We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Eurasia Group and its affiliates, including GZERO Media, to clarify the types of data we collect, how we collect it, how we use data and with whom we share data. By using our website you consent to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, including the transfer of your personal data to the United States from your country of residence, and our use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy.
{{ subpage.title }}
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) arrives to deliver a statement on allegations surrounding U.S. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as the House of Representatives returns from its summer break facing a looming deadline to avoid a government shutdown while spending talks continue on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2023.
Will the House GOP’s Biden impeachment probe backfire?
After much back-and-forth in recent months, embattled House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has officially launched an impeachment inquiry against US President Joe Biden.
McCarthy says that the inquiry has merit, based on months of preliminary investigation into the Biden family’s business dealings – specifically the global financial exploits of Hunter Biden, the president’s son. Democrats, for their part, say this is a GOP political vendetta in response to the impeachments of Donald Trump, and that Biden himself has committed no impeachable high crimes or misdemeanors.
Still, launching an official inquiry gives relevant congressional committees broad powers to request documents and testimonies – a boon for House Republicans who have already been battling for greater access to Biden family financial records.
Why now? McCarthy is likely trying to throw a bone to far-right House Republicans, known as the Freedom Caucus, who despise the speaker and are threatening to remove him over a host of thorny policy disputes. Most notably, the tear-it-all-down caucus is mad at McCarthy for his apparent willingness to work with the White House to continue to fund the government at current levels through the end of the year. Failure to do so could result in a government shutdown after Sept. 30.
Impeachment is risky for McCarthy and for the GOP. House Republicans in purple districts (many that Biden won in 2020) say this is not a popular move with their voters and that it could backfire in 2024, when House Republicans will have a very narrow majority to defend.
But the Freedom Caucus is out for blood. Prominent McCarthy critic Rep. Matt Gaetz has already called the impeachment probe a mere “baby step.”
US summer travel may be easier than you think, says Pete Buttigieg
Memorial Day weekend signals that the unofficial start of the summer travel season is upon us. And if last year’s travel woes were any indication (paging: Southwest Airlines), we can expect long lines at TSA, full planes stranded on the tarmac, and lots and lots of cancellations. But, according to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, things are not as dire as they may seem.
“The good news is that after a very disruptive year last year in terms of the struggles that the airlines had, things are catching up this year. In 2023, the preliminary data show cancellation rates under 2%.” In an extensive interview with Ian Bremmer for this week’s GZERO World. Secretary Buttigieg pointed the finger at airline companies for many of the travel hiccups that made news last year. Issues like staffing and air traffic control are not the main cause, not even close to being the main cause, of flight cancellations and delays. We've been working with the airlines, pressing the airlines, and they have delivered a lot of improvements with what's under their control.”
And, it turns out, quite a bit is under airlines’ control, including that the law requires they reimburse passengers for canceled flights. If that’s news to you, you’re not alone.
Watch the full episode of GZERO world: The road to repair: Pete Buttigieg & crumbling US infrastructure
Key Japanese lawmaker says third extra budget may not be last
The openness to more spending underscores concerns that rising waves of the virus could derail Japan's recovery.
Malaysia unveils largest budget to reverse first recession in a decade
Malaysia will continue pump-priming its coronavirus-battered economy, with Budget 2021 unveiled yesterday being the nation's largest ever, in a bid to reverse its first recession in over a decade.
Covid-19 war chest being beefed up
KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysia plans to boost its Covid-19 war chest by raising its ceiling by as much as RM20 billion to RM65 billion (S$21.2 billion), Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said yesterday.
Malaysia's Opposition unimpressed by budget, says bipartisan demands not met
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Opposition on Friday (Nov 6) said the federal budget tabled by the Muhyiddin Yassin administration lacked a clear direction for economic recovery post the coronavirus pandemic, as several bipartisan demands made by the opposition remained unfulfilled in the budget.
Malaysia allows pension fund withdrawals to help those who lost jobs
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Malaysian government has announced that members of pension fund Employees Provident Fund (EPF) can withdraw up to RM500 (S$164) a month, RM6,000 over 12 months.
Malaysia plans extra $6.5 billion for special Covid-19 fund
KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - Malaysia's government plans to add a further RM20 billion (S$6.5 billion) to a new fund to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said on Friday (Nov 6).