International

China’s Xi calls for early conclusion of US trade talks: Xinhua

BEIJING, China (AFP) –Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the “early conclusion of negotiations” on the text of a trade deal with the United States, state media reported Friday. The comments, carried by the Xinhua news agency, came as speculation mounted that the two sides were close to finalising an agreement to resolve their nine month-trade war. The remarks were part of a message conveyed by Chinese vice premier Liu He at a meeting […]

‘I have names’: Ghosn vows to clear his name in Japan trial

PARIS, France (AFP) — Former auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn vowed to prove his innocence of alleged financial misdeeds but raised doubts about receiving a fair trial in Japan, in an interview with French television just before he was re-arrested on Thursday. The ousted boss of Nissan and Renault, whose case has gripped Japan and the rest of the business world, said in the interview that if his trial was fair he was “not worried”. But […]

US, China trade talks could wrap in four weeks: Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States and China could wrap up trade talks within four weeks after making quick progress on the potentially “epic” deal. “We are getting very close to making a deal,” he said ahead of a White House meeting with Chinese trade envoy Liu He. “Progress is being made at a very rapid pace.” “We will probably know over the next four weeks. It […]

Britain’s May ever more isolated in Brexit endgame

by Ouerdya AIT ABDELMALEK LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prime Minister Theresa May’s cuts an increasingly lonely figure after her decision this week to turn to opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to break the Brexit deadlock sparked a torrent of criticism from Conservatives. The beleaguered leader wrote to Tory MPs on Wednesday to insist that several dozen Tories’ stubborn resistance to her EU divorce deal had left her with little choice but to look to Labour […]

Trump retreats from Mexico border closing, threatens car tariffs instead

by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday retreated from his threat to close the US-Mexican border imminently, warning he will instead impose car tariffs if the major US trading partner does not do more to stop undocumented migrants and drug smugglers. “If Mexico doesn’t give the help, that’s OK, we’re going to tariff their cars,” Trump said at the White House. “I will do it. I don’t play games.” […]

NBA: Magic defense stifles Knicks, keeps playoff hopes alive

By Melissa Potes EBC Florida Bureau ORLANDO, Florida (Eagle News) — The atmosphere was electric at Amway Center as the Magic defeated the New York Knicks 114-100. Led by center Nikola Vucevic’s 29 points and 13 rebounds, his 58th double-double this season, the Magic stifled the young Knicks team. “I think for our team, we’ve been talking about this going forward,” said Magic Head Coach Steve Clifford, “the offensive rebound game, as a whole, is […]

British PM scrambles to avoid chaotic Brexit finale

by Dmitry ZAKS Britain’s government redoubled its efforts Thursday to win over the main opposition party in a last-gasp bid to avoid a chaotic exit from the European Union next week. The latest round of talks came after lawmakers tried to safeguard against a doomsday ending to the 46-year partnership by fast-tracking a bill Wednesday night seeking to delay Brexit. May is racing against the clock in a desperate search for votes that could push […]

Ethiopian crew followed procedure, but crashed anyway: report

by Chris STEIN The crew of the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last month killing 157 people, repeatedly followed procedures recommended by Boeing, but were unable to regain control of the jet, according the investigators’ report released Thursday. The initial report, unveiled by Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges, cast further doubt on the system controlling the Boeing 737 MAX 8 model, which has been grounded worldwide for almost a month. “The crew performed all the […]

Christchurch accused to face 50 murder charges

  CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFP) — The man accused of attacking two mosques in Christchurch last month will face 50 murder charges when he appears in court on Friday, New Zealand police said. Australian Brenton Tarrant was previously charged with one murder as a holding measure, but police said Thursday that all the deaths and injuries in the March 15 attacks will be reflected in upgraded charges during his next appearance. “The man arrested in […]

South Korean ship detained over sanctions on North: Seoul

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — A South Korean ship has been detained for more than six months on suspicion of violating UN sanctions against the nuclear-armed North, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Wednesday. Pyongyang is sanctioned over its weapons programme under multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which include curbs on shipments of oil and fuel to the isolated regime. But the North has been seeking to get around the measures, with a recent UN report […]

German far-right sees divided front after European poll

by David COURBET| Agence France-Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) – The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s chief candidate for European elections, Joerg Meuthen, expects big gains for nationalist parties but thinks they will have trouble forming a united front to advance an agenda. Meuthen, one of two leaders of the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam AfD, said diverging interests and clashing personalities would likely prevent a “patriotic alliance” forming in the European Parliament after the May polls. “I expect […]

Welcome to the tropical prison that some don’t want to leave

by Jose OSORIO Agence France-Presse MEXICO (AFP)- More than a century after Mexico established a prison on the Maria Islands — a Pacific archipelago eight hours by boat from the mainland — the country’s new government has decided to close it. But some prisoners didn’t want to leave the tropical jail. The inmates and guards on the islands — the Islas Marias, as they are known in Spanish — stayed put even when powerful Hurricane […]