USA
Mattis resigning as Pentagon chief after Trump disagreements
Washington, Dec 22 (AP/UNB) — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned after clashing with President Donald Trump over the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and after two years of deep disagreements over America's role in the world.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump request to enforce asylum ban
Washington, Dec 22 (Xinhua/UNB) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request from the Trump administration to begin enforcing a ban on asylum for immigrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
A blow to morale: Afghan generals worry about US withdrawal
Islamabad, Dec 22 (AP/UNB) — The Taliban welcomed news of the U.S. plan to withdraw half its troops in Afghanistan by the summer, as Afghan generals warned it would be a blow to the morale of the country's beleaguered security forces who come under daily attacks from the insurgent fighters.
'Twas 4 days before Christmas as Trump chaos hit the Capitol
Washington, Dec 22 (AP/UNB) — 'Twas four days before Christmas, and all through the House — and Senate — not a shutdown solution was stirring and lawmakers, they did grouse.
US charges 2 hackers with alleged Chinese intelligence ties
Washington, Dec 21 (AP/UNB) — U.S. officials on Thursday said two alleged Chinese hackers carried out an extensive campaign on behalf of Beijing's main intelligence agency to steal trade secrets and other information from government agencies and "a who's who" of major corporations in the United States and nearly a dozen other nations.
US cybersecurity firm: Hackers stole EU diplomatic cables
London, Dec 20 (AP/UNB) — Hackers have spent years eavesdropping on the diplomatic communications of European Union officials, a U.S. cybersecurity firm said Wednesday, an operation disrupted only after researchers discovered hundreds of intercepted documents lying around on the internet.
Rare Washington state tornado strongest since 1986
Seattle, Dec 20 (AP/UNB) — An extremely rare tornado that touched down west of Seattle was the strongest to hit Washington state since 1986, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.
Trump pulling all US troops from Syria, declaring IS defeat
Washington, Dec 20 (AP/UNB) — President Donald Trump is pulling all 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria, officials announced Wednesday as the president suddenly declared victory over the Islamic State, contradicting his own experts' assessments and sparking surprise and outrage from his party's lawmakers who called his action rash and dangerous.
Chicago police: 2 officers die after being struck by train
Chicago, Dec 18 (AP/UNB) — Two Chicago police officers were fatally struck by a train Monday as they investigated a report of gunshots on the city's far South Side.
Talks adopt 'rulebook' to put Paris climate deal into action
Katowice, Dec 17 (AP/UNB) - Almost 200 nations, including the world's top greenhouse gas producers, China and the United States, have adopted a set of rules meant to breathe life into the 2015 Paris climate accord by setting out how countries should report their emissions and efforts to reduce them.