• Mon, February 17, 2025

by: Reuters

Scholz calls for 'strong and sovereign' Europe ahead of security talks in Paris

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to see a strong and sovereign Europe, he said on Monday, ahead of hastily arranged talks in Paris following signals that the United States is no longer seeking Europe's input on ending the Ukraine conflict.

by: KTVZ

Oregon's federal workforce among those hit by Trump's sweeping firings of thousands of probationary employees

The Trump administration Friday continued its mass firing of thousands of probationary federal employees in an attempt to remove workers recently hired under the Biden administration and to cull the federal workforce.

by: MSN

US government 'asking Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate'

US government 'asking Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate' - The Tate brothers have been accused of human trafficking and rape in Romania - both deny wrongdoing

by: Newsweek

Photos Show Trump, Musk 50501 Protests Across the US

Thousands of Americans braved freezing temperatures on Presidents Day to protest against Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

by: MSN

President's Day protesters call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk at Kansas Capitol

President's Day protesters marched at the Kansas Statehouse on Monday, with speakers objecting to actions of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

by: Newsweek

Americans Shocked by '60 Minutes' Report on German Speech Policing

The segment, which aired on Sunday, showcased how German authorities crack down on online speech deemed harmful or offensive under the country's laws.
  • Tue, February 18, 2025

by: ABC12

Trump begins firing FAA staff weeks after Washington, D.C. plane crash

Probationary workers were targeted in late-night emails Friday notifying them they had been fired, according to David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union.

by: CapX

Lawyers are good at politics - but not if you want growth

In a lecture titled 'Politics as Vocation', the philosopher Max Weber noted that: 'To an outstanding degree, politics today is in fact conducted in public by means of the spoken or written word.' It was true when he said it, in 1918; it is even more true now.

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Musk sets sights on Fort Knox gold reserves

In recent days, Musk repeatedly posted to X about wanting to "make sure" the gold is still at the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

by: Politico

Platkin and the resistance

While I very much doubt that Platkin wanted Trump to be elected, he is now part of a group of Democratic attorneys general who have arguably been the only effective resistance so far to the new administration.

by: BBC

US Social Security boss steps down after reportedly clashing with Doge

Michelle King left because of a reported disagreement over Elon Musk-led Doge staffers accessing sensitive data.

by: Sky

England's top judge condemns Starmer and Badenoch comments on Gaza family coming to UK on Ukraine scheme

The Labour and Conservative leaders spoke out in PMQs against an immigration tribunal allowing a Gazan family to come to the UK under the Ukraine scheme.

by: KPBS

White House says Elon Musk is not in charge of DOGE - legally, anyway

by: AOL

Analysis-France's latest pensions battle could ignite fresh political crisis

President Emmanuel Macron braved strikes and street protests to force through a deeply unpopular reform in 2023 raising France's retirement age by two years to 64, saying it was the only way to keep the generous but costly pension system afloat.

by: PBS

Looking to slash Medicaid funding, Republicans consider cutting billions of dollars

Republican lawmakers could try to siphon billions of dollars from the nearly-free health care coverage offered to the poorest Americans.

by: Oregonian

Republicans worry Trump's firings of federal workers will hit red states hard

The DOGE push to downsize government employees will hit the coalition that elected Trump,' a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, wrote.

by: Newsweek

Social Security's COBOL Software Comes Under Scrutiny

Elon Musk's investigation of federal government systems highlighted Social Security's reliance on software developed in the 1950s.

by: Newsweek

Steve Bannon Escalates Feud With Elon Musk: 'Parasitic Illegal Immigrant'

The former Trump adviser accused the Tesla CEO of using his influence to push an agenda that disregards American traditions.

by: CNN

'Good luck with that.' Trump administration terminates privacy officials at agency overseeing government hiring and firing

The Trump administration has quietly fired multiple members of the "privacy team" and other officials from the office that oversees the hiring of federal workers, a move that limits outside access to government records related to the security clearances granted to Elon Musk and his associates,

by: Sky

London mayor Sadiq Khan to tell EU diplomats 'Brexit was a mistake' and argue for stronger EU ties to fight Trump tariffs

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is to tell EU diplomats "Brexit was a mistake" and argue stronger ties with the bloc would help fight Donald Trump's tariff threats. He will say the UK's withdrawal from the EU "continues to have a negative impact" and will promise to make the case for "being bold" to seek closer alignment.

by: CNN

US and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine war deal

Trump administration and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the Ukraine war. Follow for live updates.

by: Slate

Is This a Constitutional Crisis? Wrong Question.

The legalists just want to have a big old fight that lands up at the Supreme Court about the unitary executive and big conservative principles, and the monarchic view of the presidency they've been pushing for a very long time.

by: Slate

What Happens Next in the Eric Adams Case? It's Up to One Judge.

Judge Ho will have a hearing on Wednesday to determine whether to accept the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case against the New York City mayor.

by: CNN

US and Russian officials to discuss Ukraine war deal in Saudi Arabia

Trump administration and Russian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the Ukraine war. Follow for live updates.

by: MSN

White House says Elon Musk is Trump's advisor and not the DOGE administrator

Musk's role could be key in legal fight over DOGE's access to government data as the Trump administration moves to lay off thousands of federal workers.

by: MSN

Moscow to sign new military deal

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Moscow is close to reaching a deal with the new Syrian government that would allow it to keep some military personnel and equipment in the country. Russian officials plan to maintain a limited military presence in Syria.

by: MSN

White House says Elon Musk is Trump's adviser and not the DOGE administrator

The White House says billionaire Elon Musk is not the administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency team that is sweeping through federal agencies, but is rather a senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

by: MSN

NY Democrats demand RFK Jr. restore cuts to 9/11 survivor program

New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a Monday letter to newly minted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to reverse recent cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that impact a program for 9/11 first responders.

by: MSN

Peace on the horizon? How US-Russia talks on Ukraine are shaping up

MailOnline looks at how talks between the Trump administration and Russia are shaping up in Saudi Arabia, as they attempt to agree on a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The move has sparked strong reactions from Zelensky and European leaders.

by: MSN

As U.S. and Putin negotiate, intel shows he's not interested 'in a real peace deal,' sources say

Intelligence from the U.S. and close allies shows Russian President Vladimir Putin still wants to control all of Ukraine, sources said.

by: MSN

DOGE says it has saved government $55B so far

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a post on its website says it has found $55 billion in savings through a combination of efforts, including a reduction in the federal workforce. It said it estimated it had realized $55 billion in savings by canceling or renegotiating leases and contracts,

by: MSN

Musk's team may access US Education Department systems, judge rules

A U.S. judge has rejected a bid to bar the government downsizing team created by President Donald Trump and spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk from accessing internal systems in the U.S. Department of Education that house federal student financial aid information concerning millions of Americans.

by: MSN

AP Reporter Nailed Over Wild Lie About DOGE, Trots Out the 'Elon's a Nazi' Narrative in Desperate Attempt to Distract

As the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency both come under media scrutiny for obvious reasons, it's not really surprising to find the Associated Press reporting on FAA layoffs coming right after the collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter just outside of Reagan National Airport

by: MSN

DOGE sued by taxpayer groups and unions over access to IRS files

The plaintiffs expressed concerns about letting the U.S. DOGE Service, led by Elon Musk, see sensitive information such as net worth and income.

by: MSN

Mahakumbh stampede: UP governor expresses grief over tragic incident on Mauni Amavasya, pays tribute to the deceased

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel addressed the joint session of both houses of the state legislature and the first session of 2025 on Tuesday. During her speech, she expressed grief over the stampede which occurred.

by: MSN

"We Americans will show you how to negotiate"

The negotiations between Washington and Moscow in Riyadh come just days after US Vice President J.D. Vance and other senior officials harshly criticized the European Union. Trump's special representative,

by: MSN

'It's nonsense!' Morning Joe uses bed bug analogy as he flips out on Elon Musk

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough pummeled Elon Musk's claims about the federal budget and the sweeping cuts imposed by his Department of Government Efficiency. Donald Trump's billionaire benefactor and his DOGE workforce have gained access to Social Security databases and other government financial systems,

by: MSN

Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions

Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program. The signing up of millions of additional Americans for taxpayer-funded health care coverage like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act's

by: MSN

Politics LIVE: John Healey set for major speech as Europe debates make-or-break decision

Follow our politics live blog below as John Healey takes questions about the future of UK and European defence amid Donald Trump's Ukraine chaos.

by: MSN

Ulster Unionists say recent decisions by UK government and courts are helping the IRA rewrite history

Former members of the security forces and their families must be treated with fairness and justice after the government "opened pandora's box" on legacy.

by: MSN

US and Russian officials meet for high-stakes peace talks, without Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Kyiv would not accept any peace agreements made without its participation. View on euronews

by: MSN

DOGE and Musk: The 5 biggest controversies so far

DOGE is not an official government department, despite its name. Only Congress can create new departments. But DOGE is an effort by President Trump and Musk to radically reform a

by: MSN

Leaked DOGE documents offer a damning insights into Trump's DEI purge - and what's next

A new set of leak documents have revealed damning details regarding Trump's purge of government employees and DEI staff - and what's coming next.

by: MSN

Amir of Qatar receives Guard of Honour, ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Amir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani received the Guard of Honour and a ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. He was received by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with senior ministers from the government.

by: MSN

Costa Rica offers to receive deported Indians and central Asian migrants from US

Costa Rica has agreed to repatriate 200 illegal immigrants from Central Asia and India, following President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. This makes Costa Rica the third Central American country to collaborate in this effort,

by: MSN

Musk is not a DOGE employee and "has no actual or formal authority," White House says

Elon Musk is not the administrator of DOGE and nor is he an employee of the department that's overseeing massive cuts to the federal workforce and agencies, either, per a Monday night White House court filing.

by: MSN

"Their anxiety increases as Sanatanis come together...": BJP's Gourav Vallabh hits back at Akhilesh Yadav

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gourav Vallabh came out heavily against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for his criticism of the Yogi Adityanath government over Maha Kumbh arrangements, and accused him of engaging in appeasement politics.

by: MSN

Elon Musk's role in DOGE uncertain after recent filing from White House

In an affidavit filed in federal court Tuesday, a White House official said Elon Musk is not the administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Scholz calls for 'strong and sovereign' Europe ahead of security talks in Paris

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to see a strong and sovereign Europe, he said on Monday, ahead of hastily arranged talks in Paris following signals that the United States is no longer seeking Europe's input on ending the Ukraine conflict.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a "strong, sovereign Europe" in preparation for a security conference in Paris in 2025, emphasizing the need for Europe to enhance its defense capabilities and reduce its dependency on the United States. Scholz highlighted the importance of Europe taking more responsibility for its own security, especially in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions, including Russia's war in Ukraine. He stressed the necessity for increased defense spending, better coordination among European nations, and the development of a European nuclear deterrent, while also advocating for a more integrated European defense industry. This push for European sovereignty comes as part of broader discussions on how to ensure the continent's security and strategic autonomy in an increasingly volatile global landscape.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/scholz-calls-strong-sovereign-europe-ahead-security-talks-paris-2025-02-17/

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