Page 15 - Joe Biden

Trump's team claims credit for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal by Biden

The Biden administration kept President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration closely apprised of its efforts to broker the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah that is slated to go into effect early Wednesday, according to the outgoing Democratic administration. Trump's team, meanwhile, was quick to spike the football and claim credit for the rare spot of good news for a Democratic administration that's been dragged down by the grinding Mideast conflict. "Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump," Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's choice for his national security adviser, said in a post on X on Tuesday, shortly before the Israel Cabinet signed off on the agreement. "His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won't be tolerated. I'm glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East." The Biden administration's reported coordination with Trump's team on its efforts to forge the ceasefire in Lebanon i

Trump signs agreement with Biden WH to begin formal transition handoff

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden's White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on January 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team. But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to USD 5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by October 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump's team to sign on. The agreement is a critica

Israel-Hezbollah peace deal designed to ensure end of hostilities: Biden

President Joe Biden has announced that Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah have accepted a US-brokered peace deal that is designed to be a "permanent cessation" of hostilities between the two sides. As part of the ceasefire, Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from Lebanon over the next 60 days, Biden said in his address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, shortly after Israel's Security Cabinet approved the accord. According to reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented to the Security Cabinet the agreement aimed at ending months-long fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah which was ignited by the Gaza conflict and has killed and displaced thousands. Biden said he spoke with Netanyahu and Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "I'm pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States' proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. I want to thank President Macron of France for his partnership in ...

Intel Corp secures $7.9 billion chips award for US factory expansion

Intel will qualify for at least $1 billion this year, a senior administration official said, based on milestones it has already reached

Foreign ministers meet in Italy for final G7 of Biden administration

Foreign ministers from the world's leading industrialized nations are meeting Monday, with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East entering decisive phases and a certain pressure to advance diplomatic efforts ahead of the new US administration taking over. Hopes for brokering a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon are foremost on the agenda of the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome that is gathering ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. On the first day of the two-day gathering Monday, the G7 will be joined by ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. With partners will be discussed ways to support efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, initiatives to support the population and the promotion of a credible political horizon for stability in the region, the Italian foreign ministry said. The so-called Quint grouping of the US, Saud

Hypersonic missile strike on Ukraine was a warning to reckless West: Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was speaking a day after President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had fired the new missile

Democrats secure deal to confirm more Biden judges before Congress adjourns

The Senate won't hold votes on four of President Joe Biden's appellate court nominees as part of a deal with Republicans to allow for speedier consideration of other judicial nominations and bring Biden within striking distance of the 234 total judicial confirmations that occurred during President-elect Donald Trump's first term. Currently, the number of judges confirmed under Biden totals 221. Republicans forced numerous procedural votes this week and late-night sessions as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attempted to move ahead in getting more of Biden's nominees confirmed before Congress adjourns and Republicans take control of the chamber in January. A Senate Democratic leadership aide said Thursday a time agreement had been reached to allow for consideration of seven district court judges the week following Thanksgiving. Plus, another six district judges would be placed on the Senate executive calendar, making it possible for them to be considered on the Senate ...

ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel PM Netanyahu, Hamas officials

Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan's request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic

US gathers allies to talk AI safety as Trump vows to undo existing policy

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal President Joe Biden's signature artificial intelligence policy when he returns to the White House for a second term. What that actually means for the future of AI technology remains to be seen. Among those who could use some clarity are the government scientists and AI experts from multiple countries gathering in San Francisco this week to deliberate on AI safety measures. Hosted by the Biden administration, officials from a number of US allies among them Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the 27-nation European Union began meeting Wednesday in the California city that's a commercial hub for AI development. Their agenda addresses topics such as how to better detect and combat a flood of AI-generated deepfakes fueling fraud, harmful impersonation and sexual abuse. It's the first such meeting since world leaders agreed at an AI summit in South Korea in May to build a network of publicly backed safety

China's Prez Xi visits Brasilia to cap tour flexing diplomatic clout

Xi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are expected to sign agreements boosting trade

Trump govt plans to roll back Biden's stricter fuel-efficiency standards

The move appears aimed at satisfying a Trump campaign promise to end the EV mandate

US President Biden announces $4 billion to replenish World Bank's IDA

Established in 1960, IDA complements the World Bank's original lending arm, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and helps low-income countries

G20 Summit: Biden's legacy fades into rainforest at last major gathering

His trip to the region for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima and the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro was meant to reassure allies

Ukraine strikes Russian territory with ATACMS missiles for first time

Since supplying Ukraine with ATACMS missiles in 2023, this marks the first time US President Joe Biden has authorised their use deeper into Russian territory

Biden pledges record $4 billion to World Bank fund for poorest nations

The World Bank's IDA fund, which provides mainly grants and very low interest loans to the poorest countries, is replenished every three years, and a pledging conference is scheduled for Dec. 5-6

Biden's missile call isn't enough to rally support of Ukraine's allies

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had moved in lockstep with Biden earlier in the conflict despite concerns about retaliation

Moscow warns US on allowing Ukraine to hit nation with longer-range weapons

The Kremlin warned on Monday that President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with US-supplied longer-range missiles adds "fuel to the fire" of the war and would escalate international tensions even higher. Biden's shift in policy added an uncertain, new factor to the conflict on the eve of the 1,000-day milestone since Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022. It also came as a Russian ballistic missile with cluster munitions struck a residential area of Sumy in northern Ukraine, killing 11 people and injuring 84 others. Another missile barrage sparked apartment fires in the southern port of Odesa, killing at least 10 people and injuring 43, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said. Washington is easing limits on what Ukraine can strike with its American-made Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMs, US officials told AP on Sunday, after months of ruling out such a move over fears of escalating the conflict and bringing about a direct confrontation between

PM Modi meets Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian counterparts in Brazil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met leaders of several countries, including those from Italy, Indonesia, Norway and Portugal, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit and discussed ways to improve and strengthen ties. Modi arrived in the Brazilian city on Sunday after concluding a two-day trip to Nigeria. Modi on Monday met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and discussed ways to deepen ties in defence, security, trade and technology. "Glad to have met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the Rio de Janeiro G20 Summit. Our talks centred around deepening ties in defence, security, trade and technology. We also talked about how to boost cooperation in culture, education and other such areas. India-Italy friendship can greatly contribute to a better planet," Modi said in a post on X. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also posted on X about the meeting. "Strategic Partnership going strong! Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy on the ...

Explainer: Biden allows Ukraine to use US weapons deeper inside Russia

The US will allow Ukraine to use American-supplied longer-range weapons to conduct strikes deeper inside Russian territory, a long-sought request by Kyiv. It isn't yet clear if there are limits on Ukraine's use of the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, as there have been on other US missile systems. Their deployment could -- at least initially -- be limited to Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops seized territory earlier this year. Since the first year of the war, Ukrainian leaders have lobbied Western allies to allow them to use advanced weapons to strike key targets inside Russia. It could also serve as a deterrent force in the event of future cease-fire negotiations. The US has long opposed the move, with President Joe Biden determined to avoid any escalation that he felt could draw the US and other NATO members into direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia. The Kremlin warned on Monday that the decision adds "fuel to the fire". The decision comes in the waning d

UPDATES: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das' tenure likely to be extended further

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