LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — An inferno engulfed the Los Angeles region Wednesday, forcing more than 200,000 people to evacuate and threatening thousands of homes, including the luxe Bel-Air neighborhood dotted with mansions. The flames have swallowed some 80,000 acres (32,000 hectares) in just over a day since the “Thomas” fire, currently the state’s largest, broke out, leaving at least one dead in an area about 45 minutes from downtown LA. High winds caused another wave […]
Tag: US
California struck once more by devastating infernos
by Javier Tovar Agence France Presse SANTA PAULA, United States (AFP) — More than a thousand firefighters were struggling to contain a wind-whipped brush fire in southern California on Tuesday that has left at least one person dead, sent thousands fleeing, and was choking the area with thick black smoke. The Ventura County Fire Department said more than 27,000 people had been told to evacuate as the fast-moving fire in the coastal county north […]
Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
by Mike Smith with Andrew Beatty in Washington Agence France-Presse JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — President Donald Trump will recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Wednesday, upending decades of careful US policy and ignoring dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East. A senior administration official said Trump would make the announcement — ignoring frantic warnings from US allies in the region and around the world — at […]
US to study legality of bump stocks used in Las Vegas massacre
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Justice Department announced Tuesday that it is reviewing the legality of “bump stocks,” two months after a man shot down 58 concert-goers from a Las Vegas hotel window using the devices. The Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — which regulates firearms but not gun accessories — will determine whether the devices, which make a semi-automatic weapon perform like an automatic weapon, are illegal. “Possessing firearm […]
Morocco’s king warns Trump against Jerusalem embassy move
RABAT, Morocco (AFP) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Tuesday warned US President Donald Trump against moving the American embassy to the contested city of Jerusalem. Trump informed Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas by phone of his intention to move the embassy from Tel Aviv, Abbas’s office said Tuesday. In an open letter to the American president, the Moroccan king expressed his “deep personal concern” and “the great concern felt by Arab and Muslim states and peoples” over […]
Macron ‘concerned’ at US support for Jerusalem as capital
PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday spoke to US counterpart Donald Trump and expressed concern about designating Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Elysee palace said. “The French president has expressed his concern at the possibility of the United States unilaterally designating Jerusalem as capital of the state of Israel,” a statement said, referring to a phone call between the two leaders. Any such decisions must be “within the framework of negotiations […]
Arab League chief warns Trump Jerusalem move could fuel violence
CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — The Arab League chief said on Sunday a decision by US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would boost fanaticism and violence, and not serve the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner told the Saban Forum on Sunday the president is close to a decision on whether to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “It is unfortunate that some are insisting on carrying out this […]
US pharmacy chain CVS announces $69 billion purchase of insurer Aetna
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — US drugstore chain CVS Health announced Sunday it would buy medical insurer Aetna for about $69 billion in a move that would create a new giant in the healthcare sector. “The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2018,” CVS said in a statement, adding: “It is subject to approval by CVS Health and Aetna shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.” © Agence France-Presse
US Senate passes tax rewrite, in major win for Trump
by Michael Mathes © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Senate Republicans narrowly passed landmark tax reform early Saturday, a critical step toward delivering a monumental legislative victory for President Donald Trump in his first year in office. After a marathon session that stretched overnight, the chamber voted 51 to 49 in favor of the nation’s largest tax overhaul in 31 years, overcoming stubborn internal Republican resistance and dismissing Democrats angry over the last-minute revisions to […]
May says Trump ‘wrong’ on anti-Muslim videos
by Dario Thuburn and Alice Ritchie Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prime Minister Theresa May repeated Thursday that US President Donald Trump was wrong to retweet anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right group, but stressed that the US-UK’s “special relationship” would endure. May’s initial condemnation prompted an extraordinary rebuke from the US leader, who told her on Twitter: “Don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within […]
Trump to give State of the Union address on Jan 30
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump will deliver his first traditional State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on January 30, officials said Thursday. “The New Year will bring an opportunity to take account of the progress we have made but also lay out the work that still remains to be done on behalf of the American people,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said in his letter of invitation to Trump. […]
Bitcoin could threaten financial stability: Fed governor
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Digital currencies like bitcoin could pose a threat to financial stability as they gain wider use, a chief Federal Reserve banking oversight official said Thursday. The remarks from newly-installed Fed Vice Chairman for Supervision Randal Quarles came as bitcoin took a vertiginous dive on Thursday after skyrocketing earlier in the week to more than 10 times its value at the start of the year. Bitcoin is increasingly being embraced by Wall Street, […]





