Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for high-level talks, despite tensions between the two countries over issues such as trade, human rights, and the coronavirus pandemic. The trip was originally planned for February, but was postponed after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. It remains to be seen if the two sides will be able to reach an agreement during Blinken's visit.
Posts tagged as “South Carolina”
Former Vice President Mike Pence is officially entering the race for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, joining a field of diverse candidates including former President Donald Trump. Pence has a long history of public service and is expected to appeal to the party's traditional base while also reaching out to more moderate voters. The competition is sure to heat up in the coming months as the candidates vie for the nomination.
Congress is close to passing a bill to raise the debt limit and avoid a U.S. default, but 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls are expressing their disapproval of the deal. Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have called it a “horrible deal” and “will only add to our already unsustainable debt” respectively. Other hopefuls, such as Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo, have also voiced their concerns about the country’s debt and spending.
Alex Murdaugh, a former attorney, was arraigned Wednesday on federal money laundering and wire fraud charges for allegedly stealing money from his clients. He pleaded not guilty, but his lawyer said that might change soon. State prosecutors have also indicted Murdaugh on similar charges, and his lawyers have said he has been cooperating with federal investigators. The case is ongoing and it is unclear what the outcome will be.
Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor, is set to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination at a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday. He has been bolstered by a super PAC set up by his longtime advisers and has been a close ally of former President Donald Trump. He joins a field of contenders that includes Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Nikki Haley for the June 2024 primary election.
On Sunday night, 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton was fatally shot in the back by 58-year-old Rick Chow, a convenience store owner who had mistaken him for shoplifting. Chow has been arrested and charged with murder, and the incident has sparked outrage in the community. An investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
A judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of South Carolina's new abortion ban at around six weeks of pregnancy, pending review by the state Supreme Court. The law, which was passed by the General Assembly on Tuesday, is similar to a 2021 ban on abortion once cardiac activity can be detected. The state Supreme Court previously ruled that the 2021 law violated the state constitution's right to privacy. The decision to halt the implementation of the new law means South Carolina reverts back to a ban at about 20 weeks after fertilization, for now.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination on Wednesday, but was met with a barrage of insults and attacks from former President Donald Trump and other Republican figures. Nikki Haley called him an "echo" of Trump, while David Jolly and David Urban both commented that the announcement had become "humiliating." Despite DeSantis' vision of a "two-horse race" between him and Trump, the response to his announcement has been largely negative.