USA

U.S. charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionage

Editorial Bureau May 24, 2019

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department unveiled 17 new criminal charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday, saying he unlawfully published the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in

USA

Trump doubts U.S. needs to send more troops to Middle East

Editorial Bureau May 24, 2019

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Thursday he did not think additional U.S. troops are needed in the Middle East to counter Iran, casting doubt on a Pentagon plan to bolster forces in the region. “I don’t think we’re going to need them. I really don’t,” Trump told reporters. “I would certainly send […]

USA

Trump orders intelligence community to cooperate with review on Russia probe origins

Editorial Bureau May 24, 2019

(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the intelligence community to cooperate with Attorney General William Barr’s review of the events that prompted an investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The directive comes as the White House spars with congressional Democrats over the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller,

USA

Judge rules against Trump, paves way for banks to provide his business records to Congress

Editorial Bureau May 23, 2019

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump, three of his children and the Trump Organization on Wednesday lost their bid to block Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp from providing financial records to Democratic lawmakers investigating Trump’s businesses. In a decision read from the bench after hearing arguments, U.S. District Judge Edgardo

USA

Retired Admiral McRaven has no regrets over criticising Trump

Editorial Bureau May 23, 2019

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Retired Navy Admiral and former U.S. special operations chief William McRaven has no regrets about criticising President Donald Trump, though he said on Wednesday that friends in the military faulted him for disparaging the commander-in-chief. McRaven, who oversaw the 2011 raid that killed former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, has taken […]

USA

‘American Taliban’ to be released from prison on Thursday

Editorial Bureau May 23, 2019

(Reuters) – John Walker Lindh, the American captured in 2001 fighting for the Taliban, is to be released early from federal prison on Thursday as some U.S. lawmakers fear he remains a security risk. Lindh, photographed as a wild-eyed, bearded 20-year-old at his Afghanistan capture, will leave a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana on […]

USA

U.S. Navy sends two ships through strategic Taiwan Strait

Editorial Bureau May 23, 2019

(Reuters) – The U.S. military said it sent two Navy ships through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, its latest transit through the sensitive waterway and a move likely to anger Beijing at a time of tense relations between the world’s two biggest economies. Taiwan is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the U.S.-China […]

USA

Trump – U.S. will respond with ‘great force’ if Iran attacks interests

Editorial Bureau May 22, 2019

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump warned on Monday Iran would be met with “great force” if it attacked U.S. interests in the Middle East, and government sources said Washington strongly suspects Shi’ite militias with ties to Tehran were behind a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone. “I think Iran would be making a very […]

USA

U.S. House Democrats subpoena more Trump ex-aides, including Hicks

Editorial Bureau May 22, 2019

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. House committee chairman on Tuesday subpoenaed two more former White House aides, including Hope Hicks, just hours after former White House Counsel Donald McGahn was a no-show for testimony before the panel at President Donald Trump’s request. As tensions rose between the Republican president and the Democrats who control the […]

USA

U.S. states, cities sue to block Trump ‘conscience’ rule for healthcare workers

Editorial Bureau May 22, 2019

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Two dozen U.S. states and municipalities sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to stop it from enforcing a rule that would make it easier for doctors and nurses to avoid performing abortions on religious or moral grounds. A lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James said the expanded “conscience” […]