Page 4 - United States

75 women expected to benefit from BofA settlement in Epstein case: Lawyers

Lawyers say up to 75 women who were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein since 2008 may benefit from a USD 72.5 million fund set up as part of a settlement Bank of America reached with lawyers representing the women. US District Judge Jed S Rakoff gave the deal preliminary approval Thursday and set a final approval hearing for August 27. He also ordered lawyers to submit to him by Friday a broader list of publications to be used to notify Epstein victims that the settlement fund exists. The judge said he wanted to ensure "nobody is left out." Lawyers for women abused by Epstein had sued the bank, saying it ignored suspicious financial transactions involving Epstein that occurred while he was abusing girls and women from June 2008 to his arrest in early July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein died in August 2019 in a Manhattan federal jail. The death was ruled a suicide. At the hearing Thursday, attorney David Boies said lawyers for the victims believed between 60 and 7

Pezeshkian questions US sincerity after strike kills Iran official's wife

Linking the timing of the violence to his own international outreach, Pezeshkian highlighted the contradiction between calls for peace and active hostilities

US launches rescue for F-15 crew after fighter jet downed in Iran

The first known combat loss of a US fighter jet would mark a significant escalation in the five-week war that already has triggered a global energy crisis

Iran strikes targets across West Asia, US-Israel hit Tehran as war rages

There was little sign Friday of the war in the Middle East winding down as Israel said it faced incoming fire from Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain reported being under attack, and Iran said eight people were killed while celebrating the close of Persian new year near a major bridge hit by a US strike. Tehran continued to demonstrate its ability to strike its neighbours even as US President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated and cheered the collapse of the bridge on Thursday, reportedly the tallest in the Middle East. Iran decried the strike on the bridge, which also injured 95 people celebrating Nature Day, when Iranians gather for picnics and other celebrations outdoors on the last day of Nowruz, the Persian new year. "Striking civilian infrastructure only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote Thursday in a post on X. Iran's attacks on Gulf states along with its chokehold on the Str

Trump immunity ruling brings focus on Indian-origin judge Amit Mehta

Indian-American judge Amit Mehta has come into focus after he ruled that US President Donald Trump's speech ahead of the violence that rocked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was not subject to presidential immunity. Mehta, a federal judge of the US District Court of the District of Columbia, in 2022 rejected Trump's effort to dismiss three lawsuits accusing him of bearing responsibility for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Last August, Mehta had ruled that Google had broken anti-trust laws to maintain its dominance in online search. Born in Patan in Gujarat in 1971, Mehta was nominated as a judge to the US District Court for the District of Columbia in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama. Mehta came to the US as a one-year-old and went on to pursue his B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Georgetown University in 1993 and his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1997. After law school, Mehta worked in a law firm in San Francisco before clerking for Sus

US voices concern over detentions of Panama-flagged vessels by China

The US on Thursday voiced concerns about over detentions of Panama-flagged vessels by China saying such "bullying" destabilises supply chains, raises costs and erodes confidence in the global trading system. "The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty and will always support our partners in the face of bullying," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. "The United States stands firmly with Panama and looks forward to increasing our economic and security cooperation with this important partner," the Department of State said in a statement. The statement came after China reportedly detained Panama-flagged ships for inspections at Chinese ports. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14-15. China's action came in the wake of Panama cancelling contracts of Hong Kong-based C K Hutchison to operate two port terminals near the Panama Canal on direction of the Supreme Court and transferred interim operatio

Hegseth asks US Army Chief Gen Randy George to step down: Pentagon

The move comes as the US and Israel continue a war against Iran, a mission that has recently seen the US send thousands of troops into the region for a possible ground operation

Trump warns Iran to strike a deal 'before it is too late' as war deepens

Earlier Thursday, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that airstrikes had hit numerous targets, including a bridge connecting Tehran to the city of Karaj

US trade deficit widens to $57.3 billion in February, below forecast

The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for an almost $61 billion deficit

Iran's 'new regime' seeks ceasefire, 'will consider if Hormuz opens': Trump

Trump claimed that an Iranian leader had sought a ceasefire. He added that the United States would consider it only when the Strait of Hormuz was open, free, and clear

In a first, Trump attends US Supreme Court arguments on citizenship

Trump was driven by motorcade from the White House and arrived before the arguments, wearing a red tie and dark suit

Iran foreign minister slams US 'America First' policy amid war tensions

Iranian Foreign Minister criticises US stance, says trust deficit blocks talks

US flags India's satellite rules for DTH, internet curbs as trade barriers

The US has listed India's preference for use of domestic satellites for direct-to-home (DTH) television services and localised shutdown of internet as a barrier to foreign trade. The 2026 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers released by the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), also flagged that since 2021 American firms have been subject to increasing number of takedown requests for content and user accounts related to issues that appear "politically motivated". The report noted that localised internet shutdowns restrict access to information and services, disrupting commercial operations, and thereby undermining a free and open internet and impeding trade in the digital economy. "The United States continues to monitor the impact of these events on US trade and investment, including services exports," according to the report released on Tuesday. On satellite services, the report said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting maintains a preference fo

Musk must face class action over late disclosure of Twitter stake: Judge

The investors said Musk saved more than $200 million, and cheated them because they sold Twitter shares at depressed prices during the 11-day period

US judge orders Trump admin to halt White House ballroom construction

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to suspend construction of a USD 400 million ballroom it demolished the East Wing of the White House to make space for, barring work from proceeding without congressional approval. US District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group's request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts US President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project. The White House quickly filed a notice to appeal while Trump fumed at the ruling. "We built many things at the White House over the years. They don't get congressional approval," he told reporters in the Oval Office a short time later. He also noted that the ruling will allow work on underground bunkers and other security measures around the White House grounds to continue - even though those will be paid for by taxpayers, not the private donors and Trump himself that the president has promised will cover the cost of the ballroom. Leon, who was nominat

Trump signs order to create national voter list; move to face challenges

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order creating a nationwide list of verified eligible voters, a move that is sure to draw legal challenges as the president continues to demand further restrictions on voting ahead of this year's midterm elections. The order calls on the Department of Homeland Security, working in conjunction with the Social Security Administration, to make the list of eligible voters in each state. It also seeks to bar the US Postal Service from sending absentee ballots to those not on each state's approved list, although the president likely lacks the power to mandate what the Postal Service does. Trump is also calling for ballots to have secure envelopes with unique barcodes for tracking, according to the executive order, which was first reported by the Daily Caller. "I think it's going to be really great," Trump said. Yet Tuesday's order is expected to prompt legal challenges, as the president continues to try to interfere with state-run ...

Italy refuses US aircraft use of Sicily base for West Asia ops: Report

Daily Corriere della Sera reported "some U.S. bombers" had been due to land at the base in eastern Sicily before heading to the West Asia. It did not say when they had been due to land

Indian-origin Mangala Kuppa appointed as CIO of US labour department

Indian-origin technology leader Mangala Kuppa has been appointed the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the US Department of Labour, formalising her role after serving in an acting capacity since October last year. Kuppa, who also serves as the department's Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, was appointed earlier this month. She will continue to oversee information technology strategy, digital transformation and AI adoption across the agency. In a LinkedIn post confirming her appointment, Kuppa said she was "grateful for the opportunity to keep serving and making a difference". A seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience, Kuppa has played a key role in advancing the department's modernisation agenda, including development of enterprise AI strategy, expansion of data platforms and strengthening cybersecurity systems. She joined the Labour Department in 2010 and has since held several senior positions, including Chief Technology Officer and Director of Busine

US going to achieve objective in weeks, Iran at its weakest point: Rubio

US Secretary of State said Prez Trump has several options on the table to prevent Iran's hegemony over the strait

Will blow up Iran's energy sites if no ceasefire is reached soon: Trump

In a social media post, Trump said the United States would "conclude its 'lovely' stay" by blowing up Iran's civilian and energy infrastructure