US, China must ‘lead the way’ on climate: Obama Bonn, Germany | AFP | UN climate negotiators in Bonn were left frustrated Tuesday as the White House postponed a meeting to determine whether America will stay in the 196-nation Paris Agreement to curb planet-harming fossil fuel. As uncertainty mounted over …
Read More »Sally Yates to testify as reports say Obama warned Trump not to hire Flynn
Washington, United States | AFP | Barack Obama warned his soon to be successor Donald Trump against hiring Michael Flynn as his national security advisor, a former administration official told AFP Monday. As President Trump sought to blame the Obama administration for missing Flynn’s links with Russian contacts, the former …
Read More »U.S. attacking North Korea?
Surely Donald Trump couldn’t be that foolish By Benjamin Habib As the USS Carl Vinson and its carrier battle group steamed through the Pacific toward the Korean Peninsula in late April, many were wondering if the Trump administration could be so rash as to attack North Korea. Regardless of how …
Read More »Pope Francis to receive Donald Trump on May 24: Vatican
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis will receive US President Donald Trump at the Vatican on May 24, the Holy See said Thursday, ahead of a G7 summit meeting in Sicily. Trump’s audience with Francis in the morning will be followed by meetings with his Secretary of …
Read More »China demands immediate halt to US missile shield in South Korea
Beijing, China | AFP | China called Tuesday for the immediate suspension of a controversial missile defence system hours after Washington confirmed the shield was now operational in South Korea. “China’s position is clear-cut and firm. We oppose the deployment of the THAAD system in (South Korea) and urge relevant …
Read More »Trump to have a chat with Putin today
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump will speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by telephone Tuesday, the White House said in a statement. There was no indication about the topics of discussion for the two leaders. The call was scheduled for 12:30 pm (1630 GMT). Trump …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Trump’s fondness for strongmen trumps rights concerns
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump makes no secret of his empathy for strongmen with spotty rights records, but his embrace of Rodrigo Duterte shows he still has the power to shock. Trump has invited the Philippines leader to Washington, despite his unabashed support for an …
Read More »US spending deal: More military funds, none for border wall
Washington, United States | AFP | US congressional leaders on Monday unveiled a bipartisan deal funding government through September, with a compromise that includes President Donald Trump’s call for increased military spending but ignores his demand to fund a border wall. The agreement was struck late Sunday after weeks of …
Read More »Defiant North Korea fires another ballistic missile
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile Saturday in apparent defiance of a US push for tougher international sanctions to curb the Asian country’s nuclear threat. “North Korea fired an unidentified missile from a site in the vicinity of Bukchang in Pyeongannam-do (South Pyeongan Province) …
Read More »US ready to talk to North Korea
US seeks talks with North Korea to solve nuke issue Washington, United States | AFP | The United States is not ruling out direct dialogue with North Korea on its nuclear program, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with National Public Radio. “Obviously, that would be the …
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