China’s consulate in Houston cleared out ahead of eviction
The US alleged that the consulate was a nest of Chinese spies who tried to steal data from facilities in Texas, including the Texas A&M medical system and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
By Associated Press | Posted by Prashasti Singh | Houston
PUBLISHED ON JUL 25, 2020 06:22 AM IST
Consular officials departed the Chinese consulate in Houston on Friday afternoon after the Trump administration ordered the facility to shut down.
Vans bearing diplomatic plates departed the consulate as the 4pm Friday deadline arrived for the consulate to close. At that point, federal agents checked the locked doors of the consulate and a locksmith was seen working to crack the lock on one door.
Meanwhile, a small group of protesters gathered across the street and played a recording criticizing the Chinese government.
It was unclear at the scene if the consulate had been cleared of consular staff. A Houston Police Department spokesman referred all questions to the FBI and State Department, which did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
The US alleged that the consulate was a nest of Chinese spies who tried to steal data from facilities in Texas, including the Texas A&M medical system and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
China called the allegations “malicious slander” and responded by ordering the U.S. to close its consulate in the western Chinese city of Chengdu.
Topics
Donald Trump teases possible 2024 run, rejects third-party idea at CPAC
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 04:10 AM IST
“I am not starting a new party. That was fake news, no,” Trump told supporters minutes into his speech that closed the four-day Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida.
South Africa to ease Covid-19 restrictions after 'dramatic decline'
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 03:17 AM IST
In a televised address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country had made big strides in the past eight weeks, recording a steady drop in infections and hospital admissions.
Iran rules out nuclear deal meeting, says time not 'suitable'
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 03:10 AM IST
The European Union's political director earlier this month proposed the informal meeting involving all parties of the Vienna deal, a proposition accepted by US President Joe Biden's administration.
Democrats seek probe of Illinois GOP lawmaker with militia decal
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 11:58 PM IST
The Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association asked for a state investigation Friday after photos of Rep. Chris Miller's truck with a sticker for the Three Percenters surfaced on social media.
US children could receive coronavirus vaccine by year-end: Anthony Fauci
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 11:54 PM IST
The mass vaccination of school-age children will allow millions of children to return sooner to in-person learning and ease the burden on millions of parents now caring for their offspring at home.
Up to 6 cases of Manaus variant of coronavirus detected in UK
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, London
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 11:05 PM IST
Two of three cases found in England were from a household in the South Gloucestershire area which had a history of travel to Brazil, Public Health England said.
Israel to vaccinate Palestinian labourers against Covid-19
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Jerusalem
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 11:00 PM IST
Israel has given at least one dose of Pfizer Inc's Covid-19 vaccine to more than half of its 9.3 million population, including Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
New York governor backs down on plan to review his alleged sexual misconduct
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, New York
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 10:56 PM IST
Andrew Cuomo, one of the nation's most well-known Democratic politicians, has faced a string of controversies in recent weeks.
Trump to proclaim himself as the future for Republicans in CPAC 2021 speech
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 10:32 PM IST
In the short term, Trump is making plans to set up a superPAC political organization to support candidates who mirror his policies, an adviser said.
MyHeritage offers new AI tool to turn photos of the dead into ‘creepy’ videos
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 09:54 PM IST
- The firm admitted that the results of the feature can be controversial, adding that it’s “hard to stay indifferent to this technology.”
Get any of 3 vaccines, Fauci urges Americans after FDA nod to J& J shot
By HT Correspondent I Edited by Vinod Janardhanan
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 09:52 PM IST
“All three of them are really quite good, and people should take the one that’s most available to them. If you go to a place and you have J&J, and that’s the one that’s available now, I would take it,” said the top US infectious disease official.
UK says Myanmar killings are abhorrent, urges return to democracy
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 09:28 PM IST
Myanmar police fired on protesters earlier on Sunday in the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations against a coup and at least 18 people were killed, the UN human rights office said.
Which other countries have vaccinated senior citizens against Covid-19
By hindustantimes.com | Written by Deepali Sharma, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 28, 2021 09:07 PM IST
The vaccination programme for people above the age of 60 years and within the age bracket of 45-59 years with co-morbidities will begin from March 1 in the country.
Biden in no rush to lift Venezuela sanctions, seeks 'serious steps' by Maduro
Posted by Prashasti Singh | Reuters, Venezuela
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 08:57 PM IST
Signaling that the new U.S. president may be unlikely to loosen the screws on Venezuela anytime soon, an official emphasized that existing sanctions have enough special provisions to allow for humanitarian aid shipments to help Venezuelans cope with economic hardships and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Andrew Cuomo's scandals dim luster of man dubbed ‘America’s governor’
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 08:46 PM IST
- On Saturday, a second former aide accused Cuomo of harassment, according to the New York Times. Charlotte Bennett, a former health policy adviser, said Cuomo had asked her questions about her sex life and made what she interpreted as sexual overtures.
