USAID staff told to shred and burn classified documents

Staff at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have been told to shred and burn classified documents and personnel files. The request raised alarm among employees and labour groups amid the ongoing dismantling of the agency. Acting Executive Secretary Erica Y Carr sent an email that thanked staff for clearing out classified safes and … Read more

Is the US headed into a recession under Trump?

Getty Images During his election campaign last year, Donald Trump promised Americans he would usher in a new era of prosperity. Now two months into his presidency, he’s painting a slightly different picture. He has warned that it will be hard to bring down prices and the public should be prepared for a “little disturbance” … Read more

NTSB recommends banning some helicopter operations near DC airport

Ana Faguy BBC News, Washington DC Watch: NTSB shut ‘insufficient’ helicopter and plane flightpaths in DC US air crash investigators have recommended restricting helicopter flights in certain areas near Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport following January’s deadly mid-air collision. Citing an “intolerable risk to aviation safety”, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged authorities to … Read more

It’s Russia that may now be feeling the pressure

As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, “the ball is now in Russia’s court.” This is a significant moment. The joint statement from the US and Ukraine, after a long day of talks in Jeddah, contains several key lines, perhaps none more important than this: “The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian … Read more

Two men held in dissident republican investigation

Kevin Sharkey BBC News NI Dublin reporter Getty Images It follows a two-day operation by gardaĆ­ (Irish police) into dissident republican activity Two men have been arrested in the Republic of Ireland during a two-day operation by gardaĆ­ (Irish police) into dissident republican activity. The men, both in their 40s, were arrested in County Cork … Read more