Reuters: U.S., Canada and Mexico sign agreement - again - to replace NAFTA
WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Top officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States signed a fresh overhaul of a quarter-century-old trade pact on Tuesday that aims to improve enforcement of worker rights and hold down prices for biologic drugs by eliminating a patent provision.
The signing ceremony in Mexico City launched what may be the final approval effort for U.S. President Donald Trump’s three-year quest to revamp the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a deal he has blamed for the loss of millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs.
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MIDDLE EAST
U.N. unable to verify that weapons used in Saudi oil attack were from Iran.
Syria's president: OPCW 'faked' report on chlorine gas attack.
Two years after ISIL defeat, Mosul still in ruins.
Four rockets hit military base near Baghdad airport.
US suspects Iran is behind increasingly sophisticated rocket attacks on US bases in Iraq.
Iran President Rouhani may visit Japan on December 19: Jiji.
GCC summit calls for unity amid hopes of easing Gulf crisis.
Qatar emir skips summit but warm words point to thaw with Saudi.
ASIA
Bougainville independence referendum results set for release.
India’s crackdown hits religious freedom in disputed Kashmir.
US, North Korea on collision course as New Year deadline looms.
South Korea's Moon to visit China for trilateral with Japan amid North Korea tension.
U.S. slaps sanctions on Myanmar military chief over Rohingya atrocities.
U.N. high court begins 3-day hearing over Rohingya 'genocide' in Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyi in The Hague for Rohingya genocide showdown.
Protesters rage in India after politicians agree new bill fast-tracking citizenship claims for non-Muslims.
Duterte to lift martial law in southern Philippines: aide.
China hands over cases of detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig to prosecutors. China says detained Canadians treated in 'civilised way'.
Heavy smog chokes Chinese cities amid lax enforcement.
Eight missing after New Zealand volcano eruption.
AFRICA
Nobel peace laureate Abiy says militants, global powers threaten Horn of Africa.
Somalia forces kill 5 rebels who attacked president's house.
Libya arms embargo being systematically violated by UN states.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to meet January 13 over dam dispute.
Algeria presses ahead with election amid protests.
Algeria jails two Bouteflika-era PMs in landmark corruption trial.
Accepting Nobel Peace Prize, Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed calls for unity.
South Africa hit by floods and power cuts.
EUROPE
UK’s Johnson pushes his Brexit message as election nears.
Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn: Redistribute UK wealth, tax the rich.
Photo of sick boy on floor roils British election campaign.
Tens of thousands of Czechs call on prime minister to resign.
Six dead in Czech hospital shooting.
French unions stage new pension protests on sixth day of crippling strike. France protest: Mass rallies held on sixth day of disruption.
Parisians dodge strikes by logging on to share rides, bikes.
World Anti-Doping Agency bans Russia from Olympics. Russia calls Olympics ban over doping 'politically motivated'.
Ukraine, Russia hope for progress after peace talks.
Vladimir Putin calls Georgian murdered in Berlin a 'bandit'.
British economy didn't grow at all between August, November, gov't says.
Russia's Lavrov in Washington as Trump impeachment inquiry looms. Impeachment, Ukraine, Syria and warheads color Washington visit by top Russian diplomat.
Give us hope, give us membership talks, N Macedonia tells EU.
Bosnia shuts down controversial camp, transfers migrants.
AMERICAS
US Senator McConnell says impeachment trial to begin around 'time the bowl games end'.
U.S. Democrats announce impeachment charges against Trump. 'High crimes and misdemeanors': Dems unveil impeachment charges against Trump.
READ: Articles of impeachment against Trump.
Trump, White House rip Democrats over impeachment articles.
U.S. Attorney General Barr says FBI may have acted in 'bad faith' on Russia probe.
Trump admin sanctions 2 senior Venezuelan government officials.
Chile military plane crashes with 38 people on board.
Mexico: ex-minister arrested in US on charges he took millions in cartel bribes.
Year 2019 to be Mexico's most violent on record.
Alberto Fernández inaugurated as president of Argentina.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
U.S. imposes sanctions on Islamist rebels in eastern Congo.
US airstrike kills extremist rebel in Somalia, say officials.
Somalia: Al-Shabab gunmen attack Mogadishu hotel.
St Petersburg bomb: Long jail terms for metro attack.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
US stocks dip ahead of looming weekend deadline on trade.
Pelosi announces support for new Trump NAFTA deal. Democrats, White House forge new North American trade deal.
‘Mountain of mistrust’ blocking US-China interim trade war deal.
WTO judge blockage could prove 'the beginning of the end'.
