United States

• Friday, June 9th 2017 - 10:43 UTC

  Fired ex FBI chief claims Trump spread “lies”, could have obstructed justice and fired him over Russiagate

  

  Former FBI Director James Comey asserted on Thursday that President Donald Trump fired him to interfere with his investigation of Russia's ties to the Trump campaign, bluntly accusing the White House of spreading “lies, plain and simple.” Comey also revealed that he'd orchestrated the public release of information about his private conversations with the president in an effort to further the investigation.

• Wednesday, June 7th 2017 - 07:07 UTC

  US Navy received its most powerful aircraft carrier ever: US$ 12,9 billion

  

  The United States Navy received the most powerful addition yet to its fleet of aircraft super carriers Thursday, the USS Gerald R. Ford. After 12 years of construction and US$12.9 billion, the new carrier was delivered to the Navy from Newport Shpbuilding.

• Tuesday, June 6th 2017 - 07:33 UTC

  “Pink slime” trial: beef plant demanding US$ 5.7bn from ABC for “fake news”

  

  A trial has begun in South Dakota over a meat processer's claim that it was defamed by ABC News reporting that dubbed its product “pink slime”. Beef Products Inc (BPI) argues ABC and its journalist ruined its reputation in 2012 reports on “lean finely textured beef”, as the industry calls it.

• Sunday, June 4th 2017 - 12:51 UTC

  US unemployment down to 4.3% in May, but fewer jobs were added

  

  United States employers added fewer jobs than expected in May, but the unemployment rate dipped further as the economy headed toward full employment. The unemployment rate last month was 4.3%, falling a 10th of a percentage point to its lowest level since 2001, the US Labor Department said on Friday.

• Thursday, June 1st 2017 - 20:42 UTC

  Exxon required to assess risks of climate change: 62% of shareholders supported the motion

  

  Shareholders in Exxon Mobil have backed a motion requiring the company to assess the risks from climate change. The plan, proposed by investors including the Church of England, was supported by over 62% of those eligible to vote.

• Thursday, June 1st 2017 - 10:04 UTC

  EU and China team up to meet Paris climate change accord and warn Trump

  

  The European Commission president has said that it was the “duty of Europe” to stand up to the US if President Donald Trump decides to pull his country out of the Paris climate change accord. Jean-Claude Juncker said that “the Americans can't just get out of the agreement,” adding that “it takes three to four years” to pull out.

• Thursday, May 25th 2017 - 10:20 UTC

  Economists point out serious math errors in Trump's budget proposal

  

  The White House has denied the president's budget proposal contains an “egregious” math error. Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers pointed out the spending plan double-counts US$2trillion. But White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told reporters: “We stand by the numbers.”

• Thursday, May 25th 2017 - 07:23 UTC

  UN warns Trump´s budget cut will make peacekeeping operations “impossible”

  

  The United Nations has warned that President Donald Trump's plans to cut contributions to peacekeeping will make such work “impossible”. The US administration signaled heavy cuts to UN operations, in its budget proposals released on Tuesday. The US foots more than a quarter of the UN's US$7.9bn peacekeeping bill.

• Wednesday, May 24th 2017 - 14:47 UTC

  Trump selling his beachfront estate in St Martin Island, US$ 28 million

  

  United States President Donald Trump is selling off his multi-million-dollar 11-bedroom beachfront estate in the French Caribbean island of St Martin. Le Château des Palmiers, located on Plum Bay Beach, Terres Bassesis on the south-western tip of the island, has been listed by Sotheby's International Realty, which does not reveal any asking price on its website. It says the price is available upon request.

• Wednesday, May 24th 2017 - 07:22 UTC

  US households debt at new record high and manageable, but students loans remain “stubbornly high”

  

  The United States debt level reached a record high this year, surpassing the peak touched just as the worst of the recession was taking hold in 2008, and marking a milestone for households that now lean less on mortgages and more on auto and student loans