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US stands with Afghan women, condemns Taliban move, says White House

The United States stands with the women of Afghanistan and strongly condemns the recent Taliban move regarding restrictions on girls' education in the country, the White House said on Tuesday. "We stand with Afghan women and condemn the Taliban's indefensible decision to restrict women's education and their rights. So, as we have made clear, these actions by the Taliban will further alienate them from the international community and deny them the legitimacy that they so desire," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. "We remain in touch with our partners and allies on this issue, and we'll continue to take steps to advance our shared efforts to support Afghan women and girls and provide a robust humanitarian support to the people in Afghanistan. We will be steadfast about that," she said in response to a question. Last month, the Taliban banned women from attending universities.

US negates legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro as Venezula's interim president

The United States on Tuesday said that it did not recognise Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate President of Venezuela, the White House said in a press release

Google settles 2 more location tracking lawsuits worth $29.5 million in US

Google has settled two more location tracking lawsuits worth $29.5 million filed in Washington, DC and Indiana states in the US

New Omicron subvariant accounts for over 40% of new Covid-19 cases in US

New Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is estimated to account for 40.5 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the US in the week ending December 31, nearly doubling from the previous week

Trump's returns show how he used write-offs to pay little or no tax

The returns, which include his personal and business filings from 2015 to 2020, are the first complete look into Trump's tax records for the years he was running for office and in the White House

US stocks fall broadly with more losses; S&P 500 ends worst year since 2008

Stocks fell in afternoon trading on Wall Street on Friday as major indexes close out a dismal year with lingering concerns about stubbornly hot inflation and a potential recession. The S&P 500 fell 0.7 per cent as of 12:01 pm Eastern. The index, which is considered a benchmark for the broader market by investors, is on track to end 2022 with a 20 per cent loss. That would mark its worst loss since the financial crisis 14 years ago. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.7 per cent and is on track for a much steeper annual loss of 33.5 per cent. The index is faring much worse this year because it is heavily made up of technology stocks that have been leading the broader market slump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 210 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 33,007. It is on track for a 9.4 per cent loss this year. There was scant corporate or economic news for Wall Street to review on the last trading day of the year. Tesla stabilized from steep losses earlier in the week, though it is still on ...

Claims against Dr Reddy's Laboratories over Revlimid in US dismissed

Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Thursday said all claims against it in the antitrust litigation filed in the US, related to a prescription medicine Revlimid, used in treatment of multiple myeloma have been dismissed. In a regulatory filing, the company said on December 22, 2022 and December 27, 2022, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd and Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. respectively, from the case. "All claims against the company in the litigation have now been dismissed," Dr Reddy's said. Last month the company had stated that it was among several generic pharmaceutical companies, including Celgene and Bristol Myers Squibb, against which an antitrust litigation has been filed in the District of New Jersey, USA. The complaint had asserted "claims under federal and state antitrust law and other state laws alleging that defendants improperly restrained competition and maintained a shared monopoly in the sale of brand and generic Revlimid in the United States."

US immigrants generate 36% of nation's innovation, finds NBER study

About 36% of the innovative output of the past three decades can be attributed to immigrants - who make up 16% of the country's inventors, the paper concludes

What are Arctic blast and bomb cyclones?

People have died, flights cancelled and travel bans have been imposed in parts of US and Canada because of winter storms. News reports are citing terms like arctic blast and bomb cyclones. Here's more

Muzaffarnagar: Final destination for tonnes of America's plastic waste

Plastic waste that starts off in Americans' recycling bins ends up at illegal dumpsites - and inside the lungs of people in Muzaffarnagar

US considers new Covid prevention measures for arrivals from China: Report

Consumer confidence in Finland hit a record low in December this year, mainly because consumers' estimates of their own finances are on the decline, according to the country's statistical agency

Biden signs Bill forcing feds to fix prison cameras to check abuse, deaths

President Joe Biden signed into law Tuesday a bill requiring the federal Bureau of Prisons to overhaul outdated security systems and fix broken surveillance cameras after rampant staff sexual abuse, inmate escapes and high-profile deaths. The bipartisan Prison Camera Reform Act, which passed the Senate last year and the House on December 14, requires the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate and enhance security camera, radio and public address systems at its 122 facilities. The agency must submit a report to Congress within three months detailing deficiencies and a plan to make needed upgrades. Those upgrades are required within three years and the bureau must submit annual progress reports to lawmakers. Failing and inadequate security cameras have allowed inmates to escape from federal prisons and hampered investigations. They've been an issue in inmate deaths, including that of financier Jeffrey Epstein at a federal jail in New York City in 2019. The Justice Department's internal watchd

Military police enforce driving ban on snow-stricken roads in US's Buffalo

State and military police were sent Tuesday to keep people off Buffalo's snow-choked roads, and officials kept counting fatalities three days after western New York's deadliest storm in at least two generations. Amid some signs of progress suburban roads and most major highways in the area reopened County Executive Mark Poloncarz warned that police would be stationed at entrances to Buffalo and at major intersections to enforce a ban on driving within New York's second-most populous city. Too many people are ignoring the ban, Poloncarz, a Democrat, said at a news conference. Officials said more than 30 people had died in the region, including seven storm-related deaths that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's office announced Tuesday. The toll surpasses that of the historic Blizzard of 1977, blamed for killing as many as 29 people in a region known for harsh winter weather. The National Weather Service predicted that as much as 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) more snow could fall Tuesda

Thousands stranded at airports as airlines cancel flights amid storm in US

Disruptions likely to continue throughout the week; cancelled flights are making weary home-bound travellers sleep on floors

Ukrainian Prez Zelensky hopes for quick implementation of US agreements

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced his hope for a quick implementation of agreements with the US reached during his visit to Washington last week.

Oil rises in thin trade on concerns over winter storm impact across US

Brent crude was up 73 cents, or 0.9%, at $84.65 a barrel by 0122 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $80.41 a barrel, up 85 cents, or 1.1%

US govt declares power emergency in Texas amid Arctic winter blast

The US Energy Department has declared a power emergency in the country's second-largest state Texas amid an Arctic winter blast that was feared to cause a shortage of electricity in the state

18 dead as strong winter storm brings rain, snow, cold waves across US

A frigid winter storm killed at least 18 people as it swept across the country, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses and leaving millions of people on edge about the possibility of Christmas Eve blackouts. The storm unleashed its full fury on Buffalo, New York, with hurricane-force winds causing whiteout conditions. Emergency response efforts were paralysed and the city's international airport was shut down. Across the U.S., officials have attributed deaths to exposure, car crashes, a falling tree limb and other effects of the storm. At least three people died in the Buffalo area, including two who suffered medical emergencies in their homes and couldn't be saved because emergency crews were unable to reach them amid historic blizzard conditions. Deep snow, single-digit temperatures and day-old power outages sent Buffalo residents scrambling Saturday to get out of their houses to anywhere that had heat. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the Buffalo Niaga

Ban on TikTok's use on US govt devices likely to trigger more prohibitions

There could be more Congressional prohibitions against TikTok after a new ban on the use of Chinese social media app on US government devices with lawmakers keen on more action

Thousands in US's Texas off power amid freezing temp due to Arctic blast

Thousands of people were without power as the Arctic blast rushed into the south-central US state of Texas, bringing freezing temperatures expected to last through Christmas