Results for: United States

Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution on Wednesday that aimed to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space. The resolution, which was sponsored by the United States and Japan, would have called on all nations to refrain from developing or deploying nuclear arms or other weapons of mass destruction in space. Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the resolution as “absolutely absurd and politicized,” arguing that it didn’t go far enough in banning all types of weapons in space. The U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of undermining global treaties to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and said that the world is just beginning to understand “the catastrophic ramifications of a nuclear explosion in space.”

Russia’s veto of a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution calling for countries to prevent an arms race in outer space has raised concerns among Western nations. The US accused Moscow of developing an anti-satellite nuclear weapon, while Russia denied the allegations and insisted on a ban on all weapons in space. Despite support from 13 council members, the resolution failed to pass due to Russia’s veto and China’s abstention.

Ukraine has begun using long-range ballistic missiles, secretly provided by the United States, to strike Russian forces. The new missiles double Ukraine’s striking power, and more are expected to be supplied as part of a new military aid package. The Biden administration initially hesitated over concerns about escalating tensions with Russia, but changed its mind after Russia used long-range missiles supplied by North Korea. The US has also provided billions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine, including vehicles, ammunition, and anti-tank munitions.

The United States has secretly provided Ukraine with longer-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) missiles, which were used for the first time last week to attack a Russian airfield in Crimea. The missiles, which have a range of up to 300 kilometers, were included in a $300 million military aid package approved by President Biden on March 12. The Pentagon initially opposed sending the missiles, but changed its mind after Russia began targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The United Nations Security Council will vote on a resolution on Wednesday, March 22, that calls for all nations to prevent an arms race in outer space. The resolution, sponsored by the United States and Japan, is expected to be vetoed by Russia. The resolution urges countries not to develop or deploy weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms, in space. It also emphasizes the need for further measures to verify compliance with the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons in orbit or on celestial bodies. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned that geopolitical tensions have escalated the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades.

Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt has been named the official ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 1 to 29. Bolt’s passion for cricket and global appeal aim to ignite the tournament and propel the sport into new territories. In his role, Bolt will promote the event, appear in the official anthem music video, cheer on the Windies at key matches, and engage with fans, particularly in the USA, where cricket has significant growth potential.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has confirmed plans for league games to be played overseas, starting with fixtures in the United States in the 2025/26 season. La Liga has been working on playing league matches on foreign shores for several years, particularly in the US where Hispanic communities have made the country the league’s biggest market outside of Spain.

President Biden has signed into law a bill that potentially bans TikTok in the US, effective from 2025. The measure, which passed the Senate as part of a funding package for Ukraine, gives ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, nine months to divest. However, the company has threatened legal action, claiming that the law is unconstitutional and would harm millions of businesses and individuals. The US government’s concerns stem from ByteDance’s Chinese ownership, with Senators raising fears about potential data sharing with China.

President Joe Biden has signed a bill requiring parent company ByteDance to divest TikTok within nine months. If ByteDance fails to do so, TikTok will be effectively banned in the United States. The bill was included in a $95 billion foreign aid package that President Biden signed on Wednesday morning. It gives China-linked parent company ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok. If progress is being made toward a sale, President Biden can extend the deadline another three months. If ByteDance fails to divest TikTok within that time frame, the app would be effectively banned in the United States and removed from Apple’s App Store.

A bill to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app within a year or face a ban in the U.S. has passed the Senate. The bill is expected to be signed by President Biden, bringing the potential TikTok ban one step closer to reality.