United States

Tuesday, August 18th 2020 - 08:33 UTC
Hottest temperature in at least a century on Sunday in Death Valley, Mojave Desert

One of the hottest air temperatures recorded anywhere on the planet in at least a century, and possibly ever, was reached on Sunday afternoon at Death Valley in California’s Mojave Desert where it soared to 130 Fahrenheit (54.4 Celsius).
Monday, August 17th 2020 - 09:19 UTC
Democrats accuse Trump of wanting to sabotage mail voting by denying funds for the Postal Service

Top Democrats in the US Congress on Sunday called on President Donald Trump's appointed postmaster general to testify this month on changes that have stoked fears they are aimed at holding up mail-in ballots ahead of the November election.
Monday, August 17th 2020 - 08:25 UTC
Demonstrators protest outside US Postmaster General home in Washington

A small group of demonstrators held a noisy protest outside the Washington condo of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy amid growing concerns that he is gutting the US Postal Service to help President Donald Trump win reelection in November.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
Taiwan to purchase 66 new generation F-16 fighters; Beijing furious

Taiwan finalized the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from US aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin on Friday, in a US$62 billion, a 10-year deal sure to anger Beijing. Underscoring the sensitivity of the transaction, the Pentagon announced the contract without specifying the buyer, but a source confirmed it was Taiwan.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:21 UTC
US extends ban on border crossing with Canada and Mexico until September 21

The US Department of Homeland Security said on Friday that a COVID-19 ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico was being extended until Sep 21.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 08:06 UTC
Latin America must reject Trump’s attempt to leave his mark on the IDB

By Christopher Sabatini (*) The Trump administration’s intemperate, partisan crusade against international institutions has extended to the Western Hemisphere’s most important multilateral bank.
Friday, August 14th 2020 - 10:14 UTC
More pressure on Cuba: all private charter flights with the US suspended

The US administration has suspended all private charter flights between the United States and Cuba, to increase economic pressure on Havana. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that “the Castro regime uses tourism and travel funds to finance its abuses and interference in Venezuela”.
Friday, August 14th 2020 - 08:58 UTC
Trump brokers a deal between Israel and United Arab Emirates: full diplomatic relations in exchange for an end to West Bank annexations

President Donald Trump on Thursday managed to pull off a rare victory for US diplomacy in the Middle East ahead of his Nov 3 re-election bid by helping to broker a deal between American allies Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Friday, August 14th 2020 - 07:54 UTC
US government seizes vessels loaded with Iranian oil in violation of sanctions, WSJ reports

The US government has for the first time seized vessels allegedly loaded with Iranian fuel in violation of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing US officials.
Thursday, August 13th 2020 - 07:18 UTC
State Department tells ambassador and staff in UK to shape up on important issues

U.S. Ambassador to Britain Woody Johnson has made insensitive and inappropriate comments during his tenure, including about race, religion and sex, the State Department’s inspector general has found, judging that morale in some parts of the mission has dropped.