Page 52 - United States

JPMorgan, Bank of America cautious on job cuts as Goldman layoffs loom

That stance compares with plans by Goldman Sachs Group Inc to cut jobs as early as this month after pausing the annual practice for two years during the pandemic

Russia spent $300 mn to covertly influence world politics: US State Dept

Russia has covertly spent more than $300 million since 2014 to try to influence politicians and other officials in more than two dozen countries, the State Department alleges in a newly released cable. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who signed the cable released Tuesday, cites a new intelligence assessment of Russia's global covert efforts to support policies and parties sympathetic to Moscow. The cable does not name specific Russian targets but says the U.S. is providing classified information to select individual countries. It's the latest effort by the Biden administration to declassify intelligence about Moscow's military and political aims, dating back to ultimately correct assessments that Russia would launch a new war against Ukraine. Many of President Joe Biden's top national security officials have extensive experience countering Moscow and served in government when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a wide-ranging campaign to influence the 2016 and 2020 U.S. ..

A soft landing is a more likely scenario for the global economy: JPMorgan

"Economic data and investor positioning are more important factors for risky asset performance than central bank rhetoric," the strategists wrote. "We maintain a pro-risk stance"

First US death from monkeypox confirmed in Los Angeles County: Officials

A Los Angeles County resident with a compromised immune system has died from monkeypox, local health officials announced Monday. It's believed to be the first U.S. fatality from the disease. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the cause of death, and a spokesperson said it was confirmed by an autopsy. The patient was severely immunocompromised and had been hospitalised. No other information on the person was released. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks cases and has not confirmed any U.S. deaths from the disease. LA County officials say they worked with the CDC on their case. A CDC spokesperson confirmed the cooperation but did not immediately respond when asked if this was the first U.S. death. Texas public health officials on Aug. 30 reported the death of a person who had been diagnosed with monkeypox. The person was severely immunocompromised and their case is under investigation to determine what role monkeypox may have played in thei

Biden to hit China with broader curbs on US chip and tool exports

The letters forbade them from exporting chipmaking equipment to Chinese factories that produce advanced semiconductors unless sellers obtain Commerce Department licenses.

Explained: What walking out of IPEF's trade pillar means for India

Experts said that opting out is a step in the right direction as India may not be prepared enough to handle negotiations dealing with issues such as labour, environment standards and digital trade

The power of populism

The book's title refers to a 'middle out' philosophy in which the govt creates a more democratic economy by focusing on ways to enlarge the middle and working classes at the expense of the wealthy

The intel review of documents at Donald Trump's estate: An explainer

The discovery of hundreds of classified records at Donald Trump's home has thrust US intelligence agencies into a familiar and uncomfortable role as the foil of a former president who demanded they support his agenda and at times accused officers of treason. While the FBI conducts a criminal investigation, the office that leads the intelligence community is also conducting a review currently on pause pending a court order of the damage that would result from disclosure of the documents found at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The investigation comes at a perilous time in American politics, with increasing threats to law enforcement and election workers and as a growing swath of officials assail the FBI and spread baseless theories of voter fraud. There's already a wide range of speculation about what was in the documents, with some Democrats pointing to reporting about possible nuclear secrets while some Trump allies suggesting the case is a benign argument about ...

9/11 attacks reverberate as US marks 21st anniversary, people pay tribute

Americans remembered 9/11 on Sunday with readings of victims' names, volunteer work and other tributes 21 years after the deadliest terror attack on US soil. A tolling bell and a moment of silence began the commemoration at ground zero in New York, where the World Trade Center's twin towers were destroyed by the hijacked-plane attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Firefighter Jimmy Riches' namesake nephew wasn't born yet when his uncle died, but the boy took the podium to pay tribute to him. You're always in my heart. And I know you are watching over me, he said after reading a portion of the nearly 3,000 victims' names. Victims' relatives and dignitaries also convened at the two other attack sites, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Other communities around the country are marking the day with candlelight vigils, interfaith services and other commemorations. Some Americans are joining in volunteer projects on a day that is federally recognized as both Patriot Day and a National Day o

US first lady Jill Biden shares memories of 9/11 as wife, sister, more

When Jill Biden realised that terrorists had attacked America on September 11, 2001, her husband, Joe, wasn't the only loved one whose safety she worried about. Biden recalled being scared to death that her sister Bonny Jacobs, a United Airlines flight attendant, was on one of the four hijacked airplanes that were flown into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people. After learning that her sister was safe at her Pennsylvania home, I went straight to Bonny's house, Biden told The Associated Press on Saturday as she and her sister remembered that day. On Sunday, Jill Biden, now the first lady, will mark the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by delivering remarks at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania accompanied by Jacobs. The 40 passengers and crew aboard that United Airlines flight fought back against their hijackers, thwarting a feared attack on the US Capitol in Washington. I called Bonny to se

Americans remember 9/11 with moments of silence, other tributes today

Americans are remembering 9/11 with moments of silence, readings of victims' names, volunteer work and other tributes 21 years after the deadliest terror attack on US soil. Victims' relatives and dignitaries will convene Sunday at the places where hijacked jets crashed on Sept 11, 2001 the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Other communities around the country are marking the day with candlelight vigils, interfaith services and other commemorations. Some Americans are joining in volunteer projects on a day that is federally recognised as both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The observances follow a fraught milestone anniversary last year. It came weeks after the chaotic and humbling end of the Afghanistan war that the US launched in response to the attacks. But if this Sept 11 may be less of an inflection point, it remains a point for reflection on the attack that killed nearly 3,000 people, spurred a US war on terr

US to give $40 mn agricultural aid to Sri Lanka for next cultivation season

The United States on Saturday announced USD 40 million in aid to buy fertilizer and other key agricultural inputs in time for the next cultivation season in crisis-hit Sri Lanka. USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who is visiting Sri Lanka, made the announcement after she met farmer representatives in Ja-Ela outside the capital, Colombo. She said the money will be in addition to the $6 million announced earlier to assist low income farmers. Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis and acute shortages of essentials like food, fuel and medicines because of a lack of foreign currency to pay for the imports. Agricultural yields dropped by more than half for the past two cultivation seasons because authorities had banned the imports of chemical fertilizers ostensibly to promote organic farming. The farmers that I just met with described enormous challenges that the economic crisis has placed on them and their families and the whole community. They described phenomena that were ...

India opts out of joining IPEF trade pillar, to wait for final contours

India to wait for final contours before formally associating with IPEF trade pillar, says Goyal

Biden to consult leaders on reforming UN Security Council, says US official

"We should forge consensus around sensible and credible proposals to expand the Security Council's membership," she said while addressing the Future of the UN in San Francisco on Thursday

Allies push for more US weaponry after seeing impact in war-torn Ukraine

As other nations see the impact of US weapons in the Ukraine war, the Pentagon is getting more requests for them, including the high-tech, multiple-launch rocket system that Ukrainian forces have successfully used against Russian ammunition depots and other supplies, Defense officials said. Bill LaPlante, the department's under secretary for acquisition, told reporters on Friday that the Pentagon has been working with the defense industry to increase production lines to meet both US and international demands for certain weapons. And he said some countries have already begun asking about buying the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. As a result, he said, the US has to both replace the HIMARS systems it sent to Ukraine at a projected cost so far of about USD 33 million but also predict the future demands in foreign sales. According to the Pentagon, the department is already working to replace about USD 7 billion in weapons and equipment that was taken off the shelves

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ministerial summit concludes in Los Angeles

The ministers had positive and constructive discussions and announced a substantial milestone in their pursuit of a high standard and inclusive economic framework, the US Department of Commerce stated

India opts out of trade talks with a US-led group of Asian nations

Known as IPEF, the initiative is an effort by President Joe Biden's administration to deepen ties with Asian nations through a range of issues including trade, climate change, supply chains and tax

Sri Lanka's former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa leaves for US: Reports

Sri Lanka's former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa left for the US on Friday to receive medical treatment, a week after the Supreme Court allowed him to travel overseas until January 15, media reports said. Basil Rajapaksa, the younger brother of ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, left for Dubai on an Emirates flight from Katunayake Airport, from where he will catch a connecting flight to the US, Daily Mirror Lanka newspaper reported, quoting officials. On September 2, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court's five-bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya permitted Basil, 71, to travel overseas, until January 15 next year to receive medical treatment. The Supreme Court made this order in connection with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Sri Lankan swimmer and coach Julian Bolling, former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, Transparency International and Jehan Canaga Retna, the Mirror report said. The petitioners are seeking an order to take legal action

US sanctions Iran intelligence over malicious Albania cyberattack

The U.S. government on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran's intelligence agency and its leadership in response to malicious cyberattacks on Albanian government computer systems in July. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Esmail Khatib, who heads the ministry, for what it said were cyber-related activities against the U.S. and its allies. Albania, a NATO member, cut diplomatic ties with Iran and expelled its embassy staff this week over the cyberattack. It was the first known case of a country cutting diplomatic relations over a cyberattack. The Albanian government has accused Iran of carrying out the July 15 attack, which temporarily shut down numerous Albanian government digital services and websites. Microsoft, which assisted Albania in investigating the cyberattack, said in a blog post Thursday that it was moderately confident the hackers belong to a group that has been publicly linked to Iran's .

Weekly storage of natural gas in US rises, says energy information agency

The total working gas storage decreased by 7.6 per cent from this time in 2021, or down 11.5 per cent from the five-year average, Xinhua news agency reported