North America

Three killed in US festival shooting, suspected gunman dead

  by Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Three people were killed and at least 15 others injured in a shooting at a major food festival in California on Sunday, police said. Officers confronted and shot dead the suspect “in less than a minute,” said Scot Smithee, police chief of the city of Gilroy, 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of San Jose. Police said it was “still an active crime scene” at the […]

US wants talks with North Korea, not ‘provocations’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday said it wanted to continue talking with North Korea but called for a halt to “provocations” after a fresh missile test by Pyongyang. Earlier in the day, North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea, its first test since an impromptu meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month that produced an agreement to resume a working-level […]

US to resume federal executions after 16-year break

by Paul HANDLEY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US government will resume its use of capital punishment after a 16-year hiatus and has set execution dates for five convicted murderers, Attorney General Bill Barr announced on Thursday. Acting on President Donald Trump’s call for tougher penalties on violent crimes, Barr directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to adopt a new lethal injection protocol to clear the way to carry out death sentences. “The Justice […]

N. Korea fires ‘short range’ projectile: US official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US said Wednesday that Pyongyang had fired a short-range projectile, while South Korean media reported that two had been launched. The firing comes ahead of US-South Korean military exercises next month that North Korea has warned could affect the planned resumption of denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang. “I can confirm that it was… short-range” a US official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. He did not say […]

Search warrant issued against Puerto Rico’s embattled governor

MIAMI, FLA. (AFP) — Authorities in Puerto Rico have issued a search warrant against the US territory’s governor and 11 other men who exchanged derogatory chat messages about gays, hurricane victims and others, officials said Tuesday — the latest twist in a scandal engulfing the island’s leadership. The release of those chats two weeks ago helped trigger huge street demonstrations demanding the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello, who has refused to step down as leader […]

FBI chief: Russians still trying to meddle in US elections

  WASHINGTON, DC (AFP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Tuesday that Russia continues to threaten US elections, 16 months before the next presidential polls. “The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections,” Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “My view is until they stop they haven’t been deterred enough.” US intelligence and special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation have documented a broad effort by Russian intelligence and a Russian social media […]

US tech CEOs support Trump on Huawei restrictions: W. House

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Chief executives from several US tech companies met with President Donald Trump on Monday and expressed “strong support” for policies restricting the use of products from Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Washington accuses Huawei of working directly with the Chinese government and its intelligence services, which it says could pose security risks — claims the company denies. In May, Trump hit Huawei with an executive order that effectively banned it from […]

Hawaii plays important role in America’s space program, then and now

By Alfred Acenas EBC Hawaii Bureau KANEOHE, Hawaii (Eagle News) – Did you know that the Hawaiian Culture is known for its quest for explorations, both in the oceans and in space? Hawaii’s Windward Community College in Kaneohe hosted the Apollo 11 Family Spacefest on July 20, 2019, exactly 50 years to the day when astronaut Neil Armstrong took “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” This one-day exhibit showcased moon rocks […]

Cradle of Aviation in NY celebrates Apollo at 50

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (Eagle News) — It has been 50 years since 600 million people around the world watched Apollo 11 land on the moon, considered one of the greatest technological achievements of mankind. The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, New York celebrates this achievement as well as the contributions of 9,000 Grumman workers who helped make it possible. (Eagle News Service)

Ilhan Omar, US congresswoman in eye of political storm

by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — To her supporters, Ilhan Omar embodies the American dream, but to Donald Trump and his loyalists the refugee-turned-congresswoman has made clear with a string of controversial comments that she is a dangerous radical. The Somali-born Muslim lawmaker came to the United States as a child and eventually won a seat in Congress. On Thursday the first-term Democratic lawmaker became the focus of a raging debate on race […]

Gulf tensions rise as US shoots down Iranian drone

by Jerome Cartillier with Amir Havasi in Tehran WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday as US President Donald Trump said an American naval vessel shot down an Iranian drone that threatened the ship as it was entering the Strait of Hormuz. It was the first US military engagement with Iran following a series of increasingly serious incidents. Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, “took defensive […]

Pence says US to press religious freedom in North Korea

  WASHINGTON, D.C. (AFP) — Vice President Mike Pence vowed Thursday to press North Korea to respect freedom of religion, despite the narrow US focus on denuclearization in high-profile summits. Pence made the pledge to a high-level State Department conference on religious freedom, which came weeks after President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the third time and agreed to jumpstart working-level negotiations. “You can be confident, as President Trump continues […]