North America

Trump warns Iran not to kill protesters, says door still open to talks

  by Jim MANNION Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump warned Iran Sunday against killing protesters who have risen up over the regime’s downing of a civilian airliner as his defense secretary left the door open to talks with Tehran without preconditions. Trump’s salvo came as Iran’s Islamic regime faced a challenge from angry street protests, having come to the brink of war with the US after a series […]

US piles on sanctions pain against Iran

  by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States piled new sanctions on Iran’s already crippled economy Friday and defended the killing of a top Iranian leader, saying he had been planning an “imminent” attack on US embassies. The sanctions, announced at the White House, marked the latest salvo in a US-Iranian confrontation that risked sliding into war a week ago with the deadly US drone attack on general […]

Canadian PM: Iranian missile brought down airliner

  by Dave Chan Agence France Presse OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday multiple intelligence sources indicate that Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner after it took off from Tehran, killing all 176 on board, including 63 Canadians. Trudeau’s comments came as video emerged that appeared to show the moment the airliner was hit. That and other footage posted on social media increasingly pointed to a catastrophic mistake by Tehran’s air […]

California governor seeks $1.4 billion for homelessness crisis

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — California Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking $1.4 billion dollars from lawmakers to tackle the escalating homelessness crisis in his state and plans to use the money to open shelters, pay rent and provide health care, his office said. The Democratic governor, who plans to formally submit his proposal on Friday, this week also signed an executive order directing agencies to identify state-owned land that can be used as temporary […]

California governor seeks $1.4 billion for homelessness crisis

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — California Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking $1.4 billion dollars from lawmakers to tackle the escalating homelessness crisis in his state and plans to use the money to open shelters, pay rent and provide health care, his office said. The Democratic governor, who plans to formally submit his proposal on Friday, this week also signed an executive order directing agencies to identify state-owned land that can be used as temporary […]

US House votes to limit Trump war powers against Iran

by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –US lawmakers concerned about rushing to war with Iran adopted a measure Thursday aimed at reining in President Donald Trump’s ability to take military action against the Islamic republic. The resolution was introduced by Democrats after Trump’s order to kill an Iranian commander and retaliatory missile strikes by Tehran dramatically escalated tensions and raised fears of a devastating war between the two foes. The mostly symbolic but politically […]

Trump pulls back from war with Iran

by Sebastian Smith, with Maya Gebeily in Baghdad and Marc Jourdier in Tehran WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump pulled back from the brink of war with Iran on Wednesday, saying that Tehran appeared to be “standing down” after firing missiles — without causing casualties — at US troops based in Iraq. In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump emphasized there were “no Americans harmed” in the ballistic […]

Canada seeks thorough probe of Iran plane crash

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that Canada would demand a thorough investigation after scores of its citizens died when a Ukrainian jetliner crashed in Iran. The Iranian community in Canada was plunged into mourning following the accident shortly after the plane took off from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all on board. “I join Canadians across the country who are shocked and saddened to see reports that a plane crash outside […]

US House to vote on preventing Trump from Iran war

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Democratic-led US House of Representatives will vote Thursday to prevent President Donald Trump from waging war with Iran after he ordered the killing of a top general, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Pelosi said that the Democrats will move forward because their concerns were not addressed in a closed-door briefing to lawmakers Wednesday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top officials. “The president has made clear that he […]

Iran-US tensions likely to hamper Ukrainian jet probe

PARIS, France (AFP) — Clear international rules govern investigations into air crashes, but in the case of Wednesday’s Ukrainian passenger jet disaster in Iran they could fall victim to heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crashed less than three minutes after taking off from Tehran’s airport, killing 176 people, mostly Iranians and Canadians. Tehran has already indicated it will not hand over to Americans the recovered flight recorders, the […]

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits off Puerto Rico: USGS

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A strong earthquake struck off the south of Puerto Rico early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, the latest in a series of tremors that have shaken the island since December 28. The shallow 6.5 magnitude quake struck 13.6 kilometers (8.5 miles) south of the city of Ponce, USGS said, revising down its initial reading of 6.6. The quake struck just off the US territory’s southern Caribbean coastline at […]

Iraq parliament demands US troop ouster after Soleimani killing

BAGHDAD, Iraq  (AFP) — Pressure against the US in Iraq ramped up Sunday, as rockets hit near the American embassy and parliament demanded the ouster of thousands of US troops over the killing of a top Iranian general. Ties have deteriorated after an American precision drone strike Friday on the Baghdad international airport that killed Iran’s Major General Qasem Soleimani and top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. A pair of rockets hit near the US […]