Page 2 - Us Government

Twitter suppressed Covid-19 info, suspended top experts: Twitter files

According to David Zweig, both Joe Biden and former Donald Trump administrations pressured Twitter and other tech giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft to disseminate Covid information

Blinken raises concerns over China's Covid surge, Taliban and Ukraine war

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concern over the surging Covid cases in China, the Taliban banning women from universities and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war

US Senate passes $1.7 trillion spending bill to fund govt, aid Ukraine

The Senate passed a massive $1.7 trillion spending bill Thursday that finances federal agencies through September and provides another significant round of military and economic aid to Ukraine one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's dramatic address to a joint meeting of Congress. The bill, which runs for 4,155 pages, includes about $772.5 billion for domestic programs and $858 billion for defense and would finance federal agencies through the fiscal year at the end of September. The bill passed by a vote of 68-29 and now goes to the House for a final vote before it can be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. This is one of the most significant appropriations packages we have done in a very long time, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The range of people it helps is large and deep." Lawmakers were racing to get the bill approved before a partial government shutdown would occur at midnight Friday, and many were anxious to complete the ta

US govt agency probing automated driving system use in 2 Tesla crashes

The US government's highway safety agency said on Thursday it will send teams to investigate two November crashes in California and Ohio involving Teslas that may have been operating on automated driving systems. The probes bring to 35 the number of crashes investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2016 in which either Tesla's Full Self-Driving or Autopilot systems likely were in use. Nineteen people were killed in the crashes. The California crash occurred on Thanksgiving Day involving eight vehicles on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The driver told authorities that the Tesla Model S was using the company's Full Self-Driving software, according to Highway Patrol report obtained by CNN. The Ohio crash happened on November 18 near Toledo, when a Tesla Model 3 crashed into an Ohio Highway Patrol SUV stopped on a roadway with its emergency lights flashing. A message was left on Thursday seeking comment from Tesla on the latest NHTSA action. The ..

Congress moves to ban TikTok from US government devices in spending bill

TikTok would be banned from most US government devices under a spending bill Congress unveiled early Tuesday, the latest push by American lawmakers against the Chinese-owned social media app. The USD 1.7 trillion package includes requirements for the Biden administration to prohibit most uses of TikTok or any other app created by its owner, ByteDance Ltd. The requirements would apply to the executive branch with exemptions for national security, law enforcement and research purposes and don't appear to cover Congress, where a handful of lawmakers maintain TikTok accounts. TikTok is consumed by two-thirds of American teens and has become the second-most popular domain in the world. But there's long been bipartisan concern in Washington that Beijing would use legal and regulatory power to seize American user data or try to push pro-China narratives or misinformation. Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesperson for TikTok, called the ban a political gesture that will do nothing to advance ...

Elizabeth Holmes appeals her Theranos fraud conviction, prison term

Lawyers for Holmes, 38, filed a single-page notice of appeal without disclosing on what grounds she will ask the Court of Appeals to overturn the guilty verdict reached by a jury 11 months ago

US regulators to vote on largest dam demolition, river restoration in world

The largest dam demolition and river restoration plan in the world could be close to reality Thursday as US regulators vote on a plan to remove four aging hydro-electric structures, reopening hundreds of miles of California river habitat to imperiled salmon. The vote by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the lower Klamath River dams is the last major regulatory hurdle and the biggest milestone facing a USD 500 million demolition proposal championed by Native American tribes and environmentalists for years. Approval of the application to surrender the dams' operating license is the bedrock of the most ambitious salmon restoration plan in history, and if approved the parties overseeing the project will accept license transfer and could begin dam removal as early as this summer. More than 300 miles (482.80 kilometres) of salmon habitat in the Klamath River and its tributaries would benefit, said Amy Souers Kober, spokeswoman for American Rivers, which monitors dam removals and

US midterm: Republicans limp toward house control with Senate still in play

While Democrats have reason to rejoice, the fate of President Joe Biden's legislative agenda still hangs in the balance and the prospect of government gridlock looms

Biden govt offers up to $5 million for information on North Korean shipper

The Biden administration is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information about a Singapore-based businessman already accused by the Justice Department of facilitating fuel shipments to North Korea in violation of UN sanctions. Kwek Kee Seng, who directs a shipping agency and terminal operations company, was charged last year with arranging the deliveries, with prosecutors alleging that he used front companies and false documentation to hide the scheme. Officials say that business helps enable North Korea's nuclear proliferation programmes. Kwek remains at large despite a warrant that has been issued for his arrest. The State Department on Thursday said it was offering up to $5 million through its Rewards for Justice program. The announcement of a reward came amid heightened tensions with North Korea, which on Thursday fired at least six missiles into the sea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that triggered evacuation warnings and halted trains in northern ...

Was able to become US vice prez because of my mother: Kamala Harris

United States Vice President Kamala Harris attributed her success to the dedication, determination and courage of her Indian American mother. Harris is the first Indian-origin vice president of the US. It is because of her dedication, her determination and her courage that I stand before you as vice president of the United States, Harris told a gathering of more than 200 eminent Indian Americans at a White House Diwali reception hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. She recollected her frequent visits to Chennai as a child and celebrating Diwali with grandparents. I have such fond memories of celebrating Diwali as a child. Like many of you, we would go to India about every other year, avoiding the monsoon season, and we would go for Diwali. I have such fond memories of waking up in the middle of the night, me and my sister Maya, and going, of course, to the eldest in our family, which was our grandfather. And later in the day, my mother would give us little ...

On witness stand, ex-US prez Trump's ally denies foreign influence charge

A California billionaire known as an ally of Donald Trump has used his testimony at his federal trial to question Trump's leadership on foreign policy, saying the former president was clueless about the dynamics in the Middle East. The defendant, Tom Barrack, is accused of using his unique access as a longtime friend of Trump to provide confidential information about the Trump administration to the United Arab Emirates to advance the UAE's foreign policy and business interests. Prosecutors say while UAE officials were consorting with Barrack, they were rewarding him by pouring millions of dollars into his business ventures. Barrack, the onetime chair of Trump's inaugural committee, told a New York City jury on Monday that he considered Trump to be bold and smart businessman, and had backed his candidacy as a political outsider who could be a good thing for the system. However, he testified that he later grew disillusioned because of Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric and other divisive .

Diwali a universal concept that transcends cultures: US VP Kamala Harris

Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures, Vice President Kamala Harris said on Friday as she opened her official residence for scores of Indian Americans to celebrate the festival of lights. The Naval Observatory -- official residence of the vice president -- was colourfully decorated with lights and diyas (earthen lamps) while the guests were served a wide variety of authentic Indian delicacies from pani puri' to traditional sweets, community leaders, who attended the event, said. Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures. It is about being inspired by the relevance of light over darkness, and shedding light in moments of darkness, Harris told the gathering of more than a hundred Indian Americans. As the vice president, I think a lot about it because we are not without great challenges in our own country and in the world. And these are the moments when a festival like Diwali reminds us of the importance of our power to bring light in moments of darkness,

Jan 6 riots committee subpoenas Trump, demanding historic testimony

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol formally issued an extraordinary subpoena to Donald Trump, demanding testimony from the former president who lawmakers say personally orchestrated a multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The nine-member panel issued a letter to Trump's lawyers saying he must testify, either at the Capitol or by videoconference, beginning on or about November 14 and continuing for multiple days if necessary. The letter also outlined a sweeping request for documents, including personal communications between Trump and members of Congress as well as extremist groups. Those are to be turned in by November 4, although the committee's deadlines are generally subject to negotiation. We recognise that a subpoena to a former president is a significant and historic action," Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney wrote in the letter to Trump. We do not take this action lightly. The panel rooted its .

Covid vaccine to cost $110-$130 per dose after US govt stops buying: Pfizer

Pfizer will charge USD 110 to USD 130 for a dose of its COVID-19 vaccine once the U.S. government stops buying the shots, but the drugmaker says it expects many people will continue receiving it for free. Pfizer executives said the commercial pricing for adult doses could start early next year, depending on when the government phases out its program of buying and distributing the shots. The drugmaker said it expects that people with private health insurance or coverage through public programs like Medicare or Medicaid will pay nothing. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover many recommended vaccines without charging any out-of-pocket expenses. A spokesman said the company also has an income-based assistance program that helps eligible U.S. residents with no insurance get the shots. The price would make the two-dose vaccine more expensive for cash-paying customers than annual flu shots. Those can range in price from around $50 to $95, depending on the type, according to

US Treasury Secretary warns inaction on climate could cause economic crisis

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Tuesday of economic calamity if climate change is not addressed with immediate government intervention. Joined by local business owners and prominent Democrats in North Carolina, Yellen said the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters could create devastating short-term supply reductions of everyday goods that could cause prices to skyrocket. Supply chain disruptions like those experienced on a global scale during the COVID-19 pandemic could soon become commonplace, she said during a visit to Cypress Creek Renewables' solar farm in Chapel Hill. Here in North Carolina, you remember well the devastating toll of Hurricane Florence. That disaster killed 22 Americans. It led to $24 billion in damage and left a million North Carolinians without power," Yellen said. As North Carolina is gearing up for several tight races in November, Yellen pitched the benefits of Democrats' new climate, health and tax law, the so-called Inflation ...

US Justice Dept appeals for special master to review Mar-a-Lago documents

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has appealed a ruling to appoint a special master to review documents FBI agents seized from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence on August 8

Ex-Miss America Mund's entry pushes GOP Rep out of North Dakota House race

Former Miss America Cara Mund's entry into North Dakota's US House race has led the Democratic candidate to drop out, citing pressure from his own party to step aside. Mund entered the race in August as an independent, citing her support for abortion rights as a major reason. Tuesday was the deadline for her to submit 1,000 petitions to qualify for the ballot. North Dakota's only House seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who won his second term in the deeply conservative state in 2020 with 69% of the vote. Armstrong opposes abortion rights. Haugen opposes abortion rights and said Sunday that his stance cost him support in the party, the Bismarck Tribune reported. He said he didn't see a path to winning. Democratic-NPL Party Chairman Patrick Hart said in a statement that he doesn't "tell anyone what to do, but that he supports Haugen's decision to drop out. Haugen, a University of Mary graduate adviser in Bismarck who has long worked as a paramedic, faced no opposit

NATO and Washington both signal intention to increase Arctic presence

In view of Russia's increasing military activity in its own Arctic regions, both NATO and the US government have signalled their intention to become more active in the globe's far north

Drone strikes: Targeted killings raise troubling questions

Their increasing range and automation are a matter of global concern

People seeking US visitor visa may have to wait till 2024 for appointment

The US State Department website showed that if a person from India applies for the visitor visa today, they will get an appointment only in March-April, 2024