North America

Trump says he sees ‘signing summit’ with China on trade

by Heather SCOTT Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to hold a “signing summit” with China’s President Xi Jinping to seal a trade deal, since as discussions are in the “advanced stages.” The comments cheered global stock markets, since they confirmed the dispute will not ratchet up immediately, averting an even bigger impact on the global economy. Citing progress in the four days of talks, […]

Cuba votes in referendum on new constitution

  by Carlos Batista / Rigoberto Diaz Agence France Presse HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cubans voted in a referendum on a new constitution Sunday with the backdrop of mounting pressure from the United States and continued support for Venezuela’s socialist regime. Results of the vote, which the government turned into a plebiscite on the “irrevocable” role of socialism in the island nation, are expected late Monday. “We Cubans are voting for our new constitution, we’re […]

Record-breaking snowstorm wreaks havoc in Northern Arizona

By Lisa Docena EBC Arizona Bureau (Eagle News) — In Flagstaff, Arizona, locals take pride in year-round mild weather. While most are accustomed to occasional snow storms, locals are not accustomed to the snow falls they’ve been receiving recently, which some have been referring to as the “Snowmaggedon.” Record-breaking levels of snow have blanketed most of northern Arizona from early Thursday morning into Saturday morning for parts of the state, including the greater Phoenix area […]

AAF: Surging Apollos take down Memphis Express, remain undefeated

By Jay Rosquites EBC Florida Bureau ORLANDO, Florida (Eagle News) – The Orlando Apollos’s team slogan, “TAKE AIM”, has lived up to its name. In week one, they aimed for a strong offensive game versus the Atlanta Legends and succeeded with a rout. In week two, they aimed for a comeback win against the San Antonio Commanders and nailed that target. For week three, they aimed for another win against the Express and remain undefeated. […]

Trump:US firms ‘must step up’ on 5G, mum on Huawei

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday American firms should “step up their efforts” on 5G — superfast fifth-generation wireless networks — while suggesting he was not prepared to block foreign firms from the US market for the key technology. The comments made on Twitter left unclear whether Trump intended to bar Chinese firms from 5G networks in the United States, which has been reported by several media outlets. But he said […]

Putin threatens to target West with new missiles if Washington sends missiles to Europe

Russia’s Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy new missiles against Western capitals if Washington sends missiles to Europe, as he delivered a state of the nation address Wednesday aimed at boosting falling approval ratings, The announcement comes after the US said it would withdraw from a key Cold War-era arms treaty over what it said were Russian violations, prompting a mirror move from Moscow. “Russia does not intend to be the first to deploy such missiles in Europe,” […]

US rapper shot by police struck by about 25 bullets: lawyer

  LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A young US rapper shot dead by police in northern California earlier this month after he was found slumped over in his car was struck by around 25 bullets, a family lawyer said on Wednesday. Melissa Nold told AFP that six police officers shot Willie McCoy — who used the stage name Willie Bo — in the face, throat, chest, right ear, arms and shoulders on February 6 […]

Kim must make ‘meaningful’ gesture to see sanctions ease: Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un must make a “meaningful” gesture if he wants to see sanctions lifted, US President Donald Trump said Wednesday ahead of a second summit between the two men. “The sanctions are on in full. I haven’t taken sanctions off,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I’d love to be able to, but in order to do that, we have to do something that’s meaningful […]

Trump bars US-born woman who joined IS from returning

by Shaun TANDON / with Gianrigo Marletta in Tampa Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is barring a US-born former Islamic State propagandist from returning home, making the highly unusual case that she is not a US citizen. Trump’s refusal to admit 24-year-old Hoda Muthana comes just as he is pressing Europeans to repatriate their own Islamic State fighters and will likely face legal challenges, with US […]

Bernie Sanders launches second run for US president

by W.G. Dunlop Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Senator Bernie Sanders launched a second bid for the White House on Tuesday, taking direct aim at Donald Trump in an announcement that called the incumbent a “racist” and a “pathological liar.” Sanders, 77, joins an already crowded field of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to run against Trump in 2020. A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders made an unsuccessful run for the presidency […]

Trump:US-China trade talks ‘going very well’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that trade talks with China are complex but are “going very well” and again indicated the March 1 deadline for raising tariffs could be extended. Officials on Tuesday resumed the high-stakes negotiations aimed at ending a damaging tariff war between the economic superpowers. “I think the talks are going very well,” Trump said on the sidelines of an event at the White House. But he […]

Hello Kitty Cafe makes pit stop in Tampa

By Angelo Corpuz EBC Florida Bureau TAMPA, Florida (Eagle News)– Hundreds of mallgoers created lines that stretched from one side of the Westshore Plaza Mall to the other, as fans of Sanrio products were eager to see what the Hello Kitty Cafe touring truck had to offer. One couple was determined to brave the long line and buy limited time Hello Kitty products, however, they were expecting a little more from the cafe. “I was […]