Connect with us

Published

on

Joe Biden is set to announce he will run for a second term as US president next week, according to US media.

Mr Biden’s advisers are planning to launch his re-election campaign as soon as next Tuesday, three sources familiar with the plans have told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.

The 80-year-old president’s advisers have said for months that no formal timetable has been agreed for him to launch his campaign.

However they have long had their sights set on 25 April, the anniversary of Mr Biden’s 2020 campaign announcement, as an informal target.

Mr Biden will launch his candidacy for next year’s election with a campaign video message – just as he did four years ago, the sources said.

The timing and method of the announcement mirrors how the Obama-Biden ticket launched its re-election bid in 2011.

Jen O’Malley Dillon and Anita Dunn, senior White House advisers overseeing the announcement of Mr Biden’s campaign, both worked on Mr Obama’s re-election effort.

Advisers have cautioned that plans could still change based on a range of factors, with one source saying that nothing is official until the president announces it himself.

As the sitting president Mr Biden will likely not launch the kind of barnstorming tour he did in 2019 after his announcement.

Instead, it is thought he will follow the precedent of other incumbents by employing what is known as a “Rose Garden strategy” for much of this year.

This refers to staying within the grounds of the White House rather than touring the country.

Mr Biden appeared to confirm he would seek re-election earlier this month when he said in an interview with NBC: “I plan on running… but we’re not prepared to announce it yet.”

Read more:
Biden brings his emotional tour of Ireland to a close
Analysis: Biden has his eye on re-election and his Ireland trip proves it

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Hillary Clinton: Trump ‘cannot win’

Even if Mr Biden won’t officially hold campaign events until next year, he is expected to continue to travel the country promoting his legislative accomplishments and using Congressional Republicans as his sparring partners until the Republican nominating race produces his general election opponent.

It comes months after Donald Trump officially launched his third bid for the US presidency in November 2022.

He can still run for office despite being the first current or former US president to be charged with a crime.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and conspiracy for his alleged role in hush money payments to two women towards the end of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Continue Reading

US

US and EU agree trade deal, says Donald Trump

Published

on

By

US and EU agree trade deal, says Donald Trump

The United States and European Union have agreed a trade deal, says Donald Trump.

The announcement was made as the US president met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at one of his golf resorts in Scotland.

Speaking after talks in Turnberry, Mr Trump said the EU deal was the “biggest deal ever made” and it will be “great for cars”.

The US will impose 15% tariffs on EU goods into America, after Mr Trump had threatened a 30% levy.

He said there will be an EU investment of $600bn in the US, the bloc will buy $750bn in US energy and will also purchase US military equipment.

Mr Trump had earlier said the main sticking point was “fairness”, citing barriers to US exports of cars and agriculture.

He went into the talks demanding fairer trade with the 27-member EU and threatening steep tariffs to achieve that, while insisting the US will not go below 15% import taxes.

More from World

For months, Mr Trump has threatened most of the world with large tariffs in the hope of shrinking major US trade deficits with many key trading partners, including the EU.

Ms von der Leyen said the agreement would include 15% tariffs across the board, saying it would help rebalance trade between the two large trading partners.

In case there was no deal and the US had imposed 30% tariffs from 1 August, the EU has prepared counter-tariffs on €93bn (£81bn) of US goods.

Ahead of their meeting on Sunday, Ms von der Leyen described Mr Trump as a “tough negotiator and dealmaker”.

Follow the World
Follow the World

Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday

Tap to follow

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the latest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

US

Michigan: 11 people stabbed in US supermarket – with six in critical condition

Published

on

By

Michigan: 11 people stabbed in US supermarket - with six in critical condition

At least 11 people have been stabbed at a Walmart supermarket in Michigan, with six in a critical condition.

Officials say a suspect is in custody – and at this stage, it is believed the attack was a “random act” that involved a folding-style knife near the checkout area.

Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters: “Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn’t more.”

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

The suspect, who is from Michigan, is not known to police – and was captured within three minutes thanks to “citizen involvement”.

The attack unfolded in Traverse City – and Tiffany DeFell, who was in the car park at the time, described scenes of chaos.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies.”

Beyond the six people in a critical condition, it is believed the remaining five were seriously hurt. All 11 are still being treated in hospital.

More from US

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

A Walmart spokesperson added that the retailer is working closely with law enforcement.

“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” a statement said.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

At this stage, the ages of the victims is unclear – but it is not thought any of the victims were Walmart employees.

Traverse City is about 255 miles northwest of Detroit.

Continue Reading

US

Plane plunges 300ft in 36 seconds to avoid another aircraft

Published

on

By

Plane plunges 300ft in 36 seconds to avoid another aircraft

A US passenger plane made a dramatic plunge minutes after take-off to dodge another aircraft – injuring two cabin crew and causing passengers to shoot out of their seats.

The Southwest flight had just taken off from Burbank in California when the pilot received an alert about a nearby plane.

Data from FlightAware shows the aircraft dropped by 91m (300ft) in just 36 seconds. Those on board said they felt panicked, and some feared the plane was about to crash.

Comedian Jimmy Dore posted on X: “Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid mid-air collision … myself and plenty of people flew out of their seats and bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention.”

Stef Zambrano saw a woman who wasn’t wearing her seatbelt thrown out of her seat, who then said: “I want to get off this plane. I want to be on the ground.”

Another passenger, Steve Ulasewicz, told NBC Los Angeles that it felt like the plane was in freefall for 10 seconds.

“People were screaming. You know, it was pandemonium. People thought the plane was going down,” he added.

More from US

The aircraft was able to continue to its destination of Las Vegas, where it safely landed without any further incident.

It is believed the Boeing 737 was in the same vicinity as a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British fighter jet.

Southwest is now working with the Federal Aviation Administration “to further understand the circumstances” of the event.

Read more US news:
Trump issues warning as he arrives in Scotland
US justice department interviews Ghislaine Maxwell

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

January: Footage of Washington plane crash

This is the second time in a week that a passenger plane has had to make abrupt flight manoeuvres to avoid a potential mid-air collision.

Concerns have been raised about aviation safety in the US following a series of recent incidents.

In January, a mid-air collision in Washington DC killed 67 people.

Continue Reading

Trending