Us state departments

Copy of the US’ GPA Map. Image from the United States embassy in Manila. MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has been recognized by the US Department of State as one of its 12 International Anticorruption Champions. In a statement on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the International Anti-corruption Champion Award aims to recognize individuals “who have worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries.” The state department, in a separate statement, said the award aims to “recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in preventing, exposing, and combating corruption.” The US body described Sotto as a “standard-bearer for a new generation of Philippine politicians who prioritize anticorruption and transparency initiatives in their election campaigns and in office.” Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto. Image from his Facebook account … [Read more...] about Vico Sotto named ‘anti-corruption champion’ by US state department

REUTERS: Uber Technologies Inc on Thursday sent letters to the governors of all U.S. states, asking for its ride-hail and food delivery drivers to get early access to COVID-19 vaccines as essential workers. The company also said it will send a letter to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden. The letters come less than a week after Uber sent a similar letter to a committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi, in a letter seen by Reuters, urged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to classify Uber's workers as essential, entitled to vaccines immediately after healthcare professionals and long-term care facility residents. "Over the last nine months, these workers have been a lifeline to their communities. They have transported healthcare workers to hospitals, delivered food to people socially distancing at home, and helped local restaurants stay in business," the letter said. Khosrowshahi also said Uber's app could offer … [Read more...] about Uber asks US states to prioritize its drivers for COVID-19 vaccine

HONG KONG: Americans don’t agree on much of anything nowadays. Yet they are largely united in their belief that China represents an existential challenge to their country and the international order it has long led. This combination of internal division and external demonisation has made the Sino-American rivalry increasingly inescapable – and potentially catastrophic. America’s internal divisions have been fueled in recent years by social media, which, by populating users’ feeds with tailored content, creates “echo chambers” that reinforce, rather than challenge, their beliefs and values. When alternative ideas do make it into the echo chamber, they are often distorted or smeared. And when someone within the chamber calls into question shared beliefs, they risk being instantly ostracised or, in contemporary parlance, “canceled". LISTEN: US election: A bitter fight for the soul of the world's most powerful nation This ultra-reactive demonisation of diverging views … [Read more...] about Commentary: After years of demonising China, the US has to start an honest dialogue

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an event to sign an Executive Order on the economy with Vice President Kamala Harris February 24, 2021 in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images/AFP WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden on Wednesday revoked a proclamation from his predecessor that blocked many green card applicants from entering the United States. Former President Donald Trump issued the ban last year, saying it was needed to protect US workers amid high unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic. Biden rejected that reasoning in a proclamation on Wednesday rescinding the visa ban. The Democratic president said it had prevented families from reuniting in the United States and harmed US businesses. Biden, a Democrat, has pledged to reverse many of Trump’s hardline immigration policies. Immigrant advocates had pressed in recent weeks for him to lift the visa ban, which was set to expire on March 31. Biden left in place … [Read more...] about Biden revokes Trump ban on many green card applicants

CARACAS: US President Donald Trump sought contacts with Venezuelan officials early in his term, President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday (Dec 8), adding that he hopes to establish dialogue with US President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration. Venezuela and the United States cut off diplomatic ties last year after the Trump administration, together with dozens of other countries, recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the South American country's rightful leader, arguing that Maduro had rigged his 2018 re-election. Maduro calls Guaido a US puppet seeking to overthrow his government to control the OPEC nation's vast oil resources. "We hope that once the new government of Joe Biden is installed, that they have time to think, and we hope they open the possibility of dialogue between Venezuela and the United States," Maduro told reporters at a news conference from the presidential palace in capital Caracas. Maduro said that in early 2017 Delcy Rodriguez - Venezuela's … [Read more...] about Trump sought contacts with Venezuela early in his term, Maduro says