Tag: US

Team in Florida captures huge python using tracking devices

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Researchers in Florida using a new approach to combating a destructive invasion by enormous pythons have captured one of the biggest ever, a 17-foot-long (5.2 meters) specimen large enough to eat a deer, they said. The female snake is longer than a one-story building is high, and weighs 140 pounds (64 kilograms). It is one of the biggest pythons ever caught in southern Florida, according to a post on the Facebook […]

Google disbands artificial intelligence ethics board

  by Glenn Chapman Agence France Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Google on Thursday confirmed that it has disbanded a recently assembled artificial intelligence ethics advisory panel in the face of controversy over its membership. The end of the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) came just days after a group of Google employees launched a public campaign against having the president of conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation among its members. Another member of […]

China’s Xi calls for early conclusion of US trade talks: Xinhua

BEIJING, China (AFP) –Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the “early conclusion of negotiations” on the text of a trade deal with the United States, state media reported Friday. The comments, carried by the Xinhua news agency, came as speculation mounted that the two sides were close to finalising an agreement to resolve their nine month-trade war. The remarks were part of a message conveyed by Chinese vice premier Liu He at a meeting […]

US, China trade talks could wrap in four weeks: Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States and China could wrap up trade talks within four weeks after making quick progress on the potentially “epic” deal. “We are getting very close to making a deal,” he said ahead of a White House meeting with Chinese trade envoy Liu He. “Progress is being made at a very rapid pace.” “We will probably know over the next four weeks. It […]

Trump retreats from Mexico border closing, threatens car tariffs instead

by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday retreated from his threat to close the US-Mexican border imminently, warning he will instead impose car tariffs if the major US trading partner does not do more to stop undocumented migrants and drug smugglers. “If Mexico doesn’t give the help, that’s OK, we’re going to tariff their cars,” Trump said at the White House. “I will do it. I don’t play games.” […]

Ethiopian crew followed procedure, but crashed anyway: report

by Chris STEIN The crew of the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last month killing 157 people, repeatedly followed procedures recommended by Boeing, but were unable to regain control of the jet, according the investigators’ report released Thursday. The initial report, unveiled by Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges, cast further doubt on the system controlling the Boeing 737 MAX 8 model, which has been grounded worldwide for almost a month. “The crew performed all the […]

Trump says ‘100%’ ready to shut down Mexico border

by Paul Handley and Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is “100 percent” prepared to close down the US-Mexico border, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country. Delays were already rising at several key border crossings as Trump ratcheted up pressure on Democrats in Congress to toughen US laws against illegal immigrants, threatening to hurt the US […]

Prostate cancer death rates stabilizing: study

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Death rates from prostate cancer — the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men — have stabilized or declined in dozens of countries since the turn of the century, the American Cancer Society reported Tuesday. In 33 of 44 countries surveyed, the incidence of prostate cancer had stabilized in the last five years for which data was available — and in seven countries, it was down, the report found. Only four […]

Pompeo to skip G7 foreign ministers talks in France

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will skip a meeting of Group of Seven ministers this week in France, the State Department said Tuesday, amid persistent tensions between Europe and President Donald Trump. Officials did not explain Pompeo’s absence. But the move comes amid a long list of disagreements, including the US rejection of international agreements on ending Iran’s nuclear program and fighting climate change. The State Department said that Deputy […]

Whistleblower reveals ‘grave breaches’ in White House security clearances

  by Paul Handley Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress. House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a letter Monday that White House security official Tricia Newbold detailed to his panel “grave breaches of national security at the highest levels of the Trump Administration.” None of […]

ICC president urges US to join global criminal court

  THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — The International Criminal Court’s top official has called on the United States to join and support its work after Washington recently stepped up its dispute with the global legal body. ICC president Chile Eboe-Osuji called on the US to “join her closest allies and friends at the table of the Rome Statute”, referring to the court’s founding document. “The past, present and future victims of genocide, crimes against humanity […]

Facebook seeks tab to promote ‘high quality news’

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Facebook is working on a “news tab” that could be used to financially support “high quality and trustworthy” journalism, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Monday. Zuckerberg made the comments in a video conversation about the future of technology and society with Mathias Doepfner, chairman of German-based media giant Axel Springer. Zuckerberg said he sees interest in building a product separate from its personalized feed that would serve people who […]