Tag: US

US lawmakers release $1.7 trillion spending bill to avert shutdown

Washington, United States (AFP) US lawmakers early Tuesday released the text of a $1.7 trillion funding bill which Congress hopes to pass within days to avert a government shutdown. The bill includes $858 billion in defense funding and will also provide $44.9 billion in emergency assistance for Ukraine. It also includes $772.5 billion for non-defense discretionary programs, including $118.7 billion for Veterans Affairs medical care, a 22 percent increase, and provides $40.6 billion to help US […]

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FTX founder Bankman-Fried back in jail after hearing

NASSAU, Bahamas (AFP) — Sam Bankman-Fried, wanted in the United States for fraud after the collapse of his FTX cryptocurrency group, remained in a Bahamas prison Monday after an abortive court hearing that was to consider his possible extradition. One week after the former billionaire was arrested in Nassau, US and local media had reported that the 30-year-old onetime cryptocurrency wunderkind was preparing to accept extradition to stand trial in New York. Bankman-Fried was seen […]

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Dozens injured as turbulence hits Hawaiian Airlines flight

  Washington, United States (AFP) At least 36 people were injured, 11 seriously, when severe turbulence hit a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu on Sunday, officials said. Flight HA35 “encountered severe turbulence” shortly before landing in Honolulu, the airline said on Twitter. “Medical care was provided to several guests & crew members at the airport for minor injuries while some were swiftly transported to local hospitals for further care.” (1/2) HA35 from PHX […]

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Twitter users vote to oust Elon Musk as CEO

  SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter users voted on Monday to oust owner Elon Musk as CEO in a highly unscientific poll he organized and promised to honor, just weeks after he took charge of the social media giant. A total of 57.5 percent of more than 17 million accounts voted for him to step down. Musk, who is also the boss of car maker Tesla and rocket firm SpaceX, has not yet […]

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Temperature rising on Soyuz, crew not in danger

  Moscow, Russia (AFP) The temperature on the Soyuz capsule docked at the International Space Station has risen but the crew are not in danger, the Russian space agency said Friday as it assesses a leak. Roscosmos said a number of tests had been conducted following the discovery of a coolant leak on the Soyuz MS-22, and the temperature in the capsule had increased to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). On Wednesday, the leak […]

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Moderate earthquake hits US oil region in west Texas

Washington, United States (AFP) A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck an oil-producing region of west Texas on Friday, rattling structures but causing no apparent damage, US authorities said. Preliminary data from the USGS reports the earthquake was a magnitude 5.3 centered 12 miles to the NNW of Midland with a depth of 3 miles. This would be the 4th strongest earthquake in Texas state history! #txwx #earthquake — NWS Midland (@NWSMidland) December 16, 2022   The […]

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US financial sanctions target one of Russia’s richest men

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – The US announced financial sanctions targeting one of Russia’s wealthiest men, Vladimir Potanin, the Treasury Department and State Department said Thursday, adding to efforts that curb Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine. The actions follow earlier moves by Washington to isolate Russia from the global financial system, and are expected to complement those of the US’s partners, according to authorities. “The Department of State is imposing sanctions on Vladimir […]

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Tiny meteorite may have caused leak from Soyuz capsule

by Lucie Aubourg and Chris Lefkow in Washington with Ola Cichowlas in Moscow Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Russian and NASA engineers were assessing a coolant leak on Thursday from a Soyuz crew capsule docked with the International Space Station (ISS) that may have been caused by a micrometeorite strike. Dramatic NASA TV images showed white particles resembling snowflakes streaming out of the rear of the vessel for hours. The coolant leak forced […]

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Patriot missiles: crucial but limited help for Ukraine

by Paul HANDLEY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The expected US provision of Patriot missiles to Ukraine is a muscular message of support and will boost defenses against Russia’s relentless aerial assaults, but experts say its battlefield impact will be limited. Patriots are “far from a silver bullet,” against the low-flying cruise missiles and drone bombs that Russian forces have pummeled Ukraine with, according to Ian Williams of the Missile Defense Project at […]

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Claudine Gay named first Black president of Harvard

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Harvard University named Claudine Gay, a dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, as its new president on Thursday, the first African American to hold the post at the prestigious university. Gay, 52, is just the second woman to be elected to head the school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard said that Gay, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, will take over as the university’s 30th president on July 1, […]

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US announces $2.5 billion in food assistance to Africa

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –The United States on Thursday committed another $2.5 billion in food assistance to Africa, pledging to help the continent cope with rising prices blamed in part on Russia’s invasion of breadbasket Ukraine. President Joe Biden laid out the new commitment at the close of a three-day summit that brought nearly 50 African leaders to Washington. Biden told leaders that the United States was concerned about rising hunger triggered “in part due […]

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US political world seeks distance from disgraced donor Bankman-Fried

by Aurélia END Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — After years of benefitting from the enormous contributions of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried — accused of massive financial fraud — America’s political elite are now skittering away, eager to put distance between themselves and the disgraced cryptocurrency darling. The 30-year-old tycoon — currently detained in the Bahamas awaiting US extradition proceedings — had in recent years become one of the largest public donors to the […]

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