Brussels / AFP The EU unveiled ambitious plans on Wednesday to boost joint defence spending including on shared assets like drones and helicopters, as concerns grow that President-elect Donald Trump may downgrade the US security commitment. Trump shocked longtime NATO allies in Europe when he suggested on the campaign trail be would think twice about coming to their aid …

  New York / AFP Workers from fast-food chains, airports and other service industries rallied in US cities as part of a nationwide day of disruption to demand union rights and a minimum wage of $15 an hour. In New York, a group of 500 that included airport and taxi workers joined a union-backed “Fight For 15” march in front …

  Ottawa / AFP Canada approved two new pipelines including one to the Pacific coast that will allow producers to sell into new Asian markets, while rejecting a third project. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press conference his government has agreed to tripling the capacity of Kinder Morgan’s half-century-old Trans Mountain pipeline to move crude from the Alberta oil …