Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, the Kremlin mentioned, days earlier than the White Home’s Friday deadline for Russia to succeed in a peace take care of Ukraine or doubtlessly face extreme financial penalties that would additionally hit nations shopping for its oil. Earlier talks between Russia and Ukraine, and Russian and U.S. officers, made no progress on ending the three-year warfare following Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.
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Per Trump’s order, Park Service and Hegseth order Accomplice statues restored
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced Tuesday {that a} statue commemorating the Confederacy can be returned to Arlington Nationwide Cemetery. And the Nationwide Park Service introduced Monday that the statue of Albert Pike, a Accomplice brigadier basic, would return to Washington’s Judiciary Sq..
The Pike statue was pulled down with ropes and chains on Juneteenth in 2020 as a part of mass protests following the dying of George Floyd by the hands of Minneapolis police.
In 2022, an impartial fee really useful that the Arlington memorial be eliminated. It encompasses a Black lady depicted as “Mammy” holding what is claimed to be the kid of a white officer, and an enslaved man following his proprietor to warfare. Hegseth mentioned it ought to “by no means ought to have been taken down by woke lemmings. In contrast to the Left, we don’t imagine in erasing American historical past — we honor it.”
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Trump threatens federal takeover of DC after assault on DOGE’s ‘Large Balls’
Two 15-year-olds have been arrested in reference to the tried carjacking and beating of some of the outstanding members of the Division of Authorities Effectivity. Trump responded with a menace to grab management of the nation’s capital.
Edward Coristine, nicknamed “Large Balls,” was assaulted round 3 a.m. Sunday by a gaggle of youngsters making an attempt to carjack him and a lady police recognized as his important different.
The assault supplied new gasoline for long-standing Republican efforts to problem Washington’s autonomy. Trump posted: “If D.C. doesn’t get its act collectively, and shortly, we can have no selection however to take Federal management of the Metropolis, and run this Metropolis the way it ought to be run.”
▶ Learn extra on Trump’s response to this road crime in DC
Trump weighs in on Texas Democrats fleeing state to halt vote
The president mentioned the FBI “might should” have a hand in bringing again lawmakers who left Texas to be able to forestall a vote on redistricting maps that purpose to offer Republicans 5 extra seats within the U.S. Home.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas known as on the FBI to assist find and arrest the Democrats below civil arrest warrants. Authorized specialists say implementing penalties towards the Democrats can be tough.
RFK Jr. cancels $500 million in funding for vaccines
The Division of Well being and Human Companies will cancel contracts and pull funding associated to 22 initiatives that make the most of mRNA expertise, together with initiatives creating vaccines that battle respiratory viruses just like the flu and COVID-19.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the well being secretary and a longtime vaccine critic, mentioned Tuesday that he desires the U.S. to maneuver away from mRNA vaccines and known as on the division to begin “investing in higher options.” Consultants say proof exhibits mRNA expertise is secure and efficient.
Decide guidelines Trump administration can’t reallocate $4 billion meant for catastrophe mitigation
A federal choose in Boston granted a preliminary injunction sought by 20 Democrat-led states whereas their lawsuit over the funding strikes forward.
FEMA mentioned in April that the company would finish this system, which offers funds to strengthen infrastructure towards potential storm harm.
Later, the company mentioned it was solely evaluating whether or not to finish this system or not, however the states argue that the specter of shedding the funding alone has put quite a few initiatives susceptible to being canceled, delayed or downsized.
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