U S A
US presses and pushes allies into New Cold War
US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will end Hong Kong’s special status in response to China’s tightening grip on the autonomous city is a pivotal moment in an emerging new Cold War, one where nations will increasingly be forced to choose superpower sides. “We w
White House on lockdown amid protests over the police killing of George Floyd
The White House has been locked down, as protests over the police killing of George Floyd swept Washington, DC, Al Arabiya’s Washington correspondent reported on Friday. Protestors held signs as they gathered outside the White House in a demonstration over the death of George Floyd.George Flo
House Democrats demand probes of police killings of black Americans
The Democratic-controlled U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Thursday asked the Justice Department to investigate systemic police misconduct following a spate of high-profile police killings of African Americans. The killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, who died when a white officer pinned him d
Violence again rocks Minneapolis after man’s death; 1 killed
A man was shot to death as violent protests over the death of a black man in police custody rocked Minneapolis for a second straight night Wednesday, with protesters looting stores near a police precinct and setting fires. Police said they were investigating the death as a homicide and had a suspec
President Trump threatens to move Republican convention due to COVID-19 restrictions
US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina unless the state’s Democratic governor guarantees he will swiftly lift restrictions on large gatherings of people during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump, who is set to be named the
U.S. plans massive coronavirus vaccine testing effort to meet year-end deadline
The United States plans a massive testing effort involving more than 100,000 volunteers and a half dozen or so of the most promising vaccine candidates in an effort to deliver a safe and effective one by the end of 2020, scientists leading the program told Reuters.The project will compress what is t
Citing 'greatest adversary' coronavirus, some U.S. Democrats want defense cuts
Calling the novel coronavirus the “greatest adversary” facing the United States, progressive U.S. House of Representatives Democrats called on Tuesday for a reduction in military spending as the country grapples with the pandemic. Twenty-nine House Democrats signed a letter sent to the
Trump threatens permanent freeze on WHO funding in 30 days
President Donald Trump threatened Monday to permanently freeze US funding to the World Health Organization unless “substantive improvements” were made within the next 30 days.Washington suspended funding to the WHO in mid-April, accusing it of being too close to Beijing and covering up a
‘Medical workers on coronavirus frontline face mental health crisis
For many frontline medical workers in New York, the past few months have felt like a war. On the darkest days of the coronavirus outbreak, 1,000 people were dying here every 24 hours. Refrigerated trucks appeared outside of hospitals to be used as temporary morgues. The city became the epicentre of
USGS reports magnitude-6.4 earthquake in western Nevada
The U.S. Geological Service is reporting that a magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck in remote western Nevada early Friday. The temblor was reported at 4:03 a.m. about 35 miles outside Tonopah, just east of the Sierra Nevada range. The initial quake struck about 4.7 miles (7.6 kilometers) deep, the USG
Trump says Dr Fauci's warning 'not acceptable'
US President Donald Trump has said a sobering warning by his top infectious diseases expert about lifting pandemic restrictions too soon was unacceptable. He accused Dr Anthony Fauci of wanting "to play all sides of the equation" in his testimony to lawmakers on Tuesday. The president said he was
U.S. government officials worry about return of dual citizens if Mexico's pandemic worsens
U.S. government officials are concerned that dual U.S.-Mexico citizens may flee to the United States if the coronavirus outbreak in Mexico gets worse, putting more stress on U.S. hospitals, especially near the border, three officials familiar with the matter said.The worries, which have not been pre
FROM JOINING U.S. MILITARY, RECRUITMENT MEMO SUGGESTS
The military will stop recruiting applicants who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a proposal in a memo from the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM). The contents of the memo, which has been circulating on the internet, were confirmed to Newsweek by the Pentagon, which
Polar vortex brings spring snow to parts of North America
A polar vortex has brought cold weather and springtime snow to parts of the northeast United States and Canada. The stream of arctic air slipped south on Saturday, bringing the unusual weather. In many areas, snow flurries fell against a backdrop of sunny skies, green trees and flowers. The US Nat
US officials against ‘COVID-19 parties’ used to purposely spread virus
Officials in the northwestern US state of Washington on Wednesday expressed concern over reports of people organizing “COVID-19 parties” to intentionally spread the virus.“Gathering in groups in the midst of this pandemic can be incredibly dangerous and puts people at increased ris
Trump says virus task force to focus on U.S. revival, acknowledges risks
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his coronavirus task force would shift its focus to reviving U.S. business and social life, while acknowledging that reopening the economy could put more lives at risk.In a series of tweets, Trump said the White House task force he formed in March would not w
Republicans in tight races are fleeing Trump in fear of a November election disaster: report
According to a report in the New York Times, Republican officeholders in competitive districts fear Donald Trump's unpopularity — particularly in light of his coronavirus failures and the subsequent collapse of the economy — will swamp their chances of holding onto their seats in Novembe
U.S. arms makers and medical device firms team up to make ventilators
U.S. weapons makers have teamed up with medical device companies to increase the supply of ventilators that can be used to combat the coronavirus pandemic, people working on the project said. The two groups do not regularly partner on projects, but when a defense industry consultant with an enginee
