International

US sanctions top Kim Jong Un aides over N.Korea rights

by Shaun TANDON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on three North Korean officials as it called the regime’s human rights record among the world’s worst, in an abrupt shift from President Donald Trump’s efforts to woo the regime. In actions required by Congress, the Trump administration said it would seize any US assets of Choe Ryong Hae, described as the right-hand man of leader Kim […]

China court bans iPhone sales in patent dispute: Qualcomm

(AFP) — A Chinese court ordered a ban in the country on iPhone sales in a patent dispute between US chipmaker Qualcomm and Apple, according to a Qualcomm statement Monday. The statement said the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court had granted Qualcomm’s request for two preliminary injunctions against four subsidiaries of Apple, ordering them to immediately to stop selling the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone […]

US stocks open mixed after last week’s rout

NEW YORK (AFP) — Wall Street stocks were mixed early Monday as US markets sought to recover from last week’s rout amid worries over trade wars and slowing US growth. About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2 percent at 24,331.19. The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.1 percent to 2,630.96, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.5 percent to 7,002.90. Major US indices had fallen the most last week […]

Huawei exec to seek Canada bail on health grounds

By Deborah JONES / with Michel COMTE in Ottawa Agence France-Presse CANADA (AFP) — A top executive of Chinese telecom giant Huawei will seek release from Canadian detention Monday on health grounds, as Beijing escalates its protests over her arrest on a US warrant. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer, faces US fraud charges related to alleged sanctions-breaking dealings with Iran, and has been awaiting a Canadian court’s bail decision. She was detained in Vancouver […]

Ex-Nissan chief Ghosn charged, served with fresh arrest warrant

by Shingo ITO Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese prosecutors formally charged Carlos Ghosn with financial misconduct for under-reporting his salary and also served a fresh warrant on separate allegations, local media reported Monday, meaning the tycoon will likely spend Christmas in a cell. Former Nissan chairman Ghosn, 64, has been in detention since his November 19 arrest on suspicion of under-declaring his income by some five billion yen ($44 million) between 2010 and […]

‘I can’t breathe’ were Khashoggi’s final words, report says

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Jamal Khashoggi’s final words were “I can’t breathe,” CNN said Sunday, citing a source who has read the transcript of an audio tape of the final moments before the journalist’s murder. The source told the US network the transcript made clear the killing was premeditated, and suggests several phone calls were made to give briefings on the progress. CNN said Turkish officials believe those calls were made to top officials […]

Japan’s empress-in-waiting ‘insecure’ but vows to serve

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s Crown Princess Masako on Sunday pledged to do her best despite feeling ‘insecure’ about becoming empress in mere months, in a candid statement released on her 55th birthday. Emperor Akihito will step down on April 30, 2019 — the first abdication in the Japanese imperial family in more than two centuries. His eldest son and Masako’s husband Naruhito will ascend to the throne the next day. “Even though I feel […]

Over 1,700 arrested in latest ‘yellow vest’ protests in France

PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 1,700 people were arrested across France during the latest “yellow vest” protests as demonstrators clashing with riot police caused more damage in Paris than a week ago, officials said on Sunday. Clashes broke out in the French capital and other several cities, including Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse, during a fourth weekend of nationwide protests against rising living costs and President Emmanuel Macron in general. The embattled president — whose […]

Macron to address the nation as calls grow to act on ‘yellow vest’ protests

by Katy Lee Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Amid loud calls for him to end the “yellow vest” crisis gripping France, President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation Monday as authorities count the cost of weeks of anti-government protests. The president will speak to the French people at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT), his Elysee office announced — Macron’s first public comments after four weeks of nationwide anti-government demonstrations which again turned violent Saturday […]

Qatar emir skips Saudi-hosted summit with Gulf rivals

by Abdul Hadi Habtor Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Qatar’s emir skipped a summit in Saudi Arabia on Sunday with fellow Arab Gulf leaders whose boycott of the small but energy-flush neighbour has sparked a major regional diplomatic row. Riyadh is hosting the annual gathering as crises rumble on over the 18-month-old dispute with Doha, the war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul. […]

China summons US ambassador over Huawei arrest

by Laurent THOMET / Laurent Thomet, with Delphine Touitou in Washington Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — China summoned the US ambassador on Sunday to protest the arrest of a top executive from telecom giant Huawei in Canada, as Washington’s top trade negotiator rejected suggestions that the case could affect talks aimed at settling a trade war. The arrest of Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou has infuriated Beijing, which demanded Washington drop its […]

Armenia PM’s bloc takes lead in snap parliamentary polls: early resul

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP) — The electoral bloc of Armenia’s acting premier Nikol Pashinyan was in the lead according to early results in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections triggered by the reformist leader, who is aiming to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet country. The bloc led by Pashiniayn’s Civil Contract party had 70.25 percent of the votes,  and in second place with 9.15 percent was the Prosperous Armenia party, according to results from 25 percent […]