How Korean Moon’s Unification Church became largest landowner in Paraguay and established world’s largest narcotics empire
The South Korean religious organisation founded by self-proclaimed messiah Sun Myung Moon bought a remote piece of land in Paraguay about a quarter century ago, hoping to create an oasis for followers. Now the area is a hub for global drug trafficking.
Security threats forces Biden to order ban on certain US tech investments in China
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said the White House had not heeded “China’s repeated expression of deep concerns” about the plan. The spokesman said more than 70,000 US companies do business in China. The restrictions will hurt both Chinese and American businesses, interfere with normal cooperation and reduce investor confidence in the US, he said.
Bidenomics: President Biden sells his economic policies as key to manufacturing jobs uptick
Biden’s trip to the Southwest is shaded by his re-election campaign and the challenge of getting a majority of US adults to say they believe the economy is in good shape. The president is trying to break through a deep pessimism that intensified last year as inflation spiked. His trip included a Tuesday speech in Arizona and will end with remarks Thursday in Utah.
US judge defies defence lawyers and sets hearing on evidence in Trump’s 2020 election case
Friday’s hearing comes after Trump’s defence team on Monday opposed a request from prosecutors for Chutkan to impose a protective order to ensure confidential evidence is not shared publicly by Trump, suggesting he could use the information to intimidate witnesses. Trump has pleaded not guilty and called the charges politically motivated.
Climate-friendly cows bred to belch less methane following availability of genetics to produce dairy cattle
Some dairy industry officials remain unconvinced about low-methane breeding, saying it could lead to digestion problems. Canada’s agriculture department said in an email that it has not yet assessed the methane evaluation system underlying the product but that reducing emissions from livestock was “extremely important.”
Rising attacks at US medical centres makes healthcare America’s most violent field
It’s not just deadly shootings: Healthcare workers racked up 73 per cent of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries in 2018, the most recent year for which figures are available, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Judge in Trump classified documents case in spotlight for multiple errors in previous trial
Cannon, a 42-year-old former federal prosecutor appointed by Trump to the bench in 2020 late in his presidency, also neglected to swear in the prospective jury pool – an obligatory procedure in which people who may serve on the panel pledge to tell the truth during the selection process. This error forced Cannon to re-start jury selection before the trial ended abruptly with defendant William Spearman pleading guilty as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Trump ignored advisors, helped organise fake slates of electors, knowingly pushed lies to throw out poll results – indictment
Trump and his allies knowingly pushed those lies as part of a campaign to pressure state and federal officials to throw out the election results, prosecutors said, culminating in a mob of Trump supporters storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory.
Drums of another war as buildup of American forces in Persian Gulf point to imminent US-Iran conflict
or the US, keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping remains a priority to ensure global energy prices don’t spike, particularly as Russia’s war on Ukraine pressures markets. Gulf Arab nations need the waterway to get their oil to market and worry about Iran’s intentions in the wider region.
Indictments helping former US President Trump solidify base in Republican party as nomination nears
Opinion polls show Republican support for Trump surging since the first of three indictments was issued in March. He is far and away the front-runner, leading second-place Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, by close to 30 percentage points.
