North America

3 Apr 2019; DW: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expelled Jody Wilson-Raybould, a former justice minister and attorney general, from the ruling Liberal party on Tuesday.

Wilson-Raybould had accused Trudeau of pressuring her to go easy on SNC-Lavalin, a Canadian engineering firm accused of bribery, while she was justice minister.

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3 Apr 2019; DW: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who led his second meeting as head of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, told representatives that "world peace is threatened by nuclear weapons."

Speaking in New York, he said that the ultimate goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons was a "difficult topic," but added that this is exactly why it is important that the Security Council address it. The body has not dealt with the issue since 2012.

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has raised 18.2 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2019, which demonstrates stronger-than-ever support for the left-leaning politician.

The figure, released by Sanders' campaign manager Faiz Shakir on Tuesday, is likely to put Sanders in front of the Democrats who seek to unseat incumbent President Donald Trump. Kamala Harris, U.S. senator from California and another popular candidate, said she has raised 12 million dollars.

HOUSTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and at least two others injured after a heavy fire broke out Tuesday at a chemical plant in the U.S. state of Texas, and an investigation is underway, according to local authorities.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Houston Region Office has dispatched emergency response personnel to conduct an initial assessment of the fire at a KMCO plant in Crosby, about 40 km northeast of Houston.

The company confirmed in a statement that "there have been injuries and one fatality."

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde said here Tuesday that imposing import tariffs won't eliminate trade deficits and will cause "potentially self-inflicted wounds."

Addressing the 13th Annual Capital Markets Summit held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, Lagarde said it's true that not everyone has benefited from global trade, that there are distortions in the trade system, and that the system needs to be reformed but "trade barriers are not the answer."

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales fell in February, as consumers pulled back their spending on building materials, groceries, furniture, electronics and clothing amid signs of a slowing economy.

The Commerce Department said Monday that retail sales fell 0.2 percent in February, after posting an upwardly revised gain 0.7 percent in January. Still, sales are running below their seasonally adjusted levels from November after a sharp 1.6 percent decline in December.

Over the past year, retail sales have roughly kept pace with inflation by increasing a slight 2.2 percent.

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — President Donald Trump’s threat to shut down the southern border raised fears Monday of dire economic consequences in the U.S. and an upheaval of daily life in a stretch of the country that relies on the international flow of not just goods and services but also students, families and workers.

Politicians, business leaders and economists warned that such a move would block incoming shipments of fruits and vegetables, TVs, medical devices and other products and cut off people who commute to their jobs or school or come across to go shopping.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aides to Joe Biden are striking a more aggressive tone as the former vice president faces scrutiny over his past behavior toward women.

In a statement Monday, Biden spokesman Bill Russo blasted “right wing trolls” from “the dark recesses of the internet” for conflating images of Biden embracing acquaintances, colleagues and friends in his official capacity during swearing-in ceremonies with uninvited touching.

CHICAGO (AP) — A former federal prosecutor who has never held elected office was vying for Chicago mayor on Tuesday against a powerful official whose political career spans decades, providing voters a clear contrast in a historic runoff already assured of elevating a black woman to lead the nation’s third-largest city.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police are seeking a 29-year-old man who they believe shot and killed Nipsey Hussle outside the rapper’s clothing store where he was trying to remake his community.

Los Angeles police Chief Michel Moore has scheduled a briefing Tuesday morning in which he will discuss how detectives came to identify Eric Holder as the man suspected of killing Hussle Sunday afternoon and wounding two others. No additional details, other than that Holder is suspected of fleeing in a 2016 Chevy Cruze with the license plate 7RJD742, have been released.