Manchin Leaves Democrats, Registers As Independent

Senator Susan Collins Blast NY Attorney General For Trump Charges

Supreme Court clears the way for NRA free speech lawsuit

( ) -q-27- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “NRA-endorsed insurance policies.”

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for a National Rifle Association lawsuit against a former New York state official over claims she violated its free-speech rights.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.

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VERBATIM: The unanimous opinion reverses a lower-court decision tossing out the gun rights group’s lawsuit against ex-New York state Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo. The NRA says Vullo pressured banks and insurance companies to blacklist it after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead in 2018. Vullo argues she rightly investigated NRA-endorsed insurance policies.

Economic growth last quarter is revised down, but consumers kept spending

( ) -q-22- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “months of 2023.”

The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.3% annual pace from January through March.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Last quarter’s pullback was due mainly to two factors — a surge in imports and a reduction in business inventories — that tend to fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

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VERBATIM: The Commerce Department says consumer spending rose, but at a slower pace than previously thought. The department had previously estimated that the nation’s gross domestic product expanded at a 1.6% rate last quarter. The first quarter’s GDP growth marked a sharp slowdown from the vigorous 3.4% rate in the final three months of 2023.

China to impose controls on exports of aviation and aerospace equipment

( ) -q-25- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “to national security.”

China’s Commerce Ministry has announced it will restrict exports of aviation and aerospace-related equipment and technology beginning July 1.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. The restrictions would also include aircraft engines, tools, molds, fixtures and other processing equipment used to make certain materials such as “superplastic” bonded with titanium, aluminum and their alloys.

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VERBATIM: The ministry says the move is to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation. It said the export controls would apply to aerospace structural parts and engine manufacturing and related equipment, software and technology. Beijing and Washington have both moved to limit exports of products, technology and equipment considered vital to national security.

Lab-grown meat isn’t on store shelves yet, but some states already ban it

( ) -q-24- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “a year ago.”

Lab-grown meat is not currently available in any U.S. grocery stores or restaurants. AS Correspondent Jeremy House reports, if some lawmakers have their way, it never will be.

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TAG: Some states shelved proposed bans after lawmakers argued they would restrict consumers’ choices.

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VERBATIM: Earlier this month, both Florida and Arizona banned the sale of cultivated meat and seafood. In Iowa, the governor signed a bill prohibiting schools from buying lab-grown meat. Federal lawmakers are also looking to restrict it. It’s unclear how far these efforts will go. Some cultivated meat companies say they’re considering legal action. The U.S. first approved the sale of lab-grown meat a year ago.

Former Senator Jim Talent Says NY Trial A No Win Scenario For Democrats

Marist Poll: Guilty Trump Verdict Not Likely To Sway 2024 Voters

Iceland-Volcano

GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Lava continued to spurt from a volcano in southwestern Iceland on Thursday but the activity had calmed significantly from when it erupted a day earlier. Correspondent Bernie Bennett reports.

Blue to Red? VA Poll Now Puts Trump Even With Biden

Governor: Biden Plan To Shutter Montana Mine Will Cripple Power Grid

“Politics!” Critics Blast Biden For Opening Gas Reserves

First-Term Senators Charting New Course For GOP

Mining giant BHP pledges to invest in South Africa economy

( ) -q-29- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “to green energy.”

Australian mining giant BHP Group has pledged to invest in South Africa’s economy as it seeks support for a 49.3 billion dollar bid to acquire Anglo American.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.

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VERBATIM: Anglo American was founded in South Africa more than a century ago and remains one of its biggest employers. The London-based company last week rejected BHP’s latest offer, raising concerns about its complex structure. The proposed deal would require Anglo American to spin off two South African units, Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore, as BHP seeks to focus on copper and other products expected to benefit from transition to green energy.

Owner of UK’s Royal Mail accepts takeover offer from Czech billionaire

( ) -q-22- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “wanted more assurances.”

The owner of Britain’s Royal Mail postal service says it has accepted a 4.6 billion dollar takeover offer from Czech investor Daniel Křetínský.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Křetínský has a vast, Europe-wide portfolio of business interests that includes stakes in Macy’s, Foot Locker and U.K. supermarket chain Sainsbury’s. A union official cautiously welcomed the deal but said it wanted more assurances.

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VERBATIM: Under the deal, Křetínský’s EP Group would buy International Distribution Services, which owns Royal Mail, for $4.72 per share. Including debt, the deal values IDS at 6.6- billion dollars. IDS said no major job losses were planned as part of the deal, which must be approved by shareholders.

Inflation pressures lingering from pandemic are keeping Fed rate cuts on pause

( ) -q-24- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “to hospital prices.”

Hopes for interest rate cuts this year by the Federal Reserve are steadily fading.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Though Fed officials say they expect inflation in those areas to eventually cool, they’ve signaled that they’re prepared to wait as long as it takes.

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VERBATIM: A stream of recent remarks by Fed officials have underscored their intention to keep borrowing costs high as long as needed to curb persistently elevated inflation. A key reason for the delay in rate cuts is that the inflation pressures that are hurting the economy are being driven largely by lingering forces from the pandemic. They include items ranging from apartment rents to auto insurance to hospital prices.

What to know about Mexico’s upcoming historic elections

( ) -q-24- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “to exert power.”

Mexicans will vote Sunday in historic elections weighing gender, democracy and populism, as they chart the country’s path forward in voting shadowed by cartel violence.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Also at play is the political legacy of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Mexico’s often tumultuous relationship with the United States.

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VERBATIM: With two women leading the contest, Mexico will likely elect its first female president. The election will also be the biggest in the country’s history. More than 20,000 congressional and local positions are up for grabs, according to the National Electoral Institute. The number of contested posts has fed bloodshed during the campaigns, as criminal groups have used local elections as an opportunity to exert power.

Nigeria is emerging as a critical mineral hub

( ) -q-29- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “officials is common.”

Nigeria’s government is cracking down on illegal mining.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. The mineral deposits are located in remote areas with minimal government presence. Officials say profits from illicit mining practices has helped arm militia groups in the north of the county.

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VERBATIM: Authorities have made dozens of arrests of unlicensed miners since April for allegedly stealing the country’s lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones and power systems. The recent arrests come as Nigeria seeks to regulate its mining operations of critical minerals, curb illegal activity and better benefit from its mineral resources. Illegal mines are rife in the country’s fledging industry as corruption among regulatory officials is common.

China has threatened trade with some countries after feuds

( ) -q-28- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “allegation “completely unfounded.'”

The U.S. State Department has set up an eight-person team known as “the firm” to provide help to countries cut off from Chinese trade.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.

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VERBATIM: The team emerged after Washington stepped in to help Lithuania when the northern European country found its cargo shipments to and from China stranded two years ago during a feud over Taiwan. State Department officials say Washington sees ”the firm” as an emergency response when a country fears facing economic pressure from China. The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. says Beijing opposes economic coercion and calls the American allegation “completely unfounded.”

“Wrongheaded Approach”: Analyst Says Biden Letting Election Politics Guide Israel Policy

Missionary Daughter, Son-in-Law Of Missouri State Rep. Killed in Haiti

US pushes for Ukraine aid, united front against China’s trade practices at G7 finance meeting

( ) -q-22- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “leaders in June.”

The United States is seeking to build support for squeezing more money for Ukraine out of frozen Russian assets.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.

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VERBATIM: The U.S. move comes as finance ministers from the Group of Seven rich democracies open a two-day meeting in Italy. Another key topic pushed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will be building a united front against China’s subsidies for solar panels and electric cars. The meeting aims to build consensus for final decisions at a summit of G7 national leaders in June.

Singapore Airlines tightens cabin safety measures after turbulence killed one, injured dozens

( ) -q-18- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “and buckle up.”

Singapore Airlines says it will halt meal services and get all cabin crew to buckle up when planes fly through turbulence.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. A Singapore Airlines plane with 211 passengers and 18 crew members was hit by severe turbulence and diverted to Thailand. A 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack. Forty-eight people remained hospitalized Friday. Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said investigators have obtained data from the cockpit and flight data recorders.

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VERBATIM: The moves are part of tighter cabin measures after one person died and dozens were injured on a flight from London this week. The airline says meal service will also now be suspended, in addition to hot beverages, when the seat belt sign is on. It said crew members must also return to their seats and buckle up.

UN countries adopt treaty to better trace origins of genetic resources under global patent system

( ) -q-25- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “like tropical plants.”

U.N. member countries have concluded a new treaty to help ensure that traditional knowledge about genetic resources is properly traced.

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TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.

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VERBATIM: It marks the first time the 193 member states of the U.N.’s World Intellectual Property Organization have reached agreement on patent protections about historic knowledge from indigenous cultures. Those cultures have long been exploited by colonists, traders and others. The treaty doesn’t address compensation for indigenous communities for their historic know-how about products drawn from things like tropical plants.