North America

Trump fumes as US health care reform bid collapses

by Michael Mathes Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – An angry President Donald Trump railed Tuesday against dissenters in his party who dashed his months-long effort to dismantle his predecessor’s landmark health care law, insisting it was finally time to “let Obamacare fail.” With four Republicans now lined up against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health overhaul, the plan has flatlined in the 100-member chamber, where the party could afford only two defectors in order […]

Continue Reading →

US health care reform collapses as two more Republicans say no

by Michael Mathes Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Two more United States Republican senators announced their opposition Monday to their party’s efforts to revamp Obamacare, derailing the controversial legislation in its current form and potentially dealing a monumental setback to President Donald Trump. Republican leaders are desperate for a major legislative victory this year — and keen to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge to dismantle the 2010 health care reforms of his predecessor […]

Continue Reading →

Japan pledges $1 billion to back UN development goals

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Japan on Monday pledged $1 billion over the next two years to back the United Nations’ development agenda, raising its profile as one of the world’s largest foreign aid donors. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a meeting at the UN that the funding will go to help children and youth worldwide, in particular to promote education, health, disaster response and gender equality. The announcement provided a boost to the […]

Continue Reading →

Trump warns Venezuela it faces strong, swift ‘economic actions’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump on Monday warned Caracas of “economic actions” if Nicolas Maduro delivers on his bid to rewrite the constitution, calling the Venezuelan president a “bad leader who dreams of being a dictator.” “The (US) will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles,” Trump said in a statement. “If the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the (US) will take strong and swift economic actions,” […]

Continue Reading →

US will not resume Brazil beef imports until food safety addressed

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will not resume imports of beef from Brazil until food safety issues have been addressed, US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Monday. Purdue met with his Brazilian counterpart, Blairo Maggi, to discuss the issue after Washington late last month halted all beef imports from the country following a rash of bad shipments discovered in US ports. “Though Brazil pressed for a timeline for restoration of beef imports… […]

Continue Reading →

Canada fires drive thousands more out of their homes

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — Thousands of people fled their homes in western Canada over the weekend as strong winds fanned forest fires that have ravaged British Columbia province for more than a week. The inferno’s progress prompted authorities to take new emergency measures, ordering the evacuation of 24,000 people in the region including the town of Williams Lake which is home to some 11,000 people, reported public broadcaster CBC. Some 60 percent of affected residents […]

Continue Reading →

VP Pence walks high wire over Trump scandals

by Michael Mathes Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – Mike Pence is the loyal wingman, the ever-discreet figure who rises above the Washington fray. But as the Russia scandal encroaches ever further on Donald Trump’s White House, the vice president is also walking a political tightrope. The 58-year-old former governor of Indiana is currently the man closest to the United States presidency — either as Trump’s immediate successor should his term end prematurely, […]

Continue Reading →

US has no proof IS leader Baghdadi is dead: Mattis

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Friday he cannot confirm whether or not Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, after reports from Syria that the jihadist leader had been killed. “If we knew, we would tell you — right now, I can’t confirm or deny it,” Mattis said. “Our approach is we assume he’s alive until it’s proven otherwise, and right now I can’t prove it otherwise.” The Britain-based […]

Continue Reading →

Kid Rock hints online he will run for a seat in US Senate

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters)– Recording star Kid Rock, an outspoken supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, hinted in a website and through social media messages on Wednesday (June 12) that he intends to run for the United States Senate in 2018. The 46-year-old Michigan native drew attention on Twitter and his Facebook page to a “Kid Rock ’18 for U.S. Senate” website, featuring a photo of the goateed singer-songwriter seated in a star-spangled chair in […]

Continue Reading →

Trump’s FBI nominee Wray vows he won’t ‘pull punches’

by Paul Handley Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) – High-flying criminal lawyer Christopher Wray took a big step Wednesday toward becoming the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as he told lawmakers he would resign rather than bow to political interference. Nominated by Donald Trump after the president fired FBI chief James Comey in May, Wray told a confirmation hearing he would be ready to step down as head of the […]

Continue Reading →

U.S. military plane crashes in Mississippi; 16 dead

Mississippi, USA (Agence France Presse) — A United States military aircraft has crashed in the US state of Mississippi, killing at least sixteen people, US media reported Monday. The US Marine Corps C-130, a refueling plane, crashed on the Sunflower-Leflore county line, the Clarion-Ledger reported. It cited Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Lee Smithson as the source of the information. The Marine Corps has said there was a “mishap” but did not immediately say where […]

Continue Reading →

Trump congratulates Iraqi PM on Mosul ‘victory’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump hailed Iraq’s “victory” over the Islamic State group in Mosul Monday, claiming the northern city’s liberation showed the war against the jihadis was being won. “The victory in Mosul” signals Islamic State’s “days in Iraq and Syria are numbered,” Trump said in a statement praising Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. “Today Iraqi security forces supported by the United States and the global coalition, liberated the city of Mosul […]

Continue Reading →
1 … 451 452 453 454 455 … 580