WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it is terminating a troubled billion-dollar program to develop a ballistic missile interceptor, citing design problems. The Defense Department said it would seek bids for a new version of the weapons system called the Redesigned Kill Vehicle, or RKV. The program was being led by Boeing. “Ending the program was the responsible thing to do,” said Michael Griffin, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. […]
North America
US ports brace for surge of imports ahead of new tariffs on China
by John Biers NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The latest lurches in President Donald Trump’s trade war with China set the stage for a potential repeat of late 2018 when goods flooded into America’s ports to beat new tariffs. US importers, retailers and shippers are bracing for a new round of punitive duties on Chinese goods set to hit in two steps, September 1 and December 15, likely to drive a rush […]
US ‘prepared to engage’ with N. Korea in nuclear talks: envoy
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The United States is ready to sit down with North Korea to resume long-awaited working-level nuclear talks, a US envoy said Wednesday. Nuclear discussions between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since a second summit in Hanoi in February ended without an agreement over differences on the extent of denuclearization and a sanctions relief in return. But anticipation for renewed dialogue has been on the rise after the US and […]
China accused of using Twitter, Facebook against Hong Kong protests
by Glenn CHAPMAN SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter and Facebook said Monday they had uncovered a campaign by China to use the social media platforms against pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. “We are disclosing a significant state-backed information operation focused on the situation in Hong Kong, specifically the protest movement and their calls for political change,” Twitter said in an online post. Facebook said a tip from Twitter led to the removal of […]
5,000 evacuated as Canary Islands wildfire rages
LOMO DEL PINO, Spain (AFP) — A raging wildfire on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria forced the evacuation of some 5,000 people, authorities said Sunday, warning it could take days for the blaze to be brought under control. The fire, which has spread to the mountainous Cruz de Tejeda region popular with tourists for its breathtaking views, is “extremely fierce” and “unstable”, said Canary Islands president Angel Victor Torres in a statement. No […]
‘Tiananmen Square’ crackdown in Hong Kong would harm trade deal: Trump
by Chris STEIN WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned China that carrying out a Tiananmen Square-style crackdown on Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters would harm trade talks between the two countries. “I think it’d be very hard to deal if they do violence, I mean, if it’s another Tiananmen Square,” Trump told reporters in New Jersey. “I think it’s a very hard thing to do if there’s violence.” The months-long […]
US issues warrant for seizure of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
by Paul HANDLEY with Amir HAVASI in Tehran Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Justice Department issued a warrant Friday for the seizure of the Iranian oil supertanker Grace 1, one day after a Gibraltar judge allowed the release of the detained vessel. The Justice Department alleged the ship was part of a scheme “to unlawfully access the US financial system to support illicit shipments to Syria from Iran by […]
US threatens visa ban on crew of Iran tanker
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday threatened a visa ban on the crew of an Iranian supertanker whose departure from Gibraltar Washington failed to block. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the Grace 1 was assisting Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, which the US deems a “terrorist organization,” meaning crew members “may be ineligible for visas or admission to the United States under the terrorism-related inadmissibility grounds.” © Agence France-Presse
Trump says Xi can ‘quickly and humanely solve’ HK standoff
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Xi Jinping can “humanely” resolve the violent standoff with protesters in Hong Kong and appeared to suggest meeting the Chinese leader. “I have ZERO doubt that if President Xi wants to quickly and humanely solve the Hong Kong problem, he can do it,” Trump tweeted from vacation at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. “Personal meeting?” he added in what appeared […]
Six US police wounded in Philadelphia shooting
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Six police officers were wounded in a shooting in the US city of Philadelphia on Wednesday after reportedly responding to drug activity, a department spokesman said. “SIX (6) PPD Officers shot – at area hospitals with nonlife-threatening injuries. Additional officers also receiving treatment for non-gunshot injuries,” Philadelphia police Sergeant Eric Gripp tweeted. “Suspect is still firing,” Gripp wrote around 6:20 pm local time (22:20 GMT). CBS News quoted police Captain […]
US Congress subpoenas 8chan website owner after mass shootings
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Congress subpoenaed the owner of 8chan Wednesday, 11 days after a Texas man posted a racist screed on the website just before massacring 22 people in El Paso. The House Committee on Homeland Security demanded website owner Jim Watkins testify before it on September 5 as part of work on how to counter extremist content online. The site has become known for carrying content and discussions from the […]
Canada’s Trudeau rebuked on ethics ahead of election
by Michel COMTE OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canada’s ethics watchdog slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday, concluding in the lead-up October elections that he broke rules by arm-twisting his attorney general to settle a criminal case against engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. The scandal, revealed earlier this year, tarnished the prime minister’s golden boy image, cost two ministers and two senior officials their jobs and plunged his Liberals into a dead heat with the opposition Conservatives […]





