NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Melania Trump, the ex-model and third wife of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, denied reports Thursday that questioned whether she had worked illegally as an immigrant. It is the third controversy about her in less than three weeks that the potential first lady or the Trump campaign has been forced to address as her husband inflames the political establishment with his divisive campaign for the White House. “There has […]
North America
Obama: not confident U.S. can trust Russia’s Putin in Syria
VIRGINIA, United States (Reuters) — U.S. President Barack Obama said Russia’s and Syria’s most recent actions have raised doubts about their commitment to a pause in the conflict Syria, where the United States is exploring options to cooperate with Russia militarily to defeat Islamic State. “I’m not confident that we can trust the Russians or Vladimir Putin, which is why we have to test whether or not we can get an actual cessation of […]
Trump, in fierce new broadside, says immigrants pose hidden threat
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump launched new attacks on immigrants Thursday, telling supporters that Somalis and other refugees from “terrorist nations” should be barred entry to the United States. “We are letting people come in from terrorist nations that shouldn’t be allowed because you can’t vet them,” Trump, who has built his campaign around an anti-immigration platform, said at a rally in Portland, Maine. “You have no idea who they […]
Obama says money to fight Zika virus is ‘running out’
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Money to fight the outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in the United States is running out, US President Barack Obama said Thursday, calling the situation “critical” and urging lawmakers to act. Obama spoke to reporters at the Pentagon, where he said the US government is taking the news of 15 cases of Zika being locally transmitted in Florida “extremely seriously.” “As our public health experts have been warning for […]
Trump, in fierce new broadside, says immigrants pose hidden threat
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump launched new attacks on immigrants Thursday, telling supporters that Somalis and other refugees from “terrorist nations” should be barred entry to the United States. “We are letting people come in from terrorist nations that shouldn’t be allowed because you can’t vet them,” Trump, who has built his campaign around an anti-immigration platform, said at a rally in Portland, Maine. “You have no idea who they […]
Trump talk of rigged election ‘ridiculous,’ says Obama
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – by Michael Mathes President Barack Obama on Thursday dismissed as “ridiculous” Republican White House candidate Donald Trump’s assertion that the US election in November will be rigged in Democrat Hillary Clinton’s favor. “If Mr. Trump is suggesting there is a conspiracy theory that is being propagated across the country, including in places like Texas, where it is typically not Democrats in charge of voting booths, that is ridiculous,” Obama told […]
FBI arrests more than 40 East Coast mobsters
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – by Jennie MATTHEW The FBI said it leapt from the pages of a mafia novel. But fiction turned reality Thursday when prosecutors unveiled charges against 46 alleged mobsters, making dozens of arrests up and down the East Coast. The arrests spotlight an Italian mafia purportedly alive and kicking in 21st century America, not confined to Hollywood legend, and one which prosecutors said has diversified in keeping with the times. […]
With Trump talk of ‘rigged’ election, a line crossed?
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – by Michael Mathes Donald Trump’s assertion that the US presidential election will be rigged has triggered alarm among observers, who warn he could be laying the groundwork for rejecting a Hillary Clinton win and even sparking civil unrest. The Republican Trump has routinely claimed that Bernie Sanders lost his Democratic primary race against Clinton because of a “rigged system” packed with superdelegates who could vote for the candidate of their […]
Trump reacts to Iran alleged cash payment
FLORIDA, United States (Reuters) — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he watched a video on Wednesday (August 3) that showed Iranian officials were receiving money allegedly provided by the U.S. “Iran, I don’t think you’ve heard this anywhere but here, Iran provided all of that footage, the tape, of taking that money off that airplane,” Trump told supporters in Daytona Beach, Florida. “How does a president do that? How do you do that? We’re […]
US billionaire Icahn to close Trump Taj Mahal casino
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The Trump Taj Mahal casino in New Jersey’s Atlantic City, once owned by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and which still bears his name, is to close, its current owners announced Wednesday. They blamed the closure, effective after the September 5 Labor Day holiday, on a strike that has dragged on more than a month in a dispute over workers’ health care and retirement benefits. The Taj is losing […]
White House denies Iran ransom payment
by Andrew BEATTY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House on Wednesday denied renewed accusations that it paid Iran ransom for the release of four American prisoners, parrying a tidal wave of condemnations from Republicans. Amid revelations that the US helped airlift $400 million worth of Swiss francs and euros to Iran after a prisoner release, the White House insisted the two were not linked. In January, five American prisoners were released as Washington […]
US Air Force declares F-35A fighter jet ‘combat ready’
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Air Force on Tuesday declared an initial squadron of F-35A stealth fighters as ready for combat, a major milestone for the futuristic aircraft dogged by delays and cost overruns. The squadron of about 12 planes is based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the planes’ combat rating — known as initial operational capability — comes after completion of a raft of tests and training exercises. “The […]





