North America

13 Canadians held in China since arrest of Huawei executive: official

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Thirteen Canadians have been detained in China following the arrest on December 1 of a senior executive from Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei, Ottawa said Thursday, with eight subsequently released. Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Guillaume Berube confirmed the detentions to AFP, adding the figures excluded Hong Kong. The thirteen include former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor, arrested on December 10, for activities said to threaten national security, as well […]

US team to visit China for trade talks Jan 7-8: Beijing

BEIJING, China (AFP) — A US government delegation will visit China Monday and Tuesday for the first face-to-face talks since President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart agreed on a temporary truce in the trade war, China’s commerce ministry said. The US team will be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish and will discuss “implementing the important consensus” reached by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the G20 summit in […]

Despite offensive struggles Raptors close out 2018 with win against defensively-minded Bulls

By Jeremiah Balingit Toronto Bureau TORONTO, Canada (Eagle News) — The Toronto Raptors ended 2018 with a win, fending off the defensively minded Chicago Bulls 95-89 on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard finished the game with 27 points and one rebound shy of a double-double, while Pascal Siakam added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors. Lauri Markkanen led the way for the Bulls with a double-double himself, with 18 points to go along with 10 […]

US clergy abuse survivors demand inclusion in Vatican reforms

  CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Advocates for clergy abuse victims on Wednesday demanded inclusion in a historic Vatican conference to address the crisis, as US bishops gathered in prayer near Chicago in advance of the February meeting. The groups Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said they had sent an open letter to Catholic Church’s Pope Francis asking to be included in discussing reforms in the Catholic […]

Trump says looks forward to new meeting with N.Korea’s Kim

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he looked forward to another summit with Kim Jong Un, a day after the North Korean leader warned Pyongyang could take a different approach to nuclear talks if US economic sanctions persist. “I also look forward to meeting with Chairman Kim who realizes so well that North Korea possesses great economic potential!” Trump said in a brief tweet. The US leader made his comment after […]

Trump congratulates Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on inauguration

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump congratulated Brazil’s new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro as he took office Tuesday for a four-year term at the helm of Latin America’s most powerful nation. “Congratulations to President @jairbolsonaro who just made a great inauguration speech – the U.S.A. is with you!” Trump wrote on Twitter. © Agence France-Presse

‘Hold fast’: Mattis bids farewell to Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Defense Secretary Jim Mattis bade farewell to the Pentagon on Monday, telling the US military to “hold fast” after he quit over a series of fundamental differences with President Donald Trump. Mattis resigned December 20, after Trump stunned the US establishment by ordering a full troop withdrawal from Syria. “Our department is proven to be at its best when the times are most difficult,” Mattis said in a brief memo […]

NFL: Bucs fall short in season finale, fire head coach

By Melissa Potes EBC Florida Bureau TAMPA, Florida (Eagle News) — The season finale of NFC South division rivals Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers featured former Pro Bowl quarterbacks, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston, putting on a show, with the Bucs losing 34-32 on a last possession field goal by the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. In a high scoring affair, the Buccaneers started off hot, taking a 17-0 lead, which included a 70-yard […]

Lion kills worker at US wildlife park

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A lion attacked and killed a young American woman who had just started working at the facility where it was kept, the center said Sunday. Alexandra Black, 22, was passionate about wildlife and had worked just 10 days as in intern at the facility in Burlington, North Carolina. “The Conservators Center is devastated by the loss of a human life today,” it said in a statement. “While a husbandry team […]

After Mattis, Shanahan takes Pentagon helm at critical time

by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Patrick Shanahan, who on Tuesday becomes the acting US secretary of defense, takes the helm of America’s massive military machine at a critical time. Shanahan is moving up from his position as deputy defense secretary to the top spot following the resignation of Jim Mattis, who quit over long-running — and ultimately irreconcilable — disagreements with President Donald Trump. Little known outside business and […]

White House chief: Trump not building a ‘wall’

by Ian Timberlake Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Outgoing White House chief John Kelly said in an interview published Sunday that he had “nothing but compassion” for undocumented migrants crossing into the US, and undercut President Donald Trump’s claims to be building a “wall” at the Mexico border. As a partial government shutdown entered a ninth day due to an impasse over Trump’s demands for funding the US-Mexico border barrier, the president’s […]