2 days ago
Elon Musk is now a trillionaire. The Tesla CEO became the world's first trillionaire on Friday, June 12, as **** eX opened on the Nasdaq at $150 a share and rose, with his stake in the company reaching $819 billion, according to an **** ysis by NBC News. The outlet additionally noted that Musk holds $375 billion stake in Tesla, totaling his net worth from both companies to at least $1.2 trillion as of noon eastern time. As the world's first trillionaire, his net worth exceeds the national GDPs of Taiwan, Sweden, Belgium, and Argentina.
8 days ago
PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) - French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Monday he had told public prosecutors to review 70,000 ongoing allegations of violence against minors, after an outcry over the death an 11-year-old girl.
• The girl's death caused outrage after authorities said they had not acted on previous child rape allegations against the main suspect.
• The case marked a "terrible failure from the state, and of the justice system," Darmanin said.
• Prosecutors had to review all formal complaints filed with authorities across the country by July 14 as "an absolute priority," he added.
• Asked if he would resign, Darmanin said: "If any shortcomings are identified, I will take responsibility and propose disciplinary actions ranging from a reprimand to dismissal."
• The girl's death caused outrage after authorities said they had not acted on previous child rape allegations against the main suspect.
• The case marked a "terrible failure from the state, and of the justice system," Darmanin said.
• Prosecutors had to review all formal complaints filed with authorities across the country by July 14 as "an absolute priority," he added.
• Asked if he would resign, Darmanin said: "If any shortcomings are identified, I will take responsibility and propose disciplinary actions ranging from a reprimand to dismissal."
11 days ago
President Donald Trump has revealed the lineup for a rally celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary days after a slew of musicians pulled out of performing at a Freedom 250 multi-day concert event.
In a June 4 social media post, Trump announced country singer Lee Greenwood will sing his 1984 hit "God Bless The U.S.A" at the June 24 rally before introducing the headlining act: the president himself.
"We don't want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we've told them all to stay home. All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!" Trump wrote.
Freedom 250, the quasi-government group Trump formed to mark America's 250th birthday, was originally planning a 16-day concert series as part of an event coined the "Great America State Fair." But last week, a slew of musicians backed out of performing, with several citing the event's perceived political affiliation and confusion around what they signed up for.
As a result, Trump decided to nix the performances and instead give a speech himself, a White House official previously confirmed. The rally is scheduled for June 24.
In a June 4 social media post, Trump announced country singer Lee Greenwood will sing his 1984 hit "God Bless The U.S.A" at the June 24 rally before introducing the headlining act: the president himself.
"We don't want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we've told them all to stay home. All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!" Trump wrote.
Freedom 250, the quasi-government group Trump formed to mark America's 250th birthday, was originally planning a 16-day concert series as part of an event coined the "Great America State Fair." But last week, a slew of musicians backed out of performing, with several citing the event's perceived political affiliation and confusion around what they signed up for.
As a result, Trump decided to nix the performances and instead give a speech himself, a White House official previously confirmed. The rally is scheduled for June 24.
13 days ago
A new rule explaining how states need to implement Medicaid work requirements may make it much harder for low-income sick people to maintain health coverage next year.
The long-anticipated rule issued Monday is meant to guide 42 states and the District of Columbia in carrying out the work rules implemented by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. GOP lawmakers and administration officials have described the policy as a way to combat waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program.
The work requirements are set to take effect in January. Beneficiaries who are part of the Medicaid expansion population must work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month, attend school at least part time or participate in job training.
Alternatively, they must prove they qualify for certain exemptions, like caring for a child 13 years or younger or a parent with a disability.
Here are five key takeaways:
The long-anticipated rule issued Monday is meant to guide 42 states and the District of Columbia in carrying out the work rules implemented by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. GOP lawmakers and administration officials have described the policy as a way to combat waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program.
The work requirements are set to take effect in January. Beneficiaries who are part of the Medicaid expansion population must work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month, attend school at least part time or participate in job training.
Alternatively, they must prove they qualify for certain exemptions, like caring for a child 13 years or younger or a parent with a disability.
Here are five key takeaways:
13 days ago
By Ted Hesson and David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is canceling most pending contracts initiated under ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, the current secretary said on Wednesday, a move that follows congressional scrutiny and an internal watchdog review of her contracting practices.
During a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, Secretary Markwayne Mullin faced questions from a top Democrat about what steps he had taken to cancel Noem-era contracts.
The move is part of a broader effort by Mullin to unwind contracting practices under Noem that drew bipartisan criticism.
"We are looking at the contracts that weren't already signed, and we did go through and cancel most of those," Mullin said.
WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is canceling most pending contracts initiated under ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, the current secretary said on Wednesday, a move that follows congressional scrutiny and an internal watchdog review of her contracting practices.
During a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, Secretary Markwayne Mullin faced questions from a top Democrat about what steps he had taken to cancel Noem-era contracts.
The move is part of a broader effort by Mullin to unwind contracting practices under Noem that drew bipartisan criticism.
"We are looking at the contracts that weren't already signed, and we did go through and cancel most of those," Mullin said.
13 days ago
June 2 (Reuters) - Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said on Tuesday the country intends to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and will present its application on Wednesday in Paris.
The CPTPP is a free trade accord among 12 countries. It was first established in 2018 among Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, ******* an, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain joined in 2024 and China also hopes to join.
Argentina's plans to join the pact follow its backing for other trade deals in recent months, including a reciprocal trade and investment agreement with the United States and the Mercosur-European Union agreement.
"We will continue to make rapid progress on these agreements," Quirno said during a virtual address to the 43rd Congress of the Argentine Institute of Finance Executives.
(Reporting by Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)
The CPTPP is a free trade accord among 12 countries. It was first established in 2018 among Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, ******* an, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain joined in 2024 and China also hopes to join.
Argentina's plans to join the pact follow its backing for other trade deals in recent months, including a reciprocal trade and investment agreement with the United States and the Mercosur-European Union agreement.
"We will continue to make rapid progress on these agreements," Quirno said during a virtual address to the 43rd Congress of the Argentine Institute of Finance Executives.
(Reporting by Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)
14 days ago
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Two of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed militias said on Tuesday they would begin handing in their weapons to the authorities, a major step in the new government’s effort to rein in militias that have long operated on their own even though they were nominally under state command.
One of the groups, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, said it had formed a committee to oversee the move, inventory its fighters, weapons and equipment, and coordinate with the commander-in-chief of Iraq's armed forces. It cast the decision as a response to calls by Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in Parliament that dominates Iraqi politics.
The second group, the Imam Ali Brigades, made a similar announcement saying the time has come “to build a strong state with full sovereignty.” It added that its aim was now to have weapons only with the state and help boost state institutions.
The war in the Middle East, which the United States and Israel launched on Feb. 28 with strikes on Iran, has exposed the fragility of Iraq’s state institutions and their limited ability to restrain Iran-backed groups.
A parallel confrontation between Washington and the militias has deepened the crisis, with factions acting as an extension of Iran’s regional campaign and escalating attacks on U.S. ****** ets in Iraq before a tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April.
One of the groups, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, said it had formed a committee to oversee the move, inventory its fighters, weapons and equipment, and coordinate with the commander-in-chief of Iraq's armed forces. It cast the decision as a response to calls by Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in Parliament that dominates Iraqi politics.
The second group, the Imam Ali Brigades, made a similar announcement saying the time has come “to build a strong state with full sovereignty.” It added that its aim was now to have weapons only with the state and help boost state institutions.
The war in the Middle East, which the United States and Israel launched on Feb. 28 with strikes on Iran, has exposed the fragility of Iraq’s state institutions and their limited ability to restrain Iran-backed groups.
A parallel confrontation between Washington and the militias has deepened the crisis, with factions acting as an extension of Iran’s regional campaign and escalating attacks on U.S. ****** ets in Iraq before a tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April.
