USA

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday celebrated the launch of Space Force, the first new military service in more than 70 years.

In signing the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that includes Space Force, Trump claimed a victory for one of his top national security priorities just two days after being impeached by the House.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is in sunny Florida after his historic impeachment, while plans for his speedy trial back in Washington remained clouded. Senate leaders jockeying for leverage have failed to agree on procedures for the trial.

Trump is still expected to be acquitted of both charges in the Senate, where Republicans have the majority, in what will be only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. Proceedings are expected to begin in January.

20 Dec 2019; MEMO: US Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading candidate to be the Democratic presidential candidate, slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “racist” yesterday.

Washington, Dec 20 (PTI) The US should not obstruct the flow of talent from India as it is an important part of the economic cooperation and almost acts as a strategic bridge between the two countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, emphasising the importance of H-1B visas, popular among Indian IT professionals, for the bilateral ties.

WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States began flying Mexican deportees to the interior of Mexico and a senior US official said Mexicans seeking US asylum could be sent to Guatemala, as the Trump administration seeks to further limit border crossings.

The flight carrying Mexican deportees from Tucson, Arizona, landed in Guadalajara around midday. One immigration shelter in the city said it had been informed of a likely influx of deportees.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund approved a delayed loan tranche for Ecuador, releasing nearly US$500 million under a three-year aid program.

The IMF board gave the go-ahead for a US$4.2 billion loan in March to help support the oil-rich nation’s economic reforms, but massive protests led by indigenous groups erupted in October when President Lenin Moreno scrapped fuel subsidies, causing gasoline prices to soar.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States and India have signed two Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) agreements, the latest effort to boost bilateral ties, said the Pentagon on Thursday.

The DTTI pacts, concerning bilateral industry collaboration forum and standard operating procedure respectively, were signed during the second bilateral “2+2 Ministerial Dialogue” held earlier this week in Washington, according to a statement released by the Pentagon.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (APP): The United Nations is opposed to the death penalty, a world body’s spokesman said Thursday when questioned about the death sentence handed down to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in absentia for high treason.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the regular news briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York that he understood that the case was in an appeal process, but the UN had long been opposed to capital punishment.

“The United Nations stands against the death penalty,” he added.

NEW YORK, Dec 20 (APP): Amna Nawaz, an award-winning correspondent for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), on Thursday became the first Pakistani-American and Muslim journalist to moderate a US presidential debate which took place in Los Angeles, California.

THE UNITED NATIONS, December 20. /TASS/: The UN Security Council has postponed voting on the resolution on extending the mechanism of delivering cross-border aid to Syria and will continue consultations, UN diplomats told TASS on Thursday.

Throughout the week, the UNSC was considering two alternative resolutions on cross-border aid deliveries to Syria. Voting was supposed to take place on December 19, but the sides failed to agree on the parameters of aid delivery. "Consultations will continue. Voting may take place tomorrow or later," one diplomat told TASS.