More from Ben Burke
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China, Taiwan spar over Taiwan Strait in latest escalation of tensions
In the latest example of escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, the two countries have spent days sparring over the Taiwan Strait. On Tuesday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed support for the travel of international vessels, including those from the United States, through the strait. “The Taiwan Strait is international waters, and the waters outside our… -
Texas DPS asks AG to withhold body camera video from Uvalde shooting
According to a report from Vice, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has requested that Attorney General Ken Paxton prevent the public release of police body camera video from last month’s shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde. Vice reported it had filed a public records request for “photographs and audio as well as… -
S&P drops 3.9%, Wall Street enters bear market in wake of inflation report
The Wall Street hangover from last week’s shocking inflation report continued into the new week, as Wall Street officially entered a bear market. The S&P 500 dropped 3.9% Monday, and is now down more than 20% from the record high it set in January. Monday marked the first time the S&P 500 has confirmed a… -
31 Patriot Front members accused of planning to riot at Idaho Pride event
Authorities in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho arrested 31 members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front near a Pride event over the weekend. A tipster had reported seeing people loading up into a U-Haul like “a little army” at a hotel parking lot near the event. “I will tell you what, it appeared to be very… -
Wildfires blaze in Arizona, New Mexico as Biden promises federal relief
Just as President Joe Biden was stepping in to provide support to New Mexico with its largest wildfire ever, a new wildfire popped up in Arizona. According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), the Pipeline Fire was reported Sunday morning six miles north of Flagstaff. By Sunday night, the fire had burned 4,000-5,000 acres.… -
COVID-19 testing requirement lifted for international air travelers to US
A senior Biden administration official announced the administration has lifted its COVID-19 testing requirement for international travelers to the United States. The requirement was one of the last remaining government mandates designed to contain the spread of COVID-19. “The whole industry has been waiting for this announcement,” Martin Ferguson, a spokesman for Global Business Travel… -
New Uvalde police response details revealed as Chief Arredondo speaks
According to a New York Times analysis of the investigation into last month’s shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school, police delayed confronting the gunman for more than an hour. The Times reported Thursday that documents show police waited for protective equipment as they delayed entering the campus, even as they became aware that some… -
Migrant caravan thins as Summit for the Americas concludes
A day before the Summit of the Americas was set to wrap up in Los Angeles, the migrant caravan that started in conjunction with the summit was significantly reduced on size. When the caravan began earlier this week, Reuters reported at least 6,000 people took part. On Thursday, about 1,000 migrants decided to wait in… -
PGA Tour suspends golfers competing in Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational
Shortly after PGA Tour breakaway league LIV Golf teed off its inaugural tournament just north of London, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan sent a memo to members. According to that memo, the 17 PGA Tour members competing in the LIV Golf tournament are no longer eligible for PGA Tour events. The 17 include golfing legend… -
Russia, Turkey express support for Ukrainian grain exports corridor
Russia and Turkey voiced support for a safe corridor in the Black Sea that would allow for Ukrainian grain exports. The support came as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Ankara on Wednesday. Russia also demanded Ukraine remove mines from the Black Sea. Ukraine is one of the world’s… -
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac unveil biggest reforms since 2008 housing crash
Federally backed home mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac unveiled a series of reforms each company is calling an Equitable Housing Finance Plan. Wednesday’s announcement serves as the most sweeping overhaul for either company since the housing market collapse of 2008. “Freddie Mac’s Equitable Housing Finance Plan lays out meaningful actions designed to help… -
World Bank downgrades global economic growth forecast for 2022 to 2.9%
According to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, worldwide growth is expected slow down even more than previously thought. The report has global economic growth at 2.9% in 2022, down from the 5.7% growth seen in 2021 as well as the 4.1% growth predicted for 2022 back in January. “The war in Ukraine,… -
Mexican president, other leaders back out of Summit of the Americas
President Joe Biden’s efforts to rally international support during this week’s Summit of the Americas took a blow when Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed he will skip the summit. On Monday, President Obrador said he would be sending Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard instead. “I sent word to President Biden that I will…