 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
 by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) Feb 20, 2018
The US Secret Service denied Monday reports that one of its agents and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly wrestled with Chinese security officials over the "nuclear football" during President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in November. Chinese security officials blocked the US military aide carrying the briefcase that carries the procedures and communications equipment that allow the US leader to launch nuclear missiles as the official entered the Great Hall, according to the Axios news website. Then there was a commotion as Kelly got all the US officials accompanying the president to move toward the site of the nuclear football, Axios said, citing five unnamed sources familiar with the events. A Chinese security official "grabbed" Kelly, who "shoved" the man's hand off of his body, according to Axios, which said a US Secret Service agent then tackled the Chinese official to the ground. The Secret Service denied the website's characterization of the events. "FACT CHECK: Reports about Secret Service agents tackling a host nation official during the President's trip to China in Nov 2017 are false," it said on Twitter. In a separate statement, the presidential law enforcement agency provided further details about the incident. "An individual, not part of the official delegation, attempted to prevent one of our protectees from entering a room," it said. "A US Secret Service agent quickly intervened and a short scuffle ensued." However, the Secret Service added, "the individual complied with the agent's directions and no further action was necessary. At no time did anyone involved fall to the ground. The event continued without incident." Axios reported that US officials who learned about the incident were told to keep the information to themselves, adding that the Chinese did not have the nuclear football with them at any point or touch the briefcase at all. The head of the Chinese security detail apologized to the Americans for the misunderstanding after the incident, it added. The nuclear football bag, aluminum-framed and weighing 45 pounds (20 kilograms) goes everywhere the president goes, carried by a military aide. The football has been omnipresent with the leader of the world's most powerful nation since around 1963, according to Smithsonian magazine. It has to stay close to the president, given that he would have less than five minutes to react before nuclear missiles launched at the United States by, say, China or Russia, strike.
US island Guam stays relaxed amid North Korea nuclear standoff Andersen Air Force Base, United States (AFP) Feb 14, 2018 When North Korea last year bragged of plans to lob a salvo of ballistic missiles toward Guam, residents of this relaxed American island in the western Pacific didn't seem too worried. Months later, and with tensions still high, they remain sanguine. "We know that if anything was to happen, there would be a lot of efforts to keep us safe and make sure we aren't hit by anything," says Blake Bristol, manager of Mosa's Joint diner in the capital Hagatna. "We are just going to hang out and enjoy ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
