Tag: United States

‘Progress’ but no deal yet to avoid US govt shutdown

by Jim MANNION Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – President Donald Trump and the Senate’s top Democrat on Friday both touted “progress” in 11th hour talks on breaking an impasse over spending, raising hopes that a US government shutdown could be averted. With a midnight deadline looming to reach a short-term deal to keep the federal government running at full capacity, both Trump and Senator Chuck Schumer struck an optimistic tone. “Excellent preliminary meeting in Oval,” […]

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Bill to avert shutdown passes House but US senators ready to block

by Jim Mannion Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – The US House of Representatives passed a stop-gap funding measure late Thursday that would avert a government shutdown, sending it to the Senate where Democrats have vowed to block it. With the federal government set to run out of money Friday at midnight — the eve of the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration — the bill cleared the House with a 230-197 vote. But prospects appeared […]

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In California, rebel Berkeley fights Trump over migrants

BERKELEY, United States (AFP) – Enter California student city Berkeley, and you’ll more than likely meet people marching and carrying signs. Protests are deeply-rooted in the city across the bay from San Francisco, where a movement for campus free speech originated in the 1960s and launched a heritage of activism. Now, in the face of an immigration crackdown since President Donald Trump took office one year ago, Berkeley is resisting again. It is one of some 400 […]

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NFL: Brady misses practice due to throwing hand injury

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady missed practice Thursday because of a right hand injury, increasing worries for supporters ahead of Sunday’s NFL home playoff showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. A day after Brady reportedly jammed his throwing hand but suffered no structural damage after someone accidentally ran into him during a workout, the 40-year-old US superstar was present only for the start of training. Brady’s contribution to the session was […]

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Republican senator accuses Trump of Stalin-like attacks on media

by Emma Charlton Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – A maverick senator from Donald Trump’s own Republican party launched a stinging attack on the president on Wednesday, accusing him of employing Stalinist language to “slur” and undermine the free press. Arizona lawmaker Jeff Flake leveled the broadside in an address from the Senate floor, timed to coincide with the expected announcement of controversial “Fake News Awards” by Trump’s administration. Delivering a one-two punch after veteran Republican […]

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Greece, Macedonia in new UN bid to solve name dispute

by Carole Landry Agence France-Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) – Greece and Macedonia return to the United Nations on Wednesday seeking to end a 27-year dispute over the former Yugoslav republic’s name, with hopes of a compromise after a change of government in Skopje. Greece’s objections to the use of the name Macedonia since the Balkan country’s independence in 1991 has hampered the tiny nation’s bid to join the European Union and NATO. UN envoy Matthew […]

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Trump denies he’s a racist as Americans honor King

by Jim MANNION Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – Americans remembered civil rights hero Martin Luther King on his holiday Monday, a day after US President Donald Trump vehemently denied he is a racist amid an uproar over a reported presidential slur. The denial late Sunday came three days after Trump was quoted as calling African nations and Haiti “shithole countries,” setting off a storm of condemnation that threatened to derail a bipartisan compromise on immigration. “I’m not […]

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Key moments in year one of the Trump presidency

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Here is a look at several key moments in the first year of Donald Trump’s turbulent presidency: Travel ban: the legal saga Out of the blue, one week after taking office, Trump decreed a 90-day ban on arrivals of people from seven Muslim majority countries and a 120-day ban on all refugee arrivals. Chaos broke out at US airports, with travelers detained upon arrival, and Americans nationwide staged protests against […]

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Hawaii rattled after alert of incoming missile is mistakenly sent

by Eugene Tanner, with Maggy Donaldson in Washington Agence France-Presse HONOLULU, United States (AFP) – An alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii was sent in error Saturday, sowing panic and confusion across the US state — which is already on edge over the risk of attack — before officials dubbed it a “false alarm.” Emergency management officials eventually determined the notification was sent just after 8:00 am (1800 GMT) during a shift […]

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Trump issues stay of execution for Iran nuclear deal

by Dave Clark Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – US President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, keeping a landmark 2015 deal alive… for now. The Republican leader grudgingly agreed to sign sanctions waivers, ensuring Washington will live up to its commitments for another 120 days, but he cautioned it would be “for the last time.” During that four-month period, he now wants Congress and America’s main European allies to draw up […]

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Trump cryptic about contacts with N. Korea’s Kim

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested he could have a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but refused to say if the two had spoken. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. “I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised.” The paper reported that Trump would not be drawn on whether contacts […]

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Trump says US could ‘conceivably’ return to Paris climate deal

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States could “conceivably” return to the Paris climate accord, although he stopped short of signalling any move in that direction. “Frankly, it’s an agreement that I have no problem with, but I had a problem with the agreement that they signed, because, as usual, they made a bad deal,” Trump told a news conference. “So we can conceivably go back in,” […]

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