logo
Confederate statues in DC area to be restored and replaced in line with Trump's executive order

Confederate statues in DC area to be restored and replaced in line with Trump's executive order

Toronto Star2 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Washington, D.C.-area statues commemorating the Confederacy will be restored and replaced, in line with President Donald Trump's pushback on recent efforts to reframe America's historical narrative.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that a statue commemorating the Confederacy would be returned to Arlington National Cemetery. The statue, which Hegseth referred to as 'The Reconciliation Monument,' was removed in 2023.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump to nominate top economic aide Stephen Miran to Federal Reserve board
Trump to nominate top economic aide Stephen Miran to Federal Reserve board

Globe and Mail

time4 minutes ago

  • Globe and Mail

Trump to nominate top economic aide Stephen Miran to Federal Reserve board

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate a top economic adviser to the Federal Reserve's board of governors for four months, temporarily filling a vacancy while continuing his search for a longer-term appointment. Trump said he has named Stephen Miran, the chair of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, to fill a seat vacated by governor Adriana Kugler, a Biden appointee who is stepping down Friday. Miran, if approved by the Senate, will serve until January 31, 2026. The appointment is Trump's first opportunity to exert more control over the Fed, one of the few remaining independent federal agencies. Trump has relentlessly criticized the current chair, Jerome Powell, for keeping short-term interest rates unchanged, calling him 'a stubborn MORON' last week on social media. Miran has been a major defender of Trump's income tax cuts and tariff hikes, arguing that the combination will generate enough economic growth to reduce budget deficits. He also has played down the risk of Trump's tariffs generating higher inflation, a major source of concern for Powell. The choice of Miran may heighten concerns about political influence over the Fed, which has traditionally been insulated from day-to-day politics. Fed independence is generally seen as key to ensuring that it can take difficult steps to combat inflation, such as raising interest rates, that politicians might be unwilling to take. Federal Reserve governors vote on all the central bank's interest-rate decisions, as well as its financial regulatory policies. Miran's nomination, if approved, would add a near-certain vote in support of lower interest rates. Kugler had echoed Powell's view that the Fed should keep rates unchanged and further evaluate the impact of tariffs on the economy before making any moves. At its most recent meeting last week Fed officials kept their key rate unchanged at 4.3%, where it has stood after three rate cuts late last year. But two Fed governors — Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman — dissented from that decision. Both were appointed by Trump in his first term. Still, even with Miran on the board, 12 Fed officials vote on interest rate policy and many remain concerned that Trump's sweeping tariffs could push inflation higher in the coming months. After the July jobs report was released last Friday, Miran criticized the Fed chair for not cutting benchmark interest rates, saying that Trump had been proven correct on inflation during his first term and would be again. The president has pressured Powell to cut short-term interest rates under the belief that his tariffs will not fuel higher inflationary pressures. 'What we're seeing now in real time is a repetition once again of this pattern where the president will end up having been proven right,' Miran said on MSNBC. 'And the Fed will, with a lag and probably quite too late, eventually catch up to the president's view.'

Trump honors Purple Heart recipients, including 3 who sent him medals after attempt on his life
Trump honors Purple Heart recipients, including 3 who sent him medals after attempt on his life

Toronto Star

time9 minutes ago

  • Toronto Star

Trump honors Purple Heart recipients, including 3 who sent him medals after attempt on his life

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump recognized nearly 100 recipients of the Purple Heart at the White House on Thursday, including several service members who gave him their own medals after an attempt on his life at a Pennsylvania campaign rally. Three men who sent Trump their medals after the 2024 shooting in Butler attended the event in the East Room to mark National Purple Heart Day, according to a White House official.

Some Canadian permanent residents will have to post a US$15K visa bond to enter U.S. Here's what to know
Some Canadian permanent residents will have to post a US$15K visa bond to enter U.S. Here's what to know

Vancouver Sun

time34 minutes ago

  • Vancouver Sun

Some Canadian permanent residents will have to post a US$15K visa bond to enter U.S. Here's what to know

The U.S. State Department has announced that a new visa bond program will take effect starting Aug. 20. Certain visitors, including some Canadian permanent residents, may have to post a bond of up to US$15,000 in order to visit the U.S. The new policy is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants in the country, and it comes after the government introduced a US$250 visa integrity fee in June. Here's what to know about the visa bond policy and who will be impacted by it. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A visa bond means visitors are required to pay a certain amount of money when they apply for a visa, and that money is refunded once they return to their home country, are naturalized as a citizen in the U.S. or die. This visa bond only applies to people who need a business visa (B-1) or tourism visa (B-2) . Anyone required to pay a visa bond will need to enter the U.S. through one of these three airports: Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport. This new program will run for a year in the U.S., starting Aug. 20. Even after this pilot year is over, the rules will still apply to those that already paid the bond, until they return to their home country, are naturalized as a citizen in the U.S. or die. A bond payment also does not guarantee that a visa will be issued, and if the applicant pays for it without being directed by the consular office, that money will not be returned, according to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, a division of the Department of State. Visa bonds will start at US$5,000 and could go up to US$15,000, at the discretion of the consular officers. The amount will vary depending on how much the officers believe is sufficient to make sure the visitor will maintain their status and will not remain in the U.S. for longer than they are allowed. The U.S. published the first visa bond country list on Aug. 5, and so far it only includes two countries: Malawi and Zambia, both in Africa. Countries can be added to or removed from the list with 15 days notice. The bond will not be applied towards countries in the Visa Waiver Program, that includes 42 countries across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and in the Middle East. Canadians will not be impacted by this new visa bond policy, since visas are not required for Canadians to enter the U.S. However, permanent residents in Canada, who are not originally from countries in the Visa Waiver Program, need visas to visit the U.S. So, if a Canadian permanent resident has a passport from one of the countries on the visa bond list, they would have to pay the bond in order to visit the U.S. The policy says that anyone who holds a passport from one of the countries from the list will need to post a bond of the amount specified during their visa interview. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store