U.S. homeland security chief says border facilities strained by new arrivals

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is already seeing high number of border encounters in certain areas, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Thursday ahead of a COVID-19 immigration restriction called Title 42’s midnight expiration. “Our borders are not open,” Mayorkas told reporters at a White House briefing, warning of tougher consequences for…

Read More

Stocks, yields fall after data seen halting more Fed rate hikes

By Herbert Lash NEW YORK (Reuters) -A gauge of global stock performance slid on Thursday after U.S. jobless claims and a modest rise in producer prices suggested a slowing economy, which also pushed Treasury yields lower as it could allow the Federal Reserve to stop raising interest rates. The number of Americans filing new claims…

Read More

U.N. urges halt to Sudan conflict as fighting rumbles on despite talks

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – The U.N. on Thursday urged countries with influence in Africa to help end the conflict in Sudan after reported progress in ceasefire talks between the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Clashes rocked Halfaya, an entry point to the capital, early on Thursday as residents heard warplanes circling over…

Read More

Why the US delayed China sanctions after shooting down a spy balloon

By Michael Martina WASHINGTON (Reuters) -When an alleged Chinese spy balloon traversed the United States in February, some U.S. officials were confident the incursion would galvanize the U.S. bureaucracy to push forward a slate of actions to counter China.  Instead, the U.S. State Department held back human rights-related sanctions, export controls and other sensitive actions…

Read More

Biden’s EPA proposes crackdown on power plant carbon emissions

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Thursday unveiled a sweeping plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. power industry, one of the biggest steps so far in its effort to decarbonize the economy to fight climate change. The proposal would limit how much carbon dioxide power plants, which are the…

Read More

US lawmakers introduce bill to combat normalization with Syria’s Assad

By Daphne Psaledakis and Maya Gebeily WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) -A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday intended to bar the American government from recognizing Bashar al-Assad as Syria’s president and to enhance Washington’s ability to impose sanctions – a warning to other countries normalizing relations with Assad. The bill, first reported by…

Read More

Insulin makers testify on Capitol Hill over prices

By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leaders of major insulin makers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) traded blame for the life-saving drug’s high price on Wednesday while testifying at a U.S. Senate committee hearing on making it more affordable. PBMs negotiate with drugmakers for rebates and lower fees on behalf of employers and other clients,…

Read More

US senators accuse Pentagon of hindering war crimes prosecution of Russia

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers accused the Pentagon on Thursday of effectively undermining war crimes prosecution of Russia by blocking the sharing of U.S. military intelligence with the International Criminal Court at the Hague. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, said at Senate hearing that he had been told by…

Read More