US, China Agree to Increased Trade Cooperation

The United States and China agreed to take measures to reduce the U.S. trade deficit in goods by having China purchase more American goods, particularly agriculture and energy products, according to a joint statement the two nations released Saturday. “There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China,” the joint …

Texas Shooting Suspect Seems ‘Weirdly Nonemotional,’ Lawyer Says

The 17-year-old student who authorities said killed 10 people when he opened fire in an art class in his Houston-area high school appeared to be disoriented on the morning after the rampage, one of his lawyers said Saturday. The teenager, identified by law enforcement as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, has been charged with capital murder and is …

Native Americans on Farm Bill: Help Us Feed Ourselves

Native American agricultural activists expressed relief that the House Friday failed to pass an $868 billion spending bill that funds agriculture and nutrition assistance programs. “Today’s vote in the U.S. House provides an opportunity for even more Indian tribes to join the coalition in our efforts to raise public awareness of the risks and opportunities …

Students Less Shocked, But No Less Saddened by Latest Shooting

The latest school shooting in the United States that killed ten people and one police officer left many others in despair, but this time, fewer seemed surprised.  When asked by a reporter whether she was shocked that a shooting took place at the Santa Fe High School in Texas, one student shook her head. “No, it …

French Official: Attack Foiled, 2 Brothers Arrested

France’s interior minister says authorities have thwarted a possible attack using ricin or explosives and arrested two brothers.   Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told BFM television Friday that authorities were tracking extremist activity on social networks and identified two young men “preparing to commit an attack with explosives or ricin.”   He said the young …

Army Corps Leaving; Puerto Ricans Still Without Power

The Army Corps of Engineers is pulling out of Puerto Rico Friday, ending its work restoring electricity to the U.S. territory’s residents and handing back responsibility for the island’s fragile electric grid to the bankrupt Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or PREPA. More than 16,000 people are reported to remain without power eight months after …

Inventors Honored in Hall of Fame Special Ceremony

Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Apple founder Steve Jobs are some of America’s best known inventors. But there are other, less recognizable individuals whose innovative products have greatly impacted our world. More than a dozen of them were recently honored for their unique contributions in a special ceremony at the National Inventors Hall of Fame …

China Rejects Appeal on Behalf of Nobel Prize Winner’s Widow

China has rejected an appeal from dozens of writers and artists for the release from house arrest of the widow of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday that Liu Xia’s right to travel was a matter for the Chinese government alone to determine.   Lu’s comments came after …

After Malaysia’s Political Earthquake, A Massive Corruption Probe

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who appeared untouchable until a surprise election last week ended his coalition’s six-decade grip on power, now faces a new corruption investigation launched by those who defeated him at the ballot box. Malaysian police early Thursday raided the former leader’s house and other properties early Thursday searching for documents related …

Two Years In, Myanmar’s NLD Falls Short on Campaign Promises

More than two years after taking power and almost halfway through its term, there are mixed opinions of how Myanmar’s National League for Democracy Party is doing when it comes to meeting campaign promises. Its efforts, observers say, have been hindered by the military’s continued role in politics, but even in areas where the party …