North America

Trump urges Americans to unite after assassination attempt

By Gregory WALTON BUTLER, United States, July 14, 2024 (AFP) – Donald Trump called on Americans Sunday to stand united after he was injured in an assassination attempt – a shocking incident that opened a dark new chapter in an already polarized US presidential race. The 78-year-old former president was hit in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the shooter and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured in […]

Trump rally shooting will impact security at events, may pause political rancor: Expert

Ramped up security, less partisan political rancor, a different media focus: political analyst Aaron Kall talks to AFP about the implications of the wounding of Donald Trump in an assassination attempt against the former US president at an election rally Saturday in Pennsylvania. “It’s hard to predict long-term,” Kall tells AFP during an online interview. “Any politician in a situation like this, you want to go on as business as normal and not allow this […]

9,000 evacuated in northeast Canada due to wildfires

MONTREAL, July 14, 2024 (AFP) – Around 9,000 people have been evacuated in northeastern Canada because of raging wildfires, officials said Saturday. Residents of the towns of Labrador City and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador province were ordered to leave their homes, said provincial fire duty officer Jeff Motty. “We are seeing extreme fire behaviour out there. The fire is moving about 50 meters per minute,” Motty said. Images shared on social media showed lines […]

Long history of shootings in US presidential politics

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2024 (AFP) – Shots were fired during a rally speech by Donald Trump, in an incident that investigators are treating as a possible assassination attempt on the former president. Including Abraham Lincoln and JFK, here are some notable examples of shootings involving US presidents or presidential candidates: – Ronald Reagan (1981) – President Reagan was shot and seriously wounded as he left an event at the Hilton hotel in Washington. The attacker […]

World leaders react to Trump rally shooting

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2024 (AFP) – World leaders and governments reacted with shock to the wounding of Donald Trump in an assassination attempt against the former US president at an election rally. Presidents and prime ministers globally spoke out against political violence and expressed their support for those affected by the Saturday shooting, which killed one bystander and left two other spectators critically wounded. – Europe – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said […]

Bloodied Trump survives assassination bid (UPDATES with shooter identified)

By Gregory WALTON BUTLER, United States, July 14, 2024 (AFP) -Donald Trump was hit in the ear in an assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally Saturday, in a chaotic and shocking incident set to supercharge political tensions ahead of the polarising US presidential election. The 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood streaked across his face after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the shooter and a bystander were killed […]

Biden leads condemnation after Trump wounded at rally shooting

  WASHINGTON, July 14, 2024 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden led the condemnation after his election rival Donald Trump was wounded in an apparent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, as some Republicans blamed the Biden campaign for the violence. Political leaders on both sides of the aisle slammed the attack minutes after the Republican candidate was rushed off stage by the Secret Service with blood running down his face. “There’s no […]

Suspected shooter at Trump rally dead: US media

BUTLER, United States, July 13, 2024 (AFP) – Former US President Donald Trump was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents Saturday after a series of loud bangs that sounded like possible gunshots were heard at the start of a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. As the bangs rang out, Trump clearly grimaced and clutched a hand to his right ear, on which blood could later be seen. Agents swarmed onto the podium, surrounded the Republican […]

Musk’s X ‘deceives’ users with blue checks, EU charges

By Raziye AKKOC BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 12, 2024 (AFP) – Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s X platform is misleading users with its blue checkmarks for certified accounts, and is also violating EU content rules, Brussels said Friday, in a finding that could lead to hefty fines. EU regulators are unhappy with the blue badge system under Musk’s ownership since anyone can now obtain it with a premium subscription, whereas before it was reserved for verified accounts […]

Biden under pressure from Hollywood’s wealthy donors

By Romain FONSEGRIVES LOS ANGELES, United States, July 12, 2024 (AFP) – What if Hollywood, a key Democratic financial pillar, cut off Joe Biden’s campaign funding? That possibility now looms large after actor George Clooney and other wealthy donors urged the US president to withdraw from the White House race. “I love Joe Biden. But we need a new nominee,” Clooney wrote in a column in the New York Times on Wednesday, after Biden’s disastrous […]

NATO begins sending F-16 jets in new support for Ukraine

By Shaun Tandon and Max Delany WASHINGTON, July 11, 2024 (AFP) – NATO allies on Wednesday announced they had started transferring F-16 jets to Ukraine while stepping up promises to Kyiv on eventual membership in the alliance, at a 75th anniversary summit clouded by political uncertainties in the United States. With the pomp of the three-day gathering in the US capital, President Joe Biden is aiming to rally the West and also reassure voters amid […]

NATO meets in Washington as questions swirl over Biden

By Max DELANY WASHINGTON, July 9, 2024 (AFP) – NATO leaders gather Tuesday in Washington for a summit aimed at showing resolve against Russia and support for Ukraine — but the meeting is set to be overshadowed by US President Joe Biden’s fight for political survival. The 81-year-old leader will try to use the three days of pomp marking NATO’s 75th anniversary to reassure allies over US leadership, and his own ability to govern, as […]