ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On August 21, 1959, Hawaii becomes the 50th state after President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a proclamation. First settled by Polynesians in the eighth century, by the mid-18th century, American traders were drawn to Hawaii’s sandalwood, which was sought after in China. By the mid 1800s, sugar was introduced as a very successful cash crop. This brought more Americans, and with them, dramatic changes to Hawaii’s political, cultural, economic and religious life. During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. used Pearl Harbor, causing many to realize Hawaii’s strategic importance. In 1900, Hawaii was officially annexed. The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, further intertwined the U.S. and Hawaii. The state is the only U.S. state geographically located in Oceania, and it is the only state with an Asian plurality.

The latest round of U.S.-South Korean military exercises have finished, the top U.S. envoy for North Korea is in Seoul, and everything seems to be in place for the resumption of long-delayed talks with North Korea. Everything, that is, except for North Korea.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while speaking at the United Nations Tuesday, urged greater international cooperation to stop Iran’s behavior in the Middle East and beyond.

An asylum deal with the United States would “necessarily” depend on economic benefits to his country, Guatemala president-elect Alejandro Giammattei told VOA.

During a question and answer session with reporters Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan “could very well be” his choice to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Russia, one of the most challenging ambassador positions.