North America

N. Korea still open to talks with US, describes US decision to cancel talks “extremely regrettable”

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Friday said it was still willing to talk to the United States after President Donald Trump cancelled a summit between the two countries, a decision Pyongyang described as “extremely regrettable”. “The abrupt announcement of the cancellation of the meeting is unexpected for us and we cannot but find it extremely regrettable,” Kim Kye Gwan, North Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister, said in a statement carried by […]

Pentagon pulls China’s invite to Pacific naval exercises

by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon has pulled its invitation for China to join maritime exercises in the Pacific because of Beijing’s “continued militarization” of the South China Sea, an official said Wednesday, in the latest sign of US-China strains. China hit back at the decision, calling it “very non-constructive” and saying it was taken without due reflection. Personnel from more than two dozen countries train together and […]

Six Americans injured in Honduras plane crash

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AFP) — At least six Americans were injured Tuesday when a plane crashed while landing at the Honduran capital’s international airport and split in two. The commercial jet from Austin, Texas left the runway and veered into a ditch, Carlos Cordero, deputy head of Honduras’s disaster relief agency Copeco told local media. Firefighters arrived at Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa and used foam to extinguish flames coming from the wreckage. Local businessman Pedro Atala […]

Texas begins talks on preventing school shootings

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott met Tuesday with experts and politicians to discuss how to prevent school shootings, five days after a teenage gunman killed 10 people at a high school in the southern US state. Abbott, a Republican, focused the first of three “roundtable sessions” on school safety. Over the next two days, gun regulation, mental health issues, and victims’ needs are also on the agenda. The talks came in […]

Trump says Kim summit could be delayed

by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump warned Tuesday his landmark summit with Kim Jong Un may be delayed but insisted the North Korean leader is “serious” about denuclearization. Hosting South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House, Trump did little to quell speculation about the wavering prospects of a historic first summit between US and North Korean leaders. “It may not work out for June […]

Trump-Kim summit in play as Moon visits White House

by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump holds a high-stakes meeting with South Korea’s president at the White House Tuesday, talks that could decide whether the US president’s much-vaunted summit with the North’s leader Kim Jong Un goes ahead. Moon Jae-in jets into Washington on a mission to salvage a rare diplomatic opening between the US and North Korea that is in trouble almost before it begins. Trump had […]

First woman CIA director sworn in

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Veteran CIA officer Gina Haspel was sworn in as the agency’s first female director Monday, hailing the “heroines” who had gone before her and expressing hope she and her team would be “role models.” The 61-year-old Haspel, a Russia specialist who spent her career in the Central Intelligence Agency’s clandestine service, takes over from Mike Pompeo, whom Trump recently made his secretary of state. Haspel was confirmed by the Senate […]

US to impose ‘strongest sanctions in history’ on Iran

by Francesco Fontemaggi and Thomas Watkins Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday warned Tehran would be hit with the “strongest sanctions in history” and cautioned European firms against continuing to do business with it, toughening up Washington’s policy line after its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. In his first major foreign policy address since moving to the State Department from the CIA, the longtime […]

Activist groups launch campaign to break up Facebook

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A coalition of activist groups on Monday announced a campaign to break up Facebook, arguing that the huge social network “has too much power over our lives and democracy.” The groups created a website, and a Facebook page, to garner support for a petition to the US Federal Trade Commission to require the social media firm to spin off Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger into competing networks, and to “impose strong […]

Commemorative coin struck for Trump-Kim summit

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A commemorative coin featuring US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has been struck by the White House Communications Agency ahead of their planned summit next month. The coin depicts Trump and Kim, described as North Korea’s “Supreme Leader,” in profile facing each other in front of a background of US and North Korean flags. The words “Peace Talks” are emblazoned at the top of the front […]

Over 29 million people in US watched royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — More than 29 million people watched on television in the United States as Britain’s Prince Harry married American actress Megan Markle, according to Nielsen ratings released Sunday. The estimated 29.2 million viewers for Saturday’s ceremony exceed the number for the 2011 wedding of Harry’s brother Prince William to Kate Middleton, which was watched by 22.8 million people. Harry and Meghan tied the knot in a ceremony at Windsor Castle, […]

US, China back off on tariffs, easing trade tensions

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed Sunday that Washington and Beijing have agreed to back off from imposing tariffs on each other, a day after reaching an accord on slashing the American trade deficit with China. “We have made very meaningful progress and we agreed on a framework,” Mnuchin told Fox News Sunday. “So right now we have agreed to put the tariffs on hold while we try to execute […]