1gridNATION
Venezuela’s ruling party unity cracks as Delcy Rodríguez shifts Chávez-era policies
It’s a slogan that’s long encapsulated the unique ability of Hugo Chávez’s fiercely nationalistic revolution to stay in power in Venezuela for 27 years: “United, we will win!” The young, the old, ruling party leaders and propagandists alike shout it at official events, street demonstrations and on state television, pumping their fists to show loyalty […]
Jerome Powell uses JFK award speech to warn against political pressure on Fed, courts and schools
BOSTON | Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used one of his first major public appearances since leaving office to defend independent institutions while accepting an award Sunday honoring his efforts to preserve the central bank’s independence. Speaking at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library overlooking Boston Harbor, Powell called universities, courts, Congress and the […]
Trump is facing a new inflation warning from the bond market, adding to his midterm challenges
WASHINGTON | The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government — causing interest rates to climb in ways that are worsening affordability pressures, hampering economic growth and creating a new risk for Republicans in November’s midterm elections. The energy price spike triggered by the Iran war has seeped into […]
Trump fumes after judge throws out Kennedy Center renovation plan, name change
WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump on Saturday branded the federal judge who blocked his renovation of the Kennedy Center as “an anti Trump Hater” and predicted that the nation’s premier performing arts center he wanted to shutter for a two-year overhaul will “soon be closed, probably never to open again.” In a lengthy post on […]
France’s parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code, with tears and history in the chamber
PARIS | For nearly two centuries after France abolished slavery, the colonial-era law that classified humans as property has remained quietly on its books. On Thursday, the lower house of Parliament voted to wipe it from French law. The National Assembly voted 254-0 — a rare show of unanimity — to adopt a bill repealing […]
Questions dog tentative US-Iran deal as Iranian official says concessions come ‘through missiles’
WASHINGTON | Uncertainty swirled Friday around what the U.S. called a tentative deal to extend the ceasefire in its war with Iran. It wasn’t clear whether U.S. President Donald Trump supports it, and a top Iranian official said his country wins concessions “through missiles,” not talks. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday the adversaries […]
Bus hits cars in Virginia, killing 5 people and injuring 34, state police say
STAFFORD, Va. | A bus struck six vehicles on Interstate 95 in Virginia as traffic slowed for a work zone, killing five people and sending 34 to hospitals, state police said Friday. The crash happened at about 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County. All five of the people who died were in vehicles […]
Rescuers unite in Laos to free 5 villagers trapped in a flooded cave and find 2 still missing
BANGKOK | Rescuers working at a flooded cave in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos face two daunting tasks: extricating five villagers who were located inside after being trapped for more than a week, and finding two more who are still missing. Rescue teams were pumping water out of the flooded cave’s passages on Friday, […]
Inside a taxpayer-funded treatment center for adoptees, tales of abuse, neglect and little oversight
LAKE OZARK, Mo. | A facility deep in rural Missouri promises relief for desperate parents whose adopted kids are struggling — a lakeside, summer camp-like academy where kids can heal by bonding with golden retrievers, and where caring employees “create joy.” The company that operates the place known as Calo Programs says it exists “to […]
With a stalemate in Ukraine and discontent at home, Putin seems ready to escalate his war
Facing a battlefield stalemate in Ukraine and growing war fatigue among Russians, President Vladimir Putin appears ready to try to change the narrative around the conflict. He looks likely to sharply escalate the Russian aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the hope it will shore up his sagging domestic approval ratings and persuade an […]