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CNN
19 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Two top Biden aides set to testify in probe of Biden mental decline
Two more of Joe Biden's top White House aides are set to appear before the House Oversight Committee for scheduled interviews this week as part of the Republican-led panel's intensifying investigation into the former president's cognitive decline and possible efforts to conceal it from the public. The committee has scheduled interviews with former Biden counselor Steve Ricchetti and former senior adviser Mike Donilon for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. In a departure from some previous high-profile witnesses, the two have signaled they will voluntarily sit for them. As of Tuesday afternoon, the committee had not issued subpoenas compelling their appearances. Several Biden aides have declined to cooperate with the committee's investigation, prompting the panel to subpoena their appearances. They then invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during the closed-door meetings. Earlier this month, three Biden aides – White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor, former assistant to the president and senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal and former special assistant to the president and deputy director of Oval Office operations Annie Tomasini – pleaded the fifth in the face of questions from the panel. Invoking the Fifth Amendment is typically done to avoid answering specific questions, and though it can be perceived by the public as a way of avoiding accountability, the US Supreme Court has long regarded the right against self-incrimination as a venerable part of the Constitution. Still, a number of Biden aides have sat for voluntary sat for interviews with the panel. Former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, for example, told the committee last week that Hillary Clinton had expressed concerns to him in 2023 that Biden's age was an issue the campaign hadn't dealt with effectively, and that national security adviser Jake Sullivan told him in 2024 after the presidential debate that Biden wasn't as effective as he once had been, a source familiar with the matter previously told CNN. Klain told the committee that he believed Biden had the mental sharpness to serve as president and he saw no reason to doubt Biden's mental acuity, another source said. A Clinton spokesman did not dispute Klain's account, but said Clinton was concerned with how the question of Biden's age was being handled politically in light of the attacks and questions he was facing. As with Klain, Neera Tanden, the former White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Ashley Williams, former special assistant to the president and deputy director of Oval Office Operations, sat for transcribed interviews. According to a source familiar with her interview, Williams told the committee she believes that Biden was in command the night of the debate and was fit to be president, including now. The source said Williams stated she 'did not recall' many times during her five-hour interview to several questions, including whether teleprompters were used for Cabinet meetings, if there were discussions about Biden using a wheelchair, if there were discussions about Biden undergoing a cognitive test, if she discussed Biden declining physically or mentally, if she ever had to wake Biden up, and how she got involved in his 2020 campaign. The source said that Williams would not say a good memory was an important trait for working at the White House. An attorney representing Williams did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening. The committee is expected transcribe interviews with additional high-level aides next week, including with former deputy chief of staff for policy Bruce Reed on Tuesday and former senior adviser to the president for communications Anita Dunn on Thursday. Other former aides expected to testify in the coming months include: former special assistant to the president and senior adviser in the White House Counsel's Office Ian Sams on August 21; former deputy assistant to the president and senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates on September 5; former assistant to the president and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on September 12; and former chief of staff Jeff Zients on September 18. Arlette Saenz contributed to this report.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Names of camp mystic girls missing from Texas after devastating flooding emerge, more rainfall expected
Texas flooding: 10 things you need to know Live Events Mystic campers missing (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel At least 24 people were killed and a frantic search continued overnight for many others missing in the Texas Hill Country in flash flooding in the US state of Texas. Among those missing include children who were staying in area summer camps as heavy rains caused 'catastrophic' flooding along the Guadalupe death toll from the Guadalupe River flooding has climbed to 24, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Friday night.-At least 24 people died in Kerr County, Texas, after severe flooding inundated the area, County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha said Friday. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said more than 20 girls are unaccounted for at Camp Mystic, which is in Kerr County, reports CNN.-More than 200 people have been rescued following severe flooding in Kerr County, Texas, and emergency response efforts are still underway.-President Donald Trump called the central Texas flooding 'terrible' and pledged federal support in the aftermath. 'It's terrible. The floods? It's shocking. They don't know the answer yet as to how many people, but it looks like some young people have died,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to his New Jersey golf club.-The search for those swept up in floodwaters in central Texas will continue throughout the night as state and local officials 'remain in a search and rescue posture,' Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday.-Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the flooding an 'extraordinary catastrophe,' and promised the state would provide everything in its power to find the missing people and help the communities hit by the flooding.-The Houston-born owner and director of a Hill Country summer camp was one of at least 25 to die after rain surged over the banks of the Guadalupe River Friday morning, camp officials told Houston Chronicle.-Many events in Texas for Independence Day had to be cancelled last minute as a result of heavy rainfall. The rain is expected to continue here overnight and through Sunday.-At a press conference, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the flooding began sometime after 4:00 a.m., when extreme rains of as much as 12 inches an hour hit. The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise.-More than 12 inches of rain fell over a 12-hour period, sending the Guadalupe River near Hunt to its second-highest level on record at 29.45 feet, the National Weather Service said.-West-central Texas will continue to see flooding into the weekend, the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center said on the afternoon of July 4. "The forecast calls for locally heavy rainfall to persist into tomorrow (Saturday July 5)."Rescue operations are ongoing in Central Texas after flash flooding along the Guadalupe River left 23 girls from Camp Mystic unaccounted for. The names of some of the nearly two dozen girls missing after floodwaters swept away a Christian girls' summer camp in Texas are beginning to emerge as desperate families await news from search and rescue of the missing Camp Mystic girls is Hadley Hanna, 8, from Dallas, as per CBS News. Other missing Camp Mystic girls from North Texas include Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, 9, from Hanna's parents told WFAA their cherubic 8-year-old was among the girls confirmed missing, and that they've rushed to Hunt from their Dallas home to be on hand for the search. The mother of 9-year-old camper Lainey Landry told CNN her missing daughter was 'brave and sweet.' Young Renee was in the same cabin as Eloise and Lila, and her parents told NBC DFW she was confirmed missing with them.'We are just praying,' Janie Hunt's distraught mother told CNN. Camper Kellyanne Lytal is also among the missing, according to Fox 4. Virginia Hollis has also been confirmed missing, according to WANE. Greta Toranzo, who attends Sinclair Elementary School in Houston, was also confirmed missing, according to the Houston Chronicle.(With inputs from agencies)
Muscat Daily
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Putin says Russia ready for ‘direct talks' with Ukraine
Moscow, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is ready for 'direct talks' with Ukraine, according to a report by CNN. The development comes as the US and European leaders press for a per CNN, President Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed holding 'direct talks' with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul.'We would like to start immediately, already next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held before and where they were interrupted,' Putin said in a late-night televised address. He emphasised the talks should be held 'without any preconditions', as reported by CNN.'We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine,' Putin said, adding they are intended to 'eliminate the root causes of the conflict' and 'reach the establishment of a long-term, durable peace'.According to CNN, the proposal came just hours after the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and urged Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday or face possible 'massive sanctions', according to French President Emmanuel reported that Ukraine and Russia have not held direct talks since the conflict began in 2022. Putin said on Sunday he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about holding talks with reported that Putin called the proposed talks 'a first step to a long-lasting stable peace but not a prologue to the continuation of an armed conflict after re-armament and re-equipping of Ukrainian armed forces and feverish digging of trenches in new strongholds'.Earlier on Thursday, in a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said, 'if the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions'. As per CNN, the US President has made ending the war in Ukraine one of his priorities. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff went to Russia several times to hold meetings between several other high-level meetings between US and Russian officials since Trump returned to the White House in January. Trump welcomes Putin's proposal Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday welcomed the proposal by Putin to hold direct talks with Ukraine in the Turkish city of Istanbul starting on Thursday. 'A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end. It will be a whole new, and much better, world,' Trump said on social media. Trump went on to say that he will continue to work with both Moscow and Kyiv to 'make sure that it happens'. 'A big week upcoming!' he added, touting a shift in focus to rebuilding and trade. Zelensky, meanwhile, said he welcomed Putin's offer of direct talks, but said a ceasefire must come first. 'It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war … And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire,' Zelensky posted on X. 'We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12th,' he added. Agencies
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
It is a positive sign: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomes Russian indication to end war
It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single... - Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 11, 2025 Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday welcomed the indication that Russia may be considering ending the war, calling it a positive sign. He emphasised the importance of a full, lasting, and reliable ceasefire as the first step towards peace."It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire," Zelenskyy posted on comes after European leaders from United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland travelled to Kyiv and called for a full and unconditional ceasefire starting May 12. Zelenskyy emphasised that the ceasefire must cover all areas, land, sea, and air, and last at least 30 emphasised that the ceasefire must cover all areas, land, sea, and air, and last at least 30 days. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasised the importance of peace, sovereignty, and Ukraine's future as a free and European nation."There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire - full, lasting, and reliable - starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet," added Zelenskyy on X Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is ready for 'direct talks' with Ukraine, according to a report by CNN. The development comes as the US and European leaders press for a per CNN, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed holding "direct talks" with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul."We would like to start immediately, already next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held before and where they were interrupted," Putin said in a late-night televised address. He emphasized the talks should be held "without any preconditions", as reported by CNN."We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine," Putin said, adding they are intended to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "reach the establishment of a long-term, durable peace."CNN reported that Putin called the proposed talks "a first step to a long-lasting stable peace but not a prologue to the continuation of an armed conflict after re-armament and re-equipping of Ukrainian armed forces and feverish digging of trenches in new strongholds."he conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for an extended period, resulting in significant human suffering and economic Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has become one of the most devastating conflicts in Europe.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Soulless piece of crap': Angry protester jumps on stage during Dem rep's town hall
A Democratic lawmaker's town hall was cut short after being disrupted by hotheaded protesters on Wednesday night, one of several disturbances at congressional events this week. "You are the most soulless piece of crap I have ever seen," a pro-Palestinian protester yelled at Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., during his town hall in Downers Grove, Illinois, according to video captured at the event reported by CNN. The event saw interruptions from several other individuals, most of whom were protesting issues related to Israel and Gaza. "What you're saying is I'm not going to get my way when my people are being slaughtered, and I want you to stop funding that," the pro-Palestinian individual screamed before storming the stage where the congressman was standing. Chaos Erupts At Gop Lawmaker's Town Hall After Left-wing Groups Promote Protests "If you would like to run for office, run for office," Casten told the attendee. Read On The Fox News App House Dem Gets Earful From Angry Constituents: 'Show Some…backbone' Another individual approached the stage with a video camera as she yelled at the congressman. "People did not come here to hear you," Casten told the attendee. "Show some respect for the people in this district." During the event, Casten was also confronted by a pro-Israel attendee who approached the stage. Police were eventually called to the scene, and the event was cut short. "A small group of individuals have attended multiple of Rep. Casten's events with the sole intent of disrupting and shutting down the event, preventing constituents from being able to participate and engage in the democratic process," a spokesperson for Casten told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Rep. Casten is proud to have successfully hosted a half dozen town halls and community meetings so far this year and will continue to find ways to productively engage with his constituents," the spokesperson said. The protest comes amid a slew of fiery disruptions at town halls across the country, affecting members on both sides of the aisle. An event hosted by Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., on Tuesday saw several interruptions from constituents, who told the congressman to "fight" and "show some of the backbone and strategic brilliance that Mitch McConnell would have in the minority." Meanwhile, also this week, Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., hosted an event that was disrupted by hecklers who booed any mention of cost-cutting efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Fox News' Aishah Hasnie and Liz Elkind contributed to this article source: 'Soulless piece of crap': Angry protester jumps on stage during Dem rep's town hall
