Tag: US

Coca-Cola launches revamped diet cola in US as earnings drop

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Coca-Cola announced plans Wednesday to launch a revamped “Coke Zero” in the United States as it expands offerings of low-sugar and non-carbonated beverages amid flagging demand for sweet sodas. The soda, “Coke-Cola Zero Sugar,” which is already on the market in much of Europe and Latin America, will be available in the US starting in August. The launch comes at a time when more cities around the US have […]

Tillerson denies suggestions he will resign

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States Secretary of State on Wednesday Rex Tillerson denied suggestions that he plans to resign because of disagreement with the White House. “I’m not going anywhere,” Tillerson told reporters said as received Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. Tillerson described his relationship with President Donald Trump as “good” and he would remain in his job “as long as the president lets me.” Tillerson’s job status has been […]

Moscow, EU hit out at US after lawmakers’ vote for new Russia sanctions

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Moscow and the European Union hit out at the United States on Wednesday after an overwhelming vote by the House of Representatives to impose new sanctions on Russia left President Donald Trump facing a tough call. The package, which targets Russia, Iran and North Korea, “tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said after it passed on Tuesday by 419 votes to three. […]

Russia says US sanctions vote ‘step towards destroying’ better ties

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — An overwhelming vote by the United States House of Representatives to slap tough new sanctions on Moscow is a “serious step” towards wrecking chances of improving ties, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Wednesday. “The authors and sponsors of this bill are taking a very serious step towards destroying the possibilities for normalizing relations with Russia,” Sergei Ryabkov told state-run TASS news agency. © Agence France-Presse

Six billion records hacked so far this year: researchers

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A surge in computer hacking has led to the breach of more than six billion records so far this year, topping the total for 2016, security researchers said Tuesday. Virginia-based Risk Based Security said in its mid-year report that it identified 2,227 publicly disclosed data compromise events through June 30 affecting business, government, medical and educational data. “It is stunning to see the steady increase in the number of breaches […]

US Senate votes to advance health care bill

by Michael Mathes Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States Senate voted Tuesday to proceed with a debate on Republican plans to repeal Barack Obama’s health care reforms — proceedings marked by the dramatic return of John McCain, who is suffering from cancer. The vote was a victory for President Donald Trump, who spent weeks cajoling, strong-arming and warning Republicans to get on board with his effort to overhaul Obamacare. Despite […]

US detects signs of new N. Korea missile test

by Thomas Watkins Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon has picked up signs that North Korea is prepping for another missile test, a United States defense official said Tuesday, as the US cited progress in pushing China to impose tough new United Nations sanctions. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told AFP that if the test goes ahead, it would “probably” occur on July 27, which is the 64th anniversary […]

President Duterte tells US gov’t: “Give us back those Balangiga bells, they are ours”

(Eagle News) – “Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines.  They are part of our national heritage.” Thus did President Rodrigo Duterte make his demand to the United States government to return the Balangiga church bells taken by the US forces in 1901 as a war booty during the Philippine American war. The President referred to the historical pain attached to the Balangiga Bells which were taken by […]

US to test anti-missile system in Alaska

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States military is preparing to conduct another test of a missile-intercept system in Alaska, the Pentagon said Monday, amid continued tensions with North Korea over its ballistic missile program. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said a routine test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system had been scheduled to go ahead “soon.” “These tests are done as a routine measure to make sure that the […]

Two Chinese warplanes buzz US recon plane: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A United States surveillance plane was forced to take evasive action after two Chinese fighters intercepted it over the East China Sea, the Pentagon said Monday. The incident occurred Sunday when the two Chinese J-10 warplanes intercepted a US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane in international air space west of the Korean Peninsula, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said. One of the Chinese jets came underneath the US plane at […]

US sailors likely at fault in collision between US Navy destroyer, Philippine-flagged cargo ship: official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –The crew of a Navy destroyer that collided with a Philippine-flagged cargo ship will “certainly” be held accountable for the crash that killed seven American sailors, a US defense official said Friday. “The way it looks now, it seems that the crew on the (USS) Fitzgerald is going to be at fault,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “They are certainly going to be held accountable in some way […]

US stocks dip on lower oil, earnings, ending Nasdaq streak

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Wall Street stocks fell modestly Friday on mixed earnings and lower oil prices, ending Nasdaq’s streak of 10 straight gains that included three straight closing records. Petroleum-linked shares including Dow member Chevron and Halliburton fell as oil prices dropped on worries about excess supply. General Electric was the biggest loser in the Dow, tumbling 2.9 percent after signaling it expects 2017 earnings to be on the low end of […]