For the first time in US history, a chamber of the United States Congress voted 232-180 on Friday in favour of giving Washington, DC statehood – a move towards fuller voting rights for the city’s majority Black population.The vote was along party lines, with Democrats who control the House supporting it and while historic, it was symbolic as Republicans in the Senate and President Donald Trump oppose the move. “Across the United States today, Americans are taking down the remnants of the Confederacy as symbols of inequality, just as the House of Representatives is raising up in our...…For the first time in US history, a chamber of the United States Congress voted 232-180 on Friday in favour of giving Washington, DC statehood – a move towards fuller voting rights for the city’s majority Black population.The vote was along party lines, with Democrats who control the House supporting it and while historic, it was symbolic as Republicans in the Senate and President Donald Trump oppose the move. “Across the United States today, Americans are taking down the remnants of the Confederacy as symbols of inequality, just as the House of Representatives is raising up in our...WW…

Democrats in the United States Congress are questioning whether the administration of US President Donald Trump is improperly spying on Americans after it was revealed federal agencies used a drone, spy planes and covert techniques to surveil protests.“We demand that you cease any and all surveilling of Americans engaged in peaceful protests,” a group of 30 senior legislators wrote in a to FBI Director Christopher Wray and other top US law enforcement officials.A litany of domestic surveillance by authorities has emerged in the wake of largely peaceful protests following the death of George...…Democrats in the United States Congress are questioning whether the administration of US President Donald Trump is improperly spying on Americans after it was revealed federal agencies used a drone, spy planes and covert techniques to surveil protests.“We demand that you cease any and all surveilling of Americans engaged in peaceful protests,” a group of 30 senior legislators wrote in a to FBI Director Christopher Wray and other top US law enforcement officials.A litany of domestic surveillance by authorities has emerged in the wake of largely peaceful protests following the death of George...WW…

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the United States elections. This is and .With President Trump stuck in quarantine back at the White House, Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Nevada and Arizona, two states the Trump campaign hopes to win on Election Day.In Nevada, the campaign event was held outdoors and limited to a gathering of 250 persons in compliance with state restrictions for COVID-19.A second campaign event with Pence was held in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Vice President and his wife appeared before supporters at a body armour manufacturing site,...…Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the United States elections. This is and .With President Trump stuck in quarantine back at the White House, Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Nevada and Arizona, two states the Trump campaign hopes to win on Election Day.In Nevada, the campaign event was held outdoors and limited to a gathering of 250 persons in compliance with state restrictions for COVID-19.A second campaign event with Pence was held in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Vice President and his wife appeared before supporters at a body armour manufacturing site,...WW…

The United States House of Representatives has voted to override President Donald Trump’s veto of legislation setting the US military’s annual budget.The vote on Monday was 322 to 87, with more than the required two-thirds of members of the House voting to override Trump’s veto, as 109 Republicans rebuffed their president for the first time in the four years of his presidency.The measure now moves to the Republican-led Senate, which is scheduled to vote on the override on Tuesday. If the Senate joins the House in overriding Trump’s veto by more than a two-thirds majority, the bill would...…The United States House of Representatives has voted to override President Donald Trump’s veto of legislation setting the US military’s annual budget.The vote on Monday was 322 to 87, with more than the required two-thirds of members of the House voting to override Trump’s veto, as 109 Republicans rebuffed their president for the first time in the four years of his presidency.The measure now moves to the Republican-led Senate, which is scheduled to vote on the override on Tuesday. If the Senate joins the House in overriding Trump’s veto by more than a two-thirds majority, the bill would...WW…

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would limit the ability of any United States president to impose a travel ban on the basis of religion, a move that was welcomed by civil rights advocates as “a major step forward”.The legislation, known informally as the NO BAN Act, comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s that barred travel to the US from several Muslim-majority countries.The bill, which must also pass in the US Senate to become law, was approved by a 218-208 vote in the House on Wednesday.“The Muslim ban tore families apart, put lives on hold for years...…The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would limit the ability of any United States president to impose a travel ban on the basis of religion, a move that was welcomed by civil rights advocates as “a major step forward”.The legislation, known informally as the NO BAN Act, comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s that barred travel to the US from several Muslim-majority countries.The bill, which must also pass in the US Senate to become law, was approved by a 218-208 vote in the House on Wednesday.“The Muslim ban tore families apart, put lives on hold for years...WW…

Welcome to Al Jazeera’s coverage of President Joe Biden’s first formal news conference. This is William Roberts, Steve Chaggaris and Creede Newton.Amid “murmuring here in the United States” about the 78-year-old Biden’s delay in holding his first formal news conference with some suggesting “he wasn’t capable, he might not be able to hold a thought, there were questions about his health”, Al Jazeera White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett gave his performance a positive review.“He showed the world that he was very adept about various ranges of policy in a detailed way,” Halkett said. “I...…Welcome to Al Jazeera’s coverage of President Joe Biden’s first formal news conference. This is William Roberts, Steve Chaggaris and Creede Newton.Amid “murmuring here in the United States” about the 78-year-old Biden’s delay in holding his first formal news conference with some suggesting “he wasn’t capable, he might not be able to hold a thought, there were questions about his health”, Al Jazeera White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett gave his performance a positive review.“He showed the world that he was very adept about various ranges of policy in a detailed way,” Halkett said. “I...WW…

As the US Republican Party splinters over allegiance to former President Donald Trump, dissatisfied Republicans and a faction of former “Never Trumpers” are discussing starting a new party.“This is very much on everybody’s mind,” said Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts who attempted to run against Trump in the Republican primaries in 2020.“I would hope there would be some coalescing around the idea of a new party. I think it will happen,” Weld told Al Jazeera.The divide among Republicans over Trump, evident during the 2020 campaign, has accelerated since the January 6 Capitol...…As the US Republican Party splinters over allegiance to former President Donald Trump, dissatisfied Republicans and a faction of former “Never Trumpers” are discussing starting a new party.“This is very much on everybody’s mind,” said Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts who attempted to run against Trump in the Republican primaries in 2020.“I would hope there would be some coalescing around the idea of a new party. I think it will happen,” Weld told Al Jazeera.The divide among Republicans over Trump, evident during the 2020 campaign, has accelerated since the January 6 Capitol...WW…

United States defence secretary Lloyd Austin called for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and said more progress is needed in Afghan peace negotiations before Western forces withdraw from the war-torn country.“Clearly, the violence is too high right now and more progress needs to be to be made in the Afghan-led negotiations,” Secretary Austin said at a Pentagon news conference on Friday.“I urge all parties to choose the path towards peace, and the violence must decrease now,” Austin said a day after discussing Afghanistan with NATO defence ministers in Brussels.The US “will not...…United States defence secretary Lloyd Austin called for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and said more progress is needed in Afghan peace negotiations before Western forces withdraw from the war-torn country.“Clearly, the violence is too high right now and more progress needs to be to be made in the Afghan-led negotiations,” Secretary Austin said at a Pentagon news conference on Friday.“I urge all parties to choose the path towards peace, and the violence must decrease now,” Austin said a day after discussing Afghanistan with NATO defence ministers in Brussels.The US “will not...WW…

Democrats in the United States House of Representatives are moving forward with a vote on Thursday to strip Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments.Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Wednesday said Greene’s actions on social media, which included a suggestion Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be executed, were unacceptable.“She came to Congress with extraordinarily hostile rhetoric and hostile actions,” Hoyer told reporters.“Her actions in the Congress have been consistent and she has placed many members in fear for their welfare.”Democrats have from...…Democrats in the United States House of Representatives are moving forward with a vote on Thursday to strip Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments.Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Wednesday said Greene’s actions on social media, which included a suggestion Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be executed, were unacceptable.“She came to Congress with extraordinarily hostile rhetoric and hostile actions,” Hoyer told reporters.“Her actions in the Congress have been consistent and she has placed many members in fear for their welfare.”Democrats have from...WW…

The US House of Representatives has impeached President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” after a mob of his supporters stormed the United States Capitol last week, marking the first time in US history that a president has been impeached twice.The House resolution, which passed by a vote of 232-197 on Wednesday afternoon, states that Trump’s actions and remarks ahead of the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, DC incited the rioters.“Today, in a bipartisan way, the House demonstrated that no one is above the law – not even the President of the United States,” House...…The US House of Representatives has impeached President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” after a mob of his supporters stormed the United States Capitol last week, marking the first time in US history that a president has been impeached twice.The House resolution, which passed by a vote of 232-197 on Wednesday afternoon, states that Trump’s actions and remarks ahead of the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, DC incited the rioters.“Today, in a bipartisan way, the House demonstrated that no one is above the law – not even the President of the United States,” House...WW…