Page 89 - Joe Biden

Russia's Lavrov lambasts West but barely mentions Ukraine in UNGA speech

Lavrov accused the West of trying to force themselves as mediators between the two countries, which he said was not needed

Biden looks to spotlight his foreign policy as 2024 reelection bid heats up

This probably wasn't how President Joe Biden envisioned his big foreign policy week ending. Biden spent much of the time trying to make the case to world leaders at the UN General Assembly as well as to Democratic donors and voters that his decades of foreign policy experience and demonstrated moral clarity set him apart from Donald Trump, the early front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. But just as Biden is looking to spotlight his foreign policy chops with his 2024 reelection bid heating up, he is facing a growing list of national security headaches, several of which emerged in recent days. There is a diplomatic spat between US allies Canada and India over the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil, growing concern about the future of US funding for Ukraine, and the indictment of the influential chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. Each will test Biden and his administration. Menendez and his wife were indicted Frida

Mexican president wants to meet with Biden on migration, drug trafficking

Mexico's top diplomat Alicia Brcena has said that President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador wants to travel to Washington D.C. in early November to meet with US President Joe Biden about immigration, development aid and drug trafficking. The statement comes after a surge in migrants moving through Mexico forced the closure of some US-Mexico border crossings and led Mexico's largest railway company to halt about 60 train runs because so many migrants were hopping aboard freight cars. Most appear to be Venezuelans, and many said they had crossed through the jungle-clad Darien Gap that connects Colombia and Panama. Brcena told a news conference in New York Friday that migrant shelters in Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas, are 95 per cent full and that the Mexican government is "very worried" about the border closures and the migrant surge, especially given Mexico's rocky relationship with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. In the past, Abbott has tightened border truck inspections and strung a

Gun violence is the ultimate 'superstorm': Biden as he announces new effort

President Joe Biden said he was determined to stop gun violence in the US as he formally launched the first-ever federal office to be dedicated to uncovering solutions and supporting communities ravaged by shootings. "After every mass shooting, we hear a simple message ... do something. Please do something," he said on Friday from the Rose Garden, where he was joined by lawmakers and families of victims of gun violence. "My administration has been working relentlessly to do something." The new office of gun violence prevention will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor whose experience is perfect for this effort, Biden said. The office's goals include ensuring a bipartisan gun safety law passed last year is fully implemented nationwide along with Biden's executive actions to stop gun violence. It will seek to find new actions the White House can take unilaterally as further congressional support for gun safety laws seems slim. It will aim to build better suppor

Biden hosts Zelenskyy, announces new military aid package for Ukraine

The United States will give USD 325 million in new security assistance to Ukraine, President Joe Biden has announced as he hosted his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House and vowed to defend the war-struck country from Russian aggression. The White House meeting on Thursday was the sixth in-person meeting between the two leaders. "Mr. President, the brave people of Ukraine -- and that's not hyperbole; the people of Ukraine have shown enormous bravery and have inspired the world with their determination to defend these principles," Biden told Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House. "Together with our partners and allies, the American people are determined to see to it that we do all we can to ensure the world stands with you, and that is our overwhelming objective right now," he said, welcoming the Ukrainian leader for the third time at the White House this year. "Our regular dialogue has proved that our countries are really, truly allies and strateg

Duty on American apples relaxed as PM wanted Biden as R-Day guest: Omar

The import duty on American apples and walnuts was relaxed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted US President Joe Biden to be the chief guest at the 2024 Republic Day parade, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said on Thursday. "It is now known what compelled the central government to remove the tax on American apples and walnuts. The prime minister (Narendra Modi) wanted to invite the American President (Biden) as a special guest for the January 26 ceremony," he said. "They made sure that apples, walnuts and dry fruits will come from America while our own apples, walnuts and dry fruits will rot in the markets, said the NC leader while addressing a one-day party workers' convention at Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district. Ahead of the G20 Summit, the Centre announced the removal of additional duties on about half a dozen US products, including apples, walnuts, almonds and lentils. These duties were imposed in 2019 in a retaliatory move after America hiked ...

Under pressure over border, Biden admin to protect thousands of Venezuelans

The Biden administration said that it was granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are already in the country quickly making them eligible to work as it grapples with growing numbers of people fleeing the South American country and elsewhere to arrive at the US border with Mexico. The move along with promises to accelerate work permits for many migrants may appease Democratic leaders who have pressured the White House to do more to aid asylum-seekers, while also providing grist for Republicans who say the president has been too lax on immigration. The Homeland Security Department plans to grant Temporary Protected Status to an estimated 4,72,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the country as of July 31, 2023, making it easier for them to get authorisation to work in the US. That's been a key demand of Democratic mayors and governors who are struggling to care for an increased number of migrants in their care. That's in addition to about 2,42,700 ...

WH to announce first-ever federal office of gun violence prevention: Report

President Joe Biden is creating the first-ever federal office of gun violence prevention, according to two people familiar with the plans. The office will coordinate efforts across the federal government and will offer help and guidance to states struggling with increasing gun violence, while taking the lead on implementation of the bipartisan gun legislation signed into law last year. Biden tentatively plans to announce the new effort with an event Friday at the White House, said the people, who had direct knowledge of the plans and who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The office fulfils a key demand of gun safety activists who banded together as a coalition to endorse Biden for president in 2024, and is an effort by the White House to keep the issue front-and-centre as the president pushes for a ban on so-called "assault weapons" and urges Congress to act. "The creation of an Office of Gun Violence Preventi

Biden admin announces $600 mn to produce Covid tests; will reopen website

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months. The Department of Health and Human Services says orders can be placed at COVIDTests.gov starting Sept 25, and that no-cost tests will be delivered for free by the United States Postal Service. Twelve manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online, the department said. Federal officials said that will help guard against supply chain issues that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID tests made overseas during past surges in ..

Biden-Netanyahu meeting: US President pledges to address 'hard issues'

US President Joe Biden pledged Wednesday to raise hard issues, including protecting the checks and balances in a democracy, as he sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their first meeting since Netanyahu took office at the helm of his country's far-right government late last year. Netanyahu tried to play down concerns about his contentious proposed judicial overhaul, saying there is "one thing that will never change and that is Israel's commitment to democracy". The location of the long-anticipated meeting a New York hotel room on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings rather than the grandeur of the Oval Office has been widely interpreted in Israel as a sign of US displeasure with Netanyahu's new government. Netanyahu has been a frequent White House visitor over the years, and Israeli leaders are typically invited within weeks of starting their tenure to the Oval Office. But his judicial proposals have raised concerns within Israel as well as the

Joe Biden invited to 75th Republic Day celebrations: US Ambassador

If Biden accepts, this would mark the second time a US President has attended India's Republic Day parade

PM Modi invites US Prez to India's 2024 Republic Day celebrations: Garcetti

Garcetti said the invitation was extended to Biden by PM Modi on the sidelines of the bilateral that took place between the two leaders at the recently concluded G20 Summit

Biden using executive power to create New Deal-style American Climate Corps

After being thwarted by Congress, President Joe Biden will use his executive authority to create a New Deal-style American Climate Corps that will serve as a major green jobs training programme. In an announcement on Wednesday, the White House said the programme will employ about 20,000 young adults who will build trails, plant trees, help install solar panels and do other work to boost conservation and help prevent catastrophic wildfires. The climate corps had been proposed in early versions of the sweeping climate law approved last year but was jettisoned amid strong opposition from Republicans and concerns about cost. Democrats and environmental advocacy groups never gave up on the plan and pushed Biden in recent weeks to issue an executive order authorising what the White House now calls the American Climate Corps. The programme is modelled after the Civilian Conservation Corps, created in the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, as part of the New Deal. This

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In UNGA, Joe Biden highlights achievements at G20 Leaders' Summit

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday highlighted groundbreaking achievements -- including an economic corridor linking India, the Middle East and Europe; and admission of the African Union in the G20 grouping -- made at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, as he addressed world leaders at the high-level UN General Assembly session. The annual G20 Leaders' Summit was hosted by India under its presidency from September 9-10. In groundbreaking effort, we announced at the G20 to connect India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel, Biden said in his address to Heads of State and Government at the 193-member UN General Assembly on the opening day of the General Debate. He said this would spur opportunities for investment across two continents. This is part of our effort to build a more sustainable, integrated Middle East. It demonstrates how Israel has a greater normalisation and economic connection with its neighbours which will bring positive and practical impacts. The ambit

Biden looks to cement his world leadership at annual UN General Assembly

President Joe Biden will use his annual address before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to make the case to world leaders and the 2024 US electorate that he's reestablished US leadership on the world stage that he says was diminished under former President Donald Trump. White House officials said Biden would make a robust case to members of the world body to continue to back Ukraine's effort to repel a nearly 19-month old Russian invasion that has no end in sight. Biden previewed his thinking in a pair of fundraisers on Monday evening, telling supporters that he stood up to Vladimir Putin's invasion, and questioning whether Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, would have even attempted to help Ukraine stop the Russian land grab if he were in power. I will not side with dictators like Putin. Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bow down but I won't, Biden told supporters at a Broadway fundraiser. There will be notable absences as the president makes his case before the

Hunter Biden on the offensive against Republicans, could be tricky for prez

Hunter Biden has gone on the offensive against his Republican critics, arguing in a new lawsuit that although he is the son of the president of the United States, he shouldn't be treated differently than any other American. The lawsuit against the IRS is only the latest in a series of counterpunches by the president's son. But while Hunter Biden's lawyers might think that an aggressive approach is the best legal strategy for Biden the son, that might not be what's best for Biden the father as he seeks reelection and tries to keep the public focused on his policy achievements. The president has had little to say about his son's legal woes which now include a felony indictment beyond that Hunter did nothing wrong and he loves his son. The White House strategy has been to keep the elder Biden head-down and focused on governing, reasoning that that's what voters will prioritize, while working to keep Hunter's troubles at arm's distance. There's one hopeful school of thought among the

Political divide emerges on Ukraine aid package as Zelenskyy heads to US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington this week comes at a critical juncture for his alliance with the United States as Republican leaders in Congress diverge on how to send more military and humanitarian aid to the country. President Joe Biden is seeking an additional USD 24 billion in security and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, in line with his promise to help the country for as long as it takes to oust Russia from its borders. But ratification of Biden's request is deeply uncertain thanks to a growing partisan divide in Congress about how to proceed. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has told reporters that he wants more Ukraine aid to be debated on its own merits as a standalone bill, rather than attaching it to other priorities like government funding. But the Senate has other ideas. Leaders in the chamber would like to combine the Ukraine aid with other priorities, such as a short-term spending bill that will likely be needed to avoid a shutdown a

Biden tells broadway theatre that Trump is determined to destroy nation

President Joe Biden on Monday told a packed Broadway theatre full of big-name stars hosting a fundraiser in his honour that he was running for reelection because Donald Trump was determined to destroy the nation. Democracy is at stake, he told the audience at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Hate groups have been emboldened, he said. Books are being banned. Children go to school fearing shootings. Let there be no question, Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy, he said, referring to the former president's slogan, Make America Great Again. "And I will always defend, protect and fight for our democracy. Biden also accused Trump and his allies of bowing down to authoritarians: I will not side with dictators like Putin. Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bow down but I won't." It was the among the president's strongest rebukes of the Republican front-runner and former president, who is facing criminal charges for his role in the effort to overtu

We're all grateful to PM Modi for India's presidency of G20: White House

The US is grateful to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G20 presidency and President Joe Biden returned from the leaders' summit in Delhi feeling "very positive and optimistic", a senior White House official said. Biden "came away from the G20 feeling very positive and optimistic about the direction. I mean, there was an awful lot of great work done at the G20 and we're all grateful to Prime Minister Modi for his presidency, for India's presidency of it, but also for the way the agenda was executed," National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said at a press briefing in response to a question by PTI. "It was a very, very productive couple of days," Kirby said, referring to the G20 Leaders' Summit held in Delhi on September 9 and 10 under the Indian presidency of the grouping of the world's biggest economies. Kirby addressed reporters at the New York Foreign Press Center here Monday on US priorities for the high-level 78th session