Cindy McCain calls Arizona GOP election audit 'ludicrous'

As vice president, Joe Biden was among those repeatedly pushing President Barack Obama to negotiate with Republicans on everything from health care to fiscal crises — even if it led to delays, watered-down policies or nothing at all. But these days, Biden and his team, many of whom worked in the Obama administration, are taking a different approach: Talking to Republicans, yes, but doing so with more skepticism and firmer deadlines, according to six current and former Biden advisers and lawmakers.

Biden is talking to Republicans, but for only so long

As vice president, Joe Biden was among those repeatedly pushing President Barack Obama to negotiate with Republicans on everything from health care to fiscal crises — even if it led to delays, watered-down policies or nothing at all. But these days, Biden and his team, many of whom worked in the Obama administration, are taking a different approach: Talking to Republicans, yes, but doing so with more skepticism and firmer deadlines, according to six current and former Biden advisers and lawmakers.

India elections: Modi party defeated in West Bengal battleground

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has failed to win a key state in elections held amid record Covid-19 deaths and cases. The BJP targeted West Bengal heavily during campaigning but the state was comfortably held by the incumbent, Mamata Banerjee, a fierce Modi critic. Her win came as a surprise to political observers, who noted how much time and money the BJP invested in the state. Mr Modi was even accused of focusing on polls rather than the pandemic.

New Zealand’s differences with China becoming ‘harder to reconcile’, Jacinda Ardern says

New Zealand’s differences with China are becoming “harder to reconcile,” the prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said, as she called on China “to act in the world in ways that are consistent with its responsibilities as a growing power”. Ardern’s comments were made as New Zealand’s government comes under increasing pressure, both internally and from international allies, to take a firmer stance on concerns over human rights abuses of Uyghur people in China’s Xinjiang province. 

Polls put German Green party in lead five months before election

A green wind of change is blowing through Germany’s political landscape as a poll-of-polls on Monday puts the Green party above Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) only five months before national elections. The aggregate poll, published by Pollytix Strategic Research, puts the Greens in the lead for the first time since June 2019. Germany’s party landscape has long proven more resistant to sudden upheavals than its European neighbours, with the CDU holding on to its status as the country’s supreme political power while sister parties in France or Italy slipped into oblivion.

Joe Biden is Building Back Better - what Canada can learn from the Biden Administration

Joe Biden’s first speech to congress as President has provided a blueprint for how Canadian progressives can achieve their goals and what building back better in Canada could look like. His blue-collar style progressive populism has proved effective and popular. Biden highlighted four policy areas that are also relevant to Canada - building back a prosperous manufacturing industry, investing in education, taxing the rich and protecting the rights of workers.

Fossilized Finance: How Canada’s banks enable oil and gas production

Despite Canada’s climate change commitments, the country’s “big five” banks continue to finance and support the expansion of fossil fuel industries. In fact, the extent of the banks’ support since the oil price collapse in 2014 shows that this backing hinders Canada’s progress on reducing emissions. 

Liberals' strike-breaking bill a failure of leadership and an assault on fundamental rights

CUPE says the passage of strike-breaking legislation by the Trudeau government through the House of Commons is a failure of leadership and an assault on the rights of 1,150 striking workers at the Port of Montreal.

Will the end of the COVID-19 pandemic usher in a second Roaring ’20s?

While some places remain mired in the third wave of the pandemic, others are taking their first tentative steps towards normality. Since April 21, Denmark has allowed indoor service at restaurants and cafes, and football fans are returning to the stands. In countries that have forged ahead with the rollout of vaccines, there is a palpable sense of optimism.

Cop Who Violently Arrested Skateboarder Charged With Assault

Barrie police officer Jason Stamp, 46, was arrested and charged after a video showing him violently arresting 20-year-old Skyler Kent went viral, prompting an investigation.