The Daily Populous

Tuesday May 2nd, 2017 evening edition

image for North Korea launches salvo of rhetoric, threatening nuclear test 'at any time'

North Korea has vowed to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme to “maximum pace” and test a nuclear device “at any time” in response to Donald Trump’s aggressive stance towards the regime.

The warning came as US military officials said a controversial missile defence system was now “operational” after being installed at a site in South Korea last week.

US Forces Korea said Thaad was “operational and has the ability to intercept North Korean missiles and defend [South Korea]”.

But a US defence official told AFP the system had only “reached initial intercept capability” and more hardware would be added later this year to make it fully functional.

The US vessel is then expected to deliver fuel to the Carl Vinson and other American vessels in the region.

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On Monday a US state department spokeswoman said Washington was “open to credible talks on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. »

Trump memo outlines end to Michelle Obama's girls education program

Authored by cnn.com

Washington (CNN) The Trump administration is discontinuing a signature girls education initiative championed by former first lady Michelle Obama, according to officials.

While aspects of the initiative's programming will continue, employees have been told to stop using the "Let Girls Learn" name and were told that, as a program unto itself, "Let Girls Learn" was ending.

In October of last year, the Obama administration attempted to reinforce "Let Girls Learn" ahead of a new administration. »

The entire town of Manchester-by-the-Sea is getting Amazon Prime for free

Authored by boston.com

In honor of the Academy Award-winning film Manchester by the Sea debuting on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, the town that served as a backdrop for the dismal Casey Affleck drama is getting a year of Amazon Prime for free.

The Amazon Prime service typically retails for $99 a year and offers subscribers free shipping on more than 50 million items, the ability to stream thousands of movies and TV shows through Prime Video and millions of songs through Prime Music, and more. »

Student killed in UT Austin stabbing identified as 2016 Graham ISD graduate

Authored by dallasnews.com
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"Earlier this afternoon, a tragedy struck the heart of the University of Texas campus," Fenves said.

UT announced at the beginning of the school year that it'd make sweeping security upgrades after a campus murder, the first at the university in nearly 50 years, which shook the community.

The UT Tower, which looms nearby, was the site of the 1966 shooting where student Charles Whitman killed 14 and injured 31. »

Ghost boats washing up in Japan may be result of North Korean fishing drive for food, cash

Authored by japantimes.co.jp
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Coast guard officials said at least 11 shoddy fishing boats carrying the bodies have arrived since late October.

Most are carrying equipment, nets and signs written in Korean, including one carrying a sign saying “Korean People’s Army,” the North Korean army.

He said evidence suggests the boats are from the Korean Peninsula, though he declined to identify the country. »