Free Republic

North Korea issued a nuclear ‘warning signal’ to the United States and South Korea. Pyongyang held a nuclear strike drill as a “warning signal” to the US, according to North Korean state media. US Indo-Pacific Command said the launch “does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies,” stressing instead the “destabilizing impact of the DPRK’s illicit weapons program.” “South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff claimed that any reports of such accuracy or capabilities of its weapons system were likely exaggerated, and that South Korea’s military could detect and intercept any weapons.” – Fox...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Sunday that the United States is “not funding” war in his country, emphasizing that the U.S. is helping protect democracy throughout the region. NBC host Kristen Welker asked Zelensky on “Meet the Press” how long Americans can expect to fund the war in Ukraine,” noting that there has been some strong opposition to sending additional aid to the country. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is doing the fighting and the U.S. is only providing the munitions.

Just hours after the unprecedented Iranian missile and drone attack against Israel, top Iranian military leaders threatened to launch even larger attacks if the Jewish state decides to launch a counterstrike. “Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,” the head of the Iranian military, Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Bagheri warned. The Israeli Air Force (IAF), the United States and other allies successfully neutralized about 99% of the 300 missiles and drones Tehran fired toward Israel in the early morning hours on Sunday Bagheri further warned the U.S. that Iran would attack U.S. military bases...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Tuesday that America’s recent economic performance is partially the result of the country’s unsustainable fiscal practices, creating risks for the global economy. “The exceptional recent performance of the United States is certainly impressive and a major driver of global growth, but it reflects strong demand factors as well, including a fiscal stance that is out of line with long-term fiscal sustainability,” the IMF wrote in its latest World Economic Outlook. “This raises short-term risks to the disinflation process, as well as longer-term fiscal and financial stability risks for the global economy since it risks...

USS Carney (DDG-64) and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) shot down between four and six Iranian-launched ballistic missiles, a senior military official told reporters Sunday.Both ships were in the Mediterranean. Carney most recently made a port visit to Palermo, Sicily, Italy, on April 10. Arleigh Burke is forward deployed to Rota, Spain.A senior military official said that land- and sea-based aircraft were also involved in the U.S. response. USNI News understands that the aircraft did not come from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). The aircraft carrier is in the Red Sea as part of the country’s Operation Prosperity Guardian, which aims...

On July 14, 2022, Al-Qaeda's official media outlet Al-Sahab released a video featuring an audio address by the organization's leader, Ayman Al-Zawahiri. The video is the sixth part in a series titled "Deal of the Century or Crusades Spanning Centuries," whose first part was released on September 11, 2020. The fifth part was released on June 14...

A recent survey by Intuit found that U.S. high school students want to learn about personal finance in schools but that many lack access to such courses at school, while parents may be reluctant to teach their children about financial literacy. Intuit's Financial Education survey found that 85% of U.S. high school students said they're interested in learning about financial topics at school and that 95% of those who currently receive a financial curriculum find it helpful. "Ultimately, what we learned is that 81% of students said they really try to discuss financial topics with their parents, but parents typically...

Employers in the US added more than 300,000 jobs last month - the biggest gain in almost a year - as the boom in the world's largest economy continued. The jobless rate fell to 3.8%, as most sectors, including health care, construction and the government added roles, the Labor Department said. It marked another month of stronger-than-expected growth. Economists had forecast job gains of about 200,000. Analysts said the strong figures could delay cuts to US interest rates.

Biden 2024 campaign co-chairman Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said Thursday on CNN that he now wants the United States to put conditions on military aid to Israel. Host Sara Sidner said, “You’ve had words with Benjamin Netanyahu. The president has had words with Benjamin Netanyahu. At what point does the policy change? Do you support a change in policy instead of a carrot, instead of words, a stick up saying to Israel that in order to get military aid, you have to change your tact? When does that happen?” Coons said, “I think we’re at that point. I think we’re...

At the White House press briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked for an official reaction to the news that Israel Knesset passed a law giving the prime minister the power to shutter foreign news networks, specifically aimed at Al Jazeera.She answered, "If it is true, if it is true, a move like this is concerning. We believe in the freedom of the press. It is critical. It is critically important. And the United States supports the critically important work journalists around the world do. And that includes those who are reporting in the conflict in Gaza. So...

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - U.S. prices moderated in February, with the cost of services outside housing and energy slowing significantly, keeping a June interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve on the table. The report from the Commerce Department on Friday also showed consumer spending rising by the most in just over a year last month, underscoring the economy's resilience. The United States continues to outperform its global peers despite higher borrowing costs, thanks to persistent labor market strength.

Demands $20 billion a year, amnesty, sanctions lifted The president of Mexico, in an interview, has confirmed what essentially appears to be his attempt to blackmail the United States into paying billions of dollars, or else the “flow of migrants will continue.” A report at Fox News reveals that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador earlier demanded a series of actions by the United States in order for him to try to cut off some of the millions of illegal aliens coming from Mexico into the United States across its southern border. Then just days ago, he said in an appearance on...

The U.S. has submitted a resolution at the United Nations that calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Blinken said in an interview Wednesday with an outlet in Saudi Arabia that the U.S. put forward a resolution that calls for an immediate cease-fire tied to a release of hostages. Hamas is believed to be holding some 100 hostages still alive in Gaza. “We hope very much that countries will support that,” Blinken said. “I think that would send a strong message, a strong signal.” A...

A majority of adults in the United States said the decline in union membership is bad for the country, according to a survey conducted earlier this year. The Pew Research Center poll found that 54 percent of surveyed U.S. adults believe the decline in union membership is bad for the country. Another 59 percent said that the decline is bad for working people, the survey found. Union membership has been decreasing in the U.S. in recent years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the union membership rate at 10 percent in 2023, which is slightly down from 10.1 percent...

A New Mexico man has died of complications from the bubonic plague as state health officials scramble to assess the ongoing risk in the region. The unidentified Lincoln Country resident had been hospitalized recently with the bacterial affliction, although the details surrounding how he contracted it and how his health deteriorated remain unclear, the state Department of Health (NMDOH) announced Friday. Despite medics’ best efforts, the patient succumbed to his symptoms, marking New Mexico’s first recorded case of bubonic plague since 2021. This was also the state’s first BP-related fatality since 2020; the state recorded four cases of the disease...

The jobless rate rose to 3.9%, up from 3.7% in January, even as employers added 275,000 jobs, the Labor Department said. Its monthly report is being closely watched for clues into how the world's largest economy is absorbing the jump in borrowing costs since 2022. The latest numbers sent mixed signals. Overall, analysts said there was little in the report to fuel major worries or raise fears that the economy would be harmed by higher interest rates. "Overall things still looking good," said Harvard professor Josh Furman, a former economic advisor to Barack Obama, on social media, while adding that...

The foundations of economic freedom have been declining around the world for three consecutive years, according to the 2024 Index of Economic Freedom, which annually assesses the economic governance and entrepreneurial environments of 184 countries. Despite the disappointing downward trend of global economic freedom, the overall findings of the 2024 index, released Monday by The Heritage Foundation, are unmistakable: Preserving and further enhancing the institutions of economic freedom is the key to economic empowerment and societal flourishing. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) In its 30th anniversary edition, the 2024 index provides a unique opportunity...

President Biden said Friday that the United States will begin airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza amid negotiations for a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Biden confirmed the planned airdrops during an Oval Office meeting with the prime minister of Italy. The effort will provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza as watchdogs and aid agencies have warned of increasingly dire circumstances there as Israel carries out military operations throughout the enclave. The airdrops are seen as a way for the U.S. to get aid into the area while officials continue efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and...

Almost 70 percent of Americans say the U.S. would benefit from new curbs on migration at the southern border, according to an Economist/YouGov poll of 1,671 citizens. The February 11-13 poll asked, “If Congress passes a new bill restricting the admission of new migrants at the border, do you think this would be good or bad for the United States?” Sixty-nine percent of the Americans responded that it would be “good,” while only 14 percent predicted “bad.” That result shows five Americans believe migration curbs will benefit America for every one American who believes migration curbs would be harmful. The...

Mexico is our next-door neighbor but it seems many Americans are not well-informed about it. Wrong and outdated impressions of Mexico affect our policymakers as well. This is particularly true regarding border and immigration policy. Americans think of Mexico as a poor country. And it is, compared to the United States. But Mexico is wealthier and has a higher standard of living than most countries in Latin America and Africa. There are, of course, many poor Mexicans. But doesn’t Mexico itself, with all its wealth, have a responsibility to help its own poor people? In the U.S., any meddling perpetrated...