North America

Trump, right-wing Bolsonaro announce special relationship

by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump heaped praise Tuesday on right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro — and received plenty back — in announcing a special relationship that he said could even see the Latin American country join NATO. At a joint news conference on the sun-soaked Rose Garden lawn, Trump and the man dubbed “Trump of the Tropics” let the mutual compliments flow. “I have always admired the United States […]

AAF: Arizona Hotshots hand Orlando Apollos first loss of season

By Melissa Potes EBC Florida Bureau ORLANDO, Florida (Eagle News) — In an entertaining matchup between non-conference opponents the Orlando Apollos and the Arizona Hotshots, the Hotshots sealed a 22-17 win and broke out of their slump after an advantageous penalty with four seconds remaining in the game. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert and the Apollos started out strong scoring on a touchdown on their initial possession for the second game in a row, but Arizona’s secondary tested […]

US probing certification of Boeing 737 MAX

by Delphine TOUITOU with Luc OLINGA in New York WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Boeing and US aviation regulators are coming under intense scrutiny over the certification of the 737 MAX aircraft after news that two recent crashes of share similarities. On March 11, just a day after the Ethiopia crash left 157 dead, a grand jury in Washington issued a subpoena to at least one person involved in the plane’s certification, according to a […]

Boeing ‘finalizing’ anti-stall update after Ethiopia crash

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Boeing is finalizing a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes, the company’s CEO said on Sunday. “Boeing is finalizing its development of a previously-announced software update and pilot training revision that will address the MCAS flight control law’s behavior in response to erroneous sensor inputs,” the US-based aircraft manufacturer’s president and CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said in a […]

Boeing upgrades software on crisis-hit 737 MAX after deadly crash

by Heather Scott and Delphine Touitou with Luc Olinga in New York WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Boeing is upgrading the stall prevention software on its 737 MAX, industry sources said Friday, as French investigators scoured black box data from the latest of two deadly crashes involving the aircraft in recent months. The MAX has been grounded worldwide following Sunday’s Ethiopia Airlines disaster that killed all 157 on board, and the fallout has left the […]

Trump signs first veto to secure funding for border wall

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump signed the first veto of his presidency Friday, overriding congressional opposition to secure emergency funds to build more walls on the US-Mexico border. Trump declared in the Oval Office that he was “proud” to sign the veto. It came after he suffered an embarrassing defeat on Thursday when senators, including fellow Republicans, voted to terminate his declaration of an emergency on the Mexican border. Surrounded by law enforcement […]

New York to spend $500 million for Manhattan flood protection

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York will invest $500 million to protect part of the US business and cultural capital Manhattan from climate change, the municipality said on Thursday. It is allocating the funds to four projects aimed at protecting areas at risk on the southern tip of Manhattan. Among the projects is a permanent protective wall south of Battery Park City, which is a few blocks from Wall Street. The funding is […]

Senate rebukes Trump on border emergency, president vows veto

by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump suffered an embarrassing defeat Thursday at the hands of US senators, including fellow Republicans, who voted to terminate his declaration of an emergency on the border with Mexico. Trump’s response was swift and unequivocal: “VETO!” he tweeted after a dozen Republicans joined Democrats in voting down the emergency, declared as a way to secure alternative funding for the border wall denied to him by […]

Boeing suspends 737 MAX deliveries as France probes black boxes

by Heather SCOTT WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US aerospace giant Boeing said Thursday it was suspending deliveries of its top-selling 737 MAX as French investigators took delivery of the black boxes from the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 passengers and crew. The MAX has been grounded worldwide following the disaster — the second involving the model in five months — and the fallout has left the company, regulators and airlines scrambling to […]

Children not spared by California’s homelessness crisis

by Laurent BANGUET LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jose Razo, the principal of Telfair Elementary School in Los Angeles county, wants his students to spend their time worrying about homework, their grades or playdates. But the harsh reality for more than a quarter of the 720 children at the school is far different — they are classified as homeless. “Food, somewhere to sleep, something to put on their back: those are the challenges our […]

US slams rights record of China and Iran, goes easier on N. Korea

by Francesco FONTEMAGGI WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed China’s mass detention of Muslims but took a lighter hand on North Korea as the State Department released its annual human rights report Wednesday. Iran also came in for harsh criticism while rival Saudi Arabia, cited for many identical domestic rights abuses as well as the murder of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, was given easier treatment. And in a small semantic […]

Trump sees ‘very good chance’ of trade deal with China

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he sees a “very good chance” of reaching a trade deal with China but is in “no rush” to reach an agreement. “I think there’s a very good chance the deal will be made,” Trump said. “They want to make a deal. China wants to make a deal.” But he also said that he is “in no rush. I want the deal to be […]