USA

PELLA, Iowa (AP) — Kathleen Evenhouse took a break from her work in the corner of a small-town Iowa coffee shop to slam the federal criminal indictment of Donald Trump as patently political, the work of a U.S. Justice Department she says is awash in hypocrisy.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lawmakers in state capitols this year have been flexing their superpowers.

In North Carolina, a new supermajority of Republicans enacted abortion restrictions. In Vermont, a new supermajority of Democrats imposed a climate-sensitive home heating law. And in Montana, a GOP supermajority booted a transgender lawmaker from the House floor.

In each case, the views of their political opponents ultimately were irrelevant.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s bid to appease Republican hard-liners and get the House moving again after a recent party rebellion on the floor has some Democrats warning of a difficult road ahead when it comes to passing legislation that will keep the government running.

Republicans teed up votes this past week on guns and on censuring one of former President Donald Trump’s most prominent critics, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Those votes helped get the House moving again, though the latter effort failed, with Schiff helped by some 20 Republicans.

15 June 2023; MEMO: The US yesterday announced that it is requesting Israel provide it with further information after the military said no criminal charges will be filed against soldiers who killed an 80-year-old Palestinian-American last year during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

16 June 2023; MEMO: Iran test-fired a suicide drone targeting its practice ship in the Gulf, and fired a missile or another drone without warning ships in the area, Reuters reported, citing a US official in the region.

The official added that the drone was launched on Wednesday from the Iranian Jask region 8-9 miles in to the sea within Iranian territorial waters and targeted the training barge.

16 June 2023; MEMO: The widow of murdered Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, says in a lawsuit that surveillance software built by the Israeli surveillance company, NSO Group, was used to spy on her messages in the months leading up to her husband's death, Reuters reports.

NEW YORK, Jun 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – Crude oil futures prices posted solid growth yesterday, thanks to hopes for strong oil demand and the plunge of the U.S. dollar.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for July delivery, gained 2.35 U.S. dollars, or 3.44 percent, to settle at 70.62 U.S. dollars a barrel, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for Aug delivery added 2.47 U.S. dollars, or 3.37 percent, to settle at 75.67 U.S. dollars a barrel, on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

HOUSTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- From U.S. south central state of Texas to southeastern Florida, about 35 million people are bracing for a widespread heat wave which is expected to last for days, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecast on Thursday.

The heat wave in parts of Texas, Louisiana and Florida is likely to break records and raise the risk of wildfires and heat-related illnesses, the weather service warned.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The United States men’s soccer team’s match against Mexico was cut short Thursday night by the referee after repeated homophobic chants could be heard from fans.

Four players were ejected in the game, which the U.S. won 3-0 for a spot Sunday in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Canada.

Christian Pulisic scored two goals and Ricardo Pepi scored one in a strong showing, but this game will be remembered much more for the ugliness.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nusrat Chowdhury, a civil rights lawyer, has been confirmed by the Senate as the first Muslim female federal judge in U.S. history.

She will assume her lifetime appointment in Brooklyn federal court in New York after a 50-49 vote on Thursday along party lines.

The confirmation drew praise from the American Civil Liberties Union, where she is the legal director of the ACLU of Illinois. Prior to that post, she served from 2008 to 2020 at the national ACLU office, including seven years as deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program.