Other News

US union rips Ford plan to move electric vehicles to Mexico

 by Joseph Szczesny Agence France-PresseDETROIT, United States (AFP) — The United Auto Workers chief on Wednesday blasted Ford’s decision to send production of electric vehicles to Mexico, out of its home base in Michigan. UAW President Dennis Williams also complained that the massive tax bill approved by Congress on Wednesday failed to provide funding to key investments to make the US more competitive. “I’m not happy with Ford,” Williams told reporters at the union’s headquarters. “I think we’re […]

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“Vinta” intensifies into tropical storm; is expected to make landfall over Caraga-Davao area between Thursday and Friday

(Eagle News) — “Vinta” has intensified into a tropical storm, and is expected to make landfall over the Caraga-Davao region  between Thursday evening and Friday morning. In its 5 a.m. advisory on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said as of 4 a.m., the center of “Vinta” was seen  510 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. The tropical storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center […]

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Donald Trump tastes victory — at last

by Jerome Cartillier Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States  (AFP) — Looking out over the South Lawn of the White House, flanked by the lawmakers who had just handed him the greatest victory of his tumultuous young presidency, Donald Trump drank in the scene. For this most unconventional of presidents — impulsive, unpredictable, so often frustrated by the exercise of power — it was payback time at last. In the chill December air, under a pale sky dotted […]

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UN rights chief refuses to ‘bend knee’ after US clash, won’t seek second term

by Carole Landry Agence France-Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) – The United Nations’ top human rights official, a sharp critic of US President Donald Trump, declared Wednesday, December 20, that he will not tone down his message to seek re-election in his post. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told staff in an email he would not bargain away his agency’s integrity when his job comes up for renewal in August. […]

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‘Tennis saved me during illness’ – returning Bartoli

PARIS, France (AFP) — Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on Wednesday that she first considered making a professional comeback while suffering from a mystery illness last year. The Frenchwoman was forced to pull out of an exhibition event at Wimbledon last year because of the virus, which medical experts said was so rare they had no name for it. But on Tuesday Bartoli announced that she would return to the WTA Tour in 2018, aiming to […]

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Football: Birthday boy Mbappe stars as PSG down Caen

by Martyn Wood Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe celebrated his 19th birthday on Wednesday with a goal and an assist as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 3-1 victory over Caen in Ligue 1. The French teenager has enjoyed a stratospheric rise in 2017 and rounded out a memorable year in style by setting up Edinson Cavani to fire PSG ahead on 21 minutes, before adding a goal of his own on the hour. Spanish […]

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US turns sanctions screw on Russia, blacklists Chechnya’s Kadyrov

by Dave Clark and Douglas Gillison Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States slapped sanctions on Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov on Wednesday, accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s key regional ally of personal involvement in repression, torture and murder. Kadyrov was added to the US Treasury’s blacklist along with Chechen security official Ayub Kataev and three Russians linked to the corruption case uncovered by deceased whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky. The sanctions were authorized under the 2012 Magnitsky Act, […]

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Austrian govt vows to deal with anti-semitism

VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — New Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday used his first post-election speech to vow to make “combating anti-Semitism in all its forms” a top priority. “We will determinedly fight anti-Semitism  in all its forms — those already existent but also imported into our country as an essential duty of our government,” said the youthful conservative whose coalition also contains the hard right Freedom Party. Kurz made his vow three days after neighboring Germany’s interior […]

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British prime minister’s deputy resigns: Downing Street

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday accepted the resignation of her deputy Damian Green, who announced he was stepping down following a probe into his conduct. “It is therefore with deep regret, and enduring gratitude for the contribution you have made over many years, that I asked you to resign from the government and have accepted your resignation,” May wrote in a letter addressed to Green, the First Secretary of State. […]

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Trump triumphs as Congress passes sweeping tax cuts

by Michael Mathes Agence France-PresseUnited States – President Donald Trump hailed a historic victory Wednesday as the US Congress passed a massive Republican tax cut plan, handing him his first major legislative achievement since taking office nearly a year ago. The House voted along party lines to green-light a $1.5 trillion overhaul that will impact every corner of the US economy through dramatic tax cuts for corporations and temporary reductions for individuals. “I promised the American […]

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EU wants Brexit transition to end December 2020

by Danny Kemp with James Pheby in London Agence France-Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Commission said Wednesday that it wants a post-Brexit transition period, during which Britain must continue to obey EU rules, to finish at the end of 2020. Chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that “all EU policies will still apply” during the transition to a new relationship between London and Brussels after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019. British Prime Minister Theresa […]

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Coalition raids hit Yemen rebels after missile targets Riyadh

SANAA, Yemen (AFP ) – The Saudi-led coalition carried out a string of air raids Wednesday in Yemen, killing 11 civilians in the Huthi stronghold of Saada a day after the rebels fired a missile at Riyadh, a tribal chief and witnesses said. On the ground, unidentified assailants attacked Huthis guarding the Sanaa residence of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was killed by the Shiite rebels earlier this month. An unspecified number of Huthi guards died in the attack, […]

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