USA

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: US NBC news network has reported experts predicting that close US-Saudi ties under President Donald Trump may change under President-elect Joe Biden.

The friendship between the US and Saudi Arabia has grown warmer as Trump placed the kingdom at the heart of his Middle East policy, backing its stance against Iran and encouraging its purchase of US-made weapons.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Newly appointed U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller told the military that all wars must end and it is time to come home, according to a memorandum issued by the Pentagon on Saturday.

"All wars must end. Ending wars requires compromise and partnership. We met the challenge: we gave it our all. Now, it's time to come home," Miller wrote in his first message to all employees of the Department of Defense.

NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday that COVID-19 vaccines are created by drug companies, not by U.S. president and the government, targeting President Donald Trump's latest tweet saying that "the Trump Administration has produced a great and safe VACCINE far ahead of schedule."

"The president made some comments yesterday and was tweeting today. The president says he created the vaccine -- that is not a fact. There is still something called reality and truth," the governor was quoted as saying in an official press release.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday called for Congress to pass a "big and focused" COVID-19 relief bill as confirmed cases are surging across the country.

"Congress must now do a Covid Relief Bill. Needs Democrats support. Make it big and focused. Get it done!" Trump said on Twitter.

Trump's comments came after the United States reported an all-time high of nearly 200,000 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, setting a new record for the fifth time in a week.

New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) Indian drug firms like Marksans Pharma, Aurobindo Pharma, Zydus and Jubilant are recalling products in the US market, as per the latest enforcement report by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

While Marksans Pharma is recalling diabetes drug, Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) is recalling drug which is used to reduce stomach acid.

SEATTLE — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has scheduled a news conference for Sunday morning as COVID-19 case numbers soar throughout the Pacific Northwest where he will reportedly detail new restrictions.

Inslee’s office said he would discuss actions to combat the crisis but offered no details. The Seattle Times reports that among Inslee’s announcements will be a ban on indoor service at restaurants and bars and significantly reduced capacity at grocery stores and retail shops.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico on Saturday topped 1 million registered coronavirus cases and nearly 100,000 test-confirmed deaths, though officials agree the number is probably much higher.

How did Mexico get here? By marching resolutely, even defiantly, against many internationally accepted practices in pandemic management, from face mask wearing, to lockdowns, testing and contact tracing.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Iota became the thirteenth hurricane of the Atlantic season early Sunday, threatening to bring another dangerous system to Nicaragua and Honduras — countries recently clobbered by a Category 4 Hurricane Eta.

Iota was already a record-breaking system, being the 30th named storm of this year’s extraordinarily busy Atlantic hurricane season. Such activity has focused attention on climate change, which scientists say is causing wetter, stronger and more destructive storms.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — People waving U.S. and Trump flags rallied Saturday at the Michigan Capitol as speakers cast doubt on the results of the Nov. 3 election and encouraged Republican lawmakers to deliver Michigan’s electoral votes to the president.

“We all know the president won an overwhelming victory on Tuesday and it’s got to stay that way,” Mark Johnston of Grosse Pointe Woods insisted.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Israel worked together to track and kill a senior al-Qaida operative in Iran earlier this year, a bold intelligence operation by the two allied nations that came as the Trump administration was ramping up pressure on Tehran.