North America

Islamic State-claimed bomb kills 70 at Pakistan shrine

SEHWAN, Pakistan (AFP) — At least 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded Thursday when a bomb ripped through a revered Sufi shrine in southern Pakistan, officials said, after a series of attacks which have shaken optimism over recent improvements in security. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack, the deadliest to hit Pakistan so far in 2017, in the town of Sehwan in Sindh province, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northeast of the […]

Featured video: Trump hails “unbreakable” bond between US and Israel

https://youtu.be/FMvwqJvkmCs   United States President Donald Trump warmly welcomed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and hailed the “unbreakable” bond between their countries. And while he urged Netanyahu to “hold back” from building Jewish settlements for a “little bit,” Trump broke with international consensus insisting on a future that included a Palestinian state alongside Israel. “So I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very […]

Trump drops US commitment to ‘two-state’ Mideast deal

by Dave Clark Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump shelved Washington’s years-long quest for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Wednesday, saying he would back a single state if it led to peace. The new president warmly welcomed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and hailed the “unbreakable” bond between their countries. And while he urged Netanyahu to “hold back” from building Jewish settlements for a […]

Trump signs measure voiding oil anticorruption rule

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law a measure scrapping anticorruption regulations long opposed by the oil industry. Part of a blitz of recent White House maneuvers against regulation and perceived red tape, the move undoes the requirement for international oil, gas and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments. Created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the rule, which had not yet taken effect, targeted an area […]

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 […]