Page 15 - Usa

Oil climbs on expectations of tight supply as Russia sanctions loom

Brent crude futures climbed 54 cents, or 0.6%, to $94.04 a barrel by 0125 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $85.56 a barrel, up 51 cents, or 0.6%

Donald Trump's company set for criminal trial in off-books pay scheme

More than three years after Manhattan prosecutors started investigating Donald Trump after going to the Supreme Court twice to gain access to his tax records the only criminal trial to arise from their efforts is about to begin. No, the former president isn't going on trial. His company is. The Trump Organisation, the holding company for Trump's buildings, golf courses and other assets, is accused of helping some top executives avoid income taxes on compensation they got in addition to their salaries, like rent-free apartments and luxury cars. Trump signed some of the checks at the centre of the case but he is not charged with anything and is not expected to testify or attend the trial, which starts on Monday with jury selection. If convicted, the Trump Organisation could be fined more than USD 1 million but that's not the only potential fallout. Trump's ardent supporters aren't likely to abandon him, no matter the outcome, but a guilty verdict could hamper his company's abilit

7 charts to explain how China became a threat to US's tech leadership

Seven years after China unveiled its ambitious Made in China 2025 plan to become globally competitive in 10 industries, President Xi is using Communist Party congress this month to redouble efforts

Diwali to be public school holiday in New York City starting 2023

Diwali will be a public school holiday in New York City starting 2023 with Mayor Eric Adams saying this sends a message about the significance of the city's inclusiveness and the long overdue step will encourage children to learn about the festival of lights. Adams, joined by New York Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks, said on Thursday that in his conversations during the campaign trail, he learned so much about Diwali and what the festival of lights means. He said through declaring Diwali a holiday in New York City public schools, We wanted to send a loud and clear message to the countless number of people who acknowledge this period of time of celebration. At the same time, this is an educational moment because when we acknowledge Diwali, we are going to encourage children to learn about Diwali. We're going to have them start talking about what it is to celebrate the festival of lights, and how to turn the light on within yourself, h

Shooting at Cleveland barber shop in US leaves 5 people wounded: Officials

A shooting at a Cleveland barber shop on Thursday left five people wounded, authorities said. The shooting at the IFixUgly shop occurred around 3.10 pm when a man entered the business and began shooting at people inside the shop. The gunman fled the scene in a car, city police said, and he remained at large Thursday night. A 29-year-old woman and four men ranging in age from 19 to 34 were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds. One man was listed in critical condition with a chest wound, police said, while the conditions of the other victims have not been released. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation and no arrests have been made. Authorities were trying to determine if anyone inside the shop also fired a weapon.

Oil prices rise in tight market as US sets release of more reserves

Oil prices rose on Wednesday as caution over tightening supply countered the negative impact of uncertain Chinese demand growth and news that United States will release more crude from its reserves

Boston University researchers claim to have developed new Covid strain

Following a set of linked experiments, researchers at Boston University claim to have developed a new Covid strain with an 80% death rate

OPEC+ decision on oil production a mistake, favours Russia, says US

The decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to cut oil production is a mistake that has favoured the Russians, the White House has said. The decisions that OPEC+ made last week, we believe, sided with the Russians and were against the interests of the American people and the families around the world, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Tuesday. We believe that the decision is going to hurt and harm lower-income economies. It was misguided and it was a mistake and a short-sighted decision, she said in response to a question. The White House press secretary said President Joe Biden is going to re-evaluate his relationship with Saudi Arabia. This is something that he has talked about since the beginning of this administration. He wants to do it in a bipartisan way, which is the way it has been done for the last eight decades when we talk about our relationship with Saudi Arabia, she ...

US lawmakers urge Biden to recognise 1971 Bangladesh genocide by Pak army

On October 15th, a couple of US Congressmen placed a proposed resolution in the House of Representatives urging US President to consider recognising the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army

US repatriates 307 antiquities valued $4 mn stolen, trafficked from India

A globe spanning, 15-year investigation has led to the repatriation of 307 antiquities by the US that were stolen and trafficked from India and valued at nearly four million dollars, the majority seized from disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Monday the return of 307 antiquities valued at nearly USD 4 million to the people of India. Of these, 235 antiquities were seized following the investigation by the office of the Manhattan District Attorney into Kapoor, a prolific looter who helped traffic items from Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other countries. All the antiquities were returned during a repatriation ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York attended by India's Consul General Randir Jaiswal, and US Homeland Security Investigations Acting Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Lau, a statement issued by the Manhattan District Attorney's office said. These

Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri photojournalist says stopped from going to US

Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri photojournalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo on Tuesday said she was stopped from flying to the United States by immigration authorities at the Delhi airport "despite having a valid visa and ticket". The 28-year-old photojournalist, who was awarded the Pulitzer for the coverage of COVID pandemic for Reuters, was scheduled to fly to New York on Monday. "I was on my way to receive the Pulitzer award (@Pulitzerprizes) in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from travelling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket," Mattoo tweeted on Tuesday. She said this was the second time she has been stopped from travelling abroad in the past four months. "This is the second time I have been stopped without reason or cause. Despite reaching out to several officials after what happened few months ago, I never received any response. "Being able to attend the award ceremony was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me," she added.

Oil prices fall more than 3% on US supply fears, lower China demand

Oil prices fell by more than 3% in volatile trade on Tuesday on fears of higher US supply amid an economic slowdown and lower Chinese fuel demand

US to continue sanctions on Russian, Iranian arms trade: White House

The United States will continue to vigorously enforce sanctions on Russian and Iranian arms trade, the White House said, asserting that it will stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. This will make it harder for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Monday. There is extensive proof of Russia using Iranian drones to target military and civilian targets in Ukraine, she added. "We'll continue to vigorously enforce US sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arms trade -- that's what we'll do from here, make it harder for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia. And we'll stand with our partners throughout the region against that Iranian threat," Jean-Pierre said. Responding to questions, she said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had warned in July that Iran was planning to sell UAVs to Russia for use against Ukraine. "We also exposed publicly that Russia has received

BofA beats Q3 profit estimates on gains from higher interest rates

The second-largest US bank's consumer business reported a 12% jump in revenue, helped by higher balances and a rise in interest rates and a 9% jump in combined credit and debit card spend

Suspected Chinese spy infiltrated US politics through Trump: Report

Chinese businessman Tao Liu, who has a criminal background in China and is termed a fugitive, has recently met former US president Donald Trump in September

GOP hopefuls approach Mike Pence to broaden appeal before midterm elections

In Donald Trump's assessment, Mike Pence committed political suicide" on Jan 6, 2021. By refusing to go along with the then-president's unconstitutional push to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Pence became a leading target of Trump's wrath and a pariah in many Republican circles. But the final weeks of this year's intensely competitive midterm elections suggest that the former vice president's fortunes have shifted as he lays the groundwork for his own potential 2024 White House campaign. The man who was booed last year at a conservative conference is now an in-demand draw for Republican candidates, including some who spent their primaries obsessively courting Trump's endorsement, in part by parroting his election lies. Pence has travelled the country, holding events and raising millions for candidates and Republican groups, including signing fundraising solicitations for party committees. For some campaigns in tight races, Pence is seen as something of a neutralizing ag

Joe Biden turning to Trump-era rule to expel Venezuelan migrants

Two years ago, candidate Joe Biden loudly denounced President Donald Trump for immigration policies that inflicted cruelty and exclusion at every turn, including toward those fleeing the "brutal" government of socialist Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Now, with increasing numbers of Venezuelans arriving at the US-Mexico border as the Nov 8 election nears, Biden has turned to an unlikely source for a solution: his predecessor's playbook. Biden last week invoked a Trump-era rule known as Title 42 -- which Biden's own Justice Department is fighting in court to deny Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-torn country the chance to request asylum at the border. The rule, first invoked by Trump in 2020, uses emergency public health authority to allow the United States to keep migrants from seeking asylum at the border, based on the need to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under the new Biden administration policy, Venezuelans who walk or swim across America's southern border will be expelled

Suspect in North Carolina's Raleigh mass shooting arrested in Georgia

The suspect in the shooting incident in Raleigh city, in the US state of North Carolina, that resulted in the killing of five people has been arrested in Georgia by police officials

Asian govts spent $50 bn in Sept to defend currencies from strong US dollar

Dollar sales in the region over the first nine months of the year have reached approximately $89 billion including Japan, marking the most active period for foreign-exchange expenditures

Worsening inflation in US will pressure Fed to keep raising interest rates

Inflation in the United States accelerated in September, with the cost of housing and other necessities intensifying pressure on households, wiping out pay gains and ensuring that the Federal Reserve will keep raising interest rates aggressively. Consumer prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, jumped 6.6 per cent in September from a year ago the fastest such pace in four decades. And on a month-to-month basis, such core prices soared 0.6 per cent for a second straight time, defying expectations for a slowdown and signalling that the Fed's multiple rate hikes have yet to ease inflation pressures. Core prices typically provide a clearer picture of underlying price trends. Overall prices rose 8.2 per cent in September compared with a year earlier, down slightly from August, the government said on Thursday in its monthly inflation report. But from August to September, prices increased 0.4 per cent, faster than the July-to-August increase. Though cheaper gas helped slow the