Page 58 - United States

Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin to hold call over stepped up security demands

The two leaders will discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements

Kamala Harris quietly taps Wall Street, tech CEOs for advice on policy

Corporate leaders say the vice president is continuing to engage them on other challenges, from the resurgence of the coronavirus to supply chain constraints and semiconductor shortages

Decades of efforts by US Defence dept fail to stamp out bias, extremism

In February, newly confirmed Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin took the unprecedented step of signing a memo directing commanding officers to institute a one-day stand-down to address extremism

US presses for arms embargo on Myanmar military after massacre

The United States on Tuesday pressed for an arms embargo on the Myanmar military after a recent attack by the military junta in Kayah State that killed at least 35 people.Speaking at a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the US echoes the calls of the UN special envoy on Myanmar for an immediate cessation of violence and New Year's ceasefire."The international community must also do more to advance this goal and help prevent the recurrence of atrocities in Burma, including by supporting justice and accountability and ending the sale of arms and dual-use technology to the military," he added.Price said that the US will continue to work with its partners and allies to promote accountability for human rights abuses, including by supporting the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.He added that the Biden administration will continue to press the regime to cease the violence, release all those unjustly detained, provide safe and unhindered ...

US, Ireland jointly agree to postpone ODI series over Covid-19 concerns

USA Cricket and Cricket Ireland have jointly agreed to the cancellation of the ODI series between the USA and Ireland over COVID-related concerns

Accuser cannot sue Prince Andrew of sexual abuse as she isn't in US

A lawsuit by an American who claims Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17 might have to be thrown out because she no longer lives in the U.S.

President Joe Biden revokes southern Africa travel restrictions

US President Joe Biden has ended the COVID-19 related travel restriction imposed last month on the eight southern African nations due to the spread of coronavirus variant Omicron."In light of these changed circumstances, and based on the recommendation of the CDC, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to revoke Proclamation 10315. The travel restrictions imposed by that proclamation are no longer necessary to protect the public health," said Biden in his presidential proclamation on Tuesday. This proclamation is effective at 12:01 am eastern standard time on December 31.Having learned more about the Omicron variant in the past several weeks, the CDC now recommends lifting the travel restrictions, read the proclamation."Importantly, scientific experts have determined that people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are protected against severe disease and hospitalization from the Omicron variant. Moreover, the Omicron variant has now spread to more than 100 .

Harry Reid, ex-Democratic leader and longtime Nevada senator, dies at 82

Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader and Nevada's longest-serving member of Congress, has died. He was 82. Reid died on Tuesday, peacefully and surrounded by friends following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Landra Reid said of her husband in a statement. Harry was a devout family man and deeply loyal friend, she said. "We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support from so many over these past few years. We are especially grateful for the doctors and nurses that cared for him. Please know that meant the world to him. Funeral arrangements would be announced in coming days, she said. The combative former boxer-turned-lawyer was widely-acknowledged as one of toughest dealmakers in Congress, a conservative Democrat in an increasingly polarized chamber who vexed lawmakers of both parties with a brusque manner and this motto: I would rather dance than fight, but I know how to fight". Over a 34-year career in Washington, Reid thrived on behind-the-scenes

California records more than 5 million cases amid Omicron surge

California became the first state to record more than 5 million known coronavirus infections, according to the state dashboard on Tuesday, which was delayed by the holiday weekend. The grim milestone, as reported by the California Department of Public Health, wasn't entirely unexpected in a state with 40 million residents poised for a surge in new infections amid holiday parties and family gatherings forced indoors by a series of winter storms. The first coronavirus case in California was confirmed Jan. 25, 2020. It took 292 days to get to 1 million infections on Nov. 11 of that year, and 44 days from then to top 2 million. California's caseload is also ahead of other large states. Texas had more than 4.4 million and Florida topped 3.9 million as of Sunday. California has recorded more than 75,500 deaths related to COVID-19. The state has fared far better than many other states that are dealing with a coronavirus surge, with areas in the Midwest and Northeast seeing the biggest ju

Flight disruptions continue in US over Omicron concerns, adverse weather

Airlines continue to cut flights as rising numbers of staff are infected by the Omicron coronavirus variant and bad winter weather disrupts parts of the US

US sets grim new record for daily Covid-19 cases amid Omicron surge

The lightning spread of the new Omicron variant in the US has driven daily Covid-19 new cases to a record high of over 510,000.

Joe Biden signs $768.2 billion defense spending bill into law

President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law Monday, authorising USD 768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7 per cent pay raise for service members, for 2022

South Korea, US, Japan negotiate possible defence ministerial talks

South Korea, the US and Japan are negotiating over the possibility of the countries holding trilateral defence ministerial talks, the Defence Ministry in Seoul

'So difficult': Northwest cold forces people into shelters in Seattle

With temperatures in normally mild Seattle dropping well below freezing, Kaety West walked a short distance in the snow from the tent where she usually stays to find refuge

US e-commerce sales growth slows down in 2021 holiday season: Report

US e-commerce sales expanded at a much slower pace in the holiday season of 2021, according to a report issued by Mastercard Inc.

US steals Syria's resources, imposes illegitimate sanctions: Syrian FM

The US is stealing natural resources from Syria and imposing illegitimate sanctions, Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said

Omicron drives record-high daily Covid-19 infections in US since January

The new Omicron variant has driven a winter surge in Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths across the US, with daily infections reaching a record high since January.

US discusses 'Russia's military build-up near Ukraine' with Poland

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had a telephonic conversation with Poland's National Security Bureau Chief Pawel Soloch and Head of the International Policy Bureau Jakub Kumoch.

US CDC cuts short Covid isolation, quarantine for all from 10 to 5 days

US health officials on Monday cut isolation restrictions for Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts need to quarantine. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention officials said the guidance is in keeping with growing evidence that people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop. The decision also was driven by a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, propelled by the omicron variant. Early research suggests omicron may cause milder illnesses than earlier versions of the coronavirus. But the sheer number of people becoming infected and therefore having to isolate or quarantine threatens to crush the ability of hospitals, airlines and other businesses to stay open, experts say. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the country is about to see a lot of omicron cases. "Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact many are going to be asymptomatic, sh

US should consider vaccine mandate for domestic air travel: Anthony Fauci

Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, said the US should consider a vaccination mandate for domestic air travel