Page 143 - United States

WATCH: Joe Biden sits 'in a trance' after pastor asks everyone to stand up

During a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, US President Joe Biden sat in a trance for about 25 seconds after the pastor asked everyone to stand up for church service

US heatwave expected to shatter all records as it bakes West, East

A long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the US will persist, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that will soar into the 100s and holding the East in its hot and humid grip throughout the week, forecasters said Sunday. An excessive heat warning the National Weather Service's highest alert was in effect for about 36 million people, or about 10% of the population, with temperatures in Oregon expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) and as high as 115 degrees (46.1 C) in some parts of California on Sunday, said NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson. We're expecting a few dozen of them, on the order of 30, to tie or break their daily high temperature record in the West and Pacific Northwest, Jackson said. Scorching temperatures broke numerous records on Saturday: Reading, California, had a record high of 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3 degrees Celsius), breaking its all-time record high of 118; Ukiah, north of San ...

Sri Lanka to not ban any foreign research ships from its ports from 2025

Sri Lanka has decided to lift from next year a ban on the visit of foreign research ships imposed after strong security concerns raised by India and the US following frequent docking requests from hi-tech Chinese surveillance vessels, the Japanese media reported. The change in position was conveyed by visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to the NHK World Japan. With the increased movement of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi had expressed concern that those might be spy ships and urged Colombo not to allow such vessels to dock at its ports. After India raised concern, Sri Lanka banned the entry of foreign research vessels from docking at its port in January. Earlier this year, it had made an exception for a Chinese vessel but said the ban would continue otherwise. Sabry said his government cannot have different rules for different countries and only block China. He added that his country will not take sides in a dispute between others, the NHK World

Hamas signals flexibility in talks with Israel, eases its ceasefire demand

The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated following Hamas' attacks on October 7, which resulted in widespread casualties

Judge declines to scrap charges against Trump valet in classified docs case

The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against Donald Trump refused Saturday to throw out charges against a co-defendant of the former president. Lawyers for Walt Nauta, Trump's personal valet, had asked US District Judge Aileen Cannon to dismiss the indictment against their client. They argued, among other things, that Nauta was charged because of insufficient cooperation with prosecutors' investigation and because of a personal animus that they say prosecutors harbored against one of Nauta's attorneys. Special counsel Jack Smith's team has denied all the claims, and Cannon in her four-page order Saturday said Nauta had not met the high bar required to get the case dismissed. Nauta and another co-defendant, Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, are accused of conspiring with Trump to conceal evidence from investigators as they sought to recover classified documents that were taken to the Palm Beach, Florida property after Trump's presidency ...

I had a severe cold: Biden on his poor debate performance against Trump

In an interview with ABC News, US President Joe Biden said he had a severe cold which led to his poor debate performance against Donald Trump

Indian bond yields remain flat; traders eyeing debt auction, US jobs data

New Delhi aims to raise Rs 280 billion ($3.35 billion) by selling bonds through the weekly auction, including the liquid 15-year paper

US job growth expected to slow down, unemployment rate to remain steady

Financial markets remain optimistic the Fed could start its easing cycle in September after aggressively tightening monetary policy in 2022 and 2023

Fireworks light up US skies as Americans endure heat to celebrate July 5

Travel records were projected to fall with people jamming airports and crowding highways to reach Thursday's Independence Day celebrations

Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma recall drugs in US due to production issues: USFDA

Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Sun Pharma are recalling products in the US due to manufacturing issues, as per the latest Enforcement Report by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). According to the report, Dr Reddy's Laboratories is recalling drugs to treat insomnia and gout in the American market. New Jersey-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Inc., a unit of Hyderabad-based drug major, is recalling 13,752 bottles of Eszopiclone tablets, the USFDA stated. The affected lot has been produced at Dr Reddy's Bachupally plant in Telangana. As per the USFDA, the drug firm is recalling the affected lot due to "Failed Impurities/Degradation Specifications". The company issued the Class III nationwide recall on June 4 this year. As per the USFDA, a Class III recall is initiated in a "situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences". Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. is also recalling 20,520 units of Allopurinol tablets in the

China asks state firms to add 60 mn barrels of oil to reserves: Report

China currently imports roughly 11 million barrels of crude per day. Five state oil firms - CNPC, Sinopec, CNOOC, Sinochem and Zhenhua Oil - have been tasked with the stockpiling

Happy US Independence Day 2024: Top 50 wishes to share on this day

Happy US Independence Day 2024: The United States celebrates Independence Day every year on July 4. This day has a rich history and holds special significance across the country

Thousands of people evacuate as Northern California wildfire spreads

Firefighters lined roads to keep flames from reaching homes as helicopters dropped water on a growing wildfire Wednesday in Northern California that has forced at least 26,000 people to evacuate, as the state sweltered under extreme heat. The Thompson fire broke out before noon Tuesday about 70 miles (110 kilometres) north of Sacramento, near the city of Oroville in Butte County. It sent up a huge plume of smoke that could be seen from space as it grew to more than 5.5 square miles (14 square kilometres). There was no containment. But Oroville Mayor David Pittman said by Wednesday afternoon there had been a significant drop in the fire activity, and he was hopeful that some residents could soon be allowed to return home. The fire's progress was stopped along the southern edge and firefighters working in steep terrain were trying to build containment lines on the northern side. "On that north side they have some real struggles in terms of the topography," Pittman said. Meanwhile, ..

China a runaway leader in GenAI patent applications followed by US: UN

China has requested far more patents than any other country when it comes to generative AI, the U.N. intellectual property agency said Wednesday, with the United States a distant second. The technology, which offers the potential to boost efficiency and speed up scientific discoveries but also raises concerns about jobs and workers, was linked to about 54,000 inventions in the decade through 2023, the World Intellectual Property Organization reported. More than a quarter of those inventions emerged last year a testament to the explosive growth and interest in the technology since generative AI vaulted into broad public consciousness in late 2022, WIPO said. The new report on patents, the first of its kind, aims to track patent applications as a possible indication of trends in artificial intelligence. It focuses only on generative AI and excludes artificial intelligence more broadly, which includes technologies like facial recognition or computer vision. WIPO hopes to give everyon

US urges India to delay health certificate mandate for food imports by 6 mt

Currently, India mandates that all imported milk and milk products, pork and pork products, and fish and fish products must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the exporting country

3% more babies with low birth weight born during pandemic in India: Study

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, number of babies in India born with a low birth weight rose sharply -- by about three per cent, a new study has found. Babies born during the pandemic were also found to be at double the risk of having a low weight at birth. The increase in babies born with a low weight could impact the development of "human capital" in the long term, as these infants are known to often "struggle with school", corresponding author Santosh Kumar, an associate professor of development and global health economics at the University of Notre Dame, US, said. "Children who have lower birth weight as infants often go on to struggle with school and this limits their capacity to develop what economists often call 'human capital' -- the key knowledge and skills that will affect their ability to earn a good living and support themselves and their families," Kumar said. Roughly one in every four babies (3 crore) around the world are born with a low weight, which the World Health ..

Mumbai terror accused extraditable to India under treaty: US attorney

Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, who is sought in India for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, is extraditable under the plain provisions of the US-India extradition treaty, a US attorney has told a federal court. Assistant US Attorney, Criminal Appeals Chief Bram Alden was making a closing argument before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where Rana has appealed against the order by a US District Court in California that denied the writ of habeas corpus. In May, Rana, 63, had filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging the court order, which acceded with the request of the US government that the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks accused be extradited to India. Rana is extraditable to India under the plain provisions of the treaty, and India has established probable cause to prosecute him for his role in terrorist attacks that resulted in 166 deaths and 239 injuries, Alden said. In his deposition before the court on June 5, Alden, who left the

Chinese firms eye Morocco to cash in on US electric vehicle subsidies

After the United States passed new subsidies designed to boost domestic electric vehicle production and cut into Beijing's supply chain dominance, Chinese manufacturers began investing in an unlikely place: Morocco. In the rolling hills near Tangiers and in industrial parks near the Atlantic Ocean, they have announced plans for new factories to make parts for EVs that may qualify for USD 7,500 credits to car buyers in the United States. Similar investments have been announced in other countries that share free trade agreements with the United States, including South Korea and Mexico. But few countries have seen the kind of boom that Morocco has. At least eight Chinese battery makers have announced new investments in the North African kingdom since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the USD 430 billion US law designed to fight climate change, according to an Associated Press tally. By moving operations to US trading partners like Morocco, Chinese players that h

Biden's favourability numbers fall in leaked Democratic polling memo: Puck

Biden's debate performance against Republican Donald Trump last week cemented concerns about the oldest US president in history at 81 seeking a second term

UN adopts Chinese resolution with US support on closing gap in AI access

The UN General Assembly adopted a Chinese-sponsored resolution with US support urging wealthy developed nations to close the widening gap with developing countries and ensure they have equal opportunities to use and benefit from artificial intelligence. The resolution approved Monday follows the March 21 adoption of the first UN resolution on artificial intelligence spearheaded by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries including China. It gave global support to the international effort to ensure that AI is safe, secure and trustworthy and that all nations can take advantage of it. Adoption of the two non-binding resolutions shows that the United States and China, rivals in many areas, are both determined to be key players in shaping the future of the powerful new technology and have been cooperating on the first important international steps. The adoption of both resolutions by consensus by the 193-member General Assembly shows widespread global support for their ...