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The Hill
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Sen. Angus King to oppose ‘any' support for Israel amid Gaza crisis
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said Monday he will oppose 'any' support for Israel amid the hunger crisis in Gaza. 'I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy,' King said in a statement on his website. 'My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government,' he added. On Monday, President Trump indicated a break with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the president stated there was 'real starvation' happening. Trump said to reporters during a meeting alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he was 'not particularly' in line with Netanyahu's claim that there was no starvation occurring in Gaza, which has faced mass destruction and death in Israel's war against Hamas. 'I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry,' Trump told reporters when asked about Netanyahu's claim. Gaza humanitarian director for Save the Children Rachael Cummings said that the situation for Gazans is 'catastrophic' and that children 'are literally starving.' 'The situation in Gaza is catastrophic for children and increasingly now for adults. There is no food available in the market. Children are literally starving,' Cummings said on ABC's 'This Week.' King said in his Monday statement that he 'cannot defend the indefensible,' adding that 'Israel's actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency.' 'What appears to be a deliberately-induced famine among a civilian population—including tens of thousands of starving children—can never be an acceptable military strategy,' he continued.
Irish Examiner
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
First woman to lead RTÉ's news and current affairs division named Cork Person of the Month
The first woman to lead RTÉ's news and current affairs division has been named Cork Person of the Month for July. Deirdre McCarthy, who was appointed to the position in December 2022, is originally from Douglas. She was educated at UCC, where she was conferred with a BA in history and economics. She also holds an MA in politics from UCD, and a postgraduate diploma in conflict and dispute resolution from Trinity. Flagship shows including Morning Ireland, the Six One News and Prime Time are now under her remit. She forms part of the senior management team at RTÉ and sits on its executive board. Across her three decades in RTÉ, Ms McCarthy has been a TV and radio journalist, she has been managing editor of regions and radio news programmes, as well as politics and business coverage, and she has steered the growth of radio news programmes like Morning Ireland, News at One and This Week. She was RTÉ's political coverage editor at Leinster House, and from 2008 to 2012, she was the editor of The Week in Politics and Leaders' Questions. Cork Person of the Year organisers said throughout her time at RTÉ, she has consistently demonstrated a keen understanding of the evolving media landscape and a strong commitment to journalistic integrity, and that current affairs output. 'Deirdre is an active champion of initiatives promoting media literacy and fostering informed public discourse,' they said. 'Her commitment to fair and balanced reporting has been a hallmark of her career, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and critical issues are examined with rigour and accuracy. 'This is epitomised in her work launching RTÉ's Clarity initiative, which aims to demystify complicated issues, debunk deliberate attempts to distort reality, detail how online discourse impacts democracy, and explain exactly how RTÉ verifies its quality journalism.' Awards founder and organiser Manus O'Callaghan said Ms McCarthy's most recent appointment was a tremendous achievement, honour and responsibility. 'In a world where 'fake news' has entered the lexicon, trust in who supplies our news is all important, and RTÉ News under Deirdre's guidance tops all the surveys which measures trust in media organisations,' he said. Her name now goes forward for consideration alongside the other monthly winners for Cork Person of the Year which will be announced at the awards lunch next January. Read More Shocks from Spanish earthquake felt in Mitchelstown Cave
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Prosecutor blasts ‘highly unusual' US Justice Department interview of Ghislaine Maxwell
Once considered by US president Donald Trump as a potential candidate to serve as attorney general during his first presidency, Mr Christie told ABC News' This Week that deputy attorney general Todd Blanche's direct involvement in interviewing Maxwell over the course of nine hours on Thursday and Friday of last week was 'highly unusual'. He questioned whether Mr Blanche, formerly a personal attorney for the president and a Trump loyalist, could be trusted to accurately convey what Maxwell said during their conversation. 'I have never seen this done, ever,' Mr Christie said. 'The deputy attorney general runs the Department of Justice, they don't interview witnesses. ' interviewing a witness, you bring at least one agent with you, if not two, so there are a number of people taking notes and there are witnesses there. 'We've heard nothing about whether Todd Blanche brought anyone with him to verify whatever he's going to report back, as a third independent source.' Mr Christie also asserted that it wasn't clear whether Mr Blanche had aides or other federal attorneys with him for the conversation with Maxwell, or whether the Trump administration was truly interested in pursuing charges against potential co-conspirators named by sex offender Maxwell. 'For building a case – building a case for what? And against who? She's in jail for 20 years, and her co-conspirator is dead. So what exactly are they doing?' The Independent reached out to the Department of Justice for comment and clarification on whether Mr Blanche met with Maxwell alone. Mr Blanche has not commented publicly on the matter since Thursday, when he tweeted following his first meeting with Maxwell: 'Today, I met with Ghislaine Maxwell, and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow. 'The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time.' ADVERTISEMENT Some have called Maxwell to testify publicly and suggested she could be given a pardon for sharing what she knows about the Epstein case. Mr Trump has denied that he is considering it. Maxwell was convicted of sexual abuse against minors and sex trafficking after Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting a trial on similar charges. The House Oversight Committee voted last week to issue a subpoena for Maxwell after the Justice Department announced its own plans to speak with her. Speculation about Epstein's death and the so-called 'client list' of his co-conspirators erupted in early July. The Justice Department and FBI published a joint memo explaining that future releases from the files would not take place, and that the list of Epstein's accomplices was not found. Epstein was rumoured to have cultivated personal relationships with many powerful men. Critics of the president have alleged that a cover-up is in the works. Democrats have hammered the president for his administration's reversal on releasing files from the investigation. A pair of scoops this month from the Wall Street Journal reported on the president's connections to Epstein, driving the accusations of the president's involvement in a cover-up into a frenzy. The newspaper reported the contents of a message allegedly penned by Mr Trump to Epstein as part of a 50th birthday celebration in 2003, including allusions to a shared 'secret' between them. Trump firmly denied authoring the note, and sued the Journal. A second article from the Journal days later reported that attorney general Pam Bondi informed Mr Trump in May that he was mentioned in the Epstein investigation multiple times, but it was not clear in what context. The White House called that story 'fake' and has repeatedly insinuated that Democrats including Joe Biden tampered with evidence.
UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Lawmakers clash on potential Maxwell pardon but work together on bill
Lawmakers are disagreeing about whether convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell should be granted a pardon by President Donald Trump. But Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., are working together on a bill to force the president to release the files on the Jeffrey Epstein case. File photo by Rick Bajornas/UN photo handout July 27 (UPI) -- United States Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson said on Sunday that he would have "great pause" if President Donald Trump pardoned Ghislaine Maxwell, but said it was Trump's decision. But Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said that "whatever they need to do to compel [Maxwell's] testimony, as long as it's truthful, I would be in favor of," on Meet the Press Sunday. Maxwell is the convicted associate of the late child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail. Maxwell, with her attorney, met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for two days last week, which sparked the conversation around a potential pardon. She has served five years of a 20-year sentence. There have been growing calls from Democrats and Republicans for Trump to release files on the Epstein case. "If you're asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance. I think she should have a life sentence at least. I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes," Johnson told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker. "It's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing. So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would." When Welker pushed directly on whether Johnson favored a pardon, Johnson deferred to Trump. "Obviously that's a decision of the president. I won't get it in front of him. That's not my lane," he said. Welker conducted a joint interview with Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who are working together to push Trump to release the files. Khanna disagreed. "No, I don't" believe that Maxwell should be pardoned or have her sentence commuted. He said he is "concerned" about her meeting with Blanche. "Look, I agree with Congressman Massie that she should testify, but she's been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files," Khanna added. Khanna and Massie are co-sponsoring a bill that would force the Trump administration to publish "all unclassified records" on Epstein. "Politics is the art of the doable," Massie said Sunday. "There's enough public pressure right now that we can get 218 votes and force this to a vote on the floor." Nearly a dozen House Republicans have signed on to back Massie's joint measure with Khanna. Some Democrats, including Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., also signed on. Massie also went on ABC News' This Week, and said "Well, I think we should get a lot more than just the (birthday) book. Let's get the financial records of the estate. Where is it - follow the money, as they say up here," Massie told co-anchor Jonathan Karl. "We should look at the plea bargain. Open that up. See what was the deal? What was the deal that was cut? I think there's a lot more than just that letter." He told Karl about the bill. "It would force a full release of the files. It has the force of law," Massie said on This Week. "It's not a subpoena. It's not a 'Pretty please, would you release the files?' It's the force of law and it's got protections to redact victims' names and to prevent, you know, release of child pornography." Khanna added that Democrats' interest in the case is not new. "We have been pushing for transparency during the Biden administration, both in 2021 and 2024, the court ordered release of documents, but Donald Trump raised the stakes and he did it in a way in the campaign that was justified. He said, 'Look, when I get there, I'm going to release the files,'" Khanna said.
The Journal
a day ago
- Business
- The Journal
'A good deal for everybody': US and EU reach 15% tariff deal after Trump-von der Leyen meeting
LAST UPDATE | 48 mins ago US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have 'reached a deal' after meeting in Scotland in a high-stakes attempt to end a months-long transatlantic trade dispute. 'We have reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody,' Trump told reporters after talks with von der Leyen at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland. 'This is the biggest [deal] of them all.' He told reporters in Scotland that the EU had committed to investing an extra $600 billion in the United States, as well as purchasing $750 billion worth of energy. Trump had put the odds of a deal at '50-50″. Before the meeting, Trump said that tariffs on EU exports will not be lower than 15%. 'No,' Trump responded when asked by a reporter whether he was able to agree to a lower levy. The US president, sitting beside von der Leyen, added that pharmaceuticals 'won't be part of' any deal. Speaking afterwards, Trump said that the US and EU have 'reached a deal'. The European Commission, negotiating on behalf of the EU's 27 member states, has been working to salvage a trading relationship worth €1.6 trillion annually in goods and services. The motorcade of Ursula von der Leyen the president of the European Commission arrives at Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo European capitals have been closely involved in the process, and their diplomats are expected to quickly sign off on any agreement reached at the leadership level. Speaking this afternoon on RTÉ's This Week, European Commissioner Michael McGrath said that the EU was ultimately hoping for a 'zero for zero' deal in which the US and the EU would refrain from adding tariffs and counter tariffs to a large group of products. Although this is the EU's 'ideal scenario', McGrath accepted that this was 'not entirely shared'. 'The EU's response will depend on whether or not an agreement is reached, and I think it's not helpful to get into the different scenarios that could emerge if there is no agreement,' McGrath said, 'and if the US go ahead with the 30% [threatened tariff rate] and so on, then we are ready with our countermeasures.' Trump waves to reporters while playing golf at his Turnberry golf course. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo On arriving in the UK on Friday, the 79-year-old president said he hoped to strike 'the biggest deal of them all' with the EU. He referred to von der Leyen as 'Ursula' and called her 'a highly respected woman', a notable shift from past criticism of the EU. Advertisement 'I think we've got a good 50-50 chance,' said Trump, acknowledging that about 20 issues still need resolving. The European Commission said on Thursday it believed a deal was within reach. Tánaiste Simon Harris said this week he remains 'cautiously optimistic' a deal could be reached for a 'positive future EU-US trading relationship within the coming days'. 'It is now long past time to strike a deal,' Harris said. Tariff threats Tariffs pose a serious challenge for export-oriented economies (like us in Ireland), which rely heavily on open access to international markets. In recent decades, the dismantling of global trade barriers has helped lift millions out of poverty, particularly in developing nations. However, the most damaging effect of the ongoing trade war may be the uncertainty it has created, freezing investment decisions both in Ireland and across Europe. According to diplomats, the proposal includes a baseline 15% tariff on EU exports to the US, matching the rate agreed with Japan. Exceptions would be made for key sectors such as aviation, timber and spirits, excluding wine. The EU would also commit to increasing imports of US liquefied natural gas and make other investment pledges. A potential compromise on steel is also being discussed, allowing a set quota to enter tariff-free, with any excess taxed at 50%. Since Trump's return to office, the EU has been hit by successive waves of US tariffs, including 25 per cent on cars, 50% on steel and aluminium, and a 10 per cent across-the-board rate, which could rise to 30% without a deal. The EU is eager to avoid further damage to its already fragile economy. If talks fail, the EU has prepared retaliatory tariffs on $109 billion worth of US goods, including aircraft and cars, to take effect from 7 August. It is also drawing up measures targeting US services. France and other member states have urged the Commission not to shy away from using a so-called trade 'bazooka' to restrict American access to European markets and public tenders, though such a move would mark a serious escalation. Trump, who has promised to strike '90 deals in 90 days', has so far concluded five, including agreements with Britain, Japan and the Philippines. A deal with the EU would boost his trade credentials ahead of the US election and distract from mounting controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein case, which continues to draw backlash from some of his own supporters. Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
