House Speaker Mike Johnson is struggling to pass a Republican budget framework due to GOP holdouts demanding deeper spending cuts, despite President Trump's push for its approval. The budget aims to preserve tax breaks, increase defense spending, and fund deportation efforts, but faces opposition over proposed cuts to domestic programs and concerns about rising deficits.
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Pete Hegseth, Trump's defense secretary pick, faced intense questioning from Senate Democrats regarding his controversial past, including accusations of drunken behavior and sexual misconduct. Despite the allegations, Hegseth denied all claims and stated his support for women in combat roles. Vice President-elect JD Vance condemned the grilling, calling it 'grandstanding.'
The White House budget office's directive pauses federal aid distribution, potentially affecting non-profits, universities, small businesses, and local governments. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and others criticize the decision, warning of widespread consequences for disaster relief, elderly support, and school meal programs.
China's military conducted extensive air and naval activities near Taiwan, prompting the island's defense ministry to activate an emergency response center. Taiwanese officials described the activities as training, while China reiterated its stance against Taiwanese independence and foreign collaboration. The increased military presence followed Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's recent visits to Hawaii and Guam.
A KLM flight from Oslo to Amsterdam made an emergency landing at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport due to a hydraulic failure. The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway after landing. All 176 passengers and six crew members were uninjured. The airport was temporarily closed, and KLM is investigating the incident with local authorities.
The Delta plane that landed at the snow-clad Pearson Airport in Canada with its face up suffered a gear failure at the last moment and the plane was descending at a very high speed, the preliminary investigation released Thursday said. The crash-landing on February 17 resulted in passengers getting hospitalized though there was no fatality.
Elon Musk's recent claims about astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Eilmore being stranded due to political reasons sparked backlash from the astronaut community. Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, and Scott Kelly defended themselves against Musk's insults, while Mark Kelly criticized Musk for not having the courage to climb into a rocket.
Taleb publicly renounced Islam and declared himself an atheist, a stance that is not only controversial but also dangerous in Saudi Arabia, where apostasy can result in severe penalties. He cited these risks as the basis for seeking political asylum in Germany, which was granted in 2016.
Over 7,000 Indian students and exchange visitors overstayed their visas in the US in 2023. Experts have proposed immigration reforms, including limiting H-1B visa validity to two years, extendable to four years, without automatic Green Card-based extensions.
Reid Rasner heads a media company and founded several firms in the state. In his offer, he said he wants to buy TikTok for Wyoming as he wants Wyoming to have jobs. “This initiative will bring high-skilled workers, cutting-edge innovation, and new investment opportunities into the state, strengthening the economy while ensuring Wyoming remains a national leader in multiple sectors," his offer letter to ByteDance said.
Hundreds of Londoners stripped down to their underwear for the annual 'No Trousers Tube Ride,' bringing amusement and levity to the city's winter doldrums. Originating in New York in 2002, the event reached London in 2009 and has since become a fixture, promoting humour and body positivity while entertaining unsuspecting commuters.