USA

UN releases emergency funds for cyclone-hit refugees in Bangladesh

UNITED NATIONS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has released 3 million U.S. dollars for emergency relief following tropical cyclone Mocha's pounding of southeastern Bangladesh, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

UN Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, who is also the emergency relief coordinator, authorized the allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund following the storm's devastation last month in the camps for 40,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and their host communities, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

USA: Trump and DeSantis jab at each other on campaign trail in 1st dueling appearances as 2024 candidates

GRIMES, Iowa (AP) — Former President Donald Trump kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism of his chief rival Ron DeSantis on Thursday, jumping immediately on remarks by the Florida governor on the campaign trail to try to highlight his own strength as the leading GOP presidential candidate.

USA: Nevada’s Republican governor vetoes bill that would criminalize fake electors

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill Thursday that would have made the western swing state the first in the country to make it a crime to sign certificates falsely stating that a losing candidate has won a certain state.

The bill seeking to crack down on so-called fake electors would have established penalties of between four and 10 years in prison. Democratic state Attorney General Aaron Ford endorsed the legislation, while some public defenders opposed it, calling it too harsh.

US retaliates for Russia’s suspension of New START treaty by revoking visas of nuclear inspectors

OSLO, Norway (AP) — The Biden administration is retaliating for Russia’s suspension of the New START nuclear treaty, announcing Thursday it is revoking the visas of Russian nuclear inspectors, denying pending applications for new monitors and canceling standard clearances for Russian aircraft to enter U.S. airspace.

USA: Despite flags, Border Patrol staff didn’t review fragile 8-year-old girl’s file before she died

HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) — Border Patrol medical staff declined to review the file of an 8-year-old girl with a chronic heart condition and rare blood disorder before she appeared to have a seizure and died on her ninth day in custody, an internal investigation found.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has said the child’s parents shared the medical history with authorities on May 10, a day after the family was taken into custody.

US jobs report for May could point to slower hiring as Fed rate hikes cool demand for workers

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s surprisingly resilient job market may have delivered yet another month of solid hiring and pay gains in May, if economists’ forecasts prove to be correct. Still, some signs of cooling could emerge in the government report being released Friday.

USA: Just days to spare, Senate gives final approval to debt ceiling deal, sending it to Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fending off a U.S. default, the Senate gave final approval late Thursday to a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, grinding into the night to wrap up work on the bipartisan deal and send it to President Joe Biden’s desk to become law before the fast-approaching deadline.

New UNGA President to prioritize ‘Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability’

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 01 (APP): A veteran diplomat from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago was Tuesday elected President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which begins in September.

Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador Dennis Francis – who has had a nearly 40-year-career – will take the helm of the UN’s main policy-making body, starting in September this year.

He was elected by acclamation during a ceremony in the iconic General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York.

Update Sudan crisis: US ready to continue mediation, says Sudanese sides should be ‘serious’

WASHINGTON, June 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said Thursday it remained ready to mediate between Sudan’s warring parties but that they needed to be serious about a truce, after the army left talks in Saudi Arabia.

“Once the forces make clear by their actions that they are serious about complying with the ceasefire, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are prepared to resume facilitation of the suspended discussions to find a negotiated solution to this conflict,” a State Department spokesperson said as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Oslo.

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