USA

20 October 2022; MEMO: The Biden administration in Washington has basically told Saudi Arabia that freedom of expression should never be criminalised.

Washington, Oct 19 (AP-PTI) President Joe Biden will announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the US strategic reserve Wednesday as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by OPEC+ nations, and he will say more oil sales are possible this winter, as his administration rushes to be seen as pulling out all the stops ahead of next month's midterm elections.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "in an incredibly difficult position" and is resorting to brutalizing Ukrainian citizens.

"I think Vladimir Putin finds himself in an incredibly difficult position and what it reflects to me is it seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize individual citizens in Ukraine to try to intimidate them into capitulating," Biden told reporters at the White House.

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina Oct 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday said he will hold a hearing on electric vehicle batteries and sourcing issues if his party takes control after the November midterm elections.

Graham, who would be Budget Committee chair under GOP control, said the hearing would look at the impact of the shift to EVs on automakers and the oil industry.

NEW YORK, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The pace of job growth in the United States is expected to be roughly halved during the fourth quarter of this year, according to a CNN report, citing an analysis from Bank of America.

As the U.S. Federal Reserve continues its fight against inflation by hiking interest rates at the fastest pace in at least 40 years, the job market will face increasing pressure and the surprisingly strong jobs market shown in September would hardly last through next year, said the report, which was published last week.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Mexico said Monday they are preparing a U.N. resolution that would authorize an international mission to help improve security in Haiti, whose government issued a “distress call” for the people of the crisis-wracked nation.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Mexico said Monday they are preparing a U.N. resolution that would authorize an international mission to help improve security in Haiti, whose government issued a “distress call” for the people of the crisis-wracked nation.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — One migrant is dead, another is wounded and at least seven others are languishing in detention three weeks after twin brothers allegedly opened fire on them in the Texas desert, claiming they mistook them for wild hogs during a hunting trip.

Yet, the accused shooters, 60-year-old brothers Michael and Mark Sheppard, who both worked in local law enforcement, were initially released on half a million dollars bail after being jailed briefly on manslaughter charges.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve Wednesday as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by OPEC+ nations, and he will say more drawdowns are possible this winter, as his administration rushes to be seen as pulling out all the stops ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

NEW YORK (AP) — A complex of giant tents built on an island opened Wednesday as New York City’s latest temporary shelter for an influx of international migrants being bused into the city by southern border states.

The humanitarian relief center on Randall’s Island is intended to be a temporary waystation for single, adult men — many from Venezuela — who have been arriving several times per week on buses chartered predominantly from Texas.