USA

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police body camera video shows an Alabama high school band director being shocked with a stun gun and arrested by officers in front of screaming students, in a chaotic scuffle that broke out after he refused to immediately stop the band as it played in the bleachers following a football game.

State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who is representing band director Johnny Mims as his attorney, said Tuesday that the incident is an “alarming abuse of power” that instead “should have been should have been deescalated.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday came face-to-face with his most ardent critics as House Republicans used a routine oversight hearing to interrogate him about what they claim is the “weaponization” of the Justice Department under President Joe Biden.

NEW YORK, Sep 19 (APP): Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Norwegian counterpart Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt have agreed to work towards the enhancement of bilateral cooperation.

In a meeting held on the margins of the 78th UNGA Session in New York, both sides appreciated 75 years of Pakistan-Norway friendship.

Both foreign ministers expressed satisfaction on the exchange of ministerial visits between both countries during the first half of 2023 and emphasized increasing the volume of exchange of visits and regular interactions.

NEW YORK, Sept 19 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will meet leaders from at least five countries, and captain of industries during his working visit here as he continues efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s international standing and lure investment to the country. 

Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir said Anwar, who is scheduled to deliver National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, will hold bilateral meetings with leaders from Turkiye, Iran, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Iraq. 

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy plunged forward on Monday into the biggest challenge of his eight months as the top Republican in Congress, as he tries to avoid a government shutdown in less than two weeks without losing his speakership.

The Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-led Senate have until Sept. 30 to avoid the fourth partial government shutdown in a decade by passing spending legislation that President Joe Biden can sign into law to keep federal agencies afloat.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- World leaders on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the SDG summit, which is being held on the sidelines of this year's general debate of the General Assembly.

In a political declaration adopted at the summit, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to "effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs and uphold all principles enshrined in it."

NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday told a packed Broadway theater full of big-name stars hosting a fundraiser in his honor that he was running for reelection because Donald Trump was determined to destroy the nation.

Democracy is at stake, he told the audience at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. Hate groups have been emboldened, he said. Books are being banned. Children go to school fearing shootings.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington this week comes at a critical juncture for his alliance with the United States as Republican leaders in Congress diverge on how to send more military and humanitarian aid to the country.

President Joe Biden is seeking an additional $24 billion in security and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, in line with his promise to help the country for “as long as it takes” to oust Russia from its borders.

NEW YORK (AP) — As President Joe Biden prepares to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week in New York, a new poll finds that while Americans generally view Israel as a partner or ally, many question whether his far-right government shares American values.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The crash site for a stealth fighter jet that went missing during the weekend after its pilot ejected was located Monday in rural South Carolina after the military asked the public for help finding an aircraft built to elude detection.

The debris field was discovered in Williamsburg County, about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. Residents were being asked to avoid the area while a recovery team worked to secure it.