Page 11 - Usa

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 ..

Three dead after plane crashes into row of townhouses in Oregon's Portland

Three people were dead after a small plane crashed into a row of townhouses Saturday morning in a neighbourhood east of Portland, setting the homes ablaze, authorities told KATU-TV. Officials earlier in the day had said the plane was carrying two people and that at least one resident had been unaccounted for. Photos and videos published by KGW-TV in Portland showed one of the townhomes engulfed in flames while black smoke poured out of the adjoining houses. Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis said the fire had spread to at least four of the homes, displacing up to six families. He said two people were treated at the scene, but he didn't describe the type or severity of injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a twin-engine Cessna 421C, which it says went down around 10:30 am near Troutdale Airport, about a 30-minute drive east of Portland. As the plane went down, it knocked over a pole and power lines, causing a separate brush fire in a nearby field, ...

First rioter to enter Capitol during Jan 6 attack sentenced to over 4 years

A Kentucky man who was the first rioter to enter the US Capitol during a mob's attack on the building was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison. A police officer who tried to subdue Michael Sparks with pepper spray described him as a catalyst for the January 6 insurrection. The Senate that day recessed less than one minute after Sparks jumped into the building through a broken window. Sparks then joined other rioters in chasing a police officer up flights of stairs. Before learning his sentencing, Sparks told the judge that he still believes the 2020 presidential election was marred by fraud and completely taken from the American public." I am remorseful that what transpired that day didn't help anybody, Sparks said. I am remorseful that our country is in the state it's in. US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who sentenced Sparks to four years and five months, told him that there was nothing patriotic about his prominent role in what was a national disgrace. I don't

Sitting vice prez, candidate of change: How Harris is having it both ways

She's the sitting vice president who has been in office for 3 1/2 years. She's also the presidential candidate of just five weeks promising a new way forward. Kamala Harris is having it both ways as she hits the campaign trail after the Democratic National Convention, taking credit for parts of President Joe Biden's record in rallies staged in front of Air Force Two while casting herself as a new leader who rails against the politics of the past." In every presidential cycle candidates run on experience or freshness, but Harris so far appears to be successfully harmonizing two seemingly competing messages, much to the frustration of former President Donald Trump and his allies. She has this powerful and unique and interesting advantage that we have never seen before in our politics, said Patrick Gaspard, CEO of the Democratic-leaning think tank Center for American Progress Action Fund and a former executive director of the Democratic National Committee under President Barack ...

N Korea shows new drone attack as Seoul, US hold military exercises

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a demonstration of new exploding drones designed to crash into targets and pledged to spur development of such weapons to boost his military's war readiness, state media said Monday. Kim has been flaunting his growing military capabilities amid tensions with Washington and Seoul. North Korean photos of the test showed a white drone with X-shaped tails and wings supposedly crashing into and destroying a target resembling South Korea's main K-2 battle tank. Most combat drones stand off from targets and fire missiles. The test, which state media said took place Saturday, came as the U.S. and South Korean militaries are conducting a large-scale exercise aimed at enhancing their combined capabilities to defend against growing North Korean nuclear threats. The allies said the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, which continue through Thursday, are focused on enhancing their readiness against North Korean threats and will also reflect lessons learned fro

Sanctioned Russian LNG tanker attempts to transfer cargo to another ship

Pioneer vessel appears to stop next to another LNG ship in an apparent ship-to-ship transfer

Sanctioned Russian LNG tanker attempts to transfer cargo to another ship

Pioneer vessel appears to stop next to another LNG ship in an apparent ship-to-ship transfer

US plans closer relations with Taiwan after Palau reports Chinese coercion

Meanwhile, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will be travelling to China next week to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the White House said in a statement

US approves sale of Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonobuoys to India for $52.8 mn

Notably, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency is an agency within the United States Department of Defence

US sanctions hundreds of firms accused of supplying war machine for Russia

The US imposed sweeping sanctions Friday on hundreds of firms in Russia and across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, accusing them of providing products and services that enable Russia's war effort and aiding its ability to evade sanctions. Among those sanctioned by the Treasury Department were 60 Russian-based technology and defense companies, including three Russian financial tech companies. Also sanctioned were firms in Turkiye, France and Hong Kong that act as suppliers to Russia-based Promtekh, a wholesale distributor of transportation equipment, and an ammunition procurement network connected to Italian and Turkish nationals, who also face sanctions. Friday's action is the latest in a series of thousands of US sanctions that have been imposed on Russian firms and their suppliers in other nations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The effectiveness of the sanctions has been questioned, especially as Russia has continued to support its economy by selling oil and

PM Modi going to Ukraine can help in ending conflict: White House

Calling India strong partner of US, White House representative Kirby said that PM Modi going to Kyiv, having conversations with Zelenskyy about where it ends, and how can help to get an end to war

Harris supports Israel ceasefire deal, terms Gaza suffering "heartbreaking"

"What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking

Canadian freight rail halt likely to roil North American supply chains

Canadian National Railway Co and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have said their rail networks south of border will continue to operate, but industry groups fear work stop would have far-reaching effects

Egypt, Qatar, US announce new round of talks to decide on Gaza ceasefire

The United States, with the support of Qatar and Egypt, presented on Friday a proposal that narrows the gaps between them and aligns with the principles set out by President Biden

Kremlin aide says Nato and West helped Ukraine attack Russian territory

The United States and Western powers, eager to avoid direct confrontation with Russia, said Ukraine had not given advance notice and that Washington was not involved, though weaponry provided by Brit

We welcome B'desh govt's focus on minorities, in touch with India too: US

Even as it welcomed the new Bangladesh government's focus on the protection of minority communities, the US has said it is in touch with India and other countries in the region on the situation in the country while seeking an end to the violence there. Amid continued reports on targeted attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, especially the Hindus along with the destruction of temples and their properties after August 5 when Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India, several influential US Congressmen have requested the Biden administration to look into these attacks. Chief Advisor to the interim government Yunus Muhammad, who took charge on August 8, met the distressed community at the famous Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka on Tuesday and assured them that his government would punish the perpetrators. During his daily news conference on Wednesday, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel welcomed Yunus' statement calling for calm and an end to the recent violence. We welcome t

Richard Verma now US Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery

Indian-American Richard Verma, who serves as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management & Resources, has been entrusted with an additional task of helping in rebuilding the war-ravaged Ukraine. US Secretary of State Tony Blinken has named him as the US Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery, in addition to his current position, which is the number two position in the State Department. Verma, the former US Ambassador to India, is the highest ranking Indian-American ever in the State Department. "Deputy Secretary for Resources and Management Rich Verma is going to be carrying on the work that Special Envoy Penny Pritzker has started when it comes to reconstruction and economic issues as it relates to our Ukrainian partners," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference here on Wednesday. Pritzker, who served as the Commerce Secretary during the Obama Administration, left the position of US Special Representative for .

US welcomes India's engagement, efforts for peace in Russia-Ukraine war

The United States welcomes India's engagement in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and its efforts to bring peace between the two countries, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel has said here. Patel was responding to a question on the likely visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ukraine later this month. "I will let the (Indian) prime minister's office speak to any of his own travels. I don't have anything to offer there," he said during his daily news conference on Wednesday. "We are in touch with our Indian partners on a number of issues and, of course, would welcome India's engagement in the war between Russia and Ukraine, especially as it relates to ensuring that we get to a just and durable peace that is reflective of what our Ukrainian partners are attempting to do, which is to defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty," Patel said. Modi is likely to visit Poland and Ukraine from August 21 to 23. No official announcement in this regard has

White House denies allegations of US involvement in Bangladesh crisis

The White House on Monday strongly refuted allegations that the United States interfered in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, leading to the resignation and fleeing of the country's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. We have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these events is simply false. That is not true, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Monday. Jean-Pierre was responding to media reports that quoted Hasina allegedly claiming that she could have stayed in power if she had surrendered the sovereignty of St Martin's Island and allowed America to dominate the Bay of Bengal. Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, has denied that his mother ever gave such a statement. The recent resignation statement attributed to my mother published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated. I have just confirmed with her that she did not make any statement either before or si

4.4 magnitude quake felt in LA, San Diego; buildings sway, no big damage

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake was strongly felt from the Los Angeles area all the way to San Diego, swaying buildings, rattling dishes and setting off car alarms, but no major damage or injuries were immediately reported. Monday's quake was centred near the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Highland Park, about 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometres) northeast of Los Angeles' City Hall, and about 7.5 miles (12.1 kilometres) below the surface, the US Geological Survey said. The quake was felt from greater Los Angeles south to San Diego and east to the Palm Springs desert region, according to the USGS community reporting page. A small number of reports were filed from the southern San Joaquin Valley about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of LA. It shook a medical building, a live interview on ESPN was interrupted, and the ground swayed in Anaheim, where Disneyland is located in Orange County. Dishes rattled in the storied LA neighbourhood of Laurel Canyon, home to many celebrities, and photos on soci