Washington, United States | AFP | From a young gay mayor who launched his candidacy Wednesday, to high-flying female US senators and charismatic military veterans, a crowded field of Democrats jockeying to challenge Donald Trump in 2020 has already emerged — and is sure to grow. All told it will …
Read More »BuzzFeed story, video prompt media soul-searching, Trump attacks
Washington, United States | AFP | The BuzzFeed story was a bombshell: President Donald Trump instructed his lawyer to lie to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. It sparked immediate calls for impeachment. Less than 24 hours later, the story was struck down by a rare statement …
Read More »From Prince William to Mike Pompeo: top quotes at Davos
Davos, Switzerland | AFP | Here is a serving of quotes from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Tuesday, where a year after US President Donald Trump stole the show, Brazil’s new far-right leader grabbed the limelight. “I’d like to say it’s a personal treat for me to be …
Read More »From Mao to Trump: China’s economic roller-coaster since 1949
Shanghai, China | AFP | After remarkable growth and change for decades, most economists believe China’s economy is entering a period of slower, steadier growth. The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.6 percent last year, government figures showed on Monday, the slowest rate since 1990. Here is a brief look at China’s …
Read More »Real progress needed at Trump-Kim II: analysts
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The planned second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un needs to make tangible progress on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons if it is to avoid being dismissed as “reality TV”, analysts say. Their summit in Singapore in June was undoubtedly …
Read More »US court blocks Trump rule that limited abortion access
Washington, United States | AFP | A judge in the United States on Monday blocked an order by President Donald Trump’s administration that would have stripped free birth control from some American women. In October 2017, the Trump administration annulled an Obamacare provision that obliged employer health plans to pay for contraception. The move extended …
Read More »Turkey vows not to be intimidated by Trump threats
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | Turkey on Monday vowed it would not be intimidated by US President Donald Trump’s threats of economic devastation if Ankara attacks Kurdish forces as American troops withdraw. Trump’s threat came after Ankara repeatedly threatened a new cross-border operation against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which have been working closely …
Read More »Government shutdown becomes longest in US history
Washington, United States | AFP | The partial US government shutdown entered a record 22nd day Saturday, as President Donald Trump remains steadfast in his demand for $5.7 billion to build a Mexico border wall and Democrats in Congress determined to refuse the funds. The impasse has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing …
Read More »US begins withdrawing gear from Syria, but not troops
Washington, United States | AFP | The US military has begun moving non-essential gear out of Syria but is not withdrawing troops for now, defense officials said amid uncertainty over America’s planned exit from the war-battered nation. President Donald Trump last month claimed the Islamic State group had been defeated in Syria and said all …
Read More »Trump decision looms over Iran deal as Europe watches
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump was set Friday to decide whether to jeopardize the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by re-imposing American sanctions, against the wishes of European leaders who say the agreement is working just fine. Washington agreed to sanctions relief under the terms of …
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