USA

20 December 2019; AFP: President Donald Trump's former press secretary was forced to apologize to presidential hopeful Joe Biden for mocking the candidate, who has struggled with stuttering, after he touched on the matter during Thursday's Democratic debate.

The bizarre episode began under the glaring hot spotlight during the Los Angeles debate, as Biden -- whos is not widely known as a stutterer -- told the audience how people with varying problems approach him for condolence or advice.

20 December 2019; AFP: Boeing is set to launch its Starliner capsule Friday on a crewless eight-day journey to the International Space Station and back, a dry run for NASA's plans to end US dependence on Russia for space rides.

The reputational stakes are high for the aerospace giant, which is in the midst of a safety crisis over its 737 MAX jet, while US national pride is also on the line.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he wants an immediate trial in the Senate, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would not hand off impeachment to the Senate until she learned how Republicans would manage the proceeding.

“So after the Democrats gave me no Due Process in the House, no lawyers, no witnesses, no nothing, they now want to tell the Senate how to run their trial,” Trump said on Twitter. “I want an immediate trial!” he said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a Democratic U.S. lawmaker who opposed his party’s move to impeach the Republican president was switching parties, a day after the House of Representatives approved articles of impeachment.

Jeff Van Drew, who represents a district in southern New Jersey, was at Trump’s side when he made the announcement during a White House appearance.

“Very big announcement ... Jeff will be joining the Republican Party,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office event to highlight Van Drew’s switch.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was looking forward to some holiday peace and quiet after wrapping up trade deals with the United States’ most important trading partners - China, Mexico, and Canada - last week.

Instead, the long-standing member of President Donald Trump’s inner circle who normally eschews public appearances found himself doing wall-to-wall interviews, scrambling to correct a misunderstanding with the Mexican government and taking heat from his fellow Republicans in Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Three people were injured on Thursday in an "active shooting situation" in Westerly, eastern U.S. state of Rhode Island, the authorities said.

The shooting took place at a senior living complex, the Babcock Village apartments, Kristina Murray, a state Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman, told CNN.

Rhode Island State Police have sent a tactical team to the scene, Murray said.

Westerly Public Schools said all schools are locked down until further notice.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Stephen Biegun, U.S. special representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as deputy secretary of state.

Biegun will replace John Sullivan, who was confirmed last week by the Senate as new U.S. ambassador to Russia.

The State Department reportedly hasn't set the time for the two men to assume their new posts yet.

Biegun, 56, has led the working-level denuclearization talks with the DPRK since he took his current post in 2018.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is celebrating 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 on Friday can claim a victory for one of his top national security priorities just two days after being impeached by the House.

WASHINGTON (AP) — One day after its historic impeachment votes, the Democratic-led House gave President Donald Trump an overwhelming bipartisan victory Thursday on a renegotiated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

By a 385-41 vote, the House approved a bill that puts in place terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The legislation passed after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her colleagues won key concessions from an administration anxious to pass the trade deal before next year’s election season makes that task more difficult.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to delay sending the impeachment articles to the Senate risks eating further into senators’ final weeks of campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination before the first caucus in February.

The five senators affected seem unfazed by the delay. Impeachment comes first, they said.

“This impeachment proceeding is more important than anyone’s schedule,” Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar told reporters after an event in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday.