North America

Trump says US could ‘conceivably’ return to Paris climate deal

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States could “conceivably” return to the Paris climate accord, although he stopped short of signalling any move in that direction. “Frankly, it’s an agreement that I have no problem with, but I had a problem with the agreement that they signed, because, as usual, they made a bad deal,” Trump told a news conference. “So we can conceivably go back in,” […]

UPDATED: California mudslides demolish homes, killing at least 13

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Mudslides unleashed by a ferocious storm demolished homes in southern California and killed at least 13 people, police said Tuesday. Authorities said the bodies were discovered in mud and debris during rescue operations in Montecito, northwest of Los Angeles. “We are saddened to report that this incident so far has resulted in 13 confirmed fatalities, as result of the storm that came through our area last night,” Santa Barbara County […]

Trump on Oprah: She won’t run in 2020 but I’d win anyway

by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump weighed in Tuesday on fevered speculation about a potential 2020 White House bid by Oprah Winfrey, saying she probably would not run against him, but if she did, he would win. “I’ll beat Oprah,” Trump said of the Oscar-nominated actress and talk show host. “I like Oprah,” he said, noting that he had appeared on her long-running afternoon program. “I […]

Bannon steps down from Breitbart News in post-book storm

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump’s former White House strategist Steve Bannon has stepped down from Breitbart News, the conservative news outlet announced Tuesday, still roiled in controversy over incendiary remarks about the president quoted in a new book. The announcement comes just days after the 64-year-old news executive at the provocative right-wing site publicly split with Trump over explosive comments he made about the president’s fitness for office and members of his […]

US sets deadline for 200,000 Salvadorans to leave

by Paul Handley Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US government announced Monday the end of a special protected status for about 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants, a move that threatens with deportation tens of thousands of well-established families with children born in the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced the end of the “temporary protected status” (TPS) granted to Salvadorans already in the United States in 2001 when two major earthquakes rocked […]

Oprah for president? Speech sparks fevered speculation

by Jennie Matthew Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Could Oprah Winfrey run for president and beat Donald Trump? Hollywood, liberals and fans are abuzz with speculation that the billionaire chat show queen is harboring White House ambitions after an impassioned Golden Globes speech. Winfrey had barely heralded a “new day” following a sexual harassment watershed, before calls snowballed for one of America’s most famous women, a self-made tycoon born into poverty, to […]

NY airport terminal flooded as brutal cold grips US East Coast

by Jennie Matthew Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — International flights were suspended into a flooded terminal at New York’s flagship airport on Sunday, flung into chaos after a water main broke during brutally cold temperatures following a deadly winter storm. Gushing water compounded meltdown at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where furious passengers have camped out for days as a result of equipment damaged by the storm and a backlog of […]

N. Korea must stop nuclear testing before any talks with US: Haley

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — North Korea must stop conducting nuclear tests before the United States would enter into any talks with the isolated Pyongyang regime, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Sunday. “They have to stop testing. They have to be willing to talk about banning their nuclear weapons. Those things have to happen,” she said Sunday, one day after President Donald Trump indicated he would be open to speaking directly […]

Bannon backs away from his published criticism of Trump’s son

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, a target of White House wrath over an explosive new book that paints a harsh picture of the president, issued a statement Sunday expressing “regret” and underscoring his “unwavering” support for Trump. But Bannon’s statement to the Axios news website — a response to the book “Fire and Fury” by Michael Wolff, who quotes Bannon extensively — did not specifically deny any of his […]

Trump says he is willing to talk with North Korean leader

  by Saul Loeb Agence France Presse CAMP DAVID, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Saturday he would be willing to speak directly with Kim Jong-Un, voicing hope that rare talks between North and South Korea could help deescalate the crisis over Pyongyang’s nuclear drive. Trump’s remarks were a further pivot from his often-bellicose rhetoric on North Korea and Kim, with whom he has engaged in a war of words that raised […]