33 h. ago Soldiers are doing landscaping in DC parks. I’m thrilled for them | Dave Schilling

They were deployed to fight crime. Instead, some are spreading mulch. It’s almost sweet – if you remove the contextIf soldiers are going to be deployed to your city, what would you prefer they do: point a rifle in your face or mow your grass? This is not a question I ever expected to have to consider in my days on this planet, but life is full of surprises. As part of Donald Trump’s military deployment to address Washington DC’s so-called “crime emergency”, national guard troops are being tasked with various groundskeeping duties around the United States capital. These duties include spreading mulch around cherry trees, picking up trash and general maintenance of public spaces. The president must have been too embarrassed to get Four Seasons Total Landscaping involved again, so he got the military to do it instead.It’s a real “swords into ploughshares” moment, or in this case, “M4 rifles into those grabber sticks you use to pick up plastic bottles full of piss.” It’s almost sweet, i...

Events

3 d. ago Russian media vows to ‘protect’ suspect as Brit boy, 3, ‘abducted’ from Marbella

Putin's state-control media has vowed to 'protect' the Russian mother who is suspected of abducting her British son from Marbella and taking him to her home country

Politics

5 d. ago Sweeping ransomware cyberattack by ‘malicious actors’ hits Nevada

The cyberattack also impacted the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which regulates gaming in the state including on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Events

5 d. ago Border agents arrest two firefighters who were tackling an active blaze in Washington

Two firefighters working to control the largest wildfire in Washington state were arrested on Wednesday by immigration officials.

Events

6 d. ago Trump extends control over Washington by taking management of Union Station away from Amtrak

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says his department is taking management of Washington's main transportation hub away from Amtrak, in another example of how the federal government is exerting its power over the nation’s capital

Politics

1 week ago California’s governor signed a redistricting plan. What happens next?

Everything to know about Gavin Newsom’s newly signed proposal, special elections and how California voters feelCalifornia’s governor, Gavin Newsom, on Thursday signed a redistricting plan and declared a special election to ask voters to change the boundaries of five Republican-held congressional districts in the state.The legislative manoeuvre is part of a national battle for control of the US House of Representatives, and comes as a direct response to developments in Texas. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago State Pension payments could be frozen due to soaring costs of annual uprating under Triple Lock

Financial expert Claire Trott suggests further increases to the age of retirement may help control soaring State Pension costs.

Economics

1 week ago Myanmar's military retakes a strategic town 2 years after the resistance captured it

State media in Myanmar say the military has regained control of a strategic town in eastern Kayah state from the opposition’s armed forces after nearly two years

Events

1 week ago South Park takes aim at Trump’s Washington DC crime crackdown with the return of an old character

The decades-old character last made an appearance in Season 24’s “Holiday Special” in 2019

Politics

2 w. ago Trump makes false claims about crime in Washington DC as homeless camps are cleared

President’s comments come after protesters heckled officers who stopped cars at checkpoint along busy streetDonald Trump falsely claimed that crime in Washington DC is “the worst it’s ever been” on Thursday, amid a federal takeover of the city’s police department and deployment of the national guard and federal agents in the city.“Washington DC is at its worst point,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “It will soon be at its best point.” He also baselessly accused DC law enforcement officials of giving “phony crime stats” and said “they’re under investigation”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Moment police tackle man to ground and arrested him in front of White House

The arrest comes after Donald Trump launched into a rant about crime in Washington, claiming it's the 'worst it's ever been' - and said his administration would take control of the city's police

Events

2 w. ago Trump falsely claims crime in US capital is ‘worst it’s ever been’ as protesters confront federal officers

The president ordered a federal takeover of Washington DC’s police and the deployment of national guardUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump falsely claimed that crime in Washington DC is “the “worst it’s ever been” on Thursday, amid an ongoing federal takeover of the city’s police department and deployment of the national guard and federal agents in the city.“Washington DC is at its worst point,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “It will soon be at its best point.” He also baselessly accused DC law enforcement officials of giving “phony crime stats” and said “they’re under investigation”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump falsely claims crime in Washington DC is ‘worst it’s ever been’

President’s comments come after protesters heckled officers who stopped cars at checkpoint along busy streetUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump falsely claimed that crime in Washington DC is “the “worst it’s ever been” on Thursday, amid a federal takeover of the city’s police department and deployment of the national guard and federal agents in the city.“Washington DC is at its worst point,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “It will soon be at its best point.” He also baselessly accused DC law enforcement officials of giving “phony crime stats” and said “they’re under investigation”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Republican doesn’t wear seatbelt in DC ‘because of carjacking’ despite data showing decline

Senator echoes Trump’s claims about crime in Washington DC, disputing statistics showing a drop in car thefts and other violationsUS politics live – latest updatesA Republican senator said that he doesn’t wear a seatbelt when he’s driving in Washington DC so he can act more swiftly if he gets carjacked, adding further fuel to repeated rhetoric by the Trump administration that crime is on the rise in the US – despite statistics indicating otherwise.Markwayne Mullin told Fox News on Wednesday that he avoids buckling up, violating local traffic ordinances, so he can “exit in a hurry”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Got the sniffles? Here's what to know about summer colds and the COVID

COVID-19 activity is rising in much of the country

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says he’ll seek ‘longterm’ control of DC police and signals he’ll target other cities next

President’s comments come as White House takes credit for dozens of arrests as part of campaign to fight ‘crime crisis’ its leaders say doesn’t existUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump said on Wednesday he would ask Congress for “longterm” control of Washington DC’s police department and signaled he expected other Democratic-led cities to change their laws in response to his deployment of national guard troops and federal agents into the capital.The president’s comments came as the White House took credit for dozens of arrests overnight in Washington as part of Trump’s campaign to fight a “crime crisis”, which its leaders say does not exist. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago The murder capital of the US and a former mayor on crack: DC’s history of crime problems

The president’s depiction of Washington, D.C. as a violent, crime-ridden cesspit is nothing new

Events

2 w. ago Trump updates: National Guard patrol streets of Washington, DC amid president’s federal takeover

National Guard troops were spotted at armory and Washington Monument as first night of troop operations in Trump’s crime crackdown got underway

Politics

2 w. ago National Guard troops on the streets of DC to fight what Trump calls ‘out of control’ crime in the nation’s capital

The presence of troops in the capital is expected to grow over the next week and the president is threatening to take similar tactics to other Democratic cities

Politics

2 w. ago Trump live updates: National Guard patrol streets of Washington, DC amid president’s federal takeover

National Guard troops were spotted at armory and Washington Monument as first night of troop operations in Trump’s crime crackdown got underway

Politics