Tag: US

US authorizes AstraZeneca Covid treatment in some cases

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US health authorities on Wednesday authorized the use of synthetic antibodies developed by AstraZeneca to prevent Covid-19 infections in people who react badly to vaccines. It was the first time the Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorization for such a purely preventative treatment. The FDA warned the drug Evusheld is “not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom Covid-19 vaccination is recommended” and can only be authorized […]

Pres. Duterte accepts US Pres. Biden’s invitation to attend 2-day “Summit for Democracy”

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte accepted the invitation of US President Joe Biden to attend the two-day “Summit for Democracy” set to happen on Thursday and Friday, December 9 to 10, hosted by the United States. Duterte will join other world leaders “to share the Philippine democratic experience and commitment to democratic values and nation-building during his attendance to the summit,” a statement from Malacanang said. The summit has three key themes: Defending […]

Australia joins US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia will not send officials to the upcoming winter Olympics in Beijing, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday, joining a US diplomatic boycott of the event. Canberra’s decision comes amid “disagreement” with China over a slew of issues, from Australia’s foreign interference laws to a recent decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, Morrison said. He also cited human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region and Beijing’s ongoing freeze on ministerial contact with […]

Biden warns Putin of ‘strong’ Western response to any Ukraine attack

by Sebastian Smith with Anna Smolchenko in Moscow WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden warned President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday of “strong” Western economic blowback against any Russian attack on Ukraine, while the Kremlin leader demanded guarantees that the NATO alliance keep clear of Russia. The two leaders met by video link in a two-hour summit seen as a vital chance to defuse tension on the Russian-Ukrainian frontier, where Russia has deployed […]

American Airlines CEO to step down in March

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Veteran American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker plans to step down in March and will be succeeded by his deputy, Robert Isom, the carrier announced Tuesday. A longtime fixture atop US carriers, Parker led US Airways prior to its merger with American Airlines in 2013 when he took over the combined company. He will step down March 31 but remain chairman of the board. American’s leadership transition was delayed […]

‘Encouraging’ early feedback on Omicron case severity: Fauci

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Early indications of the severity of the Omicron Covid-19 variant are “a bit encouraging,” top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci said Sunday, while cautioning more information was still needed. “Omicron has a transmission advantage” in South Africa, where the variant was first reported, Fauci said in a CNN interview, noting the country had a low level of cases before it saw “almost a vertical spike upwards, which is almost […]

NASA announces 10 latest astronaut trainees

HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — NASA announced Monday its 10 latest trainee astronauts, who include a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team, and a pilot who led the first-ever all-woman F-22 formation in combat. The 2021 class was whittled down from a field of more than 12,000 applicants and will now report for duty in January at the Johnson Space Center in Texas, where they will undergo two years […]

Drake withdraws his two Grammy nominations

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Canadian rap superstar Drake asked for his two Grammy nominations to be withdrawn this year and the Recording Academy has honored his request, multiple sources told AFP Monday. Drake had been up for two rap awards at January’s ceremony, but his mega-hit album “Certified Lover Boy” was conspicuously left out of the general field categories last month, and the artist has clashed with the Academy multiple times. The singer […]

10 Covid cases detected on cruise ship carrying thousands

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Ten Covid-19 cases have been detected among crew members and passengers on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship returning to New Orleans on Sunday with thousands on board, a US health authority said. “The Norwegian Breakaway departed from New Orleans on Nov. 28 and stopped in Belize, Honduras and Mexico on its voyage,” the Louisiana Department of Health tweeted Saturday. “There are more than 3,200 individuals onboard.” The health department said […]

US authorities released photos of school shooter’s parents that led to their arrest

  The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office released photos of the parents of a 15-year-old who shot dead four students at a US high school with a gun bought by his father, that led to their arrest on Saturday, The whereabouts of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, were unknown for much of Friday, prompting authorities in Oakland County, Michigan to consider them fugitives. But police found them in an industrial […]

US school shooter’s parents arrested on manslaughter charges

by Chris Lefkow The parents of a 15-year-old who shot dead four students at a US high school with a gun bought by his father have been arrested after being charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to US media reports. The whereabouts of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, had remained unknown for much of Friday, prompting authorities in Oakland County, Michigan to consider them fugitives. But police found them in […]

Biden opens winter battle against Covid-19

by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden announced Thursday a winter campaign against Covid-19, with new testing requirements for travelers and a surge in vaccination efforts. Biden has brought steady leadership after the chaotic Donald Trump years, but the mutating coronavirus continues to defy him, helping drive his approval ratings deep underwater. Urging the nation — in particular his political rivals — to unite behind the strategy, Biden unveiled a […]