U.S. Congress passes first package of spending bills hours before shutdown deadline for key agencies

U.S. Congress passes first package of spending bills hours before shutdown deadline for key agencies

The Senate on March 8 approved a $460 billion package of spending bills in time to meet a midnight deadline for avoiding a shutdown of many key federal agencies, a vote that gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year. The measure contains six annual spending bills … Read more

US Congress approves short-term extension to avoid shutdown, buy more time for final spending agreement

US Congress approves short-term extension to avoid shutdown, buy more time for final spending agreement

Washington: Congress passed another short-term spending measure Thursday that would keep one set of federal agencies operating through March 8 and another set through March 22, avoiding a shutdown for parts of the federal government that would otherwise kick in Saturday. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The … Read more

Bolsonaro claims he won’t lead opposition as he returns to Brazil for first time since riots | CNN

Bolsonaro claims he won’t lead opposition as he returns to Brazil for first time since riots | CNN

Brasilia, Brazil CNN  —  Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday claimed he would no longer lead the country’s opposition as he boarded a flight home for the first time since his election defeat that culminated in thousands of his supporters rioting in protest at the result. Bolsonaro, who denies inciting violent attacks in the … Read more

Joe Biden proposes over $25 billion U.S. spending in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

Joe Biden proposes over $25 billion U.S. spending in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

U.S. President Joe Biden departs Joint Base Andrews for Philadelphia to announce his budget for fiscal year 2024, in Maryland, U.S., March 9, 2023 | Photo Credit: Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday proposed more than $25 billion spending, mostly in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular in the critical infrastructure sector and defence to … Read more

US intel chiefs say China likely to press Taiwan and seek to undercut US | CNN Politics

US intel chiefs say China likely to press Taiwan and seek to undercut US | CNN Politics

CNN  —  US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to press Taiwan and try to undercut US influence in the coming years as he begins a third term as president. While Beijing has stepped up its public criticism of the US, Haines told the Senate … Read more

A 10-year effort to officially end the Iraq War | CNN Politics

A 10-year effort to officially end the Iraq War | CNN Politics

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. CNN  —  Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, after trying for 10 years, is on the cusp of getting Congress to repeal the authorizations that led the US into war against Iraq in … Read more

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro applies for six-month US tourist visa | CNN

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro applies for six-month US tourist visa | CNN

CNN  —  Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is seeking a six-month tourist visa to remain in the United States, the law firm representing Bolsonaro confirmed to CNN Brasil on Monday. The request was filed on Friday, January 27, AG Immigration told CNN Brasil, and comes amid reports that he arrived to the US on an … Read more

Donald Trump’s tax returns released after long fight with Congress

Donald Trump’s tax returns released after long fight with Congress

Washington: Democrats in Congress released six years’ worth of former President Donald Trump‘s tax returns on Friday, the culmination of a yearslong effort to learn about the finances of a onetime business mogul who broke decades of political norms when he refused to voluntarily release the information as he sought the White House. The returns, … Read more

She left the dangers of Ukraine only to be killed riding a bike close to home. Hundreds rode in her honor to demand change | CNN

She left the dangers of Ukraine only to be killed riding a bike close to home. Hundreds rode in her honor to demand change | CNN

CNN  —  On Thursday, Dan Langenkamp marked 12 weeks since his wife, Sarah, was killed. To honor her, Dan and his two young sons do what they do every day at around 4:05 p.m., the time Sarah died: They drop whatever they are working on, gather together, hold hands and talk to her, sharing details … Read more

What midterm elections could mean for the US economy | CNN Business

What midterm elections could mean for the US economy | CNN Business

A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business’ Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here. You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link. New York CNN Business  —  Tuesday’s midterm elections come at a time of economic vulnerability for the United … Read more