North America

US deploys 1,000 more troops to Middle East amid Iran tensions

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Monday it has approved the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East, against the backdrop of soaring tensions with Iran. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said in a statement the troops were being sent “for defensive purposes to address air, naval, and ground-based threats in the Middle East.” “The United States does not seek conflict with Iran,” the statement said, adding that the deployment […]

Pompeo vows US will guarantee passage through Strait of Hormuz

by Jim MANNION WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Sunday that the US will guarantee free passage through the vital Strait of Hormuz, as he accused Iran of recent attacks on oil tankers and the downing of a US drone. Pompeo confirmed in an interview with CBS that a US MQ-9 “Reaper” drone was shot down June 6 with a missile fired from Yemen “that we assess had Iranian assistance.” […]

‘World is watching’ Hong Kong protests, Biden warns China

WASHINGTON DC (AFP) — Top Democratic US presidential contender Joe Biden expressed support Friday for protesters engaged in Hong Kong’s deepest political unrest in two decades, warning China that “the world is watching.” The international finance hub was rocked this week by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to Beijing, with the semi-autonomous island’s embattled leader facing mounting pressure to abandon a deeply unpopular plan to allow extraditions to China. “The extraordinary bravery […]

Trudeau going to Washington to seek support in China row

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will pay a visit to the White House next week to discuss trade and ask President Donald Trump to lean on China to release two Canadians he says have been “arbitrarily detained,” the government announced Thursday. The June 20 visit will be his first to Washington since 2017, and will come after once-tense personal relations with Trump appear to have warmed. “Ahead of the upcoming G20 […]

Trump announces exit of ‘warrior’ spokeswoman Sarah Sanders

by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the surprise departure of his spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, after a combative tenure that saw her all-but-kill off traditional White House briefings to journalists. Sanders has been one of Trump’s most loyal foot soldiers, almost constantly at his side during his tumultuous two and a half years at the White House and during the campaign before. Trump announced her exit in a […]

US man sentenced to death for killing his five children

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — An American convicted of killing his five small children was sentenced to death Thursday, even after his ex-wife asked jurors to spare his life because the kids loved him. Lawyers for Timothy Jones, 37, had argued that he is schizophrenic and therefore not competent to stand trial. Jones was convicted last week of killing his five children — aged one to eight — in 2014. His ex-wife stunned the courtroom […]

US warns UN of ‘clear threat’ from Iran after tanker attacks

by Carole LANDRY UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The United States called Thursday for the UN Security Council to confront a “clear threat” posed by Tehran, after Washington said Iran was behind an attack on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The council met behind closed doors to hear US acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen present a briefing on Washington’s assessment that Iran was responsible for the suspected attack on two tankers in the […]

Trump announces exit of ‘warrior’ spokeswoman Sarah Sanders

WASHINGTON D.C. (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday made the surprise announcement of the departure of spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, who has been widely criticized for her performance in the White House. Trump announced her exit in a tweet and did not name a replacement. “After 3 1/2 years, our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas,” Trump he said, adding that […]

Federal watchdog: White House should sack Trump aide Conway

WASHINGTON D.C. (AFP) — A US watchdog agency recommended Thursday that White House counselor Kellyanne Conway be fired, saying the close aide to President Donald Trump repeatedly violated a law restricting political activity during her official work. The White House swiftly responded by calling the process “blatantly unfair” and demanding the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) retract its “outrageous” recommendation. In the finding sent to the president, the OSC said Conway has engaged in a […]

Iran ‘responsible’ for Gulf of Oman attacks: Pompeo

WASHINGTON D.C. (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of being behind attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman Thursday, and said it was taking the case to the UN Security Council. “It is the assessment of the United States that the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the attacks,” Pompeo told reporters. “This is based on intelligence, the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to execute the […]

China snubbed Trudeau request for talks about detained Canadians

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — China ignored Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s personal request for dialogue to end a spiralling diplomatic row, his office revealed Wednesday. Trudeau requested the call in January with Premier Li Keqiang so he could “personally advocate” for the immediate release of two Canadians detained a month earlier and for clemency in the case of another Canadian who would later be sentenced to death for drug trafficking, his spokeswoman Chantal Gagnon said […]

One dead as helicopter crash-lands on Manhattan building

by Thomas URBAIN NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A helicopter crash-landed on top of a high-rise in midtown Manhattan Monday, starting a fire and leaving one person dead as the entire building shook from the impact. Emergency services fanned out around the 54-story building on Seventh Avenue after what was described as a “hard-landing” by a chopper that took off barely 10 minutes earlier from a heliport in the city. The New York fire […]