UNSC Meets on Israel but US Blocks Statement

The UN Security Council Wednesday held another emergency meeting on the worsening hostilities between Israel and Palestinians, again without agreeing on a joint statement due to United States opposition stand called as Israel's key ally, according to diplomats. The United States witnessed the Security Council meeting as a sufficient show of

Beijing wants Dhaka not to join Quad

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Monday said Bangladesh should not join "Quad", a US-led initiative, and Dhaka’s relations with Beijing will "substantially get damaged" if it joins it. He termed “Quad” a military alliance aiming against China's resurgence and its relationship with neighbouring countries. The Ambassador said Quad was a

Efforts on to get AstraZeneca vaccines from US: FM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said that the government has intensified efforts to get vaccines from the United States as it will share up to 60 million jabs of its Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine with other countries. ''We’re expecting it much,” Dr Momen told reporters at his residence adding

Biden to unveil actions on guns, including new ATF boss

US President Joe Biden is preparing to unveil a series of executive actions aimed at addressing gun violence, delivering his first major action on gun control since taking office. Biden on Thursday will also nominate David Chipman, a former federal agent and adviser at the gun control group Giffords, to be

California wildfire sparked when tree hit power line

A Northern California wildfire that killed four people and destroyed more than 200 buildings last year was sparked when tree branches came into contact with Pacific Gas & Electric power lines, officials said Monday. Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection seized equipment belonging to PG&E in the

Japan, US to share China worry as ministers meet in Tokyo

Japan and the United States joined forces Tuesday to criticize China's “coercion and aggression" in Asia as senior ministers from both countries held their first in-person talks since President Joe Biden took office in January. Aside from the sharp rhetoric aimed at Beijing, the meeting in Tokyo and a planned stop

Diverse jury so far for ex-cop’s trial in Floyd’s death

The jurors seated so far in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd's death are a diverse group, an element being closely scrutinized in a case where race plays such a central role. Nine jurors have been seated through Monday, including five who are white; one

Biden, Harris and others to promote relief plan’s benefits

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy. The road show — dubbed the “Help is Here” tour by the White House — begins

Congress OKs $1.9T virus relief bill

A Congress riven along party lines approved the landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill Wednesday, as President Joe Biden and Democrats claimed a major triumph on legislation marshaling the government’s spending might against twin pandemic and economic crises that have upended a nation. The House gave final congressional approval to the