WASHINGTON, Dec 24, 2023 (AFP) – A Japanese-owned chemical tanker struck Saturday off the coast of India was targeted by a drone “fired from Iran,” the Pentagon said, a sign of expanding risks to commercial shipping beyond the Red Sea. It was the first time the Pentagon has openly accused Iran of directly targeting ships since the start of Israel’s war on the militant group Hamas, which is backed by Tehran. The attack came amid […]
Tag: US
White House urges ‘serious scrutiny’ of US Steel takeover deal
WASHINGTON, Dec 23, 2023 (AFP) – A proposed deal that would see US Steel Corp bought by Japan’s Nippon Steel should be closely investigated by American authorities, the White House said Thursday, warning it could have national security implications. Unveiling the planned transaction this week, the two companies depicted the deal as a marriage of the holders of top technologies that would boost steel output and accelerate efforts toward decarbonization. But US Steel’s possible sale […]
‘Urban mining’ offers green solution to old solar panels
By Paula RAMON YUMA, United States, Dec 23, 2023 (AFP) – As the world pivots from planet-warming fossil fuels to renewable energy, a new pollution problem is rearing its head: What to do with old or worn-out solar panels? Thousands of photovoltaic slabs are being installed across the United States every day, particularly in the sunny west and south of the country, as states like California race to towards greener energy production. But with an […]
Stepping up tone, US says Iran ‘deeply involved’ in Huthi ship attacks
By Shaun TANDON WASHINGTON, Dec 22, 2023 (AFP) – The United States on Friday accused Iran of close involvement in attacks on commercial ships by Yemen’s Huthi rebels, stepping up the tone as Washington considers tougher measures including possible force. The White House publicly released US intelligence as the Iranian-linked Yemeni insurgents persist with ship strikes they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is battling Hamas militants. The White […]
Supreme Court declines to fast-track Trump ‘absolute immunity’ case
By Chris Lefkow WASHINGTON, Dec 22, 2023 (AFP) – The US Supreme Court declined on Friday to immediately hear former president Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution, potentially delaying his 2020 election interference trial. Special Counsel Jack Smith had asked the nation’s highest court to take up the immunity case on an expedited basis, bypassing the federal court of appeals. The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices […]
US woman with rare double uterus gives birth to twin girls
WASHINGTON, Dec 23, 2023 (AFP) – A 32-year-old woman from Alabama who was born with two uteruses and became pregnant in both gave birth to twin girls on different days, she announced on Friday. “Our miracle babies were born!” Kelsey Hatcher, who is documenting her story on her Instagram account “doubleuhatchlings”, wrote in a post. She added that the girls “decided they were rare enough statistically that they should just go ahead and have […]
Colorado paramedics found guilty of negligent homicide in Elijah McClain’s death
WASHINGTON, Dec 23, 2023 (AFP) – A jury in the western US state of Colorado on Friday found two paramedics guilty of negligent homicide in the death of a Black man who was put in a chokehold and injected with ketamine during his arrest, US media said. The August 2019 death of Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old Black man, died several days after a struggle with police and after being injected with the sedative by […]
Colombian ex-soldier pleads guilty in Haiti president assassination plot
MIAMI, Dec 22, 2023 (AFP) – A former Colombian soldier pleaded guilty Friday in a US federal court to conspiracy to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who was shot dead in 2021 in Port-au-Prince. Mario Antonio Palacios, 45, pleaded guilty in a Miami federal court after entering into a cooperation agreement with prosecutors. Until agreeing to a plea deal, he had for months denied having had any role in the assassination of the former president. […]
Japan to send Patriot missiles to US as stocks dwindle
TOKYO, Dec 23, 2023 (AFP) – Japan loosened arms export controls Friday to enable it to sell domestically made Patriot missiles to the United States, which is seeking to stock up after sending the weapon systems to Ukraine. Washington has supplied Kyiv with the highly-effective Patriot air defence systems as part of the massive Western military aid effort to help President Volodymyr Zelensky’s country fight back against Russia’s invasion. “We welcome the Government […]
US starts targeting banks that help Russian war in Ukraine
By Shaun TANDON WASHINGTON, Dec 22, 2023 (AFP) – The United States said Friday it will impose sanctions on foreign banks that support Russia’s war in Ukraine, in a new bid to exert pressure on Moscow as it diversifies from the West to China. Under an executive order signed by President Joe Biden, the United States will slap so-called secondary sanctions against financial institutions that back companies already targeted for supporting Russia’s defense industry. “We […]
Jo Koy to host Golden Globes awards: “I get to make my Filipino family proud”
LOS ANGELES, Dec 21, 2023 (AFP) – Comedian and actor Jo Koy will host the newly revamped Golden Globes, organizers announced Thursday, as the US awards show seeks a clean slate. The stand-up comedian said he was excited to be overseeing the party that kicks off three months of movie industry ceremonies. “I’ve stepped onto a lot of stages around the world in my career, but this one is going to be extra special,” he […]
White House says readying new proposal to Russia to free two Americans
WASHINGTON, Dec 21, 2023 (AFP) – The White House said Thursday it was preparing a new proposal to Russia to seek the release of two imprisoned Americans after Moscow rejected an earlier attempt. “We’re working hard to see what we can do to get another proposal that might be more successful,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. The State Department said earlier this month that Russia rejected a “substantial” proposal to free the […]





