Tag: US

Pres. Biden urges US unity and vows to restore blue-collar pride

Washington, United States | AFP | Wednesday 2/8/2023 by Sebastian Smith and Shaun Tandon President Joe Biden touted America’s “unbroken” democracy and resurgent economy in an optimistic State of the Union speech Tuesday — as he sought to persuade skeptical voters that at 80 he still has what it takes to takes to run for reelection. Biden’s address before Congress and tens of millions of television viewers was a chance for the Democrat, who is […]

Developing story: US economy better positioned to grow than any ‘on Earth:’ Biden

Washington, United States | AFP | President Joe Biden said in an address to Congress Tuesday that the US economy is better positioned to grow “than any country on Earth,” despite disruptions from Covid-19 and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “The pandemic disrupted our supply chains and Putin’s unfair and brutal war in Ukraine disrupted energy supplies as well as food supplies,” Biden said during his State of the Union address. “But we’re better positioned than […]

Biden to urge US unity and ‘blue collar’ economic revival

by Sebastian Smith Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden will tell Americans Tuesday that US democracy is “bruised” but “unbroken” in a State of the Union speech appealing to Republican opponents to unite in building a blue-collar economy, according to excerpts from the White House. Biden, who is expected soon to announce a bid for a second term, despite being already 80 years old, will use the address before the full […]

Marvel superheroes return to Chinese cinemas after nearly four years

by Vivian LIN Agence France-Presse SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Marvel’s superheroes began their return to China’s massive movie market after an apparent ban of nearly four years on Tuesday, with fans streaming into cinemas to watch “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”. The Disney-owned studio’s hugely popular franchises have been absent from Chinese screens since 2019, with no explanation. Marvel blockbusters have raked in billions globally, and their return to one of the world’s biggest movie markets […]

North Korea pledges ‘expanded, intensified’ military drills

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea’s top army officials have said they will expand and intensify military drills to ensure their readiness for war, state media reported Tuesday, ahead of a massive parade. The pledge came at a Monday meeting overseen by leader Kim Jong Un and follows last week’s staging of joint air drills by South Korea and the United States. The agenda was topped by “the issue of constantly expanding and intensifying […]

China says US shooting down balloon ‘damaged’ relations

BEIJING, China (AFP) — A US decision to shoot down a Chinese balloon that Beijing claimed had veered off course has “seriously impacted and damaged” relations between the two countries, China’s foreign ministry said Monday. The aircraft, which Washington said was a spy balloon, had spent several days flying over North America, leading the United States to call off a planned visit to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Washington on Saturday said a […]

Northeast US, Canada gripped by Arctic blast

  NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A “generational” Arctic blast brought dangerously cold temperatures to swaths of the northeastern United States and Canada on Saturday, with forecasters warning that frostbite can occur in just five minutes. Atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire state, the wind-chill factor reached minus 78 degrees Celsius (minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. That broke the previous low recorded there of minus 74 C, the […]

US sending longer-range precision rockets to Ukraine

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A new $2.2 billion US arms package for Ukraine includes a new rocket-propelled precision bomb that could nearly double Kyiv’s strike range against the Russians, the Pentagon said Friday. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said the new package includes the ground-launched small-diameter bombs (GLSDB), a munition that can fly up to 150 kilometers (93 miles), which would threaten Russian positions and depots far behind the front lines. “This gives them a […]

Pentagon tracking Chinese spy balloon over US

by Paul HANDLEY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon said Thursday it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying high over the United States, reviving tensions between the two countries just days ahead of a rare visit to Beijing by the top US diplomat. At President Joe Biden’s request, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and top military officials considered shooting the balloon down but decided doing so would endanger too many people on […]

Google, Apple disappoint as tech earnings hit by gloom

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Google and Apple on Thursday reported downbeat results for the last quarter of 2022 as Amazon beat expectations, but warned that the coming months would be uncertain in a difficult moment for Big Tech. The world’s biggest tech companies posted their earnings as shares in Meta skyrocketed a day after it reported better results than expected and signaled spending and job cuts. The results follow several weeks of unprecedented […]

Philippines to expand US access to military bases: official

by W.G. Dunlop / Allison JACKSON Agence France-Presse MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The United States and the Philippines are expected to announce a deal Thursday that will give US troops access to another four military bases in the Southeast Asian nation, as the longtime allies seek to deter Chinese aggression in the region. The agreement to expand cooperation will be announced during a visit by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a senior Philippine official told […]

Meta reports sales fall, but beats expectations

by Glenn CHAPMAN Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook and Instagram owner Meta on Wednesday reported its first annual sales drop since the company went public in 2012, but the fall was less brutal than expected, sending its share price soaring. The social media giant said sales dropped one percent to $116.6 billion in 2022, while it also announced that the number of daily users on Facebook hit two billion for the […]