Politics News
Latest politics news and updates
Total: 172
From Afghanistan to American Doorsteps: How Battlefield Gear Turned Up in U.S. Immigration Raids
A widely shared photograph of heavily armed immigration agents in Minneapolis has reignited concerns over the militarization of U.S. law enforcement. The image, showing battlefield-style equipment in a domestic raid that a federal judge later found constitutionally flawed, spotlights tensions between aggressive federal immigration operations and civil liberties.
Powell Urges Next Fed Chair to Steer Clear of Politics as White House Pressure and DOJ Inquiry Intensify
At a Jan. 28 press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell urged his successor to distance the Federal Reserve from partisan politics as the bank held rates steady. Powell defended the Fed’s independence amid public hostility from President Trump and a Justice Department probe into a Fed headquarters renovation that has added legal uncertainty to the leadership transition.
Beijing Says Taiwan Veterans Don’t Qualify for PLA Perks, Points to Tourist Incentives for First-Time Visitors
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office clarified that Taiwanese retired military personnel do not qualify for the same veterans’ concessions granted to PLA veterans, after a social-media incident at a mainland scenic spot. Beijing pointed to targeted tourism incentives for first-time visitors from Taiwan instead, a policy designed to encourage visits without altering institutional distinctions between the two sides’ armed forces.
Beijing Defers on Free Access for Taiwan Veterans, Leaving Benefits to Local Rules — A Small but Symbolic Test of Cross‑Strait Policy
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said ticket concessions for Taiwan’s retired military personnel are determined by local scenic spots and authorities rather than by a blanket cross‑Strait policy. The response reflects Beijing’s preference for low‑profile, locally implemented incentives rather than sweeping, centrally declared benefits — a stance with symbolic implications for cross‑Strait influence and Taiwan domestic politics.
Beijing Slams Taiwan’s ‘High‑Risk’ App List as Politicised Move in Cross‑Strait Tech Tug‑of‑War
Taiwan’s digital authority published an advisory list of “high‑risk” apps — including Douyin, Weibo, WeChat, Xiaohongshu and Baidu Cloud — aimed at protecting minors and flagging cybersecurity concerns. Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the move as politically motivated, underscoring how digital‑safety measures are being interpreted through fraught cross‑strait politics and raising questions about business, youth behaviour and influence.
China Begins Winter Push for Female Recruits as Conscription Window Closes
China has opened its 2026 first‑half recruitment window for female conscripts from 1 January to 10 February, targeting students and recent graduates with age‑based eligibility and a prioritisation system that uses gaokao relative scores. The process pairs online selection with local medical and political vetting, offers tuition‑repayment incentives for qualifying recruits, and forms part of a broader effort to professionalise and diversify the armed forces.
Two Dead in ICE Raids Ignite Nationwide Protests and a Federal-State Showdown
Two shootings by ICE agents in Minneapolis that killed U.S. citizens have produced heated national protests and a sharp federal-state confrontation. Conflicting official accounts and video footage have deepened public mistrust, prompted subpoenas and harsh rhetoric from both President Trump and senior Democrats, and risked a funding standoff over Homeland Security.
Gun-rights Groups Rebuke Administration’s Claim That an Armed Protester Justified Federal Shooting
After federal agents shot a man in Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security emphasised that he was armed and framed the shooting as defensive. Videos and police statements that emerged online cast doubt on that account, prompting the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups to demand a transparent investigation and to reject the notion that lawful carriage of a firearm alone permits officers to shoot.
Fatal ICE Shootings in Minneapolis Amplify Partisan Fight Over Funding — Could Washington Slip Back Into Shutdown?
Two recent fatal shootings by immigration-enforcement officers in Minneapolis have generated large protests and an unusual joint plea from more than 60 Minnesota corporations to de-escalate. With Senate Democrats vowing to block a funding bill that includes DHS appropriations, the episode raises the real prospect of another federal shutdown when stopgap funding expires on January 30.
Gun-Rights Groups Rebuke Trump Administration After Federal Agents Kill Armed Minneapolis Man
Federal agents in Minneapolis fatally shot a 37-year-old man; the Department of Homeland Security presented the shooting as justified because the man allegedly held a gun near officers. Bystander video and local authorities have cast doubt on that account, prompting criticism from major gun-rights groups that say lawful carriers should not be presumed culpable and that full investigations should precede public judgment.
Federal Agents Kill Minneapolis Man, Sparking Protests and a Clash Over Immigration Enforcement
Federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis during a DHS operation, touching off protests and a high-profile clash between state and federal officials. Video footage that conflicts with the federal account, and the presence of thousands of federal personnel, have made the incident a flashpoint for debates over immigration enforcement, oversight and funding in Congress.
State TV Amplifies PLA Call for Long-Term, All-Fronts Crackdown on Military Corruption
China’s state television broadcast a PLA Daily editorial calling for an intensive, long-term and comprehensive anti-corruption campaign in the military. The prominence of the message signals Beijing’s intent to pair disciplinary purges with systemic reforms, reinforcing political control while aiming to improve operational effectiveness.