International

Trump, Abe say North Korea threat ‘entered a new stage’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned Monday that the threat from North Korea had “entered a new stage,” following another defiant missile test. The two leaders spoke by telephone after North Korea fired off four ballistic missiles, in what Pyongyang provocatively called a training exercise for a strike on US bases in Japan. “Japan and the United States confirmed” the launches violated UN Security Council […]

East Libya forces prepare to retake key oil ports

BENGHAZI, Libya (AFP) — Forces loyal to eastern Libya’s strongman Khalifa Haftar said Monday they were preparing a large counter-offensive to retake key oil export terminals days after losing them to rival fighters. “Libyan forces are mobilising in great numbers to chase terrorist gangs from the Oil Crescent,” said Mohamad Ghanim, a spokesman for the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army. On Friday the Islamist-led Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) seized the key oil terminals of Ras Lanuf, […]

Republicans unveil plan to repeal, replace Obamacare

WASHINGTON, United States — United States House Republicans unveiled long-awaited legislation Monday that would repeal and replace the health care reforms known as Obamacare, largely under the framework that President Donald Trump laid out in his recent congressional address. The American Health Care Act would dismantle several of the core aspects of the reforms, including ending subsidies and taxes, as well as rules requiring individuals to have insurance. “After years of Obamacare’s broken promises, House […]

French storm Zeus leaves two dead, 600,000 homes without power

PARIS, France (AFP) — Winds gusting up to hurricane force battered west and central France on Monday, leaving two people dead and 600,000 homes without electricity, authorities said. Storm Zeus — named after the paramount god in Greek mythology — hit the Atlantic coast before sweeping across to the center and southeast of the country. Weather experts said they measured gusts of up to 193 kilometres (120 miles) per hour in the west. The driver […]

N.Korea missile launch was training exercise for strike on US bases in Japan: KCNA

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Nuclear-armed North Korea’s launch of four missiles on Monday was a training exercise for a strike on US bases in Japan, Pyongyang’s official KCNA news agency reported Tuesday. Leader Kim Jong-Un supervised the drill and gave the order for it to start, it said. “Feasting his eyes on the trails of ballistic rockets”, he praised the Hwasong artillery unit that carried it out, KCNA reported. “The four ballistic rockets launched […]

France’s Fillon keeps bid alive as rival rules himself out

by Adam PLOWRIGHT Agence France-Presse PARIS, France – Former prime minister Alain Juppe ruled out a run for the French presidency on Monday, boosting embattled rightwing party colleague Francois Fillon whose campaign has been thrown into chaos by a fake jobs scandal. Juppe, 71, was the most likely candidate to replace Fillon and unite their deeply divided Republicans party only seven weeks from the start of the two-stage election. Polls suggested Juppe would be more […]

White House’s Navarro: trade deficit threat to national security

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – The Trump administration’s top trade advisor said Monday US trade deficits are a threat to national security that could cause the loss of American freedom and prosperity. Outlining an unapologetically aggressive trade policy, Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, accused economists and the media of ignoring the risk posed by trade deficits and embracing an “antiquated view of the world.” Navarro singled out China and Germany […]

Trump signs revised travel ban, exempts Iraqis

by Andrew BEATTY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a revised ban on travelers from six Muslim-majority nations, scaling back the order to exempt Iraqis and permanent US residents. After his first wide-ranging and controversial restrictions were slapped down by the federal courts, Trump signed an order freezing new visas for Syrians, Iranians, Libyans, Somalis, Yemenis and Sudanese citizens. The White House said Trump signed the order behind […]

Indian police hunt nuns accused of aiding rapist priest

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Five nuns and a doctor are on the run in India after being accused of concealing the birth of a baby to a teenager who alleges that a priest raped her, police said Sunday. Arrest warrants have been issued for the six and for two hospital staff. They are accused of conccealing the 16-year-old’s delivery from authorities and hiding the baby in a Catholic orphanage at Kunnur in the southern […]

Defiant Fillon says ‘no one’ can stop France election bid

by Guy JACKSON Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Embattled French presidential hopeful Francois Fillon vowed that “no one” could force him to quit as he dug in despite calls to withdraw over an expenses scandal, with party leaders heading for a crisis meeting Monday over his candidacy. The conservative was in a defiant mood after holding a rally in Paris attended by tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters. “No one today can prevent […]

US ‘strongly condemns’ North Korea missile launch: State Dept

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States condemned North Korea’s launch of four ballistic missiles, vowing that Washington was ready to “use the full range of capabilities at our disposal against this growing threat.”‎ “The United States strongly condemns the DPRK’s ballistic missile launches tonight, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea’s launches using ballistic missile technology,” the State Department’s acting spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. Toner added: “We […]

China defense budget rises at slowest pace in decades: report

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s defense budget will rise seven percent to $151 billion this year, the slowest annual percentage increase since 1991 and roughly in line with decelerating economic growth, Bloomberg News reported Monday. The budget is normally included in public documents released at the opening of the country’s 10-day annual legislative session, which began Sunday, but was absent this year, adding to perennial concerns abroad over Chinese military transparency. The 2017 budget will […]