by Yussel Gonzalez © Agence France-Presse PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AFP) — Bulldozers sit idle next to tree stumps along the disputed route of a new Mexican tourist train. Beneath the jungle, environmentalists warn that a magical labyrinth of underground rivers and caves is also under threat. The rail link under construction between popular Caribbean beach resorts and archeological ruins is at the center of a legal battle between authorities and activists. Last month […]
North America
In US, death threats for those removing Confederate statues
by Daxia Rojas © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Since his contracting company began removing Confederate statues from Richmond, Virginia — controversial symbols of the South’s slave-holding past — Devon Henry has got himself a gun that never leaves his side. “Based on all the comments and the vitriol that folks spew over these two years, I just refuse to let my guard down,” the African-American business owner told AFP. “On one […]
Ignoring Putin’s threats, US boosts support for Ukraine
by Sylvie LANTEAUME Agence France Presse In rallying global arms supplies and asking Congress for $33 billion more to support Ukraine, Washington is choosing to ignore Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear arms, and instead is openly testing the Russian leader’s limits. After the United States brought 40 countries to a US base in Germany last week to discuss aid for Ukraine’s war with Russia, Putin on Wednesday threatened a “lightning fast” response if […]
US frowns on Indonesia’s invite to Putin for G20 summit
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia faced down US opposition and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in November, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, its leader said Friday. Jakarta, which holds the G20 presidency this year, has been under heavy pressure from the West, led by the United States, to exclude Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, but it has argued it must remain “impartial”. “I have invited President Zelensky to […]
1,000 migrant kids still separated from parents: US official
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States is still trying to reunite an estimated 1,000 migrant children separated from their parents under a controversial 2018 policy by former president Donald Trump, the US homeland security chief said Thursday. Speaking at a congressional hearing on funding for his agency, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas noted that a task force established by President Joe Biden had successfully reunited 200 children with their parents. However, “there are approximately […]
Mexico blames drug traffickers for journalist murders
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The Mexican government on Thursday blamed drug traffickers for the murders of two journalists in the northwestern border city of Tijuana in January that triggered international condemnation. Prosecutors believe reporter Lourdes Maldonado was killed by remnants of the Arellano Felix cartel because of her allegations against drug dealers, Deputy Security Minister Ricardo Mejia said. The group’s alleged leader, nicknamed Cabo 16, is one of 13 suspects that have been […]
Jobs crisis widening as boomers retire: Canada statistical agency
A record number of baby boomers that are set to retire from the labor force threatens to compound a worker shortage in Canada, according to data from a 2021 census released Wednesday. “Never before has the number of people nearing retirement been so high,” Statistics Canada said in a statement, with more than one in five workers (21.8 percent) close to the mandatory or proposed retirement age of 65. The statement cited the boomer cohort’s […]
Trump testifies he feared being hit by ‘very dangerous’ fruit
Ex-president Donald Trump testified under oath that he feared protesters would pelt him with “very dangerous” fruit like pineapples, tomatoes, and bananas saying: “You can get killed with those things.” The comments were revealed in court documents made public Tuesday which included a transcript of a deposition Trump gave last October as part of an ongoing civil lawsuit in New York. The case was brought by several activists of Mexican descent who say they were […]
Moscow trades US ex-Marine for Russian pilot in prisoner swap
Russia and the United States swapped prisoners Wednesday despite fierce tensions over Ukraine, with Moscow handing over a jailed ex-Marine in exchange for a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling. Trevor Reed, a 30-year-old from Texas who was jailed in Russia in 2020, was exchanged for Konstantin Yaroshenko, 53, who had been serving a 20-year US prison sentence since 2011. In footage shown on Russian state television, Yaroshenko emerged from a US plane onto a […]
Biden to travel to South Korea and Japan in May
US President Joe Biden will travel to South Korea and Japan in May, the White House announced Wednesday, paying a visit to two of Washington’s main Asian allies amid tensions with rival China and regional foe North Korea. During the May 20-24 trip, Biden will meet the leaders of the two countries with the aim of advancing his “administration’s rock-solid commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and to US treaty alliances with the Republic of Korea and […]
US ready for migrant surge after Covid rules lifted
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US government is prepared to handle a potential gush of migrants from next month when Covid-19 rules will no longer be used to push nearly all undocumented border-crossers back into Mexico, officials said Tuesday. President Joe Biden’s administration will implement a “comprehensive strategy” to deal with a surge in asylum seekers and refugees seeking to enter the country after the May 23 end to Title 42, the public […]
US Vice President Kamala Harris tests positive for Covid: W.House
US Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday but is asymptomatic and not considered a current close contact of President Joe Biden, the White House said. “Today, Vice President Harris tested positive for Covid-19 on rapid and PCR tests. She has exhibited no symptoms, will isolate and continue to work from the vice president’s residence,” said Harris’ press secretary, Kirsten Allen. “She has not been a close contact to the president or […]





