Tag: government
Why Democrats are casting the government shutdown as a health care showdown
From By Amanda Seitz Hours into the federal government shutdown, Julio Fuentes stood steps from the U.S. Capitol to deliver an urgent message about the Hispanic voting bloc that helped the GOP swoop into power last year. Those votes, he cautioned, are at risk if Congress doesn’t pass a law to preserve low premiums on…
National parks caught in the crosshairs of government shutdown
By Alana Wise As Congress remains at an impasse on an agreement to fund government operations, several sites under the National Park Service (NPS) have brought their operations to a halt. Across the country, parks have been forced to close, operate under reduced staffing or rely on outside donations to keep the lights on as…
This U.S. Government Shutdown Is Very Bad for Science
This U.S. Government Shutdown Is Different—Especially for Science President Trump’s budget office lays out guidelines for mass federal lay-offs as the U.S. government grinds to a halt By Dan Garisto & Nature magazine The U.S. government ceased many operations early on Wednesday after Congress failed to pass legislation to fund agencies’ activities. The US government…
What’s behind the health care fight that led to the government shutdown
Selena Simmons-Duffin A fight over health policy drove the current federal government shutdown. At issue is the cost of premiums for health care plans people buy on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, marketplaces. Earlier this week, Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term funding bill that did not include an…
Government shuts down after Congress fails to reach a funding agreement
By Sam Gringlas , Elena Moore , Lexie Schapitl Much of the federal government is now shut down after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate failed to agree on a pair of dueling funding bills to keep the government open. Republicans voted to block a bill proposed by Democrats that included government funding through the…
Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown
By Shannon Bond , Jenna McLaughlin , Stephen Fowler The Trump administration is blaming Democrats for the likely government shutdown in internal federal agency communications as well as on at least one public website, in what experts say could be a violation of federal ethics laws. A bright red banner and pop-up message that appeared…
Canada postal workers strike after government orders end to door-to-door delivery
Union says it’s ‘outraged and appalled’ by government’s order of sweeping changes to the national service Postal workers in Canada have gone on strike after the government warned of an “existential crisis” and ordered sweeping changes to the national service – including an end to door-to-door delivery within the decade. The union representing Canada Post…
Government to guarantee £1.5bn loan to Jaguar Land Rover after cyber shutdown
The government will underwrite a £1.5bn loan guarantee to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in a bid to support its suppliers as a cyber attack continues to halt production at the car maker. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the loan, from a commercial bank, would protect jobs in the West Midlands, Merseyside and across the UK.…
Why is the government introducing digital IDs?
The government has announced plans to introduce a digital ID system across the UK, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it will ensure the country’s “borders are more secure”. The IDs will not have to be carried day-to-day, but they will be compulsory for anyone wanting to work. The government says the scheme will…
Digital ID cards to be compulsory for all UK adults under government plans
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme in a speech on Friday. The prime minister believes it would help crack down on illegal working and modernise the state, according to senior figures in government. The practicalities of the scheme will be subject to a consultation, which will…
Government considers financial support for Jaguar Land Rover suppliers
The government is looking at ways to financially support the companies in Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) supply chain. JLR halted car production after a cyber-attack at the end of August forced it to shut down its IT networks. Its factories remain suspended until next month at the earliest. Fears are growing that some suppliers, in…
White House threatens layoffs — not furloughs — if the government shuts down
Tamara Keith If the government shuts down on Oct. 1, the White House said it will look for ways to use the funding dispute to permanently eliminate some federal workers, rather than just temporarily send them home on unpaid leave. This proposed “reduction in force” — outlined in a memo obtained by NPR on Wednesday…
Gatwick £2.2bn second runway plan approved by government
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has approved plans for a second runway at London Gatwick Airport, as the government looks for economic growth opportunities. The £2.2bn privately-financed project involves in effect moving the current Northern Runway 12 metres to bring it into regular use, as well as other developments, including extending the size of terminals. Chancellor…
Mass protest expected in Philippines capital amid public fury over alleged corruption in government projects
Sunday’s demonstration in Manila to coincide with anniversary of 1972 martial law declaration as president backs rally in bid to placate anger Thousands of people are expected to join a mass protest in Manila on Sunday amid a groundswell of anger in the Philippines against perceived corruption in government-funded flood control projects. Dubbed the “Trillion…
Argentinians deliver electoral blow to Milei’s scandal-rocked government
President touted contest in Buenos Aires province – 40% of electorate – as ‘life or death battle’ but won only 34% of vote Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has suffered his worst electoral defeat since taking office, as he faces his administration’s most serious corruption scandal and signs that the economy is slowing. In local legislative…
Unions warn government not to water down workers’ rights bill
The leader of the UK’s biggest trade union has warned it would be a “huge mistake” for the government to water down its Employment Rights Bill, which is due to become law in the next few weeks. Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said she is concerned the government is no longer committed to implementing the…
Zelensky condemns ‘ruthless attack’ after Russia hits main government building in Kyiv
Ukraine’s main government building in Kyiv has been hit for the first time in the war during Russian attacks, the Ukrainian prime minister has said. Yulia Svyrydenko said the building’s roof and upper floors were damaged and a fire ignited “due to an enemy attack”. At least four people were killed in strikes across the…
Canada’s Mark Carney signals austerity measures as government shifts focus from Trump to economy
Prime minister cautions Canadians as Ottawa moves to curb spending to balance near-record military expenditures Mark Carney has told Canadians to prepare for austerity measures and his finance minister warned of “tough choices” in the coming months, as the government attempts to balance near-record defence spending, cuts to government programs and a trade war with…
Indonesia embassy official’s shooting in Lima probably a ‘contract killing’, says Peru government
Interior minister says ‘they were waiting for’ official who was shot at point-blank range outside his home in killing that has shocked Peru Peru’s government has said the fatal shooting of an Indonesian embassy official in Lima on Monday night was likely a “contract killing”. Zetro Leonardo Purba, 40, an official at the Indonesian embassy…
Government plans to overhaul asylum appeals system
The government is planning an overhaul of the asylum appeals system, as it tries to cut the number of migrants staying in hotels while they await a ruling. A new, independent body will be established, staffed by independent adjudicators, with the aim of hearing cases more quickly. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she was…
Eswatini government faces court challenge over men deported by US
Group of NGOs claim deal was unconstitutional and violated the imprisoned men’s human rights A group of NGOs is challenging Eswatini’s acceptance of five people deported by the US, arguing the deal was unconstitutional and violated the imprisoned men’s human rights. The men from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, who the US said were…
Grenada government and opposition join forces to drop oath of allegiance to King Charles
Move comes amid calls for reparations for slavery and king’s removal as head of state of Caribbean country The government and opposition in the Caribbean island of Grenada have joined forces to drop the oath of allegiance to the British crown amid growing calls to remove King Charles as the country’s head of state. A…
The secret system Hamas uses to pay government salaries
After nearly two years of war, Hamas’s military capability is severely weakened and its political leadership under intense pressure. Yet, throughout the war Hamas has managed to continue to use a secret cash-based payment system to pay 30,000 civil servants’ salaries totalling $7m (£5.3m). The BBC has spoken to three civil servants who have confirmed…
South Sudan says eight deportees from the US are under government care
Deportees include two people from Myanmar, two from Cuba, and one each from Vietnam, Laos and Mexico War-torn South Sudan has said it is holding a group of eight men controversially deported from the United States. Only one of them is from South Sudan. The rest comprise two people from Myanmar, two from Cuba, and…
Government wins welfare bill vote after big concessions to rebels
The government has won a vote on its benefits bill by 75 votes, but only after offering last-minute concessions to Labour rebels. Ministers had already watered down their plans once by reversing some cuts to universal credit and protecting current claimants of personal independence payment (Pip) from stricter eligibility rules. However, some Labour MPs were…
Jamaica’s film industry gets boost from government funding and co-production initiative
Black River film festival invited US, European and African producers and directors to explore partnerships with local film-makers A film festival has brought US, European and African producers and directors to Jamaica to explore collaborations with local film-makers, who are set to benefit from several million US dollars-worth of government investment to boost the domestic…
‘We won’t let them get away with this’: activists to sue Tanzania’s government over ‘sexual torture’
Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire vow to hold authorities accountable as repression intensifies before October elections Two east African activists say they plan to sue Tanzania’s government for illegal detention and torture over their treatment during a visit in support of an opposition politician in May. Boniface Mwangi, from Kenya, and Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan,…
Costa Rican court orders government to free migrants who were deported by US
About 200 people were brought to the country in February under an agreement with the Trump administration A court in Costa Rica has ordered authorities to release foreign migrants who were locked up in a shelter after being deported by the US, according to a resolution issued on the eve of a visit by the…
Thai PM apologises over leaked call with Hun Sen as crisis threatens to topple government
In phone call, Paetongtarn Shinawatra discusses border dispute with former Cambodian leader and calls him ‘uncle’ Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, apologised after a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen prompted public anger and threatened the collapse of her government. In the leaked call, Paetongtarn – daughter of the populist former leader…
Sizewell C nuclear plant gets £14bn go-ahead from government
The government has committed £14.2bn of investment to build the new Sizewell C nuclear plant on the Suffolk coastline, ahead of the Spending Review. Sizewell C will create 10,000 direct jobs, thousands more in firms supplying the plant and generate enough energy to power six million homes, the Treasury said. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the…
Trump’s trade war is raising money for the government, but at whose expense?
Scott Horsley President Trump has been promising his tariffs will help make America more prosperous. There’s already evidence that tariffs are helping the government’s bottom line. The federal government collected $68.9 billion in tariffs and excise taxes during the first five months of the year, according to Treasury Department data collected by the Bipartisan Policy…
Government struggles to cut foreign aid spent on asylum hotels
The government is struggling to cut the amount of foreign aid it spends on hotel bills for asylum seekers in the UK, the BBC has learnt. New figures released quietly by ministers in recent days show the Home Office plans to spend £2.2bn of overseas development assistance (ODA) this financial year – that is only…
Judge rules suit challenging DOGE and Elon Musk’s power over government can continue
Stephen Fowler A judge ruled Tuesday that a lawsuit alleging Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are illegally wielding power over federal government operations can move forward. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan’s 42-page order in the lawsuit, filed by several Democratic state attorneys general, denies a motion to dismiss the case, but…
The Scary Implications of U.S. Government Attacks on Medical Journals
Opinion The Scary Implications of U.S. Government Attacks on Medical Journals A Trump-aligned prosecutor’s attack on medical journals is a threat to your health care—and the medical establishment should not comply By Eric Reinhart Senator Joseph McCarthy holds up a letter during a House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearing. In April, I decided to make…
African diplomats urge UK government to back bill to speed up debt restructurings
Exclusive: Countries are struggling to manage expensive loans, with much of debt transacted through London Diplomats from eight southern and east African countries have signed a letter calling on the UK government to support a private member’s bill that aims to speed up debt restructurings, after economic crises meant countries were unable to pay back…
DRC government and M23 make surprise truce to end fighting in east of country
The two sides agree to work towards permanent peace after Qatar-mediated talks and are expected to return to Doha in coming weeks The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the Rwandan-backed M23 group have issued a landmark joint statement saying they have agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work…
What to know as the government begins collections on defaulted student debt
By Rachel Treisman The Trump administration says it will soon resume collections on defaulted student loans for the first time in five years, raising questions and anxieties for millions of borrowers across the country. The Department of Education announced Monday that its office of Federal Student Aid will resume collections on May 5, meaning it…
Trump tariffs spark US government debt sell-off
Confidence in the US economy is plummeting as investors dumped government debt amid growing concerns over the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs. Governments sell bonds – essentially an IOU – to raise money from financial markets for public spending and in return they pay interest. The US does not normally see high interest rates on…
NHS England to be brought under government control in major health overhaul
NHS England will be abolished and brought under “democratic control” in an attempt to cut bureaucracy and duplication, Sir Keir Starmer has announced. The organisation, which oversees the country’s health service, will be brought into the Department of Health, and the PM said the move would free up money for frontline services. The government said…
Government vows to clean up England’s largest lake
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has pledged to ensure “only rainwater” enters England’s largest lake. On a visit to Windermere in Cumbria he said the government was “committed” to the clean up as part of its Plan for Change scheme, which aims to upgrade crumbling water infrastructure using private investment. Wastewater from water companies and private…
DOGE’s effort to slash government is now coming for buildings and people who run them
By Stephen Fowler , Jenna McLaughlin , Shannon Bond , Chris Arnold Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is on a mission to slash the federal government — and it eagerly touts its moves on social media. A recent entry cited more than $100 million in savings from terminating hundreds of federal building leases. Yet…
As Trump shrinks other parts of government, immigration task forces grow
By Ximena Bustillo , Chiara Eisner The Trump administration is taking the novel step of turning to other agencies to quickly bolster its immigration enforcement workforce as it prioritizes arrests and deportation. The Department of Homeland Security is tapping other agencies and federal groups — from the U.S. Marshals Service to the IRS — to…
Federal board orders government to reinstate six workers fired by Trump
Andrea Hsu Six fired federal employees must get their jobs back, at least through April 10, according to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the independent federal agency that hears employee complaints against the government. The MSPB issued a 45-day stay of the terminations Tuesday evening in response to a request from the U.S. Office…
Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row
Apple is taking the unprecedented step of removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded access to user data. Advanced Data Protection (ADP) means only account holders can view items such as photos or documents they have stored online through a process known as end-to-end encryption. But…
Government Agencies, Universities, Nonprofits Pause Critical Work Over Trump Administration Executive Orders
Trump Takes a ‘Giant Wrecking Ball’ to U.S. Research America’s status as a global science leader is in doubt as the administration freezes funding and targets research that references climate or diversity By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News Thousands of New Yorkers gather at the ‘Stop the Coup’ rally against the Trump Administration in Union…
Government Accountability official says fraud does exist, but it’s not widespread
Luke Garrett President Trump and Elon Musk have vowed to uncover and eliminate fraud in the federal government, and the White House has pointed to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report as evidence and justification for their ongoing efforts to take over and dismantle federal agencies. The GAO is an agency under Congress that…
Trump’s claim that Mexican cartels and government are allied is not reality
Corruption in Mexico is a problem, experts say, but any claim the two are linked shows a lack of comprehension Mexico breathed a sigh of relief this week when Donald Trump delayed his threatened tariffs by a month, apparently swerving away from an economic crisis at the last moment. But one aspect of the spat…
Grenfell Tower to be taken down, government confirms
Grenfell Tower will be taken down, the government has confirmed nearly eight years after a fire that killed 72 people. The process is expected to take around two years and will be done “sensitively”, with no changes to the building before the eighth anniversary of the disaster in June, the government said. The plan has…
Belgium Forms a Government After 7 Months of Squabbling
The country’s tense negotiations hinged on taxing and social spending — and they highlight issues facing Europe, and Western democracies, as a whole. By Koba Ryckewaert and Jeanna Smialek Reporting from Brussels Belgium reached an agreement to form a coalition government on Friday, the nation’s monarchy announced, ending seven months of partisan squabbling over deeply…
Two ways Trump aims to reshape government. And, how U.S. children are doing in school
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. President Trump is working to dramatically reshape the federal government, as shown by two actions this week. He has issued a sweeping memo to pause trillions of dollars in…
‘We were betrayed’: families of apartheid victims sue South African government
High court case demands inquiry into 1985 Cradock Four killings and ‘constitutional damages’ worth £7.3m Lukhanyo Calata’s first memory of his father was the funeral. His mother sobbing, the earth beneath his feet shaking from the number of people gathered at the graveside, and the fear he felt aged three as the red box holding…
Oldham abuse survivors criticise government over inquiry decision
The BBC has changed the names of the women in this article in order to protect their identity. Three women who were left devastated by historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham have told the BBC ministers should have spoken to survivors before deciding not to conduct a government-led inquiry into grooming gangs in the town.…
9/11 guilty pleas delayed after US government objects
The US government has succeeded in temporarily blocking the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks from pleading guilty amid a dispute over the terms of a pre-trial agreement. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants reached deals last summer to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for not facing a death penalty trial. In…
Wildlife groups urge UK government to ban lead ammunition
Environment secretary Steve Reed urged to bring in ‘full and swift ban’ to protect health of people, wildlife and pets Wildlife charities have called on the government to ban the sale and use of lead in ammunition used for outdoor shooting. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Link, Chem Trust and…
Far-right group Blood and Honour has assets frozen by government
The neo-Nazi organisation Blood and Honour, which is linked to parts of the skinhead music scene, has become the first extreme right-wing group to have financial sanctions imposed by the UK government. Treasury ministers said they had “reasonable grounds to suspect” Blood and Honour of being involved in “terrorist activities through promoting and encouraging terrorism,…
A Far-Right Government in Austria Would Be a Jolt, but Not Unexpected
News analysis The Freedom Party and its leader, Herbert Kickl, have steadily built support by demonizing immigrants, while entering Austria’s political mainstream. By Jim Tankersley and Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Berlin The political party on the verge of leading Austria would take an already conservative country into a growing group of nations shifting to…
US imposes sanctions on senior Hungarian government minister
US treasury accuses Antal Rogán, a close aide of leader Viktor Orbán, as key to ‘system of corruption’ The United States has imposed sanctions on a senior member of the Hungarian government for alleged corruption, in a move which Budapest said it would challenge as soon as Donald Trump takes office. The US treasury accused…
British AI startup with government ties is developing tech for military drones
Exclusive: Concerns raised over role of Faculty AI, which has worked with NHS and government safety body A company that has worked closely with the UK government on artificial intelligence safety, the NHS and education is also developing AI for military drones. The consultancy Faculty AI has “experience developing and deploying AI models on to…
Syria’s New Rebel Government Orders Changes to School Curriculum, Worrying Some Syrians
Syria’s Civil War Syria’s new government has swiftly ordered changes to school curriculums. Some Syrians say the move is a worrying sign of how the former rebels plans to govern a diverse country. By Raja Abdulrahim Reporting from Damascus, Syria References to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his father, who ruled Syria before him,…
Anas Sarwar accuses Scottish government of ‘weakening every institution’
Scottish Labour leader sets out plan to revive party’s flagging fortunes before Holyrood elections Anas Sarwar has accused the Scottish government of “weakening every institution in Scotland” as he set out plans to revive Labour’s flagging fortunes before the Holyrood elections. The Scottish Labour leader said he would spend much of 2025 reminding the Scottish…
Austria’s far-right Freedom party tasked with forming coalition government
Austrian president asks anti-migration, pro-Kremlin Freedom FPÖ to begin negotiations with conservative ÖVP Austria’s president has tasked the anti-migration, pro-Kremlin Freedom party (FPÖ) with holding talks to form a ruling coalition, potentially paving the way for the far right to lead the government for the first time since the second world war. After meeting the…
Child sexual abuse inquiry chair urges government to act
Prof Alexis Jay, the former chair of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse, has called for the “full implementation” of reforms set out in her 2022 report, which warned of “endemic” abuse across society in England and Wales. A campaign group chaired by Prof Jay, called Act on IICSA, said ministers must commit to…
Government unveils plan to cut NHS waiting list backlog
The government has unveiled a new pledge to cut the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year. The plan, to be announced on Monday, will expand access to Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs, alongside reforms designed to enhance patient…
Syria’s International Airport to Reopen as Government Presses for Stability
Syria’s Civil War Tensions are high on Syria’s border with Lebanon. The ouster of President Bashar al-Assad led to worry that violence could spill over into neighboring countries. By Aaron Boxerman Syria’s main international airport in Damascus will reopen next week, the new government said on Saturday, as it tries to re-establish a sense of…
European Ministers Visit Syria to Strengthen Ties With New Government
Syria’s Civil War Top diplomats from Germany and France went to Damascus on behalf of the European Union. It’s the first such trip in years, part of a flurry of Western outreach. By Aaron Boxerman Syria’s new leaders met the French and German foreign ministers in the capital, Damascus, on Friday in one of the…
Government must look at effects of toxic smoke on Grenfell firefighters, minister says
Union calls for regular health checks for 600 Grenfell firefighters after many developed long-term conditions The government “needs to seriously look” at the effects of toxic smoke inhalation on firefighters who served at the Grenfell Tower fire, a minister has said. The comments from Andrew Gwynne, the health minister, came after the Guardian disclosed that…
Australian airlines more delayed than foreign competitors, but government decides not to nudge laws
Experts say lack of competition in Australia’s airline market is a likely factor behind prevalence of delays More than one in four flights operated by major Australian airlines in 2024 arrived at their destinations late, with local punctuality rates lagging significantly behind average carriers in comparable countries. Experts say a lack of competition in Australia’s…
UK government hires ‘nudge unit’ to help dispel heat pump myths
Behaviour experts say misinformation shared in media and by other stakeholders is impeding uptake Experts from a “nudge unit” have been hired to help ministers fight misinformation about heat pumps to try to encourage take-up of the devices. The appliances run on electricity instead of gas and are regarded as a way of decarbonising homes…
Labour government discussed Tanzania asylum camp plan in 2004, files show
Newly released files show proposals to divert £2m – earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa – to fund scheme Tony Blair’s government discussed diverting £2m earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa in order to fund a controversial pilot scheme to process and house asylum-seekers in Tanzania, newly released government files show. Under the scheme, Britain…
Syria’s New Government Steps Up Pursuit of Assad Loyalists
Syria’s Civil War Finding the remnants of the old dictatorship and bringing them to justice has emerged as a top priority for the new administration in Syria. By Adam Rasgon Syria’s new administration has stepped up its campaign to track down and arrest members of the ousted Assad dictatorship, signaling that it would act with…