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World

House Democrats question Biden Administration's $735 million arms sale to Israel amidst crisis in Gaza

The Biden Administration has formally approved the sale of $735 million worth of precision-guided weapons technology to Israel, drawing the ire of House Democrats who are questioning the government's support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At least 200 Palestinians in Gaza, including 58 children, have been killed by Israeli strikes since the beginning of this crisis on the 10th of May.

Updated 18 May, 2021 03:33pm

World

Biden administration approved $735 million arms sale to Israel

Three congressional aides said Congress was officially notified of the intended commercial sale on May 5, as part of the regular review process before major foreign weapons sales agreements can go ahead.
The sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, made by Boeing Co, was considered routine at the time, before the start last week of the fiercest hostilities in the region in years.

Published 17 May, 2021 09:38pm

Business & Finance

Tesla seeks entry into US renewable fuel credit market

NEW YORK: Tesla Inc is seeking to enter the multi-billion dollar US renewable credit market, hoping to profit from...

Updated 17 May, 2021 09:57am

Markets

Fuel shortages worsen on sixth day of top US fuel pipeline outage

A ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline last week halted 2.5 million barrels per day of fuel shipments in the most disruptive cyberattack on US energy infrastructure. The pipeline stretches 5,500 miles (8,850 km) from US Gulf Coast oil refineries to consumers in Mid-Atlantic and Southeast states.

Published 12 May, 2021 06:51pm

World

Pakistan rules out providing military bases to U.S. for future counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan

Pakistan has ruled out the possibility of providing its military bases to the United States, for any future counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan.
The Biden Administration has been in talks with several Central Asian countries to reposition its troops, to prevent the landlocked Afghanistan from becoming a base for terrorist groups.

Updated 12 May, 2021 05:03pm

World

National Security Experts Warn U.S Troop Pullout Will Spark Taliban, Al Qaeda Resurgence in Afghanistan

National security experts are raising concerns about the Biden Administration's incoming troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in September, fearing that it could lead to heightened national security concerns in the future.

Updated 10 May, 2021 03:53pm

World

European allies urge U.S to delay Afghanistan withdrawal, amid heightened security concerns

European allies are pushing the United States to delay its withdrawal from Afghanistan, in order to give NATO more time and support to leave, according to American officials.
Officials from the United States have mentioned that their departure could be delayed by two weeks or longer, in an effort to accomodate their allies' requests.

Updated 08 May, 2021 08:17pm

World

US to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions for Chinese students

The US State Department is set to announce later on Tuesday it is expanding its national interest exemptions to cover students and academics around the world starting on Aug. 1 after it made the change in March for European students, officials said.
In the 2019-20 academic year 372,000 Chinese nationals attended universities and colleges in the United States, the IEE said in a November 2020 report.

Published 27 Apr, 2021 08:34pm

World

U.S ‘first and foremost’ wants to vaccinate the American people,’ State Dept on COVID vaccine export to embattled India

According to the State Department, the United States under the Biden Administration "first and foremost" wants to vaccinate the American people, facing accusations of vaccine hoarding by the broader international community.
The Biden Administration has come under fire for its alleged hoarding of essential vaccines for domestic use, without sharing even a portion of its supplies with the international community.

Updated 23 Apr, 2021 07:59pm

World

U.S. CDC probes new death, hospitalisation after J&J vaccine shots - officials

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating the death of an Oregon woman and the hospitalisation of another in Texas after receiving Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) COVID-19 vaccine, state health officials said.
The incidents come as advisers to the CDC are set to meet on Friday to consider whether it is safe to resume injections of the single-dose vaccine, while senior health officials prepare for a green light.

Published 23 Apr, 2021 12:01pm

World

Biden’s climate summit zeroes in on technology to help fight global warming

U.S. President Joe Biden’s climate summit will turn to the issue of technology on Friday, featuring remarks from entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, after Thursday’s Earth Day kickoff sought to rally world ambition to reduce global warming.
The Democratic president, who returned the United States to the pact, announced a new U.S. target on Thursday to reduce its emissions 50%-52% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. Japan and Canada also raised their targets. read more

Published 23 Apr, 2021 11:56am

Markets

Hong Kong shares higher at lunch after US tax hike reports

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.90 percent, or 258.98 points, to 29,014.32 by noon.

Published 23 Apr, 2021 11:19am

World

US unveils cybersecurity plan for electric power system

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled plans to improve cybersecurity for the US electric power...

Updated 21 Apr, 2021 10:08am

World

Pakistan urges Taliban to 'remain engaged' in peace process, amidst stalling negotiations

Pakistan has urged the Taliban to remain engaged in the Afghan peace process, after the group announced that it would not attend any multilateral summits until all foreign forces withdraw from the country.
The Taliban's refusal has thrown the peace process into a state of disarray, with the group refusing to take part in a Turkey-hosted summit that diplomats had hoped could create new momentum towards a political settlement.

Updated 20 Apr, 2021 01:58pm

World

Biden administration to invest $1.7bn to fight COVID-19 variants

"The original strain of COVID-19 comprises only about half of all cases in America today. New and potentially dangerous strains of the virus make up the other half," the White House said in a statement.
The White House also offered a state-by-state breakdown of the funds with California receiving over $17 million, Texas over $15 million and Florida over $12 million.

Published 16 Apr, 2021 07:37pm

World

Biden ready to announce U.S. withdrawal, even as peace eludes Afghanistan

President Joe Biden’s planned announcement on Wednesday of a complete U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 aims to close the book on America’s longest war, as critics warn that peace is anything but assured after two decades of fighting.
As officials disclosed Biden’s pullout plans, the U.S. intelligence community renewed deep concerns on Tuesday about the outlook for the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, which is clinging to an eroding stalemate.

Published 14 Apr, 2021 01:45pm

World

Taliban not attending peace conference in Turkey, thwarting U.S. efforts to secure peace deal

On Monday, a Taliban spokesperson stated that the religious militia group will not be attending a peace conference tentatively planned for later this week in Turkey, jeopardising U.S. efforts to facilitate a practical peace plan.
Officials from the Biden Administration, the United States and Turkey stated that they intended to begin the conference on Friday, which was set to last around 10 days.

Updated 13 Apr, 2021 12:47pm

World

Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala to increase troops along borders: White House official

Special Assistant to the President for Immigration for the Domestic Policy Council Tyler Moran earlier told MSNBC: "We've secured agreements for them to put more troops on their own border. Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala have all agreed to do this," CNN reported separately.

Published 12 Apr, 2021 08:32pm

World

Biden Administration's withdrawal plan complicated by targeted Taliban attacks on covert U.S base in Afghanistan

In one of the most significant recent attacks against American forces in Afghanistan, sources have revealed that the Taliban targeted one of the most heavily guarded bases in the country late last month.
Top US officials have convened at an unusually high rate over the past month to discuss what to do in Afghanistan but have been unable to reach a consensus.

Updated 09 Apr, 2021 06:28pm

World

US to restore about $150 million in aid to Palestinians

Democratic President Joe Biden has made clear he intends to roll back parts of his Republican predecessor's approach that Palestinians denounced as heavily biased in favor of Israel.
Biden's aides have also made clear they want to re-establish the goal of a negotiated two-state solution as a priority in US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Published 07 Apr, 2021 08:31pm

World

PM Khan 'puzzled' at the cacophony over Pakistan's exclusion from Biden's climate conference

On Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that he was puzzled that Pakistan was not invited to the Leaders Summit on Climate in the United States.
The premier mentioned that his government's "environment policies are driven solely” by its commitment to mitigate the impact of climate change for future generations.

Updated 03 Apr, 2021 04:40pm

World

White House unveils $2 trillion infrastructure and climate plan

President Joe Biden on Wednesday will call for a dramatic and more permanent shift in the direction of the U.S. economy with a roughly $2 trillion package to invest in traditional projects like roads and bridges alongside tackling climate change and boosting human services like elder care.
He also aims to put corporate America on the hook for the tab, which is expected to grow to a combined $4 trillion once he rolls out the second part of his economic plan in April.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 03:05pm

Business & Finance

Dollar rises across the board in Europe

LONDON: The dollar gained against major currencies on Tuesday and climbed to a one-year high against the yen, as...

Published 31 Mar, 2021 05:42am

World

Iran rejects ending 20% enrichment before U.S. lifts sanctions

Iran will not stop its 20% uranium enrichment before the United States lifts all sanctions, Iranian state TV quoted an unnamed official as saying on Tuesday, after a U.S. media report said Washington would offer a new proposal to jump-start talks.

Updated 30 Mar, 2021 03:54pm

World

White House sees no federal mandate for COVID-19 vaccine verification

Psaki said the White House was leading an inter-agency process looking at these issues, and would provide guidance in line with several key principles:

Published 30 Mar, 2021 01:17am

World

U.S-China relations hit stalemate, and "Quad" rallies to exert pressure

While the Biden Administration is taking a similar approach to dealing with China as their predecessors, the nature of their confrontation is different, as a quick reset on U.S-China relations looks increasingly unlikely.
The Biden Administration has banded together with major allies across the region to stifle China's influence, with the "Quad" including Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

Updated 26 Mar, 2021 01:25pm

World

Biden aims to "absolutely" run for a second term, despite age: Reports

President Joe Biden looks likely to run for a second term, despite his age and his image of a "transitional president" to bring the Democratic Party back in power.
Despite being the oldest President in American history at the age of 78, Biden would be 82 when running for his second term.

Updated 25 Mar, 2021 03:56pm

World

Biden considers executive actions on guns, calls on Congress to pass weapons ban

U.S. President Joe Biden urged Congress to swiftly pass gun control laws and may take action on his own to stop mass violence, the White House said on Tuesday, a day after the second deadly mass shooting in a week.
The Democrat called on the Senate to approve two bills passed by the House of Representatives on March 11 that would broaden background checks on gun buyers. He also called for a ban on assault-style weapons.

Published 24 Mar, 2021 01:42pm

World

In Brussels, Blinken offers boost for NATO, cooperation on Afghanistan

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday pledged to rebuild and revitalise the transatlantic military alliance after a bruising four years when Washington portrayed NATO as outdated, divided and in crisis.
The first top U.S. official to visit NATO since President Joe Biden took office in January, Blinken said the alliance was at a pivotal moment but could emerge stronger after internal disputes over Turkey and Russian gas.

Published 23 Mar, 2021 05:05pm

World

Mexico to tighten borders against COVID-19 as US plans vaccine help

Mexico has been pressing the US government for a loan of vaccines to help its drive to tackle COVID-19, and President Joe Biden is under increasing pressure to reduce a recent surge in migrants from Central America reaching the US border.
Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed on Twitter the two countries are working on a vaccine deal and said that he would provide details of the "good news" on Friday.

Published 18 Mar, 2021 10:04pm