The State Department on Thursday announced that it will sanction Cuba’s state-owned oil and gas company Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET) amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and the island country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest sanctions are pursuant of President Trump’s May 1 executive order expanding sanctions on government officials, agents “or material…

The State Department on Thursday announced that it will sanction Cuba’s state-owned oil and gas company Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET) amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and the island country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest sanctions are pursuant of President Trump’s May 1 executive order expanding sanctions on government officials, agents “or material…

Vice President Vance will appear on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday to promote his forthcoming book on his faith journey. ABC announced the appearance in a release, adding that the vice president will join all six co-hosts on the program: Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro. While…

Vice President Vance will appear on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday to promote his forthcoming book on his faith journey. ABC announced the appearance in a release, adding that the vice president will join all six co-hosts on the program: Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro. While…

Plan comes after major New York Times report alleges files became source of crisis within Trump administration

Democrats on the House oversight committee, led by Representative Robert Garcia, plan to call on JD Vance to testify on the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files following a major report on Wednesday from the New York Times, which described how the Epstein files became the source of an internal crisis within Trump’s administration.

Garcia will call on the committee chair, James Comer, to summon the vice-president to speak, according to a post from Max Cohen, a reporter with Punchbowl News. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether Vance would agree to appear.

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© Photograph: Matt Rourke/Reuters

© Photograph: Matt Rourke/Reuters

© Photograph: Matt Rourke/Reuters

Government urged to reconsider proposal for 1,100 Afghans, currently stranded in Qatar, who worked with US forces

Dozens of US lawmakers urged the Trump administration on Thursday to roll back any plans to ship to unsafe third countries Afghan nationals who worked with US forces during the war in their homeland.

In a letter seen by Reuters, more than 80 House of Representatives members, including at least three Republicans as well as Democrats, appealed to secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to reconsider plans for 1,100 Afghans who have been stranded in Qatar awaiting relocation.

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© Photograph: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump on Thursday selected U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) following weeks of tumult after the president appointed Bill Pulte as the acting director. “Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump…

President Trump on Thursday selected U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) following weeks of tumult after the president appointed Bill Pulte as the acting director. “Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump…

More than 8 in 10 respondents to a recent CBS News/YouGov poll said that the federal government knows more than it is disclosing to the public regarding UFOs, after the Pentagon released a trove of files on the subject.  The survey, conducted from June 2 to 4, found that 84 percent of 2,023 respondents said that the…

More than 8 in 10 respondents to a recent CBS News/YouGov poll said that the federal government knows more than it is disclosing to the public regarding UFOs, after the Pentagon released a trove of files on the subject.  The survey, conducted from June 2 to 4, found that 84 percent of 2,023 respondents said that the…

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday with the UFC to create a public-private partnership with the mixed martial arts company ahead of this weekend’s cage fights on the White House’s South Lawn.  Rubio referred to the UFC as the “United Nations of fighting” in his Thursday remarks lauding the company…

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday with the UFC to create a public-private partnership with the mixed martial arts company ahead of this weekend’s cage fights on the White House’s South Lawn.  Rubio referred to the UFC as the “United Nations of fighting” in his Thursday remarks lauding the company…

US president had faced widespread criticism of his decision to install a controversial ally, Bill Pulte

Donald Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, former head of the top US markets watchdog, to be the country’s leading intelligence official.

The US president faced widespread criticism of his decision to install a controversial ally, Bill Pulte, as acting director of national intelligence while searching for a permanent candidate.

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© Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Jacob Reses, Vice President Vance’s chief of staff who has been with him since his Senate campaign, will be leaving the role at the end of the summer. Reses has served in the role since Vance took office with President Trump in January 2025. “Jacob’s been by my side for my whole career in public…

Jacob Reses, Vice President Vance’s chief of staff who has been with him since his Senate campaign, will be leaving the role at the end of the summer. Reses has served in the role since Vance took office with President Trump in January 2025. “Jacob’s been by my side for my whole career in public…

President Trump announced his new pick to lead the intelligence community, saying he would tap former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence.  The move comes as Trump was under increasing pressure to reverse course after naming Bill Pulte as an acting head of the intelligence community.  Both…

President Trump announced his new pick to lead the intelligence community, saying he would tap former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence.  The move comes as Trump was under increasing pressure to reverse course after naming Bill Pulte as an acting head of the intelligence community.  Both…

President Trump said Thursday that he canceled the forthcoming strikes and bombings against Iran, citing progress in discussions with Tehran’s leadership.  “Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the…

President Trump said Thursday that he canceled the forthcoming strikes and bombings against Iran, citing progress in discussions with Tehran’s leadership.  “Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the…

The global weather pattern threatens to worsen floods and heat waves already intensifying due to climate change. But it may also mean fewer hurricanes.

© Charlie Riedel/Associated Press