International

China reiterates support for Hong Kong’s embattled leader

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s ruling Communist Party once again underlined its wholesale support for Hong Kong’s embattled leader on Tuesday as she struggles to contain increasingly violent anti-government unrest. The two-month crisis has become the biggest threat to Beijing’s rule of the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city since its handover from the British in 1997. One of the protesters’ key demands is for Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam to stand down. But, a day […]

Beijing warns of ‘countermeasures’ over US missile plans

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China warned Tuesday it would take unspecified countermeasures if the United States goes ahead with plans to deploy ground-based missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. The comments come days after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US was now free to deploy the weapons following its withdrawal last week from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia. “China will not stand idly by and will be forced to take countermeasures […]

US designates China as a ‘currency manipulator’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday formally named China a currency manipulator, accusing Beijing of weakening the yuan as the two countries’ trade war escalates. The move came as China earlier on Monday allowed its currency to fall to its weakest levels against the dollar in almost a decade, prompting irate Twitter outbursts from US President Donald Trump and sending global equities markets diving into the red. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin […]

N. Korea threatens more launches after fourth test in 12 days

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea threatened Tuesday to carry out more weapons tests after it fired its fourth set of projectiles in less than two weeks following the start of joint exercises between the US and the South. The rising temperature on the peninsula threatens to derail putative negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington, with the North saying the combined drills were a “flagrant violation” of the process. Pyongyang has always been infuriated by […]

Trump orders freeze on all Venezuelan govt assets in US

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States and barred transactions with its authorities, in Washington’s latest move against President Nicolas Maduro. Trump took the step “in light of the continued usurpation of power by Nicolas Maduro and persons affiliated with him, as well as human rights abuses,” according to the order. The Wall Street Journal said the move was the […]

The US shooting victims: what we know

by Michael Mathes EL PASO, United States (AFP) — A hero mother shielding her infant, Mexican nationals shopping just across the border, a 15-year-old soccer player: details began to emerge Monday of the 30 victims of back-to-back shootings in Texas and Ohio — and the stories behind the grim statistics. In many ways the victims are a cross-section of America: grandparents shopping at an El Paso Walmart and young adults enjoying a late night out […]

US, S.Korea lack ‘political will’ on peace talks: KCNA

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a “flagrant violation” of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of “political will” to improve relations. The comments by an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two “unidentified projectiles” off its eastern coast, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. There were no further […]

Trump to visit El Paso Wednesday after shooting: mayor

EL PASO, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump will visit El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday following a mass shooting in the southern border town that killed 22 people, the local mayor said. “President Trump called me yesterday. He was very gracious in the call… (and) offered to help in any way he could,” Dee Margo told a news conference on Monday. “He is coming out here on Wednesday.” Trump has been accused by […]

Clashes, travel chaos in Hong Kong as leader warns city on brink

  by Elaine YU / Yan ZHAO Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong riot police clashed with pro-democracy protesters for a third straight day Monday as the city’s leader warned the global financial hub was nearing a “very dangerous situation”, and a rare strike caused transport chaos. Clouds of tear gas billowed across the working-class district of Wong Tai Sin on Monday afternoon as the city buckled under rare general strike, […]

Hong Kong protests pushing city to ‘very dangerous situation’: leader

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s embattled pro-Beijing leader on Monday accused pro-democracy protesters of trying to “destroy” the city in a dramatic escalation of rhetoric as the financial hub is rocked by two months of rallies and clashes. Two months of protests and clashes with police have pushed the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city to a “very dangerous situation”, chief executive Carrie Lam said, as she struck a defiant tone as strikes and travel […]

Pro-democracy push causes transport chaos in Hong Kong

by Jerome TAYLOR / Elaine YU HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Peak-hour morning train travel and international flights in Hong Kong were thrown into chaos on Monday as pro-democracy protesters launched an attempted city-wide strike to ramp up pressure on the financial hub’s embattled leaders. Activists descended on key subway stations during the morning rush hour, deliberately keeping open doors to stop trains departing, causing long queues and triggering occasional scuffles between angry commuters and […]

More than 100 flights cancelled in Hong Kong: airport

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — More than 100 flights were canceled in Hong Kong on Monday morning with airport authorities warning passengers of potential disruption, as pro-democracy protesters kick off a city-wide strike. At least 105 flights were listed as canceled on the airport’s departure page on Monday morning. When contacted, an airport spokesman did not give any reason for the cancellations but said passengers should check to see if their flight was departing. “The […]