Free Republic

Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama publicly condemned the Trump administration's dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), joining legendary singer Bono in an emotional farewell via videoconference to the shuttered aid service. Obama, a Democrat, called the decision "a colossal mistake," while the Republican Bush denounced the cuts to his signature HIV/AIDS relief program, asking, "Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you." Bono, appearing as a surprise guest, fought back tears as he honored the agency's workers, calling...

Automaker investor days are joining spy shots and leaked documents as the most regular sources of unexpected information on future product. After Jaguar Land Rover held its confab with Wall Street last month, Automotive News found just how far upmarket the English group wants to go. JLR CEO Adrian Mardell, who left Bentley for his current job, referred to a "halo strategy" that, in AN's words, is "looking to increase sales of high-value, special edition models costing upwards of 1.5 million pounds" in a new “halo strategy” push. That's a floor of $1.95M U.S. at current exchange rates, a barrier...

The Vatican has blocked the appointment of Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador, according to reports. Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint. Mr Obama was reportedly seeking to reward John F Kennedy's daughter, who publicly gave her support to his election bid. She had been poised to replace Hillary Clinton as New York senator, but dropped out amid criticism that she lacked enough experience for the job.