Tag: US

Musk floats ‘general amnesty’ of suspended Twitter accounts

San Francisco, United States (AFP) by Julie JAMMOT New Twitter owner Elon Musk on Wednesday polled users on whether the site should offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, using the same method he used to handle the case of Donald Trump. The move comes as Musk has faced pushback that his criteria for content moderation is subject to his personal whim, with reinstatements decided for certain accounts and not others. “Should Twitter offer a […]

Walmart manager kills six in latest US mass shooting

Chesapeake, United States (AFP) by Bastien INZAURRALDE A 31-year-old overnight manager at Walmart shot and killed six people at a store bustling with Thanksgiving holiday shoppers before turning the pistol on himself, authorities said Wednesday, in America’s second high-profile mass shooting in four days. Four other people remained hospitalized in unknown condition following the Tuesday night rampage in Chesapeake, Virginia, police chief Mark Solesky said. The gunman is believed to have died of a “self-inflicted […]

US, China defense chiefs meet in Cambodia

by W.G. Dunlop Agence France-Presse SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe in Cambodia on Tuesday as the two sides move to keep tensions in check. The meeting on the sidelines of a conference of defense ministers in Siem Reap — which lasted for an hour and a half — was the first between Austin and Wei since June, before a visit by US House Speaker […]

US VP Harris visits Philippine island near China-claimed waters

  Puerto Princesa, Philippines | AFP | by Allison JACKSON US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday visited a Philippine island near waters claimed by China to show support for the longtime US ally and counter Beijing’s growing influence in the region. Harris is the highest-ranking US official ever to visit the western island of Palawan, the closest Philippine landmass to the Spratly archipelago in the hotly contested South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over […]

Philippines accuses China of seizing object in disputed waters

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippine navy on Monday accused the Chinese coastguard of “forcefully” seizing a floating object that its troops had just recovered in disputed South China Sea waters. A senior Filipino navy official made the allegation on the eve of a visit by US Vice-President Kamala Harris to a nearby Philippine island aimed at boosting ties amid China’s growing regional clout. A Chinese coastguard vessel on Sunday “blocked” a Filipino rubber boat […]

Amid Twitter chaos, Musk reveals new vision for hate content

  San Francisco, United States | AFP | After turning Twitter upside down, Elon Musk on Tuesday tried to clarify his plans for content moderation, a key issue for the future of the influential platform after the departure of advertisers and top executives. Musk on Friday said he had reinstated certain banned accounts on his site, but added that no decision had been made on welcoming back former US president Donald Trump. Twitter watchers have […]

Saudi crown prince immune from Khashoggi suit: US govt

Washington, United States | AFP | The US government recommended on Thursday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was immune from legal action over the 2018 murder of a dissident journalist, according to court documents. Prince Mohammed was named prime minister by royal decree in late September, sparking suggestions he was looking to skirt exposure in cases filed in foreign courts — including a civil action brought in the United States by Hatice Cengiz, […]

Japan, US held military drills after N. Korea missile: Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Japan and the United States held joint military drills in the airspace over the Sea of Japan after North Korea fired a missile on Friday, Tokyo defence officials said. The announcement came after Japan said the ballistic missile was believed to have landed in waters within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) west of Hokkaido. The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from Japan’s coastline, beyond the limits of […]

Pelosi to step down as top Democrat after Republicans take House

by Caitlin Wilson and Chris Lefkow Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the trailblazing first woman to wield the speaker’s gavel in the US House of Representatives, said Thursday that she will step down as party leader when Republicans take control of the chamber in January. “I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi said in an emotional speech on the House floor. “The hour has […]

Warhol piece sells for $85 mn at New York auction

New York, United States (AFP)   Andy Warhol’s iconic 1960s painting “White Disaster” sold for $85 million at auction Wednesday evening at Sotheby’s in New York. The 1963 piece of art was sold after two minutes and a brief duel between two bidders, for a total of $74 million, or $85.4 million with all related costs and fees. The last time a piece of art from Warhol’s “Death and Disaster” series was sold in 2013, […]

A divided Congress could be politically expedient for President Biden

Washington, United States | AFP | by Aurélia END The next two years will be filled with legislative gridlock for Joe Biden under a divided Congress — which could prove to be a boon if he chooses to run for president and plays his cards right. Gaining political credit by playing the blame game and pegging the paralysis squarely on the already weakened Republicans could give Biden just the boost he needs in his bid […]

Republicans take control of US House, Congress split: projections

    Washington, United States | AFP | by Camille CAMDESSUS Republicans on Wednesday took control of the US House of Representatives from Democrats, networks said, narrowly securing a legislative base to oppose President Joe Biden’s agenda for the final two years of his term –- and leaving power in Congress split. The slim Republican majority in the lower house of the US legislature will be far smaller than the party had been banking on, […]