Blackface scandals highlight U.S.’s troubled racial past – and present
The painful history of blackface in America was highlighted this week as two top Virginia Democrats came under fire after admitting to having blackened their faces to resemble African-Americans while in college in the 1980s.
Principles or power? Virginia political scandal a test for Democrats
The spiraling political crisis in Virginia, which threatens to take out three top state Democrats with racial scandals or sexual assault accusations, poses a stiff test for a party thriving on its growing strength with women and minorities.
Trump adviser Kushner to visit Middle East on peace plan’s economic part
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner will travel to at least five Arab countries in late February to brief diplomats on the economic portion of a long-awaited U.S. peace proposal for the Middle East and seek their support, officials said on Thursda…
House panel approves ‘NOPEC’ bill, full House vote uncertain
A U.S. House of Representatives committee approved a bill on Thursday that would open up the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to antitrust lawsuits, but it was uncertain if the measure would be considered by the full chamber.
Trump-Kim summit venue shows possibility of moving beyond conflict: State Department
The choice of Vietnam as the venue for a second U.S.-North Korea summit this month shows the possibility of moving beyond conflict and division toward a thriving partnership, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.
U.S. calls on Iran to halt space launches that defy U.N. resolution
The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it was aware of reports of a failed Iranian attempt to launch a satellite into space last month and it called on Tehran to halt activities that violate U.N. resolutions.
U.S. lawmakers renew push for penalties against Saudi Arabia
Republican and Democratic U.S. lawmakers renewed their push on Thursday to penalize Saudi Arabia for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, introducing legislation to bar some arms sales and impose …
Trump says he and China’s Xi will not meet before March 1 trade deadline
President Donald Trump said on Thursday he did not plan to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a March 1 deadline set by the two countries to achieve a trade deal.
New Zealand PM says exporters could suffer due to U.S.-China trade tensions
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday that trade tensions between the U.S. and China, which is New Zealand’s top trading partner, could affect exporters in the country and hurt its economy.
Democrats float ‘Green New Deal’ to end fossil fuel era
Democrats on Thursday laid out a “Green New Deal” that would eliminate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions within a decade, an effort to make climate change a central issue in the 2020 presidential race.
