The Senate advanced Pete Hegseth's nomination for Defense Secretary with 51 Republican votes despite opposition from GOP senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Murkowski cited concerns over Hegseth's leadership preparedness and past misconduct. The final confirmation vote could occur soon. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned Hegseth's reliability in crises.
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Elon Musk denies reports of a $400 million contract for Tesla to supply armoured electric vehicles to the US government. The procurement document initially mentioned Tesla but was later changed to 'Armored Electric Vehicles'. Musk claims he is unaware of any such deal. The contract estimates a cost between $100m and $500m over five years.
Two 13-year-old girls were subjected to exploitation and repeated sexual violence by a group of eight men, often in vile conditions. The abuse occurred over several years, and the perpetrators manipulated the victims' difficult home lives. Despite contact with social services, the exploitation initially went unaddressed.
ICE officers have arrested several violent offenders in sanctuary cities, including a Haitian suspected gang member with 17 convictions. These actions are part of Trump's administration's mass deportation efforts, contrasting Biden’s immigration policies. Over 300 undocumented migrants with criminal records were detained in various cities like Boston, Denver & Miami. The administration aims to remove 700,000 undocumented migrants with criminal records from the US.
US President Donald Trump criticised the Associated Press for continuing to use 'Gulf of Mexico' instead of his officially changed name 'Gulf of America'. He has restricted the AP's access to the White House until they comply, leading to objections from press freedom organizations.
Gene Hackman, the 95-year-old actor, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe home. Hackman's pacemaker indicated his death likely occurred on February 17. Initial investigations ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, while toxicology tests are pending. The couple was known for their reclusive lifestyle.
Meta plans to lay off approximately 3,600 employees identified as low performers to raise performance standards. CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the move, emphasizing extensive performance-based cuts. Affected employees will be notified by February 10. This follows previous waves of job cuts and policy shifts. Meta's shares fell after the announcement, reflecting investor concerns about the company's direction.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will visit the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the US before attending the G20 meeting in South Africa. In London, he will meet UK foreign secretary David Lammy as relations improve between the two nations. Wang will also attend the Munich security conference and later chair a UN security council event on global governance. At the G20, he aims to promote multilateralism, while the US secretary of state Marco Rubio is skipping the summit over an "anti-American" agenda.
The world is seeing rising division and polarization, from the US under Trump to Europe's migration issues and the rise of far-right groups like Germany's AfD. This polarization hampers problem-solving and encourages prejudice. Addressing social issues like affordable housing and fair wages is crucial to overcoming these divisions and countering far-right agendas.
Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2024, President Donald Trump expressed shock that the Time Magazine is still in the business when he was asked to comment of the new cover of the magazine that illustrated Elon Musk as the president, sitting behind the Resolute Desk. CNN described the cover as a provocative one aimed at irking President Trump.
The electricity tariff will remain in place notwithstanding Donald Trump's one-month reprieve for tariffs on Canada, Doug said adding that the one-month pause means nothing but more uncertainty. Ontario has been leading the tariff war by already banning US alcohol, cancelling a government contract with Elon Musk's Starlink. Ford said Trump changes his mind every day, but if he continues to attack Canada he will do everything it takes to maximize the pain.