USA

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 28 (APP): The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President, Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, has renewed his call for ensuring equitable access and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, saying it was “vital” to control the deadly pandemic and for quick recovery of the virus-hit world economy.

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (APP): The Biden administration has temporarily frozen U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the sale of F-35 advanced fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as it reviews billions of dollars in weapons transactions approved by the Trump administration, according to American media reports.

Citing U.S. officials, the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News said that the administration is specifically reviewing the sale of the top-of-the-line F-35s to the UAE, and munitions to Saudi Arabia.

28 Jan 2021; MEMO: The US administration of President Joe Biden has temporarily suspended the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in a significant move against the two US allies and in opposition to the preferential treatment given to the Gulf states by former President Donald Trump.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are no longer in favor in San Francisco, where the school board has voted to change the name of 44 schools it says bear the monikers of people associated with racism, slavery or colonization.

28 Jan 2021; MEMO: Kuwait's Ambassador to the UN 29 has called for a permanent Arab seat with full powers at the UN Security Council should the body expand, Quds Press reported yesterday.

Al-Otaibi's remarks came during his address of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly for intergovernmental negotiations, on the issue of "fair representation in the Security Council and increasing the number of its members and related issues."

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The impact of winter weather, including flooding, on vulnerable people in Syria, has created what a UN spokesman called on Wednesday a "really dire situation."

"We just want to give you an update on the really dire situation in relation to the floods and winter conditions and the impacts they've had on the vulnerable people throughout the country," Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters at a press briefing.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- It would be a "huge strategic misjudgment" for the United States to take China as "a strategic rival and imaginary enemy," said Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Wednesday.

"China and the United States need mutual trust, not misjudgment," said Cui in his speech at the "China-U.S. Engagement: Past Achievements & Future Adjustments" Online Dialogue, organized by the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament and the Carter Center on Wednesday evening.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — When Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, decided to vote to impeach a president from her own party, she knew she’d cause some waves. She might not have expected the seismic impact at home.

WASHINGTON (AP) — To the last moments of his presidency, Donald Trump trumpeted Space Force as a creation for the ages. And while President Joe Biden has quickly undone other Trump initiatives, the space-faring service seems likely to survive, even if the new administration pushes it lower on the list of defense priorities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than a sweeping national rescue plan, President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package presents a first political test — of his new administration, of Democratic control of Congress and of the role of Republicans in a post-Trump political landscape.

For Biden, the outcome will test the strength of his presidency, his “unity” agenda and whether, after decades of deal-making, he can still negotiate a hard bargain and drive it into law.