North America

US-Mexico tensions rise as meeting scrapped, wall tax looms

by Andrew Beatty, with Laurent Thomet in Mexico City Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US-Mexican relations were rocked Thursday as Donald Trump’s administration suggested taxing imports from the southern neighbor to fund a border wall and Mexico’s president scrapped a meeting with the US leader. Trump had been scheduled to receive Pena Nieto at the White House on Tuesday, for their first meeting since the inauguration. Instead, the Republican president is managing […]

Chile wildfires kill 10 people: president

SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Raging forest fires in central Chile have killed 10 people, displaced thousands and destroyed entire villages, the government said Thursday. Multiple blazes fueled by strong wind and drought conditions have ravaged 273,000 hectares (680,000 acres) in just over a week. The latest fatality was a fireman killed when a tree fell on his truck in the Biobio region 550 kilometers (340 miles) south of the capital Santiago, the regional government said. […]

Trump wants to fund Mexico border wall with 20% import tax: spokesman

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump plans to fund his construction of a wall on the Mexican border by imposing a 20 percent import tax on goods from Washington’s southern neighbor, his spokesman said Thursday. The financing of the project, which is aimed at clamping down on illegal immigration, has sparked tensions between the two countries: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Thursday called off a visit to Washington set for next […]

Trump issues summit ultimatum to Mexican leader

by Andrew BEATTY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – President Donald Trump on Thursday challenged Mexico’s president to cancel an upcoming visit to Washington if he is unwilling to foot the bill for a US border wall, escalating the war of words between the neighbors. After Enrique Pena Nieto Trump denounced the new Republican leader’s decision to move ahead with the project, Trump took to Twitter to publicly upbraid him for refusing to fund […]

Six people killed by Chile wildfires

SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Six people — among them four firefighters and two police — have now been killed battling vast forest fires in central Chile, officials said Wednesday. “I can now say officially that there are two more fatalities — two Chilean police who were found in the Maule River,” said Interior Minister Mario Fernandez, raising the total death toll to six. Earlier in the day a firefighter died after getting stuck while trying […]

Protesters rally outside White House against Trump immigration policies

WASHINGTON, United States (Reuters) — Immigrant and refugee advocates on Wednesday (January 25) denounced White House plans to temporarily stop receiving refugees and suspend visas for people from seven Middle Eastern and North African countries, saying they target Muslims and will make America less safe. Protesters marched and rallied outside the White House denounced the Trump administration’s plan to to enact the new immigration policies. A draft executive order seen by Reuters that Trump is […]

Mexican president condemns Trump’s wall plan

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday condemned Donald Trump’s move to build a border wall but fell short of deciding whether to cancel an upcoming meeting with the US president. Opposition leaders called on Pena Nieto to cancel Tuesday’s trip after Trump issued a widely expected order to begin work on the massive wall. Without mentioning the trip, Pena Nieto said he would wait for a report from a […]

Trump orders work to start on Mexico border wall

by Andrew BEATTY Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered work to begin on planning and building a wall on the Mexican border, sounding a hardline tone on immigration as he moved to fulfill a key campaign pledge. The US leader instructed officials to begin to “plan, design and construct a physical wall along the southern border” and — perhaps more problematically — see how it could be […]

Trump signs executive orders on immigration

WASHINGTON, United States (Reuters) — President Donald Trump signed directives on Wednesday (January 25) to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and strip funding from cities that shield illegal immigrants as he charged ahead with sweeping and divisive plans to transform how the United States deals with immigration and national security. The Republican president is expected to take additional steps in the coming days to limit legal immigration, including executive orders restricting refugees and […]

Trump signs order to move on Mexico border wall project

by Andrew BEATTY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President Donald Trump took a first step toward fulfilling his pledge to “build a wall” on the Mexican border Wednesday, signing two immigration-related decrees. Trump visited the Department of Homeland Security to approve an order to begin work to “build a large physical barrier on the southern border,” according to the White House. Trump also signed measures to “create more detention space for illegal […]

Melbourne mother welcomes arrival of 6.06 kilogram baby boy

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) — Melbourne mother Natashia Corrigan welcomed a big bundle of joy on Tuesday (January 24) with the birth of her 6.06 kilogram (13.4 pounds) baby boy, Brian Junior. “Overwhelmed. I dreamed of a little fat baby. I’ve always wanted a little fat baby and now I’ve got a big one,” said Corrigan. According to local broadcaster Seven Network, Corrigan was told her baby would be on the heavier side and delivered Brian […]

Trump to unveil immigration, visa restrictions: reports

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump will sign executive orders starting Wednesday restricting refugees, visas and immigration, making good on his signature campaign pledges, US media reported. Trump is due to speak Wednesday to employees at the Department of Homeland Security — which handles immigration — and sign orders there on refugees and national security, according to The Washington Post and CNN. “Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, […]