Tag: US

US warns of kidnapping threat on Philippine tourist island

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Terrorists are planning to kidnap foreigners on a Philippine island popular with tourists, the United States embassy has warned, a month after a foiled abduction attempt by Islamic militants at another tourism hotspot. An advisory from the US embassy in Manila on Tuesday warned Americans to “carefully consider” going to Palawan, naming a World Heritage-listed underground river as one area of specific concern. “The US Embassy has received credible information that […]

US warns against N.Korea travel after new arrest

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The State Department issued a sharp warning to Americans Tuesday against travel to North Korea after the arrest of a fourth United States citizen, cautioning against the “serious risk” of lengthy detention and “unduly harsh sentences.” Kim Hak-Song was detained over the weekend for “hostile acts,” the official KCNA news agency said, adding he had worked for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). The arrest put the number of […]

Unmanned U.S. Air Force space plane lands after secret, 2-year mission

FLORIDA, United States (Reuters) –The U.S. military’s experimental X-37B space plane landed on Sunday (May 7) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing a classified mission that lasted nearly two years, the Air Force said. The unmanned X-37B, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, touched down at 7:47 a.m. EDT (1147 GMT) on a runway formerly used for landings of the now-mothballed space shuttles, the Air Force said in an email. The Boeing-built space […]

North Korea detains another US citizen: state media

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has detained another US citizen for committing “hostile acts,” it said Sunday, its second arrest of an American in a fortnight with tensions high between Pyongyang and Washington. The arrest of Kim Hak-Song means that the North now is holding four US citizens, with the two countries at loggerheads over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile ambitions. Kim was detained on Saturday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. […]

U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson meets with ASEAN leaders

  (Reuters) — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson welcomed leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Washington on Thursday (May 4). The talks come amid signs members of ASEAN are tilting diplomatically toward China as the Trump administration’s policy on the region remains unclear. President Trump’s flurry of calls last weekend to the leaders of the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore might cheer those who fear his predecessor Barack Obama’s “pivot” to […]

Trump savors win as House passes Obamacare repeal

by Michael Mathes Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump extracted a much-needed victory from Congress Thursday as Republicans narrowly pushed through the House a bill repealing the landmark health reforms of his predecessor. The vote of 217-213 could hardly have been closer in the Republican-controlled chamber, highlighting the concerns of many in Trump’s party who fear the bill could bump millions of Americans off their coverage and send costs […]

China’s Xi hails ties with Philippines as Duterte cools on US

China’s President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hailed the “dialogue” between Beijing and Manila over their border dispute in the South China Sea during a phone call with President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte is loosening the Philippines’ long alliance with the United States while strengthening ties with China and Russia, saying this week he might turn down an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit the US. The call came two days after Duterte toured a visiting Chinese […]

US envoy pick says will push China on North Korea

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Beijing said Tuesday he would urge his friend Chinese leader Xi Jinping to honor a commitment to rein in North Korea. Terry Branstad, governor of Iowa, appeared before the Senate foreign affairs committee to seek confirmation as Washington’s next envoy to its biggest rival and trading partner. The state of Iowa exports around $1.4 billion in farm products like soya and pork […]

Trump to speak with Putin on Tuesday

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump will speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by telephone Tuesday, the White House said. There was no indication about the topics of discussion for the two leaders. The call was scheduled for 12:30 pm (1630 GMT). Trump has already spoken by telephone twice with Putin since taking office in January. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the planned conversation Tuesday, in comments to the Ria Novosti […]

Majority of Filipinos still trust US, Japan, distrust China and Russia – Pulse Asia survey

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Most Filipinos still trust the United States and Japan, more than China and Russia, according to the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia. The survey said majority or 79% of Filipinos still trust the US, while 75% trust Japan. In contrast, 63% of Filipinos expressed their distrust of China, while 54% expressed their distrust of Russia. This was despite the Duterte administration’s foreign policy shift geared towards creating closer […]

SpaceX makes first US military launch, then lands rocket again

by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — SpaceX on Monday blasted off a secretive United States government payload, known only as NROL-76, marking the first military launch for the California-based aerospace company headed by billionaire tycoon Elon Musk. The payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which makes and operates spy satellites for the US, soared into the sky atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 7:15 am (1115 GMT). About 10 minutes after […]

More exercise for kids could save US billions on health: study

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Increasing the number of young children who exercise for just under a half hour a few times a week could save tens of billions in medical costs over their lifetimes, researchers said Monday. Currently, just 32 percent of United States children aged eight to 11 get enough exercise, said the report in the journal Health Affairs. The minimum guideline of 25 minutes a day, three days a week, was established […]