North America

Trump staffer apologizes for Melania plagiarism row

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — A Trump staffer apologized Wednesday for using remarks by Michelle Obama in a speech delivered by Melania Trump at the Republican National Convention that ignited a deeply embarrassing plagiarism row. The speech from the ex-model, watched by millions on television on Monday night, amounted to a nightmarish start for the convention and subjected her husband’s presidential campaign to withering scrutiny. Melania Trump had “always liked” the Democratic first lady and […]

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Trump son presents dad as president ‘for all’

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump’s eldest son on Tuesday electrified the Republican National Convention with a passionate speech painting his “best friend” and father as the candidate most qualified to lead America. It was a sweeping speech peppered with personal anecdotes seeking to humanize his father and which sought to expand Trump’s paltry appeal among minorities, presenting him as a man who can do the impossible. Donald Trump Jr, a married father of […]

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‘Lock her up,’ shout Republicans denouncing Clinton

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Republican delegates savaged Hillary Clinton Tuesday by breaking into angry chants of “lock her up” and “guilty” as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie laid out a criminal-style case against her. While the FBI stopped short of recommending charges against the presumptive Democratic nominee over her email scandal, Christie, himself a former federal prosecutor went into attack-dog mode on the second day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. “Let’s do […]

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Kerry to meet Abbas as part of global tour

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Paris this week for talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on peace prospects with Israel, the State Department said Tuesday. The meeting with Abbas will be the top US diplomat’s second stop on a global tour that will kick off late Thursday. Kerry will discuss with the Palestinian leader “ongoing efforts to advance a two-state solution,” the State Department said in […]

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Republican Party nominates Donald Trump for president

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — The Republican Party formally nominated Donald Trump for president of the United States Tuesday, capping a roller-coaster campaign that saw the billionaire tycoon defeat 16 White House rivals. “It’s my honor to be able to throw Donald Trump over the top in the delegation count tonight,” his son Donald Trump Jr told delegates at the Republican National Convention which erupted in cheers and applause. Trump is expected to formally accept […]

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Republican convention starts Trump nomination roll call vote

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — The Republican National Convention began the formal roll call vote Tuesday that will culminate in delegates nominating billionaire Donald Trump for president. “The great state of Alabama… is proud to cast its votes: 1 vote for Marco Rubio, 13 for Ted Cruz, and 36 votes for the next president of the United States, Donald J. Trump!” US Senator Jeff Sessions said as he launched the process. The real estate magnate […]

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US to raise concerns at UN over N. Korea missile tests

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States warned Monday it would raise concerns at the United Nations over the latest North Korean missile tests carried out in violation of Security Council resolutions. US Strategic Command said it detected and tracked three North Korean missile launches at 2044 GMT, 2058 GMT and 2135 GMT, just over a week after Pyongyang issued threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in South […]

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Trump looks to wife to move past Republican revolt

by Michael Mathes Andrew BEATTY CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump looked to his wife Melania to put the Republican convention back on track Monday, after a chaotic first day dominated by a stunning open revolt against his White House bid. Jeers and yells filled the convention floor in Cleveland, Ohio and echoed across the political landscape, as simmering divisions among thousands of Republican delegates spilled out into the open. Anti-Trump Republicans — outraged […]

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UN fears IS in Libya could relocate from Sirte

UNITED NATION, United States (AFP) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Monday that Islamic State fighters could set up new cells across Libya and north Africa as they are driven from their stronghold of Sirte. Ban outlined the threat from foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) in Libya in a confidential report to the Security Council, obtained by AFP. “The recent pressure against ISIL in Libya could lead its members, including FTFs, to relocate and regroup in […]

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Mexican president apologizes over mansion scandal

by Carola SOLÉ MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto apologized and admitted committing an error on Monday over his wife’s purchase of a $7 million mansion from a government contractor as he signed anti-corruption legislation. Pena Nieto enacted the new National Anti-Corruption System aimed at fighting what he described as the “social cancer” afflicting Mexico, but he also used the occasion to address a two-year-old scandal. While he said that he […]

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Johnson says Britain not abandoning ‘leading role’ in Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) –New British foreign minister and top Brexit backer Boris Johnson pledged Monday Britain would continue to play a leading role in Europe as he met his European Union peers for the first time. “We have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union but… we are not going in any way to abandon our leading role in European participation,” Johnson said. He said he had had […]

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Open the document in a new window A city on the rebound, Cleveland shines as RNC opens

by Michael Mathes CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — As an American city, Cleveland has suffered its share of distressing jokes — the river famously caught fire, after all. But the urban center is undergoing unprecedented revival that is transforming downtown, and this week’s Republican National Convention is the feather in this Ohio city’s cap. The community of nearly 400,000 was known for its steady population decline, as manufacturing jobs fled in the 1980s and 1990s […]

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