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Russia to buy rockets, artillery shells from North Korea, says US

The Russian Ministry of Defense is in the process of purchasing millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for its ongoing fight in Ukraine, according to a newly downgraded U.S. intelligence finding. Brig Gen Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday that the information that we have is that Russia has specifically asked for ammunition. He said the US has seen indications Russia approached North Korea, but said he had no other details, including whether money has changed hands or any shipments are in progress. It does demonstrate and is indicative of the situation that Russia finds itself in, in terms of its logistics and sustainment capabilities as it relates to Ukraine, said Ryder, in the administration's first public comments on the intelligence assessment. We assess that things are not going well on that front for Russia. A U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence determination, said Monday that the fact Russia

SoftBank Group Corp to drop at least 20% staff at Vision Fund operation

The cuts will mostly be in the UK, US and China operations, which have the most headcount, said the people

US holds 80% of global vaccine supply with 35% of monkeypox cases: Report

The analysis compared vaccine access and monkeypox cases in more than a dozen countries.

Nissan eager to leverage US tax credit on electric vehicles: Report

Nissan will more aggressively push electric vehicles to take advantage of a new US law that gives up to USD 7,500 in tax credits, the Japanese automaker said on Friday. President Joe Biden signed the landmark climate change and health care bill into law last month. The tax credit can be used to defray the cost of purchasing an electric vehicle that's made in the US. The Nissan Leaf electric car is among the models that qualifies, but, under the law, the vehicles must contain a battery built in North America with minerals mined or recycled on the continent to be eligible. Chief Sustainability Officer Joji Tagawa acknowledged the qualification process was complex, while stressing Nissan was eager to take advantage of the law to alleviate costs to the customer. We are in the process of making a thorough analysis at the moment, he told reporters in an online briefing, noting details of what Nissan might do were still undecided. Tesla models, as well as the Ford F Series electric picku

People must defend US democracy from 'MAGA Forces', says President Biden

"MAGA" refers to the "Make America Great Again" slogan of former US president and political rival Donald Trump. Trump has yet to formally announce or file for a 2024 presidential campaign

Micron to invest $15 bn by 2030 on semiconductor plant in Idaho's Boise

Micron will invest $15 billion though the end of the decade on a new semiconductor plant in its hometown that the chipmaker said will create 17,000 American jobs. Sanjay Mehrotra, president and CEO of Boise, Idaho-based Micron, said his company's investment was made possible by last month's passage of the CHIPS and Science ACT of 2022, a $280 billion bill aimed at bolstering U.S. competitiveness against China and avoiding another chip shortage like the one that derailed the auto and tech industries during the pandemic. The CHIPS law sets aside $52 billion to bolster the semiconductor industry, which due to COVID-related supply chain constraints beginning in 2020, has struggled to manufacture the diminutive chips that power everything from smartphones to computers to automobiles. "Our new leading-edge memory manufacturing fab will fuel U.S. technology leadership, ensuring a reliable domestic supply of semiconductors that is critical to economic and national security, Mehrotra ...

1 Student dead, another injured in North Carolina's high school stabbing

The officers were called to Northside High School just after 7:00 am (local time) for reports of a physical altercation between students on the campus, as per reports

US Govt announces New York's Times Square to become "Gun-Free Zone"

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said that he is determined to ban assault weapons in America, amid the increasing gun violence in the country

Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal to visit US for various multilateral meets in Sept

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal are scheduled to visit the United States this month for various multilateral and bilateral meetings as New Delhi accelerates its engagement with the world post-Ukraine war. Jaishankar would primarily travel to New York to attend and address the annual General Assembly session of the United Nations. On its sidelines, he will be holding a series of bilateral meetings, the details of which are still being worked out. The focus of India's engagement this year at the United Nations would be the reform of the UN Security Council, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, climate change and issues of food security and supply chain which have become critical in the wake of the Ukrainian war. From New York, Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Washington DC for a meeting with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, along with other top officials of the Biden administration at the White House and other major wings

Saddened by loss of lives due to severe floods in Pakistan: US Official

The White House has expressed grief over the tragic loss of lives and devastation caused by severe flooding in Pakistan. Floods triggered by unprecedented monsoon rains have caused widespread havoc across Pakistan, killing over 1,100 people and displacing 33 million or one-seventh of the country's population. "We are saddened by the tragic loss of life and destruction as a result of the severe flooding in Pakistan. We send our deepest condolences to all the individuals and families impacted. The United States stands with communities in Pakistan as they experience severe flooding and landslides," White House Press Secretary Karen Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference here on Wednesday. "Yesterday, USAID announced it is providing an additional USD30 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people affected by the severe flooding. With these funds, USAID partners will prioritise urgently needed support for food, nutrition, safe water, improved sanitation and

Toyota Motor to invest $5.3 bn in Japan, US for EV battery supply

In addition, about $2.5 billion will be invested in Toyota Battery Manufacturing in North Carolina

Oil recoups some losses on Tuesday on signs of firm US fuel demand

API data showed crude stocks rose by about 593,000 barrels, against analysts' estimates of a drop of around 1.5 million barrels

US NSA to hold trilateral dialogue with Japan, South Korea on Sept 1

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will hold a trilateral dialogue with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea in Hawaii on September 1, the White House announced Tuesday. The meeting assumes significance amidst the growing tension in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly with China engaging in security drills following the Taiwan visit of United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sullivan, Japan's National Security Secretariat Secretary General Akiba Takeo, and Republic of Korea's Director of the National Security Office Kim Sung-han will meet at the Headquarters of the United States Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 1, the White House said. "The officials will meet bilaterally on August 31. After the bilateral meeting, Sullivan will visit the United States Indo-Pacific Command to discuss our alliances in defense of the free and open Indo-Pacific," the media announcement said.

US announces $30 mn humanitarian aid to Pak as it battles deadly floods

The United States on Tuesday announced USD 30 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan as it battles one of the worst floods in recent history. US Secretary of State Tony Blinken said, "We stand with Pakistan in this difficult time." "As Pakistan suffers from devastating flooding, the United States -- through the USAID -- is now providing USD30 million towards critical humanitarian assistance like food, safe water, and shelter," he said. The flooding has affected an estimated 33 million people and resulted in more than 1,100 deaths and over 1,600 injuries, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State, told reporters during a conference call. "In addition, more than one million homes have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 735,000 livestock a major source of livelihood and food have been lost, and the flooding has damaged roads and more than two million acres of agricultural land, he said. USAID (United States Agency for International Development) ...

US has concerns about any country exercising with Russia: Official

The United States has concerns about any country conducting an exercise with Russia which has waged an unprovoked and brutal war against Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday. It said this in response to a question on a multinational military exercise -- called "Vostok 2022" -- from September 1-7 in Russia which among others would be attended by India and China. This will be the first large-scale multinational military exercise in Russia since the beginning of its offensive in Ukraine. "The United States has concerns about any country exercising with Russia while Russia wages an unprovoked, brutal war against Ukraine. But, of course, every participating country will make its own decisions. And I'll leave it at that," White House Press Secretary Karen Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard the Air Force One. When she was specifically asked why "not put any pressure on India", Jean-Pierre said, "My first sentence there is saying that we have concerns over any country exercising with Russi

Raja Krishnamoorthi urges to prosecute woman who harassed Indian-Americans

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has asked the police in Dallas to prosecute to the full extent of the law the woman responsible for the hate-motivated harassment and assault on four women of Indian descent last week, saying such bigoted attacks victimise not only those targeted by them but also broader communities. The Indian-American women have been racially abused and smacked by a Mexican-American woman in Dallas in the US state of Texas, who hurled racist slurs at them that they are "ruining" America and should "go back to India". "Such bigoted attacks motivated by racism, xenophobia, and other forms of hate victimise not only those directly targeted by them, but also broader communities through creating an atmosphere of fear and danger," Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, said. Esmeralda Upton from Plano in Texas was arrested for the racially-motivated physical and verbal assault of the four women at a parking lot last Wednesday. "I'm appalled by the footage of the ...

US inks agreement on Cyber Security Cooperation with Israel: US Treasury

The Treasury noted that during his Israel visit last year, Adeyemo launched a bilateral Cyber Task Force with Israel aimed at combating the global threat of ransomware

US Congress mulls American aid to India on improvement in human rights

Members of the US Congress could consider whether or not to condition future American aid to India on "improvements" in human rights and civil liberties in the country, an independent and bipartisan congressional research body has said. The Biden Administration has requested USD 117 million in foreign assistance to India for FY 2023. Congress could consider whether or not to condition some or all of such aid on improvements in human rights and civil liberties in India, Congressional Research Service said in its In Focus report titled India: Human Rights Assessment. The USD 117 million aid to India through USAID is a proposal by the Biden Administration. Notably, India has not asked for any such American assistance. Also, this amount is insignificant considering the India-US trade and business ties. During COVID-19 pandemic, the US corporate sector alone donated equipment and aid worth USD 500 million in a matter of weeks. India has repeatedly rejected criticism by foreign government

US reaches H-1B visa cap of 65,000 for 2023: Immigration Services

The US has received sufficient number of applications needed to reach the Congressionally mandated 65,000 H1-B visa cap for the fiscal year 2023, the country's federal agency for immigration services said on Tuesday. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The H-1B visa programme is the most sought-after work visa among foreign professionals, including Indians. We have received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the Congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year 2023, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement. USCIS has completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants' online accounts. The

US reports over 15,000 monkeypox cases, highest in the world: CDC

Over the last week, the US also saw the largest increase in monkeypox infections of any country, according to data from the World Health Organization