North America

Sheriff lifts evacuation order for residents near California dam

OROVILLE, United States (AFP) — A sheriff on Tuesday lifted a mandatory evacuation order in northern California, which had impacted nearly 200,000 people in an area under threat of catastrophic failure at the tallest dam in the United States. The Butte County Sheriff’s Department announced it had reduced the evacuation order to a warning, allowing people in downstream communities from Oroville Dam — 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Sacramento — to return home. The […]

Flynn resignation ‘not our business’: Kremlin

The Kremlin on Tuesday insisted that the resignation of Donald Trump’s security adviser Michael Flynn over contacts with the Russian government was an internal affair for Washington. “This is the internal business of the Americans, it is the internal business of President (Donald) Trump’s administration. This is not our business,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists. © Agence France-Presse

Top Trump aide resigns over Russia contacts

By Paul Handley and Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump’s national security advisor Michael Flynn resigned amid controversy over his contacts with the Russian government Monday, a stunning first departure from the new president’s inner circle less than a month after his inauguration. The White House said Trump had accepted Flynn’s resignation amid allegations the retired three-star general discussed United States sanctions strategy with Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak before […]

Former Goldman banker Mnuchin installed as U.S. Treasury secretary

WASHINGTON, United States (Reuters) — President Donald Trump swore in former Goldman Sachs banker and Hollywood financier Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary on Monday (February 13), putting him to work on tax reform, financial de-regulation and economic diplomacy efforts. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Mnuchin 53-47, with all but one Democrat opposing him over his handling of thousands of foreclosures as head of OneWest Bank after the 2007-2009 housing collapse. At a White House […]

Watch: Trump confident of court win over travel ban

https://youtu.be/rKBbjZBrEfw US President Donald Trump says he has “no doubt” he will win the court battle on his travel ban after denouncing as “disgraceful” an appellate court’s decision blocking the order. “We will continue to go through the court process and ultimately I have no doubt that we’ll win that particular case,” he said.

Trump appears to rule out Supreme Court appeal over travel ban

by Olivia HAMPTON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Trump administration appears to have dropped plans for an immediate appeal to defend the president’s travel ban before the Supreme Court. A Justice Department filing Monday indicated that it would continue to defend President Donald Trump’s executive order in a federal appeals court that refused to reinstate it last week. The appellate court decision was handed down by a three-judge panel, after a […]

Mass evacuation as rain strains tallest US dam

by Josh Edelson Agence France Presse OROVILLE, United States (AFP) — Almost 200,000 people were under evacuation orders in northern California on Monday after a threat of catastrophic failure at the tallest dam in the United States. Officials said the danger had subsided for the moment as water levels at the Oroville Dam, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of San Francisco, had eased. But people were still being told to stay away. Several weeks of […]

Trump, Trudeau grapple with differences on refugees, trade

by Andrew BEATTY / Jerome CARTILLIER Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to paper over differences on the treatment of refugees during a joint public appearance Monday, but appeared to tone down harsh trade rhetoric. The two leaders avoided directly criticizing each other after a meeting in the White House, but made it clear they did not see eye-to-eye on Trump’s efforts […]

Thousands of Mexicans march against Trump

  (Reuters) — Thousands of Mexicans marched on Mexico City on Sunday (February 12) to denounce US President Donald Trump, condemning his plans to deport millions of migrants and make Mexico pay for a border wall along the US border with the Latin American country. Just three weeks into his presidency, Trump has moved fast to start carrying out his plans to deport up millions of undocumented migrants. He has vowed to move fast on […]

Dominican newspaper apologizes for Trump-Baldwin photo mix-up

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AFP) — A Dominican newspaper apologized Sunday for publishing a photo of actor Alec Baldwin in his satirical role as US President Donald Trump, alongside an article on the US president’s stance on Israeli settlements. The Friday edition of El Nacional featured Baldwin’s photo — instead of an actual image of Trump — next to one of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a story about Israeli settlements in areas claimed […]

Trump stays course on immigrants, undocumented workers

by Ivan Couronne Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The courts may have halted his travel ban but that hasn’t caused President Donald Trump to shy away from planning new action on immigration in the name of keeping Americans safe. As thousands of Mexicans protested against Trump’s anti-Mexican rhetoric and vow to make the country pay for his “big, beautiful border wall,” the White House confirmed the president’s plans to weigh a new […]

Trump considering ‘brand new’ immigration order

  by James Mannion / Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering drafting a new order to ban migrants from majority-Muslim nations after his initial decree fell afoul of the law. Insisting that he has the law on his side despite two defeats in federal court in quick succession, Trump said security concerns may necessitate a quicker response than legal channels would allow. […]