United States Government

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membership on the Geneva-based council a priority when it took office in 2021 after former President Donald Trump had withdrawn from the body, citing anti-Israel bias.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 ...

US household wealth rises in Q2 to record $163.8 trn on real estate gains

The snapshot of households' financial wellbeing comes less than a week before the Federal Reserve is widely expected to reduce borrowing costs for the first time since the pandemic recession

We are looking forward to working with B'desh interim govt: US diplomat

The US was looking forward to working closely with Bangladesh's interim government and strengthening ties with Dhaka on a range of issues, a top American diplomat said on Monday. US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Helen Lafave made the remarks during her meeting with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Yamuna, the state-run BSS news agency reported. "The US government was happy to congratulate the Chief Adviser and was looking forward to working closely together," the chief adviser's press wing quoted the US diplomat as saying. Helen said the US Embassy in Dhaka will resume this week its consular service to expedite visa processing. She said thousands of Bangladeshi students now study in US universities. She said the US would work closely with Bangladesh in health, education, labour, governance and Rohingya issues, the agency reported. The US is the largest contributor to the Rohingya humanitarian responses, and Helen said the amount of Rohingya monthly food aid has ..

US House introduces resolution on India-US strategic bilateral relationship

A bipartisan resolution has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to celebrate the principles of democracy, religious pluralism, human rights, and the rule of law shared by both the United States and India. Introduced by Congressman Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, the resolution is co-sponsored by 36 other lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties. Noting that the partnership between India and the United States stands as one of the most important democratic partnerships in the world, the resolution says that this partnership is based on shared principles of democracy, religious pluralism, human rights, freedom, and the rule of law. Observing that the people-to-people ties between India and the US are strong, vibrant, and mutually beneficial for both countries; the resolution said the Indian diaspora, a community of over 4,000,000 in the United States, has excelled in all areas of American life, with 80 per cent of Americans of Indian heritage obtaining college .

Indian consulate in Seattle inaugurates new visa application centre

The Indian Consulate in Seattle has inaugurated its new visa application centre which will offer full visa and passport services to applicants preparing for travel to India from the greater Seattle area. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who attended the Friday event alongside Port Commissioner Sam Cho and State Rep. Vandana Slatter, presented the first Indian passport and visa to eager applicants, marking a special moment for the community. Mayor Harrell expressed admiration for the Indian community in Seattle, praising their contributions to enriching the bonds between India and the USA. Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India in Seattle, said: The opening of the Indian consulate in Seattle reflects the Indian government's commitment to deepening relations with the Pacific Northwest states. In addition to the Seattle location, a drop-off facility is now open at Bellevue, making it easier for Eastsiders to access these services. These centres will streamline the visa process for Indian

It's in strategic interest of India, US to work together: US Congressman

It is in the strategic interest of India and the United States to work together to send a "powerful message of deterrence" to China and ensure democratic countries remain the leaders in producing both next-generation weapons and technology, a top American lawmaker has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congressman Michael McCaul said this during a meeting with the prime minister in New Delhi as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation. I told Prime Minister Modi it is in the strategic interest of both the United States and India to partner together to ensure democratic countries remain the leaders in producing both next-generation weapons and technology, McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in a statement here. Together we can send a powerful message of deterrence to the Chinese Communist Party because when the world's two largest democracies stand together, freedom and liberty win out over tyranny and oppression," the Republican Party lawmaker from

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls for social media warning labels

For a long time, Murthy has been warning that social media can profoundly harm the mental health of youth, particularly adolescent girls

Missing American citizen's body found in Himachal's Lahaul and Spiti

Three days after an American citizen went missing, his body was recovered in a ravine between Kee and Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti district on Sunday, police said. Trevor Bokstaahlar (31) went missing on Thursday during his visit to the Spiti Valley, following which a search team was constituted, they said. According to the police, the team conducted searches at various areas of Kaza and recovered a motorcycle rented by the deceased near a deserted area close to Tashigang, but no further clues were found. A day later, with the assistance of the Dogra Regiment of the Army, a drone on Friday identified a parachute stuck in a deep ravine between Kee and Tashigang, they said. The police suspected the parachute belonged to Trevor, who was a base jumper, Superintendent of Police (SP) Lahaul and Spiti, Mayank Chaudhary said. Consequently, teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), trained in such rescue operations and ..

Biden to nominate Romero as FDIC chair post abrupt departure of predecessor

President Joe Biden will nominate Christy Goldsmith Romero to replace Martin Greunberg as head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, after Gruenberg's tenure became marred by allegations of workplace abuse that led to him to resign. Goldsmith Romero is currently a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the nation's financial derivatives regulator. Gruenberg last month said he would resign from the FDIC, after an independent report by law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton found incidents of stalking, harassment, homophobia and other violations of employment regulations, based on more than 500 complaints from employees. Complaints included a woman who said she was stalked by a coworker and continually harassed even after complaining about his behaviour; a field office supervisor referring to gay men as little girls; and a female field examiner who described receiving a picture of an FDIC senior examiner's private parts. The FDIC is one of several US ...

White House close to naming Romero as FDIC head, replaces Martin Gruenberg

Goldsmith Romero, 53, has a background in enforcement and has led major actions against Wall Street banks and other financial firms during her career

Hunter Biden's gun trial nears end after testimony about his drug use

The criminal trial of President Joe Biden's son heads into its final stretch Monday as the defense tries to chip away at prosecutors' case laying bare some of the darkest moments of Hunter Biden's drug-fuelled past. Hunter Biden's lawyers could call at least one more witness when the case resumes in Delaware's federal court the first of two trials he's facing in the midst of his father's re-election campaign. It's unclear whether prosecutors will call any rebuttal witnesses before the case goes to closing arguments, and then to the jury. Hunter Biden is charged with three felonies stemming from the October 2018 purchase of a gun he had for about 11 days. Prosecutors say he lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty and has accused the Justice Department of bending to political pressure from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans to bring the case and separate tax charges after a

Aid is delivered to Gaza from newly repaired US-built pier, says official

Badly needed aid has been delivered into Gaza from a newly repaired American-built pier, a U.S. official said Saturday, following problems that had plagued the effort to bring supplies to Palestinians by sea. The pier constructed by the American military was only operational for about a week before it was blown apart in high winds and heavy seas on May 25. The damaged section was reconnected to the beach in Gaza on Friday after undergoing repairs at an Israeli port. Crews delivered about 1.1 million pounds (492 metric tons) of humanitarian aid to Gaza via the pier on Saturday, the U.S. official said. They spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement of the delivery. It came the same day that Israel mounted a heavy air and ground assault that rescued four hostages, who had been taken by Hamas during the October 7 assault that launched the war in Gaza. At least 210 Palestinians, including children, were killed, a Gaza health official said. It brings back online o

US job growth to remain at moderate pace in May, wage gains hold steady

The Labour Department's closely watched employment report on Friday is also expected to show the unemployment rate remained below 4 per cent for the 28th straight month

Prosecutors present Hunter Biden's memoir audio, laptop in gun trial

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday painted President Joe Biden's son Hunter as deceptive and driven by addiction, a man whose dark habits ensnared loved ones and who knew what he was doing when he lied on federal forms to purchase a gun in 2018. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden's attorney argued that his client did not believe he was in the throes of addiction when he stated in the paperwork that he did not have a drug problem. And he did nothing with the gun in the short time he had it, attorney Abbe Lowell said in opening statements. You will see that he is not guilty, Lowell said. Hunter Biden has been charged with three felonies stemming from the purchase of the Colt revolver when he was, according to his memoir, addicted to crack. He has been accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally having the gun for 11 days. The case is dredging up painful memories for the president and his family, and ...

Trump supporters call for riots, violent retribution after guilty verdict

Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge, Justice Juan Merchan, or outright civil war and armed insurrection

US slows licence approvals for AI chip exports to prevent resale to China

The United States Commerce Department extended chip export restrictions to include much of West Asia, along with China and other foreign countries, in October

Key moments in Donald Trump's trial that led to the guilty verdict

Jury found Trump guilty on 34 false-records counts determined he broke the law

Hunter Biden's lawyers expected in court for hearing before gun trial

Attorneys for Hunter Biden are due in court Friday for the final hearing before the president's son is expected to stand trial on federal firearms charges in Delaware as his father's reelection campaign unfolds. Hunter Biden is charged with lying about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to buy a gun that he kept for about 11 days in Delaware. He has acknowledged an addiction to crack cocaine during that period, but his lawyers have said he didn't break the law and the case is politically motivated. The two sides have been arguing in court documents about evidence in the case, including contents from a laptop that he allegedly dropped off at a Delaware repair shop. Defense attorneys question the authenticity of the laptop's data in court documents, but prosecutors say there's no evidence the data has been compromised and that a drawn-out fight over it at trial would be a waste of time. The laptop has been the source of controversy for years after Republicans accessed and ...

Hunter Biden seeks delay in federal tax trial set to begin in LA next month

Hunter Biden's lawyers will press a judge on Wednesday to delay his trial that's set to begin next month in Los Angeles on charges that he schemed to avoid paying USD 1.4 million in taxes. The president's son is seeking to push the June 20 trial date back until at least September, noting that he is also scheduled to stand trial in Delaware beginning June 3 on federal firearms charges. He has pleaded not guilty to both indictments brought by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, which he has claimed are politically motivated. His attorneys say they cannot adequately prepare for both trials at the same time, and have sought delays and dismissals in both cases. If Judge Mark C. Scarsi denies his bid to delay the California case, Hunter Biden could be headed to trial in two federal cases on opposite coasts next month as President Joe Biden campaigns for reelection. Scarsi, who was appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump, will hear arguments on the request, .

US Prez Biden signs sweeping aviation safety, reform bill into law

Biden has repeatedly clashed with air carriers, calling for new stricter consumer rules and harshly criticizing them for imposing fees