International

US Attorney General: I will recuse myself from any inquiry into Trump’s election campaign

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Embattled United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday that he would recuse himself from any investigation into Donald Trump’s election campaign, which faces intense scrutiny over contacts with Russia. But after receiving a strong endorsement from Trump, Sessions did not bow to pressure to step down over charges he lied to Congress about his own meetings with the Russian ambassador before the election. After reviewing ethics rules for his […]

Embattled French presidential candidate Fillon fights on

PARIS, France (AFP) — French rightwing presidential candidate Francois Fillon will try on Thursday to keep his embattled campaign on track after he revealed he is to be charged over a fake jobs scandal that has dogged his bid. The 62-year-old conservative former prime minister was favorite at the turn of the year to become France’s next leader after clinching the nomination for the Republicans party in November. But allegations that he used public funds […]

West Mosul fighting forces over 28,000 Iraqis to flee

by Sara Hussein with W.G. Dunlop in Baghdad Agence France Presse MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) — Over 28,000 people have fled since the start of a drive to retake west Mosul, as Iraqi forces closed in Wednesday on a road linking the city with a jihadist-held town to the west. West Mosul is the largest population center still controlled by the Islamic State group, and its recapture would mark the effective end of the cross-border “caliphate” leader […]

Colombia’s FARC rebels begin disarming

by Lissy DE ABREU / with Florence PANOUSSIAN in San Jose de Oriente Agence France-Presse BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombia’s FARC rebels begin disarming Wednesday under a historic peace deal, beginning the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war. After weeks of mustering its troops at designated disarmament zones, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was set to begin an inventory of its weapons and […]

Trump promises ‘renewal of the American spirit’

  by Michael Mathes / Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump pledged a “renewal of the American spirit” Tuesday, as he tempered his most inflammatory rhetoric while fleshing out his nationalist agenda during a landmark speech to Congress. Transposing hardline campaign promises into a presidential key, Trump offered the most restrained and detailed explanation yet of his America-first world view. He criticized threats against Jewish community centers and […]

New York City plans to open 90 new shelters as homeless ranks swell

NEW YORK, United States (Reuters) — New York plans to open 90 new shelters as city officials struggle to get a handle on homelessness, which has climbed to its highest level in almost a century, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday (February 28). The move is intended to ease crowding in current shelters and allow the city to move away from housing people in “cluster sites,” which have been criticized as expensive and unsafe. […]

Trump vows new merit-based US immigration system

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to introduce a new merit-based immigration system to regulate new arrivals in the United States and reduce the flow of unskilled workers. Trump said an Australian-style immigration system would “save countless dollars, raise workers’ wages, and help struggling families — including immigrant families — enter the middle class.” © Agence France-Presse

Veterans chief is ‘designated survivor’ during Trump speech

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Veterans Affairs chief David Shulkin was absent from President Donald Trump’s address to Congress Tuesday, as he was chosen to be “designated survivor,” the White House said. It is a longstanding US custom for a member of the cabinet to stay away from the Capitol during presidents’ addresses to Congress, also attended by the vice president and cabinet members and lawmakers. This is done so that someone would be left […]

Opening Congress speech, Trump decries threats to US Jewish centers

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump opened his maiden speech to Congress on Tuesday by asserting his commitment to civil rights and condemning the recent wave of threats targeting Jewish centers across the United States. “Tonight, as we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our nation’s path toward civil rights and the work that still remains,” Trump began by saying. “Recent threats targeting Jewish community […]

Trump to work with Muslim allies to defeat IS: excerpts

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump is pledging to work with Muslim countries to fulfill his campaign pledge to defeat the Islamic State group. According to excerpts from a planned speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump will dismiss the jihadist group as “a network of lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women and children of all faiths and beliefs.” “We will work with our allies, including our […]

Trump to promise tough immigration laws, ‘historic’ tax reform

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump will use a maiden prime-time speech to Congress to flesh out his policy agenda Tuesday, promising tougher immigration enforcement and “historic tax reform.” “By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone,” he is expected to say, according to excerpts released by the White House. “Our economic team is developing historic tax […]

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria sanctions

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a United Nations resolution backed by Western powers that would have imposed sanctions on Syria over chemical weapons use. The measure drafted by Britain, France and the United States won nine votes in favor at the Security Council, while three countries opposed it — China, Russia and Bolivia. Kazakhstan, Ethiopia and Egypt abstained. UN resolutions require that there be nine positive votes and […]