Latest Government policy News

Oregon governor uses new land use law to propose rural land for semiconductor facility

Sep. 19, 2024 13:44 PM EDT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is using a new land use law to propose a rural area for a semiconductor facility, as officials seek to lure more of the multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry to the state. Kotek has proposed expanding the city boundaries of Hillsboro,...

Sri Lanka's presidential election a test for current leader, 2 years after its economy hit bottom

Sep. 19, 2024 09:55 AM EDT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Two years ago, food cart worker Fathima Shiyama had to wait in line, sometimes for days, to get cooking gas, fuel and other essentials. It was a test of patience for her and millions of other Sri Lankans as their country languished in economic and political chaos. ...

Takeaways from AP's report on the evangelicals backing Kamala Harris

Sep. 19, 2024 08:05 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has heavily courted conservative evangelicals since his arrival on the political scene almost a decade ago. Now he is selling Trump-themed Bibles, touting the overturning of Roe v. Wade and imploring Christians to get out the vote for him. ...

Teamsters union declines to endorse Trump or Harris for president

Sep. 18, 2024 17:57 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined Wednesday to endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president, saying neither candidate had sufficient support from the 1.3 million-member union. “Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make...

Text of the policy statement the Federal Reserve released Wednesday

Sep. 18, 2024 14:39 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Below is the statement the Federal Reserve released Wednesday after its latest policy meeting ended: Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. Job gains have slowed, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains...

The Bank of England is widely expected to hold interest rates as inflation stays above target

Sep. 18, 2024 09:34 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged on Thursday, a day after official figures showed inflation in the U.K. holding steady at an annual rate of 2.2% in August, with higher airfares offset by lower fuel costs and restaurant and hotel bills. ...

Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new era

Sep. 17, 2024 23:22 PM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — On the eve of New Zealand’s Māori language celebration week, the country’s right-wing political leaders ordered public agencies to stop affirmative action policies for Māori people, who are disadvantaged on almost every metric. The lawmakers...

The new hard-right Dutch coalition pledges stricter limits on asylum

Sep. 17, 2024 09:46 AM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The new hard-right Dutch government pledged Tuesday to launch stricter policies to hold back or kick out migrants who don’t qualify for asylum, as the king laid out the administration’s plans in a speech to open the parliamentary year. Dutch King...

Lawsuit says Alabama voter purge targets naturalized citizens

Sep. 16, 2024 22:20 PM EDT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Voting rights groups have filed a lawsuit against Alabama’s secretary of state over a policy they said is illegally targeting naturalized citizens for removal from voting rolls ahead of the November election. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced...

Argentina's President Milei presents 2025 budget, vowing austerity and setting up a showdown

Sep. 16, 2024 08:36 AM EDT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Libertarian President Javier Milei of Argentina presented the 2025 budget to Congress late Sunday, outlining policy priorities that reflected his key pledge to kill the country's chronic fiscal deficit and signaled a new phase of confrontation with lawmakers. ...