Washington, United States | AFP | The US economy rebounded in the third quarter, expanding for the first time this year in welcome news for President Joe Biden days ahead of midterm elections, government data showed Thursday. Economic issues have become a flashpoint in the United States, with decades-high inflation weighing on growth and squeezing households. Fears of a downturn have intensified in the world’s biggest economy after two quarters of negative growth, commonly […]
Tag: US
US terror alert in S.Africa ‘unfortunate’: Ramaphosa
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said a warning by the US embassy of a possible weekend “terrorist” attack in the country’s financial hub in Johannesburg was “unfortunate”. “It is quite unfortunate the US issued that type of warning without having any type of discussion with us,” he said during a press conference. The US embassy on Wednesday posted the alert on its website and identified the potential […]
Xi says China, US must ‘find ways to get along’
BEIJING, China (AFP) — President Xi Jinping said China and the United States must “find ways to get along” to safeguard world peace and development, state media reported Thursday, as he embarks on his precedent-breaking third term in power. China and the United States have butted heads in recent years on issues ranging from Beijing’s aggression towards self-governing Taiwan to its crackdown in Hong Kong and alleged rights abuses in Xinjiang. Washington has also accused […]
N. Korea nuclear test would meet ‘unprecedented’ response: US, Japan, S. Korea
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The United States, Japan and South Korea warned Wednesday that a North Korean nuclear test would warrant an “unprecedentedly strong response”, vowing unity after a blitz of missile launches from the hermit state. Following talks in Tokyo, the three nations’ deputy foreign ministers said they would ramp up their deterrence in the region. “We agreed to further strengthen cooperation … so that North Korea can immediately stop its illegal activities and […]
Adidas cuts ties with Kanye West over anti-Semitic remarks
Berlin, Germany | AFP | by Sebastien ASH with Huw GRIFFITH in Los Angeles German sportswear giant Adidas said Tuesday it was ending its partnership with Kanye West after a series of anti-Semitic outbursts by the controversial rapper. Recent comments by West — now known formally as Ye — were “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous”, Adidas said in a statement. “After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with […]
Two dead in shooting at US high school, gunman killed by police
Washington, United States | AFP | Two people were killed on Monday and several were injured by a gunman who opened fire at a high school in the midwestern US city of St. Louis, police said. The gunman was shot dead by police officers who rushed to the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, St. Louis police chief Mike Sack told reporters. Sack said the gunman appeared to be about 20 years old and […]
China trying to ‘undermine’ US judicial system: Justice chief
by Paul HANDLEY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Top US justice officials accused the Chinese government Monday of an unrelenting campaign by intelligence operatives to subvert the American justice system and steal commercial secrets. Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray detailed three separate cases in which Beijing’s spies allegedly harassed dissidents inside the United States, tried to interfere in the prosecution of a Chinese telecoms giant understood to be Huawei, […]
Philippines to get US military helicopters after scrapping Russia deal
Manila, Philippines | AFP | The Philippines will acquire heavy-lift military helicopters from the United States, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said Thursday, after scrapping a deal to buy similar aircraft from Russia. The government of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte had signed a deal worth $216 million for 16 Mi-17 helicopters, but backed out in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of wide-ranging sanctions on Moscow. Earlier Thursday, local media had […]
Iconic ‘Pillars of Creation’ captured in new Webb image
Washington, United States | AFP | The James Webb Space Telescope captured the iconic “Pillars of Creation,” huge structures of gas and dust teeming with stars, NASA said Wednesday, and the image is as majestic as one could hope. The twinkling of thousands of stars illuminates the telescope’s first shot of the gigantic gold, copper and brown columns standing in the midst of the cosmos. At the ends of several pillars are bright red, lava-like […]
Homegrown superheroes: Meet the US Robin Hoods battling inflation
Atlanta, United States | AFP | by Camille CAMDESSUS There is no such thing as a free lunch, economists chide, but one alternative store in the southern US city of Atlanta is offering the next best thing to those struggling with spiraling prices. Locals load up on plantains, frozen meat and other ingredients free of charge at The Grocery Spot, a small, neon-lit outlet in the Georgia state capital. In three weeks, Americans get to […]
Big staff cuts likely at Twitter: report
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Massive layoffs appear to be on the horizon at Twitter, especially if billionaire Elon Musk completes his $44 billion purchase of the company, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. While pitching his deal to buy Twitter to investors, Musk said he planned to get rid of nearly three-quarters of the firm’s workers, lopping its ranks to just over 2,000 employees, the Post reported. Even if Musk’s deal to […]
Musk says he’s ‘excited’ about buying Twitter, but overpaying
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Elon Musk on Wednesday said he is “excited” about taking over Twitter, expressing enthusiasm even though he’s spent months trying to break free of the $44 billion buyout contract. A US judge early this month suspended litigation in the saga over Musk’s proposed takeover of Twitter, giving the parties until October 28 to finalize the on-again, off-again megadeal. Twitter had filed a lawsuit to hold Musk to […]
