United States

Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 11:00 UTC
It's official: US creates the sixth military branch, the Space Force

President Donald Trump signed legislation on Friday to create a full-fledged Pentagon force for combat in outer space - the first new military service in seven decades. Capping an ambitious order Trump issued in June 2018, the US Space Force officially came into being when Trump signed the annual military budget, the US$738 billion National Defense Authorization Act.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 - 10:34 UTC
Trump accepts Pelosi's invitation for the state of the union speech on February 4

US President Donald Trump has accepted the invitation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver his state of the union speech on Feb 4, the White House said on Friday. The invite for the annual presidential speech to Congress comes at a charged political moment, with Trump freshly impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and facing a trial in a US Senate that is almost certain to acquit him.
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
US Lower House overwhelmingly approves the new North America trade deal

The United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a new North American trade deal on Thursday that includes tougher labor and automotive content rules but leaves US$1.2 trillion in annual United States-Mexico-Canada trade flows largely unchanged.
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:30 UTC
Japan boosts defense budget spending for eighth straight year

Japan's government on Friday approved an eighth straight annual increase in defense spending to a record high as it buys US-made stealth fighters, interceptor missiles and other equipment to counter military build-ups by North Korea and China.
Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:21 UTC
US Congress raised minimum age to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21

The US Congress voted on Thursday to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 across the country, a move intended to stem the rising tide of youth vaping.
Thursday, December 19th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Trump becomes third US president impeached; Republican Senate tries

US President Donald Trump was impeached in a historic vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting up a Senate trial on removing him from office after three turbulent years.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:51 UTC
Mexico rejects US labor inspectors: they are not included in the USMCA trade pact

Mexico’s trade negotiator for North America said that Mexico categorically opposes allowing foreign labor inspectors to operate in the country, saying that was not contemplated in the recent agreement with Washington and Ottawa on the USMCA pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Tuesday, December 17th 2019 - 09:32 UTC
Boeing considering halting or cutting production of the troubled 737 Max aircraft

Boeing is reportedly considering either halting or cutting down the production of the grounded 737 Max aircraft after it failed to get approval last week for the plane's return to service from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before the end of the year.
Saturday, December 14th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Trump and Abdo meet in Washington to talk about the Mercosur-US trade deal

US President Donald Trump and his Paraguayan colleague Mario Abdo Benítez Friday discussed in Washington a free trade agreement with Mercosur as well as other items of mutual interest, including beef import/exports and the crisis affecting various countries in South America.
Friday, December 13th 2019 - 03:00 UTC
US and China closer to striking final trade deal: end of uncertainty for investors foreseeable

The United States have reached a phase one trade deal with China, unofficial White House sources leaked to the press Thursday, pending approval from President Donald Trump.