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In a series of posts on X, the Republican senator from Missouri attacked the US employment-based visa system, alleging it suppresses local wages and creates a global "Visa Cartel" that displaces American workers.

Officials say Spain remains a common hiding place for British criminals because of its large UK expat population and strong travel links.

Trump administration officials once called high gas prices the Biden administration's "Achilles' heel" — but now it appears that could have come back to haunt them, according to a new Reuters report on Thursday.The political and economic backlash over the Iran war has left the White House struggling to address the skyrocketing price of oil as the prospect of a quick end to the military operation looks increasingly unlikely, three Trump administration insiders familiar with the conversations told Reuters."U.S. President Donald Trump this week backed suspending the federal gas tax, a step that would knock 18 cents a gallon off motor fuel prices currently averaging more than $4.50 a gallon nationwide," Reuters reported. "Once viewed by some White House aides as unnecessary, the idea is gaining urgency as officials run low on options to show they are tackling rising costs, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations."As prices have climbed, the president needs "a visible consumer relief move now," one of the White House insiders said."Historically, $4-per-gallon gasoline has been a level that triggers public backlash and economic anxiety," Reuters reported.AAA data has revealed that seven states have already passed the $5 a gallon mark.And as consumer sentiment drops to a record low and consumer inflation hit 3.8 percent this April — the highest it has been in nearly three years — more Americans are experiencing economic strain as gas prices climb and U.S. households are already paying the price.With midterm elections in November, Republicans have started pressuring Trump and his administration as they worry that affordability concerns among voters could ultimately push Republicans out of majority in the House of Representatives — and potentially the Senate."They feel like that’s their largest vulnerability right now: that specific cost, gas, not overall economic conditions," an unnamed White House political adviser told Reuters."The toughest thing, too, is that we made gas prices the Achilles' heel for (former President Joe) Biden and now it's our own."Taylor Rogers, White House spokesperson, said that the president and his energy team had expected the Iran war would create repercussions for global energy markets and had anticipated they needed a plan to address it."The ability to supply both the United States and our allies with reliable, affordable, and secure energy has long been a key strategic objective of President Trump, and his successful efforts to unleash American oil and gas has achieved this objective," Rogers told Reuters.

"The world is changing and turbulent," Xi said and noted that the relationship between the two countries impacts not just the 1.7 billion people who live in both countries but also the 8 billion people who live outside the two countries.

Announcement of taskforce comes after resignations of two congressmen amid sexual misconduct allegationsUS politics live – latest updatesThe House speaker, Mike Johnson, and the minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, on Wednesday announced a bipartisan effort to combat sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill.The “partnership” led by the chairs of the Republican and Democratic women’s caucuses – congresswomen Kat Cammack of Florida and Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico – aims to “identify reforms and solutions to make Congress a safer work environment for women and all survivors”, the leaders said in a joint statement. Continue reading...

Reflecting on his talks with Xi, Trump described their discussions as "extremely positive and constructive", while thanking the Chinese leadership for what he called a "magnificent welcome" at the start of his state visit.

Greater Manchester mayor would need to win Josh Simons’s former seat to launch challenge against Starmer UK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham now has a route back to parliament after the Labour MP for Makerfield announced he would stand down, triggering a byelection, and putting the senior politician in contention to become the party’s next leader.The Greater Manchester mayor confirmed on Thursday he would be asking Labour’s ruling national executive committee to allow him to stand in the contest, putting a beleaguered Keir Starmer under intense pressure to not try to block him. Continue reading...

Jury set to deliberate and return a verdict on whether they believe AI firm and Altman are liable in caseClosing arguments began on Thursday in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI, bringing the weeks-long courtroom battle between the two tech moguls nearer to a decision. A nine-person jury is set to deliberate and return a verdict on whether they believe the AI firm and Altman are liable in the case.The trial, which began last month in an Oakland, California, federal courthouse, has gripped Silicon Valley and featured some of the tech industry’s biggest names as witnesses. Attorneys for both sides have presented testimony and documents that have exposed Musk and Altman’s private dealings, as well as provided a window into the contentious history of OpenAI. Continue reading...