by Jerome CARTILLIER Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – After moving to unstitch climate change rules, US President Donald Trump Wednesday opened the door to undoing the federally protected status of some of America’s vast nature preserves. He signed an executive order reviewing decisions by predecessors Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to designate public land a “national monument” under a 1906 law known as the Antiquities Act. “Today I’m signing a new […]
Tag: Donald Trump
US judge blocks Trump order on sanctuary cities
by Frankie Taggart with Paul Handley in Washington Agence France Presse A United States judge on Tuesday blocked an executive order by President Donald Trump that could deny billions of dollars to so-called sanctuary cities as punishment for harboring illegal immigrants. Dealing a fresh setback to Trump’s pledged crackdown on undocumented residents, Judge William Orrick of San Francisco’s federal court issued a preliminary injunction barring any attempt to implement the January 25 executive order. “Federal […]
In call with Trump, Xi urges ‘restraint’ on N. Korea: report
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “restraint” on North Korea during a phone call Monday with United States President Donald Trump, days before an American supercarrier is due to arrive in the Korean Peninsula. The conversation came amid growing concerns that Pyongyang will conduct another nuclear or missile test to mark the 85th anniversary on Tuesday of the founding of its Korean People’s Army. “(China) hopes that the relevant parties can maintain restraint […]
Trump says ‘strong Europe’ is important for US
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump, who once celebrated Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, said Thursday that he wants the bloc to remain strong. “Yes, a strong Europe is very, very important to me as president of the united states,” Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with Italy’s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. “And it is also in my opinion — in my very strong opinion — important […]
Trump congratulates Erdogan on referendum win
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to congratulate him on winning the referendum boosting his powers, the White House said on Monday. The call was first reported by Turkish state media, one day after Erdogan won over 51 percent in Sunday’s vote. “Trump called Erdogan tonight (Monday) and congratulated him on his success in the referendum,” Turkish presidential sources said, quoted by the […]
Russia warns US against unilateral strike on N. Korea
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Monday warned Washington against launching a unilateral strike on North Korea, after United States Vice President Mike Pence said the era of “strategic patience” with Pyongyang was over. “This is a very risky path,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow. “We do not accept the reckless nuclear missile actions of Pyongyang that breach (United Nations) resolutions, but that does not mean that you […]
US drops biggest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan: Pentagon
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States military on Thursday dropped what is considered to be the largest non-nuclear bomb on an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb hit a “tunnel complex” in Achin district in Nangarhar province, US Forces Afghanistan said in a statement. The strike occurred at about 7:32 pm local time (1502 GMT). Pentagon spokesperson Adam Stump said it was the first combat […]
N. Korea leader oversees special forces op as tensions soar
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a special forces commando operation, state media said Thursday, as tensions soar with Washington over Pyongyang’s nuclear program. United States President Donald Trump has sent a naval “armada” to the Korean peninsula in a show of force, accompanied by a warning that Washington is ready to take on North Korea alone if necessary. The North has since said it is ready for “war” […]
Trump says it is time to end Syria’s ‘brutal civil war’
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump told allies it was time to end Syria’s “brutal” civil war Wednesday, as he branded the country’s leader Bashar al-Assad a “butcher” and questioned Russia’s role in a suspected chemical attack. Trump, standing alongside North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, called on allies to “work together to resolve the disaster” in Syria and thanked them for condemning Assad’s suspected sarin attack in Khan […]
US wants to get past rift with Russia amid Syria impasse
By Andrew Beatty, with Dave Clark in Moscow Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States — The United States wants to improve ties with Russia from their current “all-time low” over Syria, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, as Moscow dug in to defend its ally in Damascus. Standing side-by-side with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House, Trump said: “It would be wonderful… if NATO and our country could get along […]
Trump sees global gains from “chemistry” with China’s Xi
By Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse Washington, United States — United States President Donald Trump waxed lyrical about his good “chemistry” and “bonding” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Wednesday — a rhetorical U-turn which the White House believes is already paying dividends. Putting harsh campaign rhetoric about China’s “rape” of the US economy in the rear-view mirror, Trump went out of his way to praise Xi for help on North Korea and Syria. Trump hosted China’s […]
Xi urges peaceful resolution of N. Korea tensions in Trump call
by Becky Davis Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged Donald Trump to peacefully resolve surging tensions over North Korea’s nuclear program, as the United States president touts the power of a naval “armada” sent to counter fresh provocations by Pyongyang. Trump said Tuesday that the US was ready to solve the North Korean “problem” without China if necessary, as he and Pyongyang engage in tit-for-tat saber-rattling that has […]





