International

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 […]

Thousands march for climate in Paris despite ‘yellow vest’ unrest

Paris, France | AFP | Up to 25,000 people marched through Paris on Saturday urging greater action on climate change, despite fears that their protest would be scuppered by “yellow vest” demonstrations. Police estimated the number of green activists heading onto the streets at 17,000 while organisers counted 25,000 urging world governments to better protect the environment. The numbers were similar to previous climate marches in Paris, despite sporadic violence in the city on Saturday among thousands of “yellow […]

Trump says chief of staff John Kelly leaving at year’s end

Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his chief of staff John Kelly will soon be leaving the administration, the latest key personnel move at a time of mounting pressure from the Russia election-meddling probe that comes amid increased focus on preparing for the 2020 elections. Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, was long rumored to be on the way out, amid reports that his relationship with the volatile Trump had deteriorated to such an […]

Trump’s revolving door: Kelly is latest senior White House departure

  White House chief of staff John Kelly will be leaving by the end of the year, US President Donald Trump announced Saturday. That will make him the latest top official to exit the US leader’s inner circle. Dozens of White House aides — from Attorney General Jeff Sessions to press secretary Sean Spicer to chief of staff Reince Priebus — have either left or been sacked from their posts since Trump took office on January 20, 2017. […]

Surfer severely mauled by shark in Australia

sA surfer was severely mauled by a shark off Australia’s east coast, officials said Sunday, the latest in a series of attacks in recent months. The 36-year-old was surfing near Scotts Head Beach some 490 kilometres (300 miles) north of Sydney in the morning when he was bitten, New South Wales state police said. “The man suffered a severe leg injury below his knee on his right leg,” a NSW Ambulance spokesman told AFP. “He […]