United States

Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:14 UTC
China back in the market for US agricultural commodities

China is back in the market for US agricultural commodities after issuing a list of products that will be eligible for tariff waivers, according to market sources. US exporters sold at least two sorghum cargoes to China after buyers bid for supplies to be shipped in the first half of the year. Importers also inquired about soybeans on Wednesday, a day after asking about wheat prices in a move that sent Chicago futures rallying.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:53 UTC
US considers five China state run media entities as “foreign missions” and must register with the State Department

The United States will begin treating five major Chinese state-run media entities with U.S. operations as “foreign missions” and operatives of Beijing’s government, requiring them to register their employees and U.S. properties with the State Department.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:35 UTC
Utah Senate unanimously approves decriminalizing polygamy among consenting adults

$The bill, which would treat the offense of plural marriage as a simple infraction on par with a parking ticket, now moves to the Utah House of Representatives$

The Utah State Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday effectively to decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:20 UTC
Assange said Trump offered to pardon him if he let Russia off Wikileaks disclosures

U.S. President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he said that Russia had nothing to do with WikiLeaks’ publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016, a London court heard on Wednesday. Assange appeared by videolink from prison as lawyers discussed the management of his hearing next week to decide whether he should be extradited to the United States.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:49 UTC
China lifts tariffs on 696 products imported from the US, including farm and energy products

China said on Tuesday it would accept applications for new tariff exemptions for 696 products imported from the United States including key agricultural and energy products such as pork, beef, soybeans, liquefied natural gas and crude oil.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:35 UTC
Bayer to appeal Missouri court award of US$ 265m to a US peach grower

German chemical giant Bayer is to appeal against a Missouri court's award of US$ 265m (£203m) to a US peach grower who blamed a herbicide for crop damage. Farmer Bill Bader sued Bayer and BASF, alleging that dicamba weed-killer drifted onto his orchard from nearby fields, destroying them.
Monday, February 17th 2020 - 07:45 UTC
US calls for the immediate release of Guaidó's uncle detained on “preposterous charges” by the Maduro regime

The US State Department on Saturday condemned the detention in Venezuela of an uncle of opposition leader Juan Guaido, saying the man was being held on “preposterous charges.”
Monday, February 17th 2020 - 07:13 UTC
Pompeo confident the West is winning and will prevail over Russian and Chinese “empire desires”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended on Saturday his nation's global role despite misgivings in Europe, vowing that Western values would prevail over Russian and Chinese desires for “empire”.
Monday, February 17th 2020 - 07:00 UTC
US influenza season, the worst in ten years and particularly severe with children, according to CDC

The number of children dying from influenza in the United States is higher at this point in the flu season than it has been in 10 years, and the virus is gaining momentum, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
Saturday, February 15th 2020 - 07:54 UTC
Trump launches the aircraft trade dispute with the European Union

The U.S. government on Friday said it would increase tariffs on aircraft imported from the European Union to 15% from 10%, ratcheting up pressure on Brussels in a nearly 16-year transatlantic dispute over aircraft subsidies.