North America

UN Security Council votes down both US and Russia’s resolutions on Gaza war

UNITED NATIONS, United States, Oct 25, 2023 (AFP) – The UN Security Council on Wednesday failed again to take action on the Israel-Hamas war, with Russia and China vetoing a US-led draft resolution and a text led by Moscow drawing insufficient support. The rival powers went ahead and put forward texts doomed to defeat despite what diplomats said was a last-ditch effort led by France to delay a vote and work toward consensus. The United […]

At least 22 dead in Maine shootings, gunman at large

WASHINGTON, Oct 26, 2023 (AFP) – At least 22 people were killed and “many, many more” were injured in shootings in the city of Lewiston, Maine Wednesday evening, city officials reported, overwhelming local hospitals with gunshot victims. City Councilor Robert McCarthy told CNN that the death toll had risen to 22 in the shooting spree that took place at a bowling alley and also at least one other location, a local restaurant and bar, according […]

DEVELOPING STORY: At least 10 dead in Maine shootings, gunman at large: US media

WASHINGTON, Oct 26, 2023 (AFP) – At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured in shootings in the city of Lewiston, Maine Wednesday night, US media reported, with police saying that the gunman was still at large. The death toll was reported to be as high as 16 by CNN and the Wall Street Journal, in the shooting spree that took place at a bowling alley and also at least one other location, a […]

House elects Mike Johnson of Louisiana as speaker, ending weeks of GOP infighting

WASHINGTON, Oct 25, 2023 (AFP) – The US House of Representatives finally elected a new speaker on Wednesday, ending weeks of bitter Republican infighting that paralyzed Congress at a time of international and domestic crisis. Mike Johnson, a little-known ally of Donald Trump who spearheaded legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election, won the unanimous support of his party to lead the lower chamber of Congress, which has been at a standstill since Kevin McCarthy […]

‘Potentially catastrophic’ Hurricane Otis hits Mexico

ACAPULCO, Mexico, Oct 25, 2023 (AFP) – A major Category 5 hurricane made landfall near Mexico’s Pacific beach resort of Acapulco early Wednesday, threatening to wreak “catastrophic” damage, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Hurricane Otis was packing maximum sustained winds of 165 miles (265 kilometers) per hour when it came ashore, the NHC said. The storm had rapidly strengthened to the most powerful category of the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale as it neared land. […]

UN chief says Hamas attacks ‘did not occur in vacuum’, Israel demands Guterres resign

By Amelie Bottollier-Depois with Shaun Tandon in Washington UNITED NATIONS, United States, Oct 24, 2023 (AFP) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday alleged violations of international law in Gaza and urged an immediate ceasefire as Israel pounds the Palestinian territory in response to Hamas attacks, with the crisis deeply dividing the Security Council. Israel voiced anger over the UN chief’s plea before a high-level session of the Security Council, where the Palestinian foreign minister […]

Off-duty US pilot who tried to shut down engines was on mushrooms: documents

LOS ANGELES (AFP) The off-duty US pilot who tried to shut down the engines of a plane mid-flight over the weekend had taken magic mushrooms and thought he was having a nervous breakdown, court documents showed Tuesday. Pilots wrestled Joseph Emerson out of the cockpit on Sunday after he lunged for handles that would have starved the engines of fuel and turned the plane into a glider. Emerson, who told police he had not slept […]

US states accuse Meta of profiting ‘from children’s pain’

By Glenn CHAPMAN SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 24, 2023 (AFP) – Dozens of US states on Tuesday accused Facebook and Instagram owner Meta of profiting “from children’s pain,” damaging their mental health and misleading people about the safety of its platforms. “In seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms,” argued a joint lawsuit filed in federal court in California. In total more […]

US auto workers union extends strike to big GM plant

NEW YORK, Oct 24, 2023 (AFP) – The US auto workers union announced Tuesday it has extended its strike to a giant General Motors truck plant, saying the company’s strong profits meant workers should get “their fair share.” The latest United Auto Workers union stoppage, which expands the nearly six-week strike to GM’s Arlington, Texas assembly plant, came hours after GM reported a better than expected $3.1 billion in third-quarter profits earlier Tuesday. The move […]

‘Super fog’ leaves seven dead in massive US highway pileup

WASHINGTON, Oct 24, 2023 (AFP) – A large cloud of fog enveloping a highway led to at least 158 car crashes and seven deaths in the southern US state of Louisiana, authorities said Monday. The so-called “super fog,” which US media reported was caused by a mixture of marsh fires and dense fog, led to a massive pileup on Interstate 55, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) outside of New Orleans, the Louisiana State Police said […]

US police: No Indication of anti-semitism in synagogue president’s murder

DETROIT, Oct 22, 2023 (AFP) – Police probing the stabbing death of the president of a US synagogue said Sunday that no evidence has emerged of anti-Semitism as a motive. Detroit police chief James White said in a brief statement that his force is interviewing “individuals with information that may further the investigation” into the death Saturday of Samantha Woll. He gave no details. “No evidence has surfaced suggesting that this crime was motivated by […]