USA

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The governor of New Mexico scaled back a tax relief package on Friday based on concerns it could undermine future spending on public education, heath care and law enforcement while signing into law $500 individual tax rebates and the largest proposed spending plan in state history.

Vetoed items within the tax relief package included reduced tax rates on personal income, sales and business transactions as well as proposed credits toward the purchase of electric vehicles and related charging equipment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites and appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine, but may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has become a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy after Republicans expelled two Black lawmakers from the state Legislature for their part in a protest urging passage of gun-control measures.

In separate votes on Thursday, the GOP supermajority expelled Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, a move leaving about 140,000 voters in primarily Black districts in Nashville and Memphis with no representation in the Tennessee House.

07 Apr 2023; MEMO: President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday released a summary of classified reports that mostly blamed the chaotic August 2021 US pullout from Afghanistan on his predecessor, Donald Trump, for failing to plan for the withdrawal he had agreed on with the Taliban, reports Reuters.

WASHINGTON, April 7. /TASS/: US President Joe Biden has expanded for one year the regime of anti-Russian sanctions imposed under the pretext of Russia’s alleged interference into US elections and violation of principles of international law among other things, according to the Letters to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation released by the White House on Friday.

NEW YORK, Apr 7 (NNN-XINHUA) – A record number of people are dying from firearm injuries in the U.S., and new research suggests, shootings are becoming more lethal, reported CNN.

“Most victims of fatal firearm injuries die at the scene, before they can be treated in a health care setting. But that has become increasingly common over the past two decades,” it noted.

April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday defended luxury trips he has taken over decades, funded by real estate magnate and Republican donor Harlan Crow, saying he had been advised that he was not required to report this type of "personal hospitality" under federal rules.

In a statement, Thomas also said that he has always sought to comply with disclosure guidelines.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In an extraordinary act of political retaliation, Tennessee Republicans on Thursday expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state Legislature for their role in a protest calling for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville. A third Democrat was narrowly spared by a one-vote margin.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposal designed to thwart investing that considers environmental, social and governance factors has cleared the Kansas Legislature, but divisions within its GOP majorities kept the measure from being as strong as some conservatives wanted.

Washington, Apr 6 (PTI) The IMF chief on Thursday said that the world economy is expected to grow at less than 3 per cent this year, with China and India expected to account for half of global growth in 2023.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that a sharp slowdown in the world economy last year following the raging pandemic and Russia's military invasion of Ukraine would continue this year.