by Max Delany with Sebastien Berger in Seoul Agence France Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — North Korea’s declaration of a successful first intercontinental ballistic missile test on Tuesday triggered a joint appeal from China and Russia for a military freeze to try and lower soaring tensions between Pyongyang and the United States. The launch came as Americans prepared to mark Independence Day and it sparked a Twitter outburst from President Donald Trump who urged China […]
Tag: US
Russia, China urge freeze on N. Korea missile tests and US exercises
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia and China on Tuesday called for a simultaneous freeze on North Korean nuclear and missile tests and military exercises by the United States as tensions ratcheted up on the peninsula. “The two sides propose that the DPRK (North Korea) as a voluntary political decision declares a moratorium on testing nuclear explosive devices and ballistic rocket launches, and the US and South Korea refrain from carrying out large-scale joint exercises,” their […]
Trump urges China to get ‘heavy’ with North Korea
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump urged China to take decisive action against North Korea Monday after its latest ballistic missile launch, urging Beijing to “end this nonsense once and for all.” “Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?” Trump said of his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-Un after South Korea’s military reported that a ballistic missile had come down in the Sea of Japan. The US […]
US dollar rebounds while global stocks post gains
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rising oil prices and investor appetite for financial stocks helped boost most major United States and European equities on Monday while the dollar rebounded on exchange markets ahead of the July 4 holiday in the US. On a shortened trading day, Wall Street finished mixed, with the blue-chip Dow and the S&P both a hair’s breadth below record closes while faltering tech stocks took the Nasdaq lower. The Dow […]
US warship in Med wary of ‘tensions’ with Syria’s allies
Agence France Presse A senior officer aboard a United States Navy supercarrier deployed in the eastern Mediterranean said Monday his forces were wary of “tensions” with allies of Syria’s regime but were ready to defend US-backed forces. The USS George H.W. Bush has been a leading part of the US bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria, primarily against the Islamic State group but on occasion targeting Syrian government forces and their allies fighting US-backed groups. […]
North Korea crisis could ‘get out of control’: China’s UN envoy
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — China’s United Nations ambassador on Monday warned of “disastrous” consequences if world powers fail to find a way to ease tensions with North Korea which he said could “get out of control.” Ambassador Liu Jieyi made the remarks a day after United States President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the threat posed by North Korea’s missile and nuclear tests. “Currently tensions are high […]
US, Japan ‘united’ on pressuring N. Korea: White House
WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – The United States and Japan are united in their efforts to clamp down on North Korea’s “growing threat,” as the regime ramps up its nuclear drive and other belligerent efforts, the White House said Sunday. During a phone call, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe “reaffirmed that the United States-Japan Alliance stands ready to defend (against) and respond to any threat or action taken by North […]
US six-country travel ban takes effect with few exceptions for relatives
by Paul Handley Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – United States President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travelers from six mainly Muslim countries went into effect late Thursday, after a Supreme Court decision allowed it to go forward following a five-month battle with rights groups. The Trump administration says the temporary ban is necessary to block terrorists from entering the country, but immigrant advocates charge that it illegally singles out Muslims. The […]
Trump ‘proud’ of leaving Paris climate deal
WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – United States President Donald Trump on Thursday strongly defended his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord, declaring himself “proud” of the move. “In order to protect American jobs, companies and workers, we’ve withdrawn the United States from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord,” Trump said to applause, during a speech on the future of the US energy sector. “I will tell you we’re proud of it,” he […]
US sanctions Chinese bank for laundering North Korean cash
by Heather Scott Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – The United States slapped unprecedented sanctions Thursday on a Chinese bank accused of laundering North Korean cash after President Donald Trump said Beijing’s efforts to put the brakes on Pyongyang’s nuclear drive had failed. As South Korea’s new president visited Washington, the Treasury Department announced the Bank of Dandong would be severed from the US financial system for acting “as a conduit for […]
Trump welcomes South Korean President Moon Jae-in to the White House
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Reuters) – United States President Donald Trump welcomed newly-elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in to the White House on Thursday (June 29). The President and First Lady Melania Trump greeted the South Korean leader and his wife, Kim Jung-sook, at the White House South Lawn entrance. Reporters shouted to the President, asking questions about Donald Trump’s Twitter attack where he called an MSNBC anchor Mika Brzezinski “crazy” and alleged she had […]
Samsung to invest $380 mn, add almost 1,000 jobs in US
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Samsung plans to invest $380 million and hire nearly 1,000 workers for a new plant in South Carolina to manufacture home appliances, the company announced Wednesday. Samsung Electronics America described it as a “state of the art” facility that starting next year will build premium home products, including washing machines, and will be staffed with craftsmen, engineers and operators. United States Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who is leading President […]





