International

Trump appeals asylum ban to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court Tuesday to allow him to enforce a ban on granting asylum to illegal immigrants, after suffering two lower court setbacks. The Justice Department told the high court that the ban, announced by Trump on November 11, needed to be enforced immediately to deter thousands of Central Americans now at the US southern border from crossing into the country illegally in search of […]

Canadian judge grants bail to Huawei exec

VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) — A Canadian judge granted bail Tuesday to a top Huawei executive after her arrest on a US warrant, in a case that has frayed relations between the North American allies and China. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer, is wanted by US authorities for violating Iran sanctions but Beijing has expressed outrage over her detention and is holding a former Canadian diplomat in China, intensifying the row. “The risk of (Meng’s) non-attendance […]

Canadian ex-diplomat held in China: Trudeau, think tank

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — A Canadian, believed to be a former diplomat, has been detained in China, prompting concern in Ottawa and Washington, as Beijing fumes over the arrest of a senior technology executive. “We are aware of the situation of a Canadian detained in China. We have been in direct contact with the Chinese,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, adding that Ottawa was taking his arrest “very seriously.” The International Crisis Group earlier […]

Strasbourg shooting suspect was due to be arrested Tuesday morning: source close to probe

PARIS, France (AFP) — The suspect who killed at least two people and injured 11 at Strasbourg’s market on Tuesday was due to be arrested by police earlier in the day over a separate attempted murder, a source close to the investigation said. Police said the suspected gunman was known to authorities and was on France’s “S” watchlist of suspected extremists. © Agence France-Presse

Trump ‘tantrum’ threatens US government shutdown

by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — An angry Donald Trump told Democratic leaders at the White House on Tuesday that he will shut down the US government because they refuse to approve billions of dollars in funding for his controversial Mexico border wall. The president and top opposition congressional leaders had been meant to hold a reassuring Oval Office photo-op. Instead, their blazing row in front of the world’s media […]

Beijing detains Canadian as tensions soar over exec arrest

by Deborah JONES / with Michel COMTE in Ottawa Agence France Presse VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) — A Canadian national was confirmed as being held in China on Tuesday, intensifying a diplomatic stand-off over the arrest of a top executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, as a judge in Vancouver considered her bail application. Michael Korvig, a former diplomat who served in Beijing, was reported as having been detained as Meng Wanzhou was due in court […]

Two dead, 11 injured in Strasbourg market shooting

PARIS, France (AFP) — A gunman killed at least two people and seriously injured another 11 near the famed market in the French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday before fleeing the scene, security officials said. Police launched a manhunt after the killer opened fire at around 7pm local time (1800 GMT), sending crowds of evening shoppers fleeing for safety. Soldiers patrolling the area as part of regular anti-terror operations exchanged fire with the gunman and […]

US military declares five missing Marines dead after Japan crash

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The US military said Tuesday it had pronounced five missing Marines dead and was ending search operations nearly a week after two US military aircraft crashed off Japan. The announcement brings the final toll in the December 6 crash to six, with a seventh crew member rescued after the deadly incident. The crash involving an F/A-18 fighter jet with two crew onboard and a KC-130 refuelling tanker with five crew occurred […]

US energy secretary meets Saudi counterpart after OPEC cuts

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia’s energy minister held talks Monday with US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, after the kingdom and its allies defied US pressure to cut oil production in a bid to prop up prices. They discussed the “state of the oil market” and energy cooperation between the two countries during a meeting in eastern Dhahran city, the minister, Khalid al-Falih, said on Twitter. Perry tweeted that he discussed the need for […]

German rail strike halts trains nationwide

  Frankfurt am Main, Germany (AFP) — Germany was plunged into transport chaos Monday as train services were halted by a railworkers’ strike over pay, affecting millions of passengers. Inter-city and regional services as well as many urban commuter trains were cancelled throughout Europe’s biggest economy by the four-hour stoppage that started at 05:00 am (0400 GMT), Deutsche Bahn (DB) said. Although the walkout ended as planned at 09:00 am, its ripple effects will be […]

Macron unveils new measures in bid to end ‘yellow vest’ revolt

PARIS, France (AFP) — Embattled French President Emmanuel Macron Monday announced a series of financial measures seeking to defuse the “yellow vest” revolt that has triggered violent protests in cities across the country. In a 15-minute televised speech from the Elysee Palace, a somber-looking president told the nation, “I accept my share of responsibility” for the crisis. The former investment banker struck a more humble tone than usual as he sought to address criticism of his […]