Page 22 - Joe Biden

UN ponders how to calm conflict as Israel battles militants on 2 fronts

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday to address the spiraling conflict in the Middle East. Iran's ambassador to the UN said his country launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday as a deterrent to further Israeli violence, while his Israeli counterpart called the barrage an "unprecedented act of aggression". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed late on Tuesday to retaliate, and an Iranian commander threatened wider strikes on infrastructure if Israel did so. US President Biden said Wednesday that he would not support an Israeli attack targeting Iran's nuclear programme. Israel further ruffled feathers on Wednesday when its foreign minister declared the UN secretary-general "persona non-grata" in the country, doubling down on decades of accusations of antisemitism against the organisation. Israel was meanwhile battling militants on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah and conducting strikes in Gaz

Biden won't support strike on Iran nuclear sites as Israel weighs payback

President Joe Biden said Wednesday he will not support an Israeli strike on sites related to Tehran's nuclear programme in response to Iran's missile attack on Israel. The answer is no, Biden told reporters when asked if he would support such retaliation after Iran fired about 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday. Biden's comments came after he and fellow Group of Seven leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom spoke by telephone about coordinating new sanctions against Iran. The White House said in a statement that the leaders unequivocally condemned Iran's attack against Israel and that Biden reaffirmed America's full solidarity and support to Israel and its people. Biden added that there are things that have to be done in response to the Iranian barrage. He said he expected sanctions from the G7 nations to be announced soon. We will be discussing with the Israelis what they are going to do, Biden told reporters before heading to the Carolinas to see

After pressing for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, US shifts its message

The Iranian missile attack on Israel appears to have been defeated and ineffective, US President Joe Biden said, hours after Tehran fired nearly 200 missiles at Israel. The Israeli military reportedly said there were no news of injuries from the attack. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Biden said, "At my direction, the United States military actively supported the defence of Israel. We are still assessing the impact but, based on what we know, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective and this is a testament to Israeli military capability (It is) also a testament to intensive planning (between) the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against a brazen attack." "Make no mistake, the United States is fully supportive of Israel. And I just spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the situation room, meeting with my whole national security team The national security team, as I said, is in constant contact with Israeli officials and ...

White House sides with union as dockworker strike enters second day

More than 38 container vessels were already backed up at US ports by Tuesday, compared with just three on Sunday before the strike, according to Everstream Analytics

Japan's new PM Ishiba vows to push a strong defence under Japan-US alliance

Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to stick to the vital Japan-US alliance while calling for it to be more equitable after he took office on Tuesday, vowing to tackle a slow economy and regain public trust before an upcoming election. Shigeru Ishiba replaced Fumio Kishida, who stepped down to pave the way for a fresh leader after scandals dogged his government. In a show of Japan's respect to its most important ally, the US, Ishiba spoke by telephone with President Joe Biden early on Wednesday and told reporters he reassured Biden of his plan to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance that Biden and Kishida have significantly elevated. His new Cabinet emphasises defence and a majority of its members, including Ishiba himself, are unaffiliated with factions led and controlled by Liberal Democratic Party heavyweights, and none is from the late Shinzo Abe's faction that has been linked to damaging misconduct. Speaking to reporters at the prime minister's office for the

Navigating US presidential politics, Zelenskyy met Trump and Harris

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is back home leading Ukraine's fight against Russia after a U.S. trip that brought him face to face with the American leaders who will help decide his country's future. The Biden administration pledged more than $8 billion in continued support to Ukraine, guaranteeing military aid until a new U.S. administration takes power. But Zelenskyy found himself briefly mired in domestic politics before meeting with Trump in New York. And the Ukrainian's leader's longer-term strategic aim convincing his allies to adopt a victory plan that he is promoting remains elusive and out of his control, analysts and officials said. So does the aim of using far-reaching Western weapons against Russia, the most immediate element of Zelenskyy's plan. Zelenskyy navigated partisan politics Zelenskyy's visit to an ammunition plant in the swing state of Pennsylvania upset Republicans and House Speaker Mike Johnson fired off an open letter saying the visit was part of a partisa

Biden administration toughens asylum restrictions at border to stir voters

The Biden administration said Monday it is making asylum restrictions at the southern border even tougher, as it's increasingly eager to show voters uneasy over immigration that it is taking a hard stance on border security. The new rules, which toughen restrictions announced in June, bar migrants from being granted asylum when US officials deem that the southern border is overwhelmed. Under the previous rules, the US could restrict asylum access when the number of migrants trying to enter the country between the official border crossings hit 2,500 per day. The daily numbers had to average below 1,500 per day for a week in order for the restrictions to be lifted. But the version rolled out Monday says the daily numbers will have to be below 1,500 for nearly a month before the restrictions can be lifted. And the administration is now counting all children toward that number, whereas previously only migrant children from Mexico were counted. These changes will make it much more ...

Helene's toll passes 100, Biden to visit North Carolina for aerial survey

A crisis unfolded in Asheville, North Carolina, as officials pledged to get more water, food and other supplies to flood-stricken areas without power and cellular service Monday, days after Hurricane Helene ripped across the US Southeast. The death toll from the storm surpassed 100. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said during a news conference Monday that the death toll in that state had risen from 17 to 25. A North Carolina county that includes the mountain city of Asheville reported 30 people killed there. President Joe Biden said Monday he will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to get a first-hand look at the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Biden said he will travel to Raleigh to get a briefing from state and local officials and take an aerial tour of Asheville. He announced plans for the trip following an operational briefing on the hurricane response and recovery efforts from federal government officials and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who took an aerial tour o

Biden govt opts out of running for re-election on UN Human Rights Council

The Biden administration has decided not to seek a second consecutive term on the much-maligned UN Human Rights Council, the State Department said Monday. The administration had made US membership on the Geneva-based council a priority when it took office in 2021 after former President Donald Trump had withdrawn from the body, citing anti-Israel bias. Since returning to the council, the administration has frequently taken issue with its votes on the Middle East and other issues. "We decided not to seek another (term) on the Human Rights Council at this time because we are engaged with our allies about the best way to move forward," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. Elections for the 47-member council are held by the UN General Assembly with candidate countries coming from various geographic groups. The three other candidates -- Iceland, Spain and Switzerland -- from the US geographic group known as Western Hemisphere and Others, or WEOG, would be able to ...

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64 dead, millions without power after Helene's march across Southeast US

Helene blew ashore in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday with winds of 140 mph

Biden calls Israeli strike killing Hezbollah's chief 'measure of justice'

President Joe Biden on Saturday called the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah a measure of justice for his four-decade reign of terror. The comments came after Lebanon's Hezbollah group confirmed earlier Saturday that Nasrallah, one of the group's founders, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day. Biden noted that the operation to take out Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas' massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas and open what he called a 'northern front' against Israel, Biden said in a statement. He also noted that Hezbollah under Nasrallah's watch has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.

Israel's Lebanon move frustrates US; Netanyahu to address UN today: Updates

Israeli PM rejects US-backed ceasefire with Hezbollah, raising fears of wider conflict in West Asia amid Gaza war. Netanyahu to address the UN General Assembly in New York today

Biden's new order hopes to curb 3D guns, improve shooter drills in schools

The order, signed by Biden at a White House event, sets up a new federal task force to assess the threat posed by machine gun

Zelenskyy discusses Ukraine's 'Victory Plan' with US President Biden

During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the support of the United States

Legislation to curb US investment in China is top priority, says lawmaker

Moolenaar's remarks signal Congress could revive long-sought restrictions on US investment in China, which have faced a rocky path in Washington

Trump warns of expelling migrants under key Biden immigration programmes

Former President Donald Trump, who has made anti-immigration rhetoric a key part of his reelection campaign, has warned that he would kick out hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have entered the country under two key Biden administration programmes if he is reelected. Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Trump railed against two immigration programs created by the Biden administration to encourage migrants not to come directly to the southern border to seek asylum and make the region less chaotic. Trump said he would make the more than 1 million people who have entered the US under the two programmes leave: Get ready to leave because you're going to be going out real fast." Trump has already promised a vast crackdown on immigration if he's reelected, including a vow to carry out mass deportations of migrants. He made similar pledges during previous campaigns, but during his time as president, deportations never topped 350,000. Under one Biden administration programme, migrants a

Zelenskyy meets Biden at UNGA, to discuss Ukraine's 'Plan of Victory' today

During the meeting, Zelenskyy also expressed his gratitude for the US's support in Ukraine's defence efforts

All-out war still possible as Israel, Hezbollah fight escalates: Joe Biden

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that all-out war is still possible as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, but he's hopeful an off-ramp can be found to prevent further bloodshed. Biden spoke during an interview on ABC's "The View." His comments come after days of back and forth between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon that have killed hundreds and rekindled fears of a broader war in the Middle East.

Biden will be most proud of deepening partnership with India: White House

The India-US relationship is strong and getting stronger, the White House said, adding that President Joe Biden when looks back at his term will be most proud of deepening the partnership with India, making it more inclusive and broadening. "I think one word -- well, actually, three words: strong, and getting stronger, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said on Tuesday during a press briefing here. Kirby was responding to a question by Press Trust of India on how he would characterise the trajectory of bilateral relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Biden as his term as the American leader ends soon. Biden has invested a lot in our bilateral relationship with India, Kirby told PTI. He elevated the Quad group of Australia, Japan, India and the US to the leader level and hosted Modi for an official state visit in June last year. We've elevated our strategic partnership to the highest level. We are pursuing a defence relationship on various sys