Politics News
Latest politics news and updates
Total: 56
Congress Revives Boeing E‑7 AWACS Funding After Pentagon Pushes Cut, Exposing Rift Over Space-Based Warning
Congress restored roughly $1.1 billion for the Boeing E‑7 Wedgetail AEW programme in the FY2026 NDAA drafts, undoing a White House proposal that would have reduced funding to under $100 million. The move reflects congressional wariness about relying solely on a new space‑based warning architecture and concerns about replacing the ageing E‑3 AWACS fleet.
US Vice‑President’s Mockery of Disabled Senator Ignites Backlash and Raises Questions About Tone in Venezuela Debate
Vice‑President Vance drew condemnation after likening wounded Senator Tammy Duckworth to a fictional character in a social‑media post following a contentious hearing on U.S. policy toward Venezuela. Duckworth, an Iraq veteran who lost limbs in combat, accused Vance of insulting disabled people to deflect from ties between interventionist policy and Chevron’s interests; politicians and the public criticized Vance’s rhetoric.
Xi and Starmer Agree to a 'Long‑Term, Stable' Strategic Partnership as UK Prime Minister Visits Beijing
China and the UK agreed to develop a "long‑term, stable, comprehensive strategic partnership" after a meeting between Xi Jinping and Keir Starmer in Beijing. Beijing presented the outcome as a new, predictable framework for bilateral engagement, but the substance will be tested by future agreements and by how London balances ties with Washington and domestic scrutiny.
Senate Hearing Interrupted as Protester Shouts ‘Stop Intervening in Venezuela’ — Arrest Highlights Polarised Debate on U.S. Policy
A protester interrupted Senator Marco Rubio during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, demanding an end to U.S. interference in Venezuela and Cuba and was arrested. Rubio said Washington would soon set up a diplomatic presence in Venezuela to gather intelligence and engage locally, while denying preparations for military action. The Chinese report that carried the story also appended unverified claims of a U.S. military seizure of Venezuela’s president, which are not corroborated and appear false.
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.