SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Satellite photos indicate North Korea has begun dismantling its nuclear test site ahead of a historic summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, a US monitor said Tuesday. In a move welcomed by Washington and Seoul, North Korea said at the weekend it will “completely” destroy the Punggye-ri test site, in a ceremony scheduled between May 23-25 in front of invited foreign media. Punggye-ri, in the northeast […]
Tag: US
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 […]
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 […]
NASA plans to send mini-helicopter to Mars
by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse TAMPA, United States (AFP) — The US space agency said Friday it plans to launch the first-ever helicopter to Mars in 2020, a miniature, unmanned drone-like chopper that could boost our understanding of the Red Planet. Known simply as “The Mars Helicopter,” the device weighs less than four pounds (1.8 kilograms), and its main body section, or fuselage, is about the size of a softball. It will be […]
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 […]
Rockefeller Collection sold for record-smashing $832 million
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — In what was billed as the “sale of the century,” the art collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, comprising 1,500 pieces, sold at auction for a record-breaking $832.5 million, Christie’s said Friday. The figure eclipsed the previous record held by the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge which sold for $484 million in 2009. Coming after the extraordinary $450 million sale last November of Leonardo da Vinci’s […]
Hollywood glitters as ‘Star Wars’ stages ‘Solo’ premiere
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Lucasfilm brought the biggest party in the galaxy to Hollywood on Thursday as hundreds of fans gathered under the Millennium Falcon for the world premiere of the latest “Star Wars” spin-off. “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which gets its US release on May 25, tells the coming-of-age story of smuggler Han Solo before he was the galaxy’s most iconic and adored scoundrel. The glittering array of stars in Hollywood Boulevard […]
French FM slams ‘unacceptable’ US sanctions on Iran
PARIS, France (AFP) — France’s foreign minister on Thursday condemned the United States for reimposing sanctions against foreign companies trading with Iran, labelling the move “unacceptable” in comments that expose the deepening rift between Washington and its European allies on the issue. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of a landmark deal curbing Iran’s nuclear program and reintroducing sanctions on the Islamic republic and those who trade with it. The decision […]





