. “I think it is a transactional approach, we have to respond to this transactional approach. [Trump] mixes together energy and tariffs on goods, manufacturing and so on. I think it’s incorrect because the two topics are completely different,” said Enrico Letta, former prime minister of Italy and dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. “If the deal is proposed by Trump — such an asymmetric deal on topics that are not linked one to the other — I think we have to do the same," Letta added.

11 Of The Best Things To Do In London This Mother's Day And Paddy's Day Weekend

03/17/23 5:02 PM

It's a Mother's Day *and* Paddy's Day double whammy, people.View Entire Post ›

13 dead after Indian navy speedboat rams ferry off Mumbai

12/18/24 6:40 PM

An Indian navy speedboat undergoing tests in the busy seas off the financial capital Mumbai lost control and slammed into a ferry, killing 13 people, the navy and government said Wednesday.Videos posted by Indian newspapers -- apparently filmed by some of the passengers on the crowded ferry -- showed the open speedboat cruising through the waters before it turns sharply and rams the ferry.Photographs later showed the ferry capsized."Doctors have declared 13 people dead", Maharashtra state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters, adding more than 100 people had been rescued."I pay my heartfelt tributes to those who died in this accident", Fadnavis said, adding that "we share the grief of their families".The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India -- a colonial-era monument on the waterfront that is symbolic of Mumbai -- to the popular tourist spot of Elephanta Island, famous for its rock carvings."A Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with a passenger ferry," India's navy said in a statement, adding that it regretted the "tragic loss" of lives.The navy said there had been an "engine malfunction".The 13 dead included one naval service member and two representatives of an equipment manufacturer taking part in the tests, the navy said.Two people seriously injured were taken to the naval hospital."Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched", the navy said, with four naval helicopters flying overhead, while 11 naval craft and four coastguard or police boats searched the waters.© Agence France-Presse

17 Very British Tweets About The Very British Queue To See The Very British Queen's Coffin

09/24/22 1:25 AM

"If you’re British, this is the queue you’ve been training for all your life. The final boss of queues."View Entire Post ›

2 men charged in UK with assaulting police in Manchester Airport fracas. No officer will be charged

12/20/24 7:29 AM

Two men have been charged with assaulting police during a scuffle in July at Manchester Airport that led to outrage when video showed an officer stomping on a man's head