South County Mail

Missouri and the World

Trump administration

Trump comments fuel fresh debate over possible US action against Cuba

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New criminal charges filed in the United States against Cuba’s former leader Raúl Castro have triggered renewed speculation about whether the Trump administration could eventually pursue more aggressive action toward the island nation.

According to analysis published by The Conversation, US prosecutors have charged the 94-year-old Castro with conspiracy to kill US nationals, murder and destruction of aircraft linked to the 1996 downing of two planes operated by a Miami-based exile group.

The case relates to an incident in which four men died after Cuban fighter jets shot down the aircraft. [Read more…] about Trump comments fuel fresh debate over possible US action against Cuba

Tulsi Gabbard resigns from Trump Cabinet amid husband’s cancer diagnosis

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Tulsi Gabbard has announced she is stepping down as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, citing her husband’s serious illness as the reason for leaving the administration.

Gabbard said her husband, Abraham Williams, had been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer” and would require her full support in the months ahead.

“At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,” Gabbard wrote in her resignation letter. [Read more…] about Tulsi Gabbard resigns from Trump Cabinet amid husband’s cancer diagnosis

DOJ eases federal restrictions on medical marijuana in major policy shift

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The US Department of Justice has announced a major shift in federal marijuana policy that could ease regulations for state-licensed medical cannabis businesses across the country.

Under a new order signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, many state-approved medical marijuana products will move from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal drug classifications.

The change could significantly affect marijuana businesses in states such as Missouri, where both medical and recreational cannabis sales are legal under state law. [Read more…] about DOJ eases federal restrictions on medical marijuana in major policy shift

Can Brazil become America’s most important partner in South America?

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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva traveled to Washington last week for a closely watched meeting with US President Donald Trump, as both countries attempt to stabilize a relationship shaped increasingly by trade, strategic minerals, organized crime and growing geopolitical competition in Latin America.

The private talks at the White House lasted about three hours on May 7, although neither side issued a formal joint statement afterward.

Despite political differences between the two leaders, the meeting highlighted what analysts increasingly see as a pragmatic shift in US-Brazil relations, driven less by ideology and more by economic and strategic interests. [Read more…] about Can Brazil become America’s most important partner in South America?

Trump administration moves to expand hunting access across US federal lands

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The Trump administration is moving to expand hunting and fishing access across federal lands following a January order issued by US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a policy shift that is already prompting debate over conservation, visitor safety, and the future management of America’s national parks and wildlife areas.

In a statement released by the House Committee on Natural Resources, chairman Bruce Westerman welcomed the move after the Department of the Interior issued a Secretarial Order aimed at removing restrictions on hunting and fishing access on public lands and waters.

“Hunting and fishing are cherished activities for millions of Americans, including myself,” said Westerman. “I’m glad to see Secretary Burgum and the Trump administration take action to expand recreational opportunities on our public lands for sportsmen and women to enjoy.” [Read more…] about Trump administration moves to expand hunting access across US federal lands

US government launches UFO transparency portal featuring declassified UAP files

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The US government has formally launched a new public portal dedicated to the release of files relating to UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and what officials now call “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena”, or UAPs.

The website – titled the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (Pursue) – was published through the Department of War and features declassified images, military stills, infrared sensor captures, and government statements relating to unresolved aerial sightings dating back decades.

For many Americans, the move represents the strongest official acknowledgment yet of the enduring public fascination with what were once casually dismissed as “flying saucers” or the territory of conspiracy theorists and science-fiction enthusiasts. [Read more…] about US government launches UFO transparency portal featuring declassified UAP files