WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Senate ratified the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO Wednesday, strongly backing the expansion of the transatlantic alliance in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Senate voted 95 to 1 in favor of the two Nordic countries’ accession, making the United States the 23rd of the 30 NATO countries to formally endorse it so far, after Italy approved it earlier Wednesday and France on Tuesday. […]
Tag: US
Zawahiri killing boosts Biden on Afghan exit anniversary
by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse Weeks before the first anniversary of a retreat from Afghanistan that critics said exposed President Joe Biden’s weakness, he shrugged off both Covid and detractors to announce the killing in Kabul of Al-Qaeda’s leader — an operation the Democrat says shows the US remains as strong as ever. “When I ended our military mission in Afghanistan almost a year ago, I made the decision that after 20 years of […]
Pelosi: a long history of provoking China over human rights
by Paul HANDLEY Agence France Presse US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a long history of riling Beijing over democracy and human rights, whether by unveiling a banner on Tiananmen Square or in regular meetings with Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Pelosi, the United States’ most powerful lawmaker, stoked fresh tensions in US-China relations Tuesday when she flew into Taiwan, the highest-ranked elected US official to visit the island in 25 […]
North Korea gives Beijing ‘full support’ over Pelosi Taiwan visit
Seoul, South Korea | AFP North Korea on Wednesday slammed what it called the United States’ “impudent interference” in China’s internal affairs over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s visit to Taiwan, state media reported. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, landed in Taiwan late Tuesday, becoming the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Beijing has made clear that it regards her presence as a major provocation and has issued increasingly […]
Oscars group elects Janet Yang as new president
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences elected film producer Janet Yang as its new president, the group behind the Oscars announced Tuesday. Yang, best known for hits including “The Joy Luck Club” and “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” becomes the fourth woman elected to run Hollywood’s most elite group of filmmakers, and the first of Asian origin. Academy members vote for the winners of the Oscars each […]
US travelers warned of increased violence risk after Zawahiri killing
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US State Department Tuesday warned Americans traveling abroad they face an increased risk of violence after US forces killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. His death in a drone strike in Kabul over the weekend dealt the biggest blow to Al-Qaeda since the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011, prompting US President Joe Biden to declare that “justice had been delivered.” Following the strike, the State Department Tuesday urged […]
Airbnb reports soaring revenue as travel rebounds
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Airbnb said Tuesday revenue in the recently ended quarter topped $2 billion as people shook off pandemic worries and took part in a banner travel season. The home rental platform logged a net income of $379 million in what it touted as the most profitable second quarter in its history. As a sign of confidence in its future, the San Francisco-based company announced it will devote $2 billion to […]
US Navy tweets photos of US warships’ passage in PHL seas ahead of Pelosi’s visit in Taiwan
(Eagle News) — The US Navy released several photos of US warships passing in Philippine seas ahead of the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan. On Tuesday, August 2, in a tweet, the US Pacific Fleet, described as the “world’s largest fleet command,” posted several photos of the US warships’ passage in Philippine seas over the weekend. The US Navy, posted in a tweet, that at least three powerful US warships […]
China summons US ambassador over Pelosi’s Taiwan trip
Beijing, China | AFP China summoned the US ambassador in Beijing Tuesday to rebuke him over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “egregious” trip to Taiwan, state media reported. Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng voiced “strong protests” over Pelosi’s visit to the democratic self-governing island, which China considers part of its territory, during his talk with Ambassador Nicholas Burns. “The move is extremely egregious in nature and the consequences are extremely serious,” Xie was quoted as saying by […]
Pelosi lands in Taiwan, defying China threats
Taipei, Taiwan | AFP by Amber Wang with Ludovic Ehret in Beijing US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan late Tuesday, defying a string of increasingly stark warnings and threats from China that have sent tensions between the world’s two superpowers soaring. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years and Beijing has made clear that it regards her presence as a major […]
China’s foreign ministry issues statement on Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan
BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday issued a statement on Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to China’s Taiwan region. Following is the full text of the statement: On 2 August, in disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan region. This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the […]
US warships cruising near Taiwan as Pelosi visits; China to hold live-fire military drills near Taiwan Strait
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Several US warships were cruising in waters near Taiwan on Tuesday, US military officials said, amid Chinese anger over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to the island Beijing claims as its territory. As China announced it would hold live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait in response to Pelosi’s visit, the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan was operating in the Philippine Sea, […]





