Author: Clayton Sharp

China on Wednesday slammed Canada over human rights sanctions, saying the North American nation has its own problems with human rights, state media reported. Canada has a “long history of human rights violations and numerous problems,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. The statement came in response to new sanctions against eight former or current senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights violations. “Rather than reflecting on its own problems, Canada brazenly slanders and defames other countries, spreading lies about so-called human rights issues in China,” Mao said. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the sanctioned Chinese…

The European Union announced on Friday that it will begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to join the 27-member political and economic bloc starting next week. All 27 members agreed to the Ukraine and Moldova joining the European Union. Negotiations will begin for both countries on Tuesday in Luxembourg, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union said on X. The move comes at a critical time for both nations with Ukraine in the middle of an invasion by Russia and Moldova facing a Russian-led insurgence by a breakaway state. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the European Union for its “robust political…

The United States announced joint military flight drills in Guyana on Thursday as tensions over a contested oil-rich region with neighbor Venezuela prompted the U.N. Security Council to call an urgent meeting. A border feud has been spiraling over the Essequibo region, which has been administered and controlled by Guyana for more than a century, although Venezuela also claims the disputed area. Venezuela recently conducted a referendum, which it claims citizens supported, that aims to give Venezuela authority over the Essequibo region. Guyanese officials said in response that the country is preparing to defend itself and its borders in case of an…

Former White House aide Steve Bannon took at shot at Fox News host Sean Hannity for asking former President Trump if he would act like a dictator if he were to win the presidency in 2024. “Sean Hannity actually thought he was helping Trump,” with the question, Bannon said on a recent episode of his “War Room” podcast. “Even to ask that question shows you’re an idiot. And we don’t have time for idiots, bro. This is a war, and we don’t have time for sunshine patriots and this nonsense.” Bannon’s comments were first highlighted by Mediate. During a town hall event with Trump in…

Free expression group PEN America analyzed Florida’s culture war laws over the years. They released a report arguing that legislation in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis is driving a conservative view of free speech across the country. The report cites Florida’s culture war laws and how they’ve influenced the country on issues such as LGBTQ rights and anti-protest bills. Katie Blankenship, Florida Director of PEN America, says these issues have effects beyond Florida. “While we’ve known that Florida is something that we absolutely have to focus on and understand the harm that’s happening to Floridians, we’ve also long understood that…

Divisions are evident among constituents of Rep. Matt Gaetz in the Florida Panhandle, where CBS News found varying views of his controversial approach to politics — even among those who elected him into office. The 41-year-old Republican’s motion to vacate Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House proved successful earlier this month, in a historic first. In the 2020 election, Gaetz garnered an impressive 70% of the vote in his home district, an area renowned for its military bases, pristine beaches and retirement havens. David Monteleone, a 74-year-old staunch conservative in Gaetz’s hometown of Fort Walton Beach, admires his congressman’s unapologetic political…

The United Auto Workers union surprised Ford with a major escalation of its strike, ordering workers off the job at the company’s largest plant. Late Wednesday night, the union told 8,700 workers to strike at the Kentucky Truck Plant, which builds some of Ford’s most important vehicles, including the heavy duty version of its F Series pickup, as well as its full-size SUVs. “We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “It’s time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big…

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $1,000 bonuses for all Florida first responders during a press conference at Craig Municipal Airport in Jacksonville Monday afternoon. “We have, for the third year in a row, authorized $1,000 bonuses for all of our police, fire, and EMTs,” DeSantis said. The governor personally delivered the first 40 checks to first responders attending the event, but noted that checks would be mailed to all first responders “in the not-too-distant future.” The checks are net $1,000, meaning state and federal taxes will already be paid for. “It’s very meaningful for our state to be able to stand…

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in eight months last week as the labor market continues to show strength in the face of elevated interest rates. U.S. applications for jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 201,000 for the week ending Sept. 16, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the lowest figure since the last week of January. Jobless claim applications are seen as representative of the number of layoffs in a given week. The four-week moving average of claims, a less volatile measure, fell by 7,750 to 217,000. Though the Federal Reserve opted to leave its benchmark…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted in August that the Palestinian issue had become a mere “check box” for Arab states that were looking to establish ties with the Jewish state, suggesting that it was a matter of lip service to an outdated cause. “You have to check it to say that you’re doing it,” he said. The Palestinian issue, he said, is brought up “a lot less than you think” in negotiations with Arab states. A month later, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) acknowledged the existence of talks to normalize relations with Israel. In return for recognition, he said, Israel would have to…