North America

‘Girl Power!’ Anti-Trump demonstrators swarm DC streets

w by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Perched atop a high metal fence to escape the crush of a massive crowd, Erica Orr surveyed the sea of pink-clad women that had converged on downtown Washington and shook her head in pride and disbelief. “It’s an indescribable feeling,” the 20-year-old college student from Michigan said of finding herself on Saturday in the midst of one of the largest demonstrations in recent memory in the […]

On day one, Trump blasts media over inaugural crowd count

https://youtu.be/Mzkb1gHt8-A   WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump Saturday accused the media of downplaying the turnout at his inauguration by focusing on empty spots on Washington’s National Mall, insisting against all evidence that he drew 1.5 million people. “I made a speech. I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, million and a half people,” he told CIA staff during a visit to the agency’s headquarters on his first full […]

Mexico drug lord ‘El Chapo’ pleads not guilty in U.S. court

NEW YORK, United States (Reuters) — Drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman appeared in a U.S. court on Friday (January 20) after his surprise extradition from Mexico and pleaded not guilty to charges that he ran the world’s largest drug-trafficking organization during a decades-long criminal career. El Chapo (Spanish for “Shorty”), who twice made dramatic escapes from Mexican prisons and was one of the world’s most wanted drug lords, was accompanied by two court-appointed lawyers […]

Mexicans build makeshift wall around US embassy in Trump protest

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) — Protesters in Mexico City used boxes to build a makeshift wall outside the US embassy on Friday (January 20) to protest plans from US President Donald Trump to build a border wall. He has vowed to move fast on construction which he claims its southern neighbor will pay for. But protesters in Mexico disagreed. “We are against the construction of the wall and we’re marching because the Mexican government has […]

James Mattis sworn in as Trump’s defense secretary

by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Retired Marine general James Mattis was sworn in Friday as US defense secretary, praising intelligence agencies and calling for stronger ties with allies in a break from positions taken by President Donald Trump. Mattis was confirmed by a 98-1 vote earlier Friday in the first action taken by US senators after Trump took the oath of office, and was sworn in by Vice President […]

Trump signs executive order against Obamacare health law

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at limiting the “burden” of the Obamacare health law that the incoming US leader has vowed to repeal. During the signing in the Oval Office, Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus described the order as aimed at “minimizing the economic burden” of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, “pending repeal.” Doing away with Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement is a top […]

Violence mars anti-Trump protests in Washington

  by Carlos HAMANN / Thomas WATKINS WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Masked, black-clad protesters carrying anarchist flags smashed windows and scuffled with riot police Friday in downtown Washington, blocks away from the route of the parade in honor of newly sworn-in President Donald Trump. Washington police arrested more than 90 people over acts of vandalism committed on the fringe of peaceful citywide demonstrations being held against Trump’s inauguration. Just before the parade was due […]

Trump vows to eradicate ‘radical Islamic terrorism’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump placed the battle against Islamic extremism at the heart of his foreign policy as he took office on Friday, vowing to work with allies to destroy the jihadist threat. “We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth,” he declared. © 1994-2017 Agence France-Presse

Donald Trump sworn in as 45th US president

by Andrew BEATTY Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump became the 45th president of United States on Friday, ushering in a new political era that is cheered and feared in equal measure. The 70-year-old Republican billionaire placed his left hand on a bible used by Abraham Lincoln and recited the 35-word oath spoken since George Washington, and then launched into a much-anticipated inaugural address. “We, the citizens of America, are now joined […]

Happy or miserable, Americans flock to watch Trump inauguration

by Daniel WOOLLS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Delighted or appalled by Donald Trump, throngs of people crowded the National Mall Friday to witness the singular moment of his swearing-in as US president and the world’s most powerful man. The happy ones, many wearing colorful garb with the slogans or face of their man, welcomed Trump as an overdue agent of change in a nation in need of a political and economic […]