International

China warns tech giants after US Huawei ban: report

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Chinese government convened top tech companies this week and warned them of consequences if they cut off technology sales to the country, US media reported on Saturday. The meeting followed US President Donald Trump’s move last month to blacklist Chinese tech giant Huawei over national security concerns, threatening the firm’s global ambitions and ramping up the months-long trade battle between the two countries. Earlier this week, the Chinese government […]

Venezuela says closing consulates in Canada

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela has announced it will close its consulates in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, leaving only its embassy in Ottawa to handle its affairs in Canada. The Venezuelan foreign ministry, which announced the decision Saturday, said it was in response to Canada’s temporary closing of its embassy in Caracas. Canada is one of more than 50 countries, led by the United States, that recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s acting president […]

Democrats slam Trump’s use of trade threats against ally Mexico

by Brian KNOWLTON WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Democrats on Sunday slammed Donald Trump’s tactics of threatening punitive tariffs to extract concessions on immigration from Mexico, saying the US president was recklessly endangering ties to a major ally and trade partner. “What the world is tired of, and what I am tired of, is a president who consistently goes to war, verbal war, with our allies,” Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, […]

5-year-old girl paralyzed by rape shocks Sierra Leone

By KRISTA LARSON Associated Press FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — At first no one knew why the 5-year-old girl could no longer move her legs or control her urine. For months she lay on the ground, unable to walk or play. Some in the community blamed witchcraft but the real reason was more horrific: The child had been brutally raped and left paralyzed as a result of her injuries. The case has brought the issue […]

Trump’s threatened tariffs on hold after deal with Mexico

By JILL COLVIN, MATTHEW LEE and LUIS ALONSO LUGO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has put on hold his plan to begin imposing tariffs on Mexico on Monday, saying the U.S. ally will take “strong measures” to reduce the flow of Central American migrants into the United States. But the deal he announced Friday night, after returning from a trip to Europe, falls short of some of the dramatic overhauls pushed for […]

Embassy of Denmark celebrates 170th Constitution Day in Taguig

by Emily Manuel (Eagle News) — The Embassy of Denmark hosted a celebration of its 170th Constitution Day at the Enderun Colleges, Taguig City last June 5, 2019. Denmark’s Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the Danish constitution of 1849 by Frederik VII, which established Denmark as a constitutional monarchy. Danish Ambassador Jan Top Christensen welcomed government officials and members of the diplomatic corps. In his speech, he highlighted the embassy’s accomplishments in the past […]

Khartoum residents in ‘state of terror’ after bloody crackdown

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — Heavily armed paramilitaries roamed the Sudanese capital Thursday, forcing fearful residents to hide indoors after a crackdown on protesters that authorities admitted had left dozens dead and prompted the African Union to suspend Khartoum. Members of the Rapid Support Forces, who rights groups say have their origins in the Janjaweed militias of Darfur, deployed on the streets in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and rocket launchers, witnesses said. “We’re living […]

UK’s May quits as party leader, starting succession race

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May steps down as leader of her Conservative Party on Friday, formally triggering the race for a successor who will try where she failed to deliver Brexit. May will remain prime minister until a new leader is chosen, likely in late July, but has relinquished control over the direction of Britain’s tortuous departure from the European Union. Brexit is still scheduled for October 31 but while […]

Chinese cartoonist slams Twitter for refusing Tiananmen emoji

HONG KONG, China (AFP) – Chinese artist Badiucao, whose anonymous political satire infuriated Beijing and earned him comparisons to Banksy, on Thursday announced a protest campaign against Twitter over what he says is its pandering to China. This is the second time the social media giant has come under fire in the last week over its handling of China-related content after it apologized for mistakenly suspending accounts critical of Beijing — just days ahead of […]

UAE echoes Saudi call for resumed Sudan talks

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) – The United Arab Emirates, which has been a key supporter of Sudan’s ruling generals, called Thursday for resumed talks on its political future following a deadly crackdown on protesters. The military council, which ousted longtime president Omar al-Bashir on April 11, had offered on Wednesday to reopen negotiations. But the offer was rejected by protest leaders who demanded justice for the 108 people doctors say have been killed […]

Hungary tourist boat death toll reaches 15

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – The bodies of two more South Korean tourists have been found after a sightseeing vessel sunk in Budapest last week, bringing the death toll to 15, with 13 still missing, police said. The Mermaid with mainly South Koreans aboard overturned and sank May 29, seconds after colliding with a bigger cruise ship on a busy stretch of the Danube river in the heart of Budapest. Police said late Wednesday that […]

Special Report: Top US cardinal accused of mishandling aide’s sex abuse case

  By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — When Cardinal Daniel DiNardo first met Laura Pontikes in his wood-paneled conference room in December 2016, the leader of the U.S. Catholic Church’s response to its sex abuse scandal said all the right things. He praised her for coming forward to report that his deputy in the Galveston-Houston archdiocese had manipulated her into a sexual relationship and declared her a “victim” of the priest, Pontikes said. […]