Tag: US

Palestinians say US economic push no substitute for peace

by Gareth Browne Agence France-Presse RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories (AFP)  — Ahead of Joe Biden’s first visit to Jerusalem as US president, Washington’s ambassador said his team will “pound tables” to press Israeli officials into making concessions to the Palestinians. But ambassador Thomas Nides was talking about ensuring Palestinians have access to economic benefits such as 4G internet, not throwing American diplomatic muscle into reviving a peace process moribund since 2014. Biden’s first Middle East tour […]

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Iran to supply Russians with UAVs for Ukraine: White House

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Iran is planning to supply hundreds of drones with combat weapon capabilities to Russia for use in Ukraine, a top US official said Monday. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor, said the information received by the United States supported views that the Russian military is facing challenges sustaining its weaponry after significant losses in Ukraine. “The Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred […]

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Relief, disappointment as Musk abandons Twitter deal

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Elon Musk’s move to abandon his purchase of Twitter has been greeted with a mix of relief and disappointment across the political spectrum, with many criticizing the Tesla founder but others applauding his “exposure” of the influential messaging platform. The announcement of the deal valued at $44 billion in late April sparked fears the platform would see a surge in abuse and disinformation after Musk — a self-proclaimed free […]

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US, Russian envoys gather for G20 with call to end Ukraine war

by Shaun Tandon Agence France-Presse BALI, Indonesia (AFP) — The top Russian and US envoys gathered on Friday for a Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia, with the host immediately telling them the Ukraine war must end and differences be resolved through negotiations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov joined their colleagues for the start of day-long talks, with Washington seeking to gain support from the world’s top […]

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TikTok sued in US after girls die in ‘Blackout Challenge’

  SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Video-sharing sensation TikTok is being sued in California after children died while taking part in a “Blackout Challenge” that makes a sport of choking oneself until passing out. The lawsuit filed in state court in Los Angeles last week accuses TikTok software of “intentionally and repeatedly” pushing the Blackout Challenge that led to the deaths of an eight-year-old girl in Texas and a nine-year-old girl in Wisconsin last […]

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Indonesia urges end to Ukraine war at G20 meeting with Russia

BALI, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia called Friday for an end to the war in Ukraine as it led a Group of 20 meeting attended by Russia’s foreign minister. “It is our responsibility to end the war sooner than later and settle our differences at the negotiating table, not the battlefield,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at the opening of the meeting in Bali. She said that the world was just recovering from the Covid-19 […]

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Apple devices getting beefed-up defense against spyware

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Apple on Wednesday unveiled a new way for activists, journalists and other targets of state-sponsored espionage to protect themselves from spyware. A Lockdown Mode being added to iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers is intended to counter threats from a thriving industry that provides sophisticated espionage tools to governments. “While the vast majority of users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, we will work tirelessly to protect […]

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Three disputed Michael Jackson songs pulled from streaming sites

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Three Michael Jackson songs have been removed from streaming sites following longstanding claims that they are sung by someone else, Sony and the late singer’s estate said Wednesday. “Breaking News,” “Monster” and “Keep Your Head Up” appear on the 2010 compilation album “Michael,” released a year after Jackson’s death from a drug-induced cardiac arrest. Some fans have long argued that the vocals on the tracks actually belong to an […]

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Western US drought brings Great Salt Lake to lowest level on record

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Water in Utah’s Great Salt Lake has fallen to its lowest level ever recorded, authorities announced this week, a result of the ongoing drought impacting the western United States which scientists warn has been exacerbated by climate change. The average depth of the massive saltwater lake, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, fluctuates naturally with the seasons and local precipitation. But the economically and environmentally important basin has never […]

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Blinken to meet China, shun Russia, at G20 talks in Bali

by Shaun Tandon  Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold a rare meeting with China’s foreign minister seeking to contain tensions, but will shun his Russian counterpart at a conference in Bali this week, officials said Thursday. Blinken will arrive Thursday in the Indonesian resort island for talks of foreign ministers of the Group of 20, the club of major economies that still includes Russia — despite […]

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Suspect in July 4 shooting an alienated youth with dark online persona

HIGHLAND PARK, United States (AFP) — Before he allegedly murdered seven spectators at a US Independence Day parade, the Highland Park community knew Robert Crimo as a quiet kid and former Cub Scout. But online, the 21-year-old known to friends and family as “Bobby” showed a strong inclination for violence and anger at being overlooked. “I know him as somebody who was a Cub Scout when I was the Cub Scout leader,” Highland Park Mayor […]

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Police arrest suspect after gunman kills six at US July 4 parade

by Youngrae Kim Agence France-Presse HIGHLAND PARK, United States (AFP) — Police arrested a suspect Monday after a mass shooting left six dead at a US Independence Day parade in a wealthy Chicago suburb, casting a dark shadow over the country’s most patriotic holiday. Robert Crimo, 22, was identified as a “person of interest” and became the target of a massive manhunt across the town of Highland Park in Illinois, where a rooftop gunman with […]

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