Russia social media influence efforts ongoing, report says
WASHINGTON — Russia's sweeping political disinformation campaign on U.S. social media was more far-reaching than originally thought, with troll farms working to discourage black voters and "blur the lines between reality and fiction" to help elect Donald Trump in 2016, according to reports released Monday by the Senate intelligence committee.And the campaign didn't end with President Trump's ascent to the White House.
WASHINGTON — Russia's sweeping political disinformation campaign on U.S. social media was more far-reaching than originally thought, with troll farms working to discourage black voters and "blur the lines between reality and fiction" to help elect Donald Trump in 2016, according to reports released Monday by the Senate intelligence committee.And the campaign didn't end with President Trump's ascent to the White House.
Internet access via mobile phones starts for all Cubans
HAVANA — For the first time, average Cubans became eligible to sign up for internet service for their mobile phones Thursday, a development long awaited on the communist-ruled island.Users began receiving text messages in the morning from the state telephone monopoly informing them that they can buy an internet access packages for 3G service.Previously, nearly all Cubans could use their mobile phones only to get their state-run email accounts unless they connected to the internet at a limited number of government-sponsored Wi-Fi spots.
HAVANA — For the first time, average Cubans became eligible to sign up for internet service for their mobile phones Thursday, a development long awaited on the communist-ruled island.Users began receiving text messages in the morning from the state telephone monopoly informing them that they can buy an internet access packages for 3G service.Previously, nearly all Cubans could use their mobile phones only to get their state-run email accounts unless they connected to the internet at a limited number of government-sponsored Wi-Fi spots.
Ukraine parliament votes to impose martial law after Russia fired on vessels in Black Sea
UKRAINE -- Ukraine's parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in parts of the country to fight what its president called "growing aggression" from Moscow after a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula in which Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels amid renewed tensions between the neighbors.Western leaders and diplomats urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict, and the U.S. blamed Russia for what it called "unlawful conduct" over Sunday's incident in the Black Sea.Russia and Ukraine blamed each other in the dispute that further ratcheted up tensions ever since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine with clandestine support, including troops and weapons.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked lawmakers in Kiev to institute martial law, something the country did not do even during the worst of the fighting in the east that killed about 10,000 people.After a five-hour debate, parliament overwhelmingly approved his proposal, voting to impose martial law for 30 days starting Wednesday morning in 10 of Ukraine's 27 regions — those bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldova's pro-Moscow breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester.
UKRAINE -- Ukraine's parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in parts of the country to fight what its president called "growing aggression" from Moscow after a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula in which Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels amid renewed tensions between the neighbors.Western leaders and diplomats urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict, and the U.S. blamed Russia for what it called "unlawful conduct" over Sunday's incident in the Black Sea.Russia and Ukraine blamed each other in the dispute that further ratcheted up tensions ever since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine with clandestine support, including troops and weapons.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked lawmakers in Kiev to institute martial law, something the country did not do even during the worst of the fighting in the east that killed about 10,000 people.After a five-hour debate, parliament overwhelmingly approved his proposal, voting to impose martial law for 30 days starting Wednesday morning in 10 of Ukraine's 27 regions — those bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldova's pro-Moscow breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester.
Migrant caravan in Mexico trudges through 'route of death'
ISLA, Mexico — Hundreds of Central American migrants from a 4,000-strong caravan winding its way through southern Mexico and toward the U.S. border splintered off on their own Saturday after broken promises of bus transportation.Patience appeared to be wearing thin among the exhausted trekkers after Veracruz Gov.
ISLA, Mexico — Hundreds of Central American migrants from a 4,000-strong caravan winding its way through southern Mexico and toward the U.S. border splintered off on their own Saturday after broken promises of bus transportation.Patience appeared to be wearing thin among the exhausted trekkers after Veracruz Gov.
Tropical Storms Willa and Vicente swirling off Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Two tropical storms are swirling in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico, and one is forecast to become a hurricane and approach the country's west coast late next week.Tropical Storm Willa is the 21st named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season.
MEXICO CITY — Two tropical storms are swirling in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico, and one is forecast to become a hurricane and approach the country's west coast late next week.Tropical Storm Willa is the 21st named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season.
Report: Pres. Trump going ahead with plans for new China tariffs
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is going ahead with plans to announce new tariffs on about $200 billion of Chinese imports, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.Both sides were preparing to hold new talks on their tariff dispute.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is going ahead with plans to announce new tariffs on about $200 billion of Chinese imports, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.Both sides were preparing to hold new talks on their tariff dispute.
China's trade surplus with US hits record $31 billion
BEIJING — China's trade surplus with the United States widened to a record $31 billion in August as exports surged despite American tariff hikes, potentially adding fuel to President Donald Trump's battle with Beijing over industrial policy.Exports to the United States rose 13.4 percent to $44.4 billion, ticking up from July's 13.3 percent growth, according to customs data.
BEIJING — China's trade surplus with the United States widened to a record $31 billion in August as exports surged despite American tariff hikes, potentially adding fuel to President Donald Trump's battle with Beijing over industrial policy.Exports to the United States rose 13.4 percent to $44.4 billion, ticking up from July's 13.3 percent growth, according to customs data.
US service member killed, another wounded in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — A U.S. service member has been killed and another wounded in an apparent insider attack in eastern Afghanistan, according to a statement Monday from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.Resolute Support and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Commanding General Scott Miller says "the sacrifice of our service member, who volunteered for a mission to Afghanistan to protect his country is a tragic loss for all who knew and all who will now never know him."He added, "Our duty now is to honor him, care for his family and continue our mission."The statement said the service member was the sixth American killed in Afghanistan this year.White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration was monitoring the situation and President Donald Trump had been briefed by Chief of Staff John Kelly.The wounded service member was said to be in stable condition.The names of the service members were not released.
WASHINGTON — A U.S. service member has been killed and another wounded in an apparent insider attack in eastern Afghanistan, according to a statement Monday from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.Resolute Support and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Commanding General Scott Miller says "the sacrifice of our service member, who volunteered for a mission to Afghanistan to protect his country is a tragic loss for all who knew and all who will now never know him."He added, "Our duty now is to honor him, care for his family and continue our mission."The statement said the service member was the sixth American killed in Afghanistan this year.White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration was monitoring the situation and President Donald Trump had been briefed by Chief of Staff John Kelly.The wounded service member was said to be in stable condition.The names of the service members were not released.
'It's timing:' Man who served on committee to bring US Open to Erin Hills deployed during championship
HARTFORD -- "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry," is a saying adapted from poet Robert Burns "To A Mouse." It can also describe the events of last summer for Doug Fry."The committee that I was running was called Encore Separations, so that was taking care of the practice facilities," said Fry.The success of the 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills couldn't have happened without the work of thousands of volunteers.
HARTFORD -- "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry," is a saying adapted from poet Robert Burns "To A Mouse." It can also describe the events of last summer for Doug Fry."The committee that I was running was called Encore Separations, so that was taking care of the practice facilities," said Fry.The success of the 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills couldn't have happened without the work of thousands of volunteers.
'We can't have this:' Pres. Trump says he told Putin to stay out of America's elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Donald Trump spent a second day Wednesday managing the political fallout from his widely criticized meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin, shifting stances and mopping up what the White House said were misstatements.His toughness with the longtime American foe in question, President Trump said he told the Russian president face-to-face during Monday's summit to stay out of America's elections "and that's the way it's going to be."That rhetoric marked a turnabout from President Trump's first, upbeat description of his sit-down with Putin.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Donald Trump spent a second day Wednesday managing the political fallout from his widely criticized meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin, shifting stances and mopping up what the White House said were misstatements.His toughness with the longtime American foe in question, President Trump said he told the Russian president face-to-face during Monday's summit to stay out of America's elections "and that's the way it's going to be."That rhetoric marked a turnabout from President Trump's first, upbeat description of his sit-down with Putin.
President Trump corrects his quote, says he misspoke on Russian meddling
WASHINGTON -- Blistered by bipartisan condemnation of his embrace of a longtime U.S. enemy, President Donald Trump sought Tuesday to "clarify" his public undermining of American intelligence agencies, saying he had misspoken when he said he saw no reason to believe Russia had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."The sentence should have been, 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't, or why it wouldn't be Russia" instead of "why it would,"President Trump said, in a rare admission of error by the bombastic U.S. leader.
WASHINGTON -- Blistered by bipartisan condemnation of his embrace of a longtime U.S. enemy, President Donald Trump sought Tuesday to "clarify" his public undermining of American intelligence agencies, saying he had misspoken when he said he saw no reason to believe Russia had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."The sentence should have been, 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't, or why it wouldn't be Russia" instead of "why it would,"President Trump said, in a rare admission of error by the bombastic U.S. leader.
Gov. Walker met woman arrested, charged with being covert Russian agent
WASHINGTON — A woman charged Monday with being a covert agent for Russia inside the U.S. says she attended Gov.
WASHINGTON — A woman charged Monday with being a covert agent for Russia inside the U.S. says she attended Gov.
Pres. Trump: Putin made 'incredible offer' to help US investigators in prosecution of alleged Russian hackers
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin privately made an "incredible offer" to help American investigators in their prosecution of 12 Russian intelligence officers accused of hacking crimes during the 2016 presidential election."He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people," President Trump told reporters during a news conference in Helsinki following his joint summit with Putin. "I think that's an incredible offer, OK?"The special counsel investigating potential coordination between President Trump's campaign and the Kremlin on Friday charged a dozen Russian military intelligence officers with hacking the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign and then releasing the stolen communications online as part of a sweeping conspiracy to meddle in the election.Putin noted that Russia would expect the U.S. to return the favor and cooperate in the Russian probe against William Browder, a British investor charged in financial crimes in Russia.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin privately made an "incredible offer" to help American investigators in their prosecution of 12 Russian intelligence officers accused of hacking crimes during the 2016 presidential election."He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people," President Trump told reporters during a news conference in Helsinki following his joint summit with Putin. "I think that's an incredible offer, OK?"The special counsel investigating potential coordination between President Trump's campaign and the Kremlin on Friday charged a dozen Russian military intelligence officers with hacking the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign and then releasing the stolen communications online as part of a sweeping conspiracy to meddle in the election.Putin noted that Russia would expect the U.S. to return the favor and cooperate in the Russian probe against William Browder, a British investor charged in financial crimes in Russia.
Wisconsin congressional leaders blast Putin over Russian election meddling: 'Russia is not our ally'
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin GOP congressional leaders joined with Democrats on Monday and blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin after he said that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a claim that President Donald Trump did not dispute while standing next to Putin at a news conference in Helsinki.House Speaker Paul Ryan, of Janesville, said there was "no question" that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and continues to try to undermine democracy in the United States and around the world."The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally," Ryan said in a statement. "There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia."Republican Sen.
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin GOP congressional leaders joined with Democrats on Monday and blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin after he said that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a claim that President Donald Trump did not dispute while standing next to Putin at a news conference in Helsinki.House Speaker Paul Ryan, of Janesville, said there was "no question" that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and continues to try to undermine democracy in the United States and around the world."The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally," Ryan said in a statement. "There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia."Republican Sen.
Amid criticism over refusal to acknowledge election meddling, Pres. Trump tweets US, Russia 'must get along'
HELSINKI -- Facing withering bipartisan criticism over his refusal to publicly acknowledge Russian election meddling during his meeting with President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump says the two superpowers "must get along."In a Monday tweet sent as he is flying back to the U.S. aboard Air Force One, President Trump says, "As I said today and many times before, 'I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.'"He adds, "However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past — as the world's two largest nuclear powers, we must get along!"President Trump met with Putin for three hours Monday before participating in a joint press conference in which President Trump did not contest the Russian leader's election meddling denials.U.S. intelligence agencies have unanimously concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign, most likely to help President Trump's campaign.
HELSINKI -- Facing withering bipartisan criticism over his refusal to publicly acknowledge Russian election meddling during his meeting with President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump says the two superpowers "must get along."In a Monday tweet sent as he is flying back to the U.S. aboard Air Force One, President Trump says, "As I said today and many times before, 'I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.'"He adds, "However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past — as the world's two largest nuclear powers, we must get along!"President Trump met with Putin for three hours Monday before participating in a joint press conference in which President Trump did not contest the Russian leader's election meddling denials.U.S. intelligence agencies have unanimously concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign, most likely to help President Trump's campaign.
Entire police force of Mexico town detained after mayoral candidate's assassination
OCAMPO, Mexico – The entire police force of a Mexican town in the state of Michoacán is being questioned in the assassination of a mayoral candidate, the office of the state's attorney general told CNN on Monday.Fernando Angeles Juarez of the Party of the Democratic Revolution was killed Thursday morning by unknown gunmen.On Saturday, Michoacán State Police went to Ocampo to question 28 municipal officers in a routine check unrelated to Juárez's death, the law enforcement agency said on Sunday.
OCAMPO, Mexico – The entire police force of a Mexican town in the state of Michoacán is being questioned in the assassination of a mayoral candidate, the office of the state's attorney general told CNN on Monday.Fernando Angeles Juarez of the Party of the Democratic Revolution was killed Thursday morning by unknown gunmen.On Saturday, Michoacán State Police went to Ocampo to question 28 municipal officers in a routine check unrelated to Juárez's death, the law enforcement agency said on Sunday.
Watch: Pandas take part in World Cup fever in China
CHINA -- A group of pandas are in the World Cup spirit in China.Video at a panda protection center at the Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, shows a group of eight 1-year-old pandas squaring off in a soccer match.Spectators look on as two baskets were placed on a patch of grass imitating soccer goals.
CHINA -- A group of pandas are in the World Cup spirit in China.Video at a panda protection center at the Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, shows a group of eight 1-year-old pandas squaring off in a soccer match.Spectators look on as two baskets were placed on a patch of grass imitating soccer goals.
Upping ante, President Trump threatens new tariffs on Chinese imports
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Trade Representative to prepare new tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports Monday as the two nations moved closer to a potential trade war.The tariffs, which President Trump wants set at a 10 percent rate, would be the latest round of punitive measures in an escalating dispute over the large trade imbalance between the two countries.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Trade Representative to prepare new tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports Monday as the two nations moved closer to a potential trade war.The tariffs, which President Trump wants set at a 10 percent rate, would be the latest round of punitive measures in an escalating dispute over the large trade imbalance between the two countries.
China threatens tariffs on US lobsters as business booms
PORTLAND, Maine — A set of retaliatory tariffs released by China on Friday includes a plan to tax American lobster exports, potentially jeopardizing one of the biggest markets for the premium seafood.Chinese officials announced the planned lobster tariff along with hundreds of other tariffs amid the country's escalating trade fight with the United States.
PORTLAND, Maine — A set of retaliatory tariffs released by China on Friday includes a plan to tax American lobster exports, potentially jeopardizing one of the biggest markets for the premium seafood.Chinese officials announced the planned lobster tariff along with hundreds of other tariffs amid the country's escalating trade fight with the United States.