Author: potus

Before Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021, many analysts speculated that he would adopt an overtly pro-Kurdish stance as the U.S. president. Those predictions were based on his time as a senator and vice president, when he fostered close relations with certain Kurdish communities in the Middle East. But as Biden’s presidency comes to an end, his track record is underwhelming—littered with missed opportunities to support Kurds and Kurdish issues. Ahead of the 2020 U.S. election, the think tank community in Washington, D.C., began to game out what a possible Biden administration might look like. Aykan Erdemir and Philip Kowalski…

In a series of farewell addresses during his final week in office, U.S. President Joe Biden is making the case that he’s left the United States in a much stronger position than he found it. During his four years, the country has far outpaced Europe, left Russia engulfed in quagmire, outperformed China economically, and hung on to its global leadership role in spite of the nation’s internal divisions. In a speech at the State Department on Monday, Biden declared that “during my presidency, I have increased America’s power in every dimension.” He said that “thanks to our administration, the United…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Republicans on Thursday passed legislation they called the “strongest” immigration enforcement bill in any state after a fight that amplified political tensions within the party as they aimed to help President Donald Trump.Over the past two weeks, Republican leaders in the state have feuded with Gov. Ron DeSantis over the direction of immigration reform in Florida. The fighting has spilled over at times into nasty, personal territory on social media, with DeSantis supporters on one side and GOP legislative leadership mostly on the receiving end.All that took a back seat Thursday when DeSantis signed the legislation…

HONG KONG — China accused the United States on Monday of a “serious regression” in its position on Taiwan, after the State Department updated the Taiwan section of its website to remove a reference to the independence of the Beijing-claimed island.The State Department fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations continues to state Washington’s opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo from either China or Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims. But the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” appears to have been removed on Thursday in what the State Department says was a routine update.The…

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers returned to the Statehouse on Tuesday, fresh off Republican election victories that maintained the party’s dominance of the Legislature and facing a possible list of expensive proposals from GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb.Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray and House Speaker Todd Huston were reelected to lead those chambers, and newly elected legislators were sworn into office as lawmakers met for their mostly ceremonial organization day session.The four-month-long 2023 session that begins in early January will focus on drafting a new state budget, with Democrats calling for a pause on debating contentious social issues after Republican…

Bucking historic midterm election trends, Democrats wrested control of state legislative chambers away from Republicans in Michigan and Minnesota while also gaining full control of state capitols in Maryland and Massachusetts. The Democrats’ gains in Tuesday’s elections gave them power to set the agenda on topics ranging from state taxes and spending to contentious social issues in four states that previously had politically divided governments. Democrats also gained legislative seats in Pennsylvania, another important presidential swing state where Republican lawmakers have held majorities against a Democratic governor. Future control of several legislatures — including Republican-led Arizona’s and Democratic-led Nevada’s —…

AWALI, Bahrain (AP) — Pope Francis urged Bahrain authorities on Thursday to renounce the death penalty and ensure basic human rights are guaranteed for all citizens as he arrived in the Sunni-led kingdom that has been accused by rights groups of systematic discrimination against its Shiite majority.With King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa by his side, Francis also urged the Arab Gulf nation to ensure “safe and dignified” working conditions for its immigrant laborers, who have long faced abuse and exploitation in the island’s construction, oil extraction and domestic service industries. While diplomatic, Francis didn’t shy from some of the…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, checks the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cooks “sitting is the new coolness” line. To its detractors, love at first sight must be an illusion – the wrong term for what is simply infatuation, or a way to sugarcoat lust. Best Chromebook: Google…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, checks the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cooks “sitting is the new coolness” line. To its detractors, love at first sight must be an illusion – the wrong term for what is simply infatuation, or a way to sugarcoat lust. Best Chromebook: Google…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, checks the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cooks “sitting is the new coolness” line. To its detractors, love at first sight must be an illusion – the wrong term for what is simply infatuation, or a way to sugarcoat lust. Best Chromebook: Google…