Connect with us

International News

Trump Exercises First Veto Power, Blocks Two Bills

Published

on

United States President Donald Trump has exercised his veto power for the first time in his second term, rejecting two bipartisan-backed bills relating to a water infrastructure project in Colorado and the expansion of a Native American reservation in Florida.

According to a report on Wednesday, President Donald Trump vetoed the bills on Monday, a move confirmed by the White House, which said the measures would now require a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to override his decision.

One of the rejected bills, titled the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, sought to complete a long-standing project designed to supply clean drinking water to communities in Colorado’s Eastern Plains.

ALSO READ: Trump Shuts Door On Nigerian Green Card, Citizenship Applications

The water pipeline initiative dates back to the 1960s during the administration of former President John F. Kennedy.

Despite receiving unanimous approval from both chambers of Congress, Trump said the project would impose excessive financial burdens on taxpayers.

In a letter to Congress explaining his decision, the president described the proposal as costly and unreliable, insisting that his administration would not support what he termed wasteful spending.

The bill enjoyed rare bipartisan support, including backing from Colorado’s two Democratic senators as well as Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert and Jeff Hurd.

Reacting to the veto, Boebert vowed that the effort would continue, writing on social media that the matter was “not over.”

Boebert, a former ally of Trump, has recently distanced herself from the president following disagreements over the release of files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

She was among a group of Republican lawmakers who pressured the Justice Department to make the remaining documents public.

Trump also vetoed the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act, which aimed to expand the Miccosukee Native American Tribe’s authority over Osceola Camp, a section of the Everglades National Park in Florida.

The tribe has been involved in legal action against an immigration detention facility in the area, popularly referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” which a federal judge has ordered to be largely dismantled.

Explaining the veto, Trump argued that the tribe was not authorised to occupy the land and maintained that federal funds should not be used for projects he said served special interests that conflict with his administration’s immigration policies.

Presidential vetoes remain relatively uncommon.

During his first term, Trump vetoed 10 bills, while his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, issued 13 vetoes over a four-year period.

International News

Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case

Published

on

France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.

The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.

SEE ALSO: Fresh Ebola Alert: Lagos Tightens Airport Surveillance as Virus Threat Looms

According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.

The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.

The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.

The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.

Continue Reading

International News

“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM

Published

on

U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.

Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.

SEE MORE:New US Strike on Iran Sends Oil Prices Soaring as Middle East Tensions Escalate

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”

The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.

Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.

Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.

Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.

However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.

As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.

 

Continue Reading

International News

Putin Faces New Blow as UK Unleashes 70 Sanctions, Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Published

on

The United Kingdom has announced 70 new sanctions against Russia, escalating efforts to pressure Moscow into ending its prolonged war against Ukraine.

The measures were unveiled on Tuesday by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a special session of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where leaders of the world’s leading economies gathered to discuss support for Ukraine and ways to increase pressure on the Kremlin.

The latest sanctions target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, military procurement networks, and financial channels allegedly used to bypass existing international restrictions.

ALSO READ: JUST IN: Putin Pushes New Nuclear Doctrine

Announcing the move, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to working with its allies to weaken Russia’s war capabilities.

“Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure on Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent,” Starmer said.

According to a joint statement issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Prime Minister’s Office, the sanctions are aimed at Russia’s “decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks used to circumvent sanctions.”

The statement added that the measures “will choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts” by targeting key sectors supporting Moscow’s military operations.

Among those affected are more than 20 oil tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels reportedly used to transport energy products and other assets under different national flags in an attempt to evade sanctions.

The UK government also revealed that Britain has become the first G7 member nation to sanction several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels recently acquired by Russia to support its already-sanctioned Arctic LNG project.

The announcement comes shortly after fresh Russian missile and drone attacks struck several locations across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least 11 people and triggering a fire at one of Kyiv’s most significant Orthodox monasteries.

Starmer is expected to urge fellow G7 leaders to take stronger collective action in support of Ukraine.

According to his office, the British leader will tell the summit that “the G7 should collectively go further to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves.”

In addition to the sanctions package, the UK government announced a new agreement to provide enriched uranium for Ukraine’s nuclear power stations.

The deal, backed by £210 million ($282 million) in export finance, will allow UK-based nuclear fuel supplier Urenco to deliver enriched uranium to Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom.

British officials said the arrangement is expected to help power Ukraine’s nuclear facilities for the next two years as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the ongoing conflict.

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x