The $1.7 trillion government spending bill signed; Trump taxes released; and a soccer legend dead at 82. These stories and more highlight your morning rundown, aimed straight down the middle, for Friday, Dec.30, 2022.
Biden signs $1.7 trillion spending bill
While on vacation on Thursday, President Biden resumed official business just long enough to sign the $1.7 trillion bill that will keep the government from shutting down and provides funding for government agencies and projects in the new year.
The bill was passed and signed into law just in the nick of time ahead of 2023.
Trump taxes to be released today
A House committee will be releasing former President Trump’s tax records today. The documents are said to date back to 2015 through 2020. Democrats have been fighting for the documents to go public for many years.
The release is said to offer transparency on the finances surrounding Trump’s business empire.
Trump has called the move “an outrageous abuse of power”.
Chinese leaders to visit Moscow 2023
Just as the U.S. has clearly taken a side in the Ukraine-Russia war, China has to once again pit our two countries on opposite sides of the battlefield.
China’s Xi Jin Ping spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin through a video conference on Friday. Putin said their alliance is the “best in history.” And vowed to strengthen military cooperation with China.
Xi is expected to visit Moscow in person in the spring of 2023.
JP Morgan sued over Epstein account
JP Morgan Chase is suing the U.S. Virgin Islands. The attorney general accused the bank of aiding and abetting Jeffrey Epstein’s illegal sex trafficking enterprise.
The lawsuit suggests JP Morgan turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for more than a decade because of Epstein’s own large financial contributions.
It accuses the bank of deliberately trying to hide Epstein’s suspicious activities by failing to comply with proper record-keeping.
The suit says financial institutions have the ability to dismantle human trafficking networks with proper vetting.
This latest lawsuit comes only about a month after two of Epstein’s accusers sued JP Morgan. Alleging the bank made millions in profits off of sex-trafficking accounts.
JP Morgan has not responded.
Soccer legend Pele dies at 82
“Pele represents what we are, where we come from. Pele is our roots. What we are today is thanks to him,” said Pele fan Flavio Augusto.
“It’s really sad to see a legend go on. He had such an influence in soccer. And I just feel really upset and I hope he is in a better place. He influenced soccer for generations to come,” said Pele fan Alberto Melgar.
Soccer fans around the world are mourning the loss of Pele. Better known as the “King of Soccer” and. arguably the best footballer of all time. The only player to ever win three world cup championships.
Pele was not only a star in Brazil but around the world. He was the first global sports icon, transforming the sport of soccer as we know it.
He was 82 years old.