International

Top US senators scold Riyadh, vow action over Khashoggi debacle

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — An influential US Senate ally of President Donald Trump pledged Tuesday that Congress would take decisive action against Saudi Arabia over a missing writer, calling for the ouster of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “This guy is a wrecking ball. He had this guy murdered in a consulate in Turkey,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told “Fox and Friends,” one of the president’s favorite news broadcasts. Graham, discussing the feared killing […]

Trump says ‘100 percent’ sure to seek reelection

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Not that there was much doubt, but President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he is sure to seek a second term in 2020. “Yes, 100 percent,” Trump told Fox Business television in an interview due to air later in the day. Trump upended politics as usual in the United States with his shock 2016 victory over Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton. Even before upsetting predictions of an easy Clinton win, Trump […]

Koreas and UN Command discuss demilitarizing border

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The two Koreas and the US-led United Nations Command held talks Tuesday on demilitarizing a section of the heavily fortified border dividing the peninsula, as a diplomatic thaw gathers pace. “The three parties examined the progress in removing landmines at the Joint Security Area (JSA)…and discussed other practical matters regarding steps toward disarming the area,” Seoul’s defense ministry said in a statement. The JSA, also known as the truce […]

Pompeo in Saudi for crisis talks on missing journalist

  by Shaun Tandon Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — US top diplomat Mike Pompeo was in Saudi Arabia for urgent talks with King Salman Tuesday seeking answers about the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, amid US media reports the kingdom may be mulling an admission he died during a botched interrogation. “Rogue killers” could be to blame for the disappearance of Khashoggi, who has not been seen since he walked into the […]

Koreas and UN Command begin talks on demilitarizing border

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The two Koreas and the US-led United Nations Command began talks Tuesday on demilitarising a section of the heavily fortified border dividing the peninsula, as a diplomatic thaw gathers pace. “The first meeting between the South, North and the UNC on disarming the Joint Security Area (JSA) will take place at 10am today at Panmunjom,” Seoul’s defense ministry said in a message sent to reporters. The JSA, also known as […]

‘Calm before storm’ as Asian stocks drift higher

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Asian shares drifted marginally higher on Tuesday following another volatile session on Wall Street but a perfect storm of risks hovering over the global economy curbed investors’ enthusiasm. Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng market led the gains, rising by half a percentage point, while equities in Japan scraped into positive territory after suffering stiff losses the previous day. Chinese stocks opened essentially flat while markets in Australia and South Korea were […]

Australia mulling embassy move to Jerusalem: PM

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia is considering moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Tuesday, following the lead of US President Donald Trump. Morrison called a press conference to say he was “open-minded” to proposals to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move his nation’s embassy to the holy city, a sharp break with the policy of successive Australian governments for decades. “We’re committed […]

Trump questions climate change during hurricane damage tour

by Saul LOEB Agence France Presse PANAMA CITY, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Monday met with victims of Hurricane Michael in devastated areas of Florida and Georgia but again cast doubt on the scientific consensus that climate change is caused by human activity. Flying in the Marine One presidential helicopter over Florida’s Mexico Beach, one of the towns worst hit by the Category 4 storm, Trump surveyed uprooted trees and rows of […]

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen dies of cancer: family

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Billionaire Paul Allen, who founded US software giant Microsoft with Bill Gates in the 1970s, died Monday after his latest battle with cancer. He was 65. “My brother was a remarkable individual on every level. While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend,” Allen’s sister Jody said in a statement. “Paul’s family and […]

Turkey searches Saudi consulate as Trump speaks of ‘rogue killers’

by Fulya Ozerkan and Stuart Williams Agence France Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish police on Monday searched the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for the first time since journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing, as US President Donald Trump floated the idea that “rogue killers” could be to blame for his disappearance. Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident who became increasingly critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since he […]

Harvard on trial over alleged discrimination against Asians

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Harvard University went on trial Monday over an opaque admissions selection process that critics say discriminates against Asian students. A lawsuit has challenged the use of race as a factor in Harvard admissions — a decades-old push to boost minority enrollments at America’s oldest and perhaps most prestigious university. Federal Judge Allison Dale Burroughs heard opening arguments in the non-jury civil trial in Boston expected to last three weeks. […]

Bezos defends Amazon effort for Pentagon cloud project

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Amazon chief Jeff Bezos on Monday defended the company’s bid for a major Pentagon cloud computing contract, saying it was important to support US defense efforts even if unpopular. “This is a great country and it does need to be defended,” Bezos said onstage during a question-and-answer session at the Wired 25th Anniversary conference in San Francisco. Bezos was asked about his position on defense contracts after Google dropped […]