Tag: US

In farewell message, outgoing First Lady Melania Trump says “violence is never the answer”

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — First Lady Melania Trump released a farewell message Monday as she prepares to leave the White House, saying that “violence is never the answer,” weeks after the president’s supporters stormed the US Capitol. In a formal, six-minute speech recorded on video, she made only a fleeting reference to her husband as she paid tribute to military families, pandemic health workers and those helping victims of opioid abuse. “The past […]

Guatemalan security forces break up US-bound migrant caravan

by Edgar Calderon with Henry Morales Arana in Guatemala City VADO HONDO, Guatemala (AFP) — Guatemalan security forces on Monday broke up a caravan of about 4,000 Honduran migrants trying to reach the United States on a journey of thousands of kilometers through Central America on foot, AFP reporters witnessed. Police advanced on the group in a coordinated move, striking batons against their shields to make an intimidating noise, prompting the migrants to scatter. The […]

Biden team says US will not lift travel bans, despite Trump statement

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President-elect Joe Biden’s spokeswoman quickly dismissed Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that a Covid-19 ban on travelers arriving from much of Europe and Brazil would be lifted, underlining the fractious transition of power. “On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26,” tweeted Jen Psaki, Biden’s press secretary. “In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in […]

Guatemala police fire tear gas, disperse US-bound migrant caravan

VANO HONDO, Guatemala (AFP) — Guatemalan police fired tear gas Sunday to disperse thousands of Honduran migrants trying to reach the United States on foot, with soldiers beating back a group trying to push through barricades, AFP journalists witnessed. Security forces surrounded the migrant caravan on a road in the southeastern Guatemalan town of Vado Hondo, near the border with Honduras. Amid the deafening explosions of gas and smoke cannisters, many migrants retreated, with some […]

Fauci says Biden goal of 100 million doses in 100 days ‘can be done’

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Joe Biden’s goal of seeing 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine injected within his first 100 days in office is “absolutely” achievable, top US scientist Anthony Fauci said Sunday, days before he is to become the new president’s chief advisor on Covid-19. “The feasibility of his goal is absolutely clear, there’s no doubt about it,” Fauci, the best-known face of the government’s fight against the deadly virus, told NBC’s […]

Biden team lays out plans as inauguration, impeachment loom

  by Brian KNOWLTON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, Unted States (AFP) — President-elect Joe Biden’s top advisors on Sunday outlined his plans to tackle the nation’s multiple crises while balancing the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, as an historic inauguration week opens in the United States. Washington was under the watch of thousands of National Guard troops and ringed with security barriers ahead of Biden’s swearing in Wednesday, in a nation still rattled by the […]

Toyota to pay $180 mln to settle US emissions violations: govt

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Toyota will pay $180 million to settle charges it failed to comply with rules mandating that auto companies report problems with vehicle emissions to authorities, the US Department of Justice said on Thursday. “Toyota pays the price for its misconduct with a $180 million civil penalty and agreement to injunctive relief to ensure that its violations will not be repeated,” Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark said in a […]

Biden to propose $1.9 tn US economic rescue plan: senior officials

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President-elect Joe Biden will on Thursday present a $1.9 trillion package to revitalize the US economy as it faces an onslaught of coronavirus cases, senior officials in his transition team said. The massive spending plan will raise stimulus checks provided under an earlier measure passed last month to $2,000, and also call for increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The incoming president also plans to present a […]

Social media giants mishandled Trump: Wikipedia founder

  by Callum PATON Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Twitter and Facebook repeatedly mishandled Donald Trump as he pushed baseless claims, including his assertion that US presidential election he lost was rigged, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told AFP. The two social media giants indefinitely suspended Trump after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, an attack on the seat of democracy that on Wednesday led to Trump’s second impeachment. Wales […]

Twitter chief says Trump ban sets ‘dangerous’ precedent

  by Glenn CHAPMAN Agence France Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter chief Jack Dorsey on Wednesday backed the messaging platform’s ban of US President Donald Trump, but said it sets a “dangerous” precedent and represents a failure to promote healthy conversation on social networks. “Having to ban an account has real and significant ramifications,” Dorsey said in a string of tweets about his take on the company’s decision late last week to […]

Trump impeached for unprecedented second time

by Michael Mathes and Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump became the first US president in history to be impeached twice when the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to charge him with inciting last week’s mob attack on Congress. The Senate will not hold a trial before January 20, when Democrat Joe Biden assumes the presidency, meaning the real estate tycoon will escape the risk of being forced to leave early. He […]

3 Americans dying per minute: US Covid-19 deaths hit daily record of 4,470 deaths in 24 hours

  by Agence France Presse Bureaus The United States has endured its worst day of the pandemic, with three Americans dying every minute, as China took decisive steps on Wednesday to stamp out a tiny coronavirus outbreak. Global infections have soared past 91 million, and the spikes have forced governments around the world to reimpose restrictions such as unpopular and economically painful lockdowns, including in Europe which is battling a devastating second wave. The United […]