Tag: Race

Charges filed against all four police officers in Floyd killing

by Joy Powell with Chris Lefkow in Washington MINNEAPOLIS, United States (AFP) — Three Minneapolis policemen were charged Wednesday for their role in the killing of a handcuffed black man that ignited nationwide protests, while more serious charges were filed against the officer primarily responsible. Minnesota prosecutors had announced a third-degree murder indictment Friday against 44-year-old Derek Chauvin — the white officer filmed kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes while […]

New York night-time curfew extended to June 7 after looting

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York’s mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday extended a night-time curfew for the city until June 7 following outbreaks of violence and looting during anti-racism protests gripping America. The mayor added that the deployment of National Guard soldiers, seen in other protest-hit states and demanded by President Donald Trump, was not necessary, however. De Blasio told reporters that a 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew, due to come […]

No charges against NY police in choking death of black man

    by Thomas Urbain    NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A New York police officer accused of placing a 43-year-old black man in a banned choke hold just before his death in 2014 will not face federal charges, the government said, in a decision slammed by the victim’s family as an “insult.” The move effectively closed the five-year-old case that fueled national “Black Lives Matter” protests calling for police to be held accountable […]

Heatwave forces Tour Down Under to be shortened

ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) — South Australia’s extreme heatwave conditions have forced Tour Down Under organizers to shorten Thursday’s third stage from Glenelg to Victor Harbor. With temperatures forecast to climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), race director Mike Turtur said the distance of the stage had been reduced by 26 kilometres, or two laps of the final circuit. “The safety and welfare of the riders, spectators and everyone involved with the race is always our primary concern,” Turtur said in a statement. “We […]

Epic world solar car race begins in Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — An epic 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) solar car race across the desert heart of Australia designed to showcase new technology that could one day help develop commercial vehicles got underway Sunday. The World Solar Challenge, first run in 1987 and last held in 2015, began in a high-tech, futuristic flurry from Darwin’s State Square. Dutch team Nuon is aiming to defend its title but Belgium’s Punch Powertrain led the 41 cars — powered […]

On your marks, get set… who goes? The NY baby race

by Catherine TRIOMPHE Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — It’s a race of laughter, false starts and wild bottle waving: New York’s Diaper Derby sees 30 infants battle it out for glory in a three-meter crawling contest. There is only one real rule: trying to stumble to your feet is not allowed. From the sidelines parents will on their progeny with bottles of milk, television remote controls or key jangling. There is […]

Macif Trimaran crosses finish line of the Bridge race

(Reuters) — Team Macif, skippered by François Gabart and a five-man crew, arrived in New York on Monday (July 3), the first among four trimarans that were attempting to beat the ocean liner Queen Mary 2 in a unique race across the Atlantic. The race between Saint-Nazaire, France and New York was celebrating a century of Franco-American relations. The ocean liner arrived in New York on Saturday with a time of five days, 16 hours […]

Race is on to turn flying car into reality

by Tangi Quemener Agence France-Presse LE BOURGET, France (AFP) – Aeronautics giants are treating the idea of a flying car with caution, as such a project raises more questions than it answers, experts say — it’s a child’s dream, a millionaire’s toy. But is it really the next big thing in transport? At this year’s Paris Air Show, you had to search hard to find an aircraft that looked anything like an automobile: but one […]

US media: Trump expected to sign revised travel ban on Monday

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –President Donald Trump is expected to sign a revised travel ban on Monday, just over a month after his original decree sowed controversy across the United States and chaos at airports, US media reported. The president will sign the new executive order at the Department of Homeland Security, according to Politico, which cited senior government officials. It was unclear what changes Trump planned to make, according to the publication. Trump’s original […]

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 […]

Trump says he is open to racial profiling

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump said Sunday he is open to racial profiling, touching another raw nerve on the issue of race in America. African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and other minorities in the United States have complained bitterly for decades about the practice in which police use a person’s race, religion, national origin or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting them of committing a crime. Trump, the free-talking presumptive Republican presidential nominee, came close to […]