North America

US moving ahead with N. Korea summit prep: State Dept

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Tuesday it was moving ahead with preparations for a much-anticipated summit next month between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after Pyongyang appeared to cast doubt over the event. “We will continue to plan the meeting,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters, adding that Washington had received “no notification” of a position change by North Korea. “We have not heard anything from that […]

N. Korea casts doubt on Trump summit

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Wednesday called into question a much-anticipated and unprecedented summit between its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump. Pyongyang also cancelled high-level talks due Wednesday with Seoul over the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the US and the South, Seoul said. “There is a limit to the amount of good will and chances we can give,” the North’s official news agency KCNA […]

Cyclists bike through New York City’s five boroughs

By Patrick Palugod EBC New York Bureau NEW YORK (Eagle News) – One of the worst days of traffic in New York City was the absolute best day of the year for cyclists – the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. Approximately 32,000 participants at North America’s largest cycling event got to pedal their way through all five boroughs of NYC on a 40-mile route, completely free of traffic. The usual scene of cars, buses, and […]

US looking at alternative sanctions for China’s ZTE: Ross

by Heather Scott Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Monday he was looking for “alternative remedies” to replace the sanctions that forced Chinese telecoms giant ZTE to essentially cease operations. He also said he expected Chinese officials to raise the issue in talks in Washington this week on behalf of the company that was cut off from US technology products for violating US sanctions against North Korea […]

Facebook suspends 200 apps over data misuse

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Facebook said Monday it has suspended “around 200” apps on its platform as part of an investigation into misuse of private user data. The investigation was launched after revelations that political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica hijacked data on some 87 million Facebook users as it worked on Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. “The investigation process is in full swing,” said an online statement from Facebook product partnerships vice president Ime Archibong. […]

Trudeau, Trump: NAFTA talks could conclude soon

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump discussed Monday ongoing negotiations to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement, with the White House highlighting the “importance” of reaching a quick conclusion. While Trudeau’s office mentioned the “progress” made, and the “possibility of bringing the negotiations to a prompt conclusion,” the US side was more direct. “President Trump underscored the importance of quickly concluding an agreement,” the White House […]

US first lady hospitalized with ‘benign’ kidney condition

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US First Lady Melania Trump had surgery Monday for what aides called a “benign” kidney condition, and will remain in hospital for the rest of the week. The Slovenia-born wife of Donald Trump underwent an embolization procedure, said her communications director Stephanie Grisham. “The procedure was successful and there were no complications,” Grisham said. But the 48-year-old former model is expected to stay in hospital “for the duration of the week.” […]

Israeli forces kill 55 in Gaza clashes as US opens Jerusalem embassy

  by Jonah Mandel with Joe Dyke in Gaza City Agence France-Presse JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israeli forces killed 55 Palestinians on the Gaza border in the conflict’s bloodiest day in years on Monday as clashes and protests coincided with the deeply controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. The clashes, which left more than 2,400 Palestinians wounded, erupted before a White House delegation and Israeli officials opened the embassy at an inauguration ceremony in Jerusalem […]

Trump pledges to safeguard Chinese telecoms jobs

    by Issam Ahmed © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Sunday he was working with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to prevent telecom giant ZTE from going out of business after it was hit by an American technology sales ban. Writing on Twitter, Trump said he had issued instructions for officials to come up with a rescue plan, saying too many jobs were at risk. “President Xi of […]

US ready to offer North Korea security assurances, investment: Pompeo

    by James Mannion © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States is prepared to offer North Korea security assurances and bountiful private investment if it makes the strategic choice to give up its nuclear weapons, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged Sunday. The US price for normalization — complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization — is one Pyongyang has never before been willing to pay, seeing nuclear weapons as the ultimate […]

On eve of Israel embassy move, US says ‘hard at work’ on peace

  by Ian Geoffrey Timberlake © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Top US officials insisted Sunday that they could still push forward the troubled Israeli-Palestinian peace process despite outrage across the Arab world over the opening of the new American embassy in Jerusalem. Speaking on the eve of the embassy opening, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was hopeful of success in efforts to end the decades-old conflict while National Security Advisor John […]

US vows to make North Korea rich if it gives up nukes

  by Francesco Fontemaggi / Dave Clark © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States promised Friday that it would work to rebuild North Korea’s sanctions-crippled economy if Kim Jong Un’s regime agrees to surrender its nuclear arsenal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s vow came as senior US officials expressed growing optimism ahead of the landmark June 12 summit between Kim and President Donald Trump. Pompeo, who held talks Pyongyang’s young leader over […]