By Steve Holland

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden predicted on Thursday Sweden will join NATO “soon”, speaking at the U.S. Air Force Academy days after he hinted at a possible deal to overcome Turkey’s opposition to admitting the Nordic country to the alliance.

Biden, in a flag-waving commencement address in Colorado Springs, Colorado, warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

Biden, 80, who stood for much of the hours-long ceremony to shake hands with graduates, appeared to trip over something and fell to his knees towards the end. He was assisted to his feet and walked to his seat unaided.

On Monday, Biden spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on his re-election. Biden told reporters Erdogan repeated Ankara’s desire to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States, while Biden urged Ankara to drop its objection to Sweden’s joining NATO.

In his commencement speech, Biden said NATO is stronger in spite of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to crack the alliance with his invasion of Ukraine. It is bolstered further, he said, by the recent admission of Finland, “and soon, Sweden.”

“It will happen, I promise you,” he said, but provided no details.

On Monday, Biden said he would speak to Erdogan again soon. NATO’s annual summit is in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkey to immediately finalize Sweden’s accession to NATO, saying the country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara’s objections to its membership.

The White House has denied that Biden is pursuing a deal with Turkey to lift its opposition in exchange for F16s.

The 80-year-old president, who is seeking re-election in 2024, stood, throughout the presentation of more than 900 diplomas despite the relatively thin mountain air, shook hands and gave sharp salutes to the blue-uniformed graduates. His fall came at the end of the individual salutes. The Air Force Academy stands at 7,258 feet (2,212.3 meters) above sea level.

Biden made clear the United States would not back down from the challenge posed by China amid deep strains in the relationship.

“The United States does not seek conflict or confrontation with China. China and the United States should be able to work together where we can to solve some global challenges, like climate,” he said.

“But we are prepared for vigorous competition,” he said, adding the United States would stand up for its interests and that of its partners.

The president emphasized U.S. support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

“The American people’s support for Ukraine will not waiver,” Biden said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Heather Timmons and David Gregorio)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The House Oversight Committee’s Chairman James Comer opened a probe Thursday into U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan’s management of the agency, citing complaints of abuse of power.

Khan has angered companies and trade groups like the Chamber of Commerce by pushing the FTC, which enforces antitrust law and laws against deceptive marketing, to be more aggressive in investigations and law enforcement.

In a letter to Khan and agency officials dated Thursday, Comer cited complaints made by former commissioner Christine Wilson, a Republican.

“We are concerned that the developments at the Commission cataloged by Commissioner Wilson and others could undermine consumers’ and markets’ confidence in the Commission’s ability to perform its functions effectively and with integrity,” Comer wrote in the letter.

Comer’s letter cited Wilson’s concern over a transaction by Meta Platforms. She had accused Khan of abuse of power by voting to challenge Meta’s acquisition of virtual reality content maker Within. Wilson argued that Khan had said before coming to the FTC that Meta should be barred from making additional acquisitions, and that this meant Khan should be recused from FTC deliberations regarding the deal.

The FTC lost a court fight aimed at stopping that transaction and the deal went forward.

“Under Chair Khan, the FTC is proud to be defending American consumers from harm and ensuring fair competition in the economy. We look forward to working with Congress to dispel former Commissioner Wilson’s imaginative allegations,” FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said in an email.

The committee asked for documents related to the probe, including unredacted documents related to whether Khan should recuse herself from discussions about Meta’s plan to buy Within as well as discussions about the use of delay in order to deter or prevent corporate mergers.

The pro-business Chamber of Commerce, which is battling the FTC for access to documents for its own probe into how the agency is run, welcomed the congressional investigation.

“We share the concerns raised by Chair Comer, which are now the focus of the committee’s investigation. This investigation is on top of efforts underway by other House committees to bring much needed oversight to an agency that has lost its way,” the Chamber said in a statement.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The House Oversight Committee’s Chairman James Comer opened a probe Thursday into U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan’s management of the agency, citing complaints of abuse of power.

Khan has angered companies and trade groups like the Chamber of Commerce by pushing the FTC, which enforces antitrust law and laws against deceptive marketing, to be more aggressive in investigations and law enforcement.

In a letter to Khan and agency officials dated Thursday, Comer cited complaints made by former commissioner Christine Wilson, a Republican.

“We are concerned that the developments at the Commission cataloged by Commissioner Wilson and others could undermine consumers’ and markets’ confidence in the Commission’s ability to perform its functions effectively and with integrity,” Comer wrote in the letter.

Comer’s letter cited Wilson’s concern over a transaction by Meta Platforms. She had accused Khan of abuse of power by voting to challenge Meta’s acquisition of virtual reality content maker Within. Wilson argued that Khan had said before coming to the FTC that Meta should be barred from making additional acquisitions, and that this meant Khan should be recused from FTC deliberations regarding the deal.

The FTC lost a court fight aimed at stopping that transaction and the deal went forward.

“Under Chair Khan, the FTC is proud to be defending American consumers from harm and ensuring fair competition in the economy. We look forward to working with Congress to dispel former Commissioner Wilson’s imaginative allegations,” FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said in an email.

The committee asked for documents related to the probe, including unredacted documents related to whether Khan should recuse herself from discussions about Meta’s plan to buy Within as well as discussions about the use of delay in order to deter or prevent corporate mergers.

The pro-business Chamber of Commerce, which is battling the FTC for access to documents for its own probe into how the agency is run, welcomed the congressional investigation.

“We share the concerns raised by Chair Comer, which are now the focus of the committee’s investigation. This investigation is on top of efforts underway by other House committees to bring much needed oversight to an agency that has lost its way,” the Chamber said in a statement.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) – President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, but got up quickly and walked back to his seat.

The 80-year-old U.S. president fell forward, caught himself with his hands, then got up on one knee helped by three people. He walked back to his seat unassisted.

After Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over. He mingled with other officials afterward, smiling and giving a “thumbs up” sign.

White House communications director Ben LaBolt said on Twitter that Biden was fine. “There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands,” he explained.

The fall came after a commencement address Biden delivered to a flag-waving audience where he warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

Biden, the oldest person to hold the Oval Office, is running for re-election in 2024. Polls show Americans are concerned about anyone over 75 becoming president. His leading Republican opponent, Donald Trump, turns 77 this month.

Doctors declared Biden healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination in February, noting the President does not drink alcohol or use tobacco and exercises “at least” five times a week.

Biden fell as he was dismounting his bicycle last June, after snaring a foot in a toe clip, but was uninjured.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu and Heather Timmons; Editing by Tim Ahmann and David Gregorio)

(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden plans to select former North Carolina health secretary Mandy Cohen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing three people with direct knowledge of the announcement.

(Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) -President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday.

The 80-year-old U.S. president quickly got up on one knee helped by three people and walked back to his seat unassisted.

As Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over.

White House communications director Ben LaBolt said on Twitter that Biden was fine. “There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands,” he explained.

The fall came after Biden delivered a commencement address to a flag-waving audience where he warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

Biden is running for re-election in 2024. Doctors declared him healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination in February.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) -President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday.

The 80-year-old U.S. president quickly got up on one knee helped by three people and walked back to his seat unassisted.

As Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over.

White House communications director Ben LaBolt said on Twitter that Biden was fine. “There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands,” he explained.

The fall came after Biden delivered a commencement address to a flag-waving audience where he warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

Biden is running for re-election in 2024. Doctors declared him healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination in February.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) – President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday. He was quickly helped up and walked back to his seat unassisted.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann)

By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt another setback to organized labor by making it easier for employers to sue over strikes that cause property destruction in a ruling siding with a concrete business in Washington state that sued the union representing its truck drivers after a work stoppage.

The 8-1 decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that said the lawsuit filed by Glacier Northwest Inc, which sells and delivers ready-mix concrete, against a local affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters was preempted by a U.S. law called the National Labor Relations Act. Glacier Northwest is a unit of Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement Corp.

Glacier Northwest filed a lawsuit in Washington state court accusing the union of intentional property destruction during a 2017 strike.

A group of drivers went on strike while their mixing trucks were filled with concrete. Although the drivers kept their mixing drums rotating to delay the concrete from hardening and damaging the vehicles, the company was forced to discard the unused product at a financial loss.

The Washington state Supreme Court in 2021 ruled that the company’s claims were preempted by a statute called the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), saying the company’s loss of concrete was incidental to a strike that could be considered arguably protected under federal labor law.

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who wrote the ruling, said the union’s actions had not only destroyed the concrete but had also “posed a risk of foreseeable, aggravated and imminent harm to Glacier’s trucks.”

“Because the union took affirmative steps to endanger Glacier’s property rather than reasonable precautions to mitigate that risk, the NLRA does not arguably protect its conduct,” Barrett wrote.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in a 27-page dissent, wrote that the ruling “is likely to cause considerable confusion among the lower courts” about how preemption under the National Labor Relations Act should apply in future cases and “risks erosion of the right to strike.”

The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, has leaned toward curbing the power of labor unions in rulings in recent years.

The justices in 2021 struck down a California agricultural regulation aimed at helping unions organize workers. The court in 2018 ruled that non-members cannot be forced, as they are in certain states, to pay fees to unions representing public employees such as police and teachers that negotiate collective bargaining agreements with employers.

Noel Francisco, the lawyer who represented Glacier Northwest in the case decided on Thursday, said the ruling “vindicates the longstanding principle that federal law does not shield labor unions from tort liability when they intentionally destroy an employer’s property.”

Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said the Supreme Court had “again voted in favor of corporations over working people.”

“The ability to strike has been on the books for nearly 100 years,” O’Brien said, “and it’s no coincidence that this ruling is coming at a time when workers across the country are fed up and exercising their rights more and more.”

The union, Teamsters Local Union No. 174, had claimed the strike not only was arguably protected under federal labor law but the resulting loss of concrete did not satisfy the high bar to override federal preemption. While the Supreme Court has found that labor unions can be sued in state court for violent or threatening conduct, the union had argued, this narrow exception should not be expanded to permit property damage claims brought under state law.

President Joe Biden’s administration had urged the justices to reverse the lower court’s decision, allowing Glacier Northwest’s lawsuit to proceed.

(Reporting by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)

By Steve Holland

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden predicted on Thursday Sweden will join NATO “soon”, speaking at the U.S. Air Force Academy days after he hinted at a possible deal to overcome Turkey’s opposition to admitting the Nordic country to the alliance.

Biden, in a flag-waving commencement address in Colorado Springs, Colorado, warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

On Monday, Biden spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on his re-election. Biden told reporters Erdogan repeated Ankara’s desire to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States, while Biden urged Ankara to drop its objection to Sweden’s joining NATO.

In his commencement speech, Biden said NATO is stronger in spite of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to crack the alliance with his invasion of Ukraine. It is bolstered further, he said, by the recent admission of Finland, “and soon, Sweden.”

“It will happen, I promise you,” he said, but provided no details.

On Monday, Biden said he would speak to Erdogan again soon. NATO’s annual summit is in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkey to immediately finalize Sweden’s accession to NATO, saying the country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara’s objections to its membership.

The White House has denied that Biden is pursuing a deal with Turkey to lift its opposition in exchange for F16s.

The 80-year-old president, who is seeking re-election in 2024, stood, apparently unfazed by the thin air throughout the presentation of more than 900 diplomas, shook hands and gave sharp salutes to the blue-uniformed graduates. The Air Force Academy stands at 7,258 feet (2,212.3 meters) above sea level.

Biden made clear the United States would not back down from the challenge posed by China amid deep strains in the relationship.

“The United States does not seek conflict or confrontation with China. China and the United States should be able to work together where we can to solve some global challenges, like climate,” he said.

“But we are prepared for vigorous competition,” he said, adding the United States would stand up for its interests and that of its partners.

The president emphasized U.S. support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

“The American people’s support for Ukraine will not waiver,” Biden said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Heather Timmons and David Gregorio)