https://youtu.be/1S-g4LPeRpY President Barack Obama bolsters Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency in a final push, as the nominees head into a fierce final weekend of campaigning. (video courtesy AFPTV)
International
Clinton touts optimism against Trump’s grim warnings
Cleveland, United States (AFP) — by Ivan Couronne with Michael Mathes in Hershey, Pennsylvania Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump brandished starkly different visions of America as they headed into a fierce final weekend of campaigning Saturday, one celebrating hope as the other bashed corruption. Trump doubled down on his attacks on Clinton as a product of a venal and incompetent establishment, while Clinton headlined an optimistic concert spectacular featuring superstar singer Beyonce. Forecasts based on […]
Russia-announced ceasefire to start in Syria’s Aleppo
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — A Russia-declared unilateral ceasefire is to take hold in Syria’s Aleppo Friday even as rebels stepped up a week-old assault to break a government siege of the city’s eastern districts. Regime ally Russia, which announced the 10-hour “humanitarian pause” on Wednesday, said it would start at 0700 GMT. The pause is the second declared by Moscow in less than a month after a three-day ceasefire in late October failed to encourage […]
S. Korea president says scandal ‘my fault’, denies cult links
by Jung Ha-Won SEOUL, South Korea | AFP | — South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Friday agreed to be questioned in a formal corruption probe, portraying herself as an over-trusting, “lonely” leader who dropped her guard with a close friend arrested for fraud. In a highly personal televised address to the nation, Park said the scandal involving her long-time confidante Choi Soon-Sil was “all my fault”, but denied reports linking her and Choi […]
US missile system in S. Korea in 8-10 months: General
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The United States will deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea in eight to 10 months despite strong objections from China and Russia, a US military chief said Friday. Seoul and Washington agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the South after North Korea conducted a series of missile launches in the wake of its fourth nuclear test in January. The decision was […]
Syria rebels renew Aleppo attack before Russia ceasefire
by Omar Haj Kadour ALEPPO, Syria (AFP) — Syrian rebels renewed their bid to break a government siege of eastern Aleppo on Thursday, shelling regime-held parts of the city hours before a brief Russian-declared ceasefire was due to begin. State media said at least 12 people had been killed in rebel rocket and gunfire on regime-controlled neighbourhoods, after an assault that began with a double car bomb attack. Rebels have been battling for nearly a […]
Clinton, Trump deploy big guns as race focuses on must-win states
by Jewel Samad, with Michael Mathes in Washington RALEIGH, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton unleashed top surrogates including campaigner-in-chief President Barack Obama to bolster her case Thursday in the election’s homestretch, as rival Donald Trump deployed wife Melania to soften his image in crucial battleground states. As a slew of polls showed the race tightening with just five days to go, the campaigns brought all hands on deck in a handful of states that […]
Melania Trump makes solo pitch for ‘fantastic’ husband
by Thomas URBAIN BERWYN, United States (AFP) — Melania Trump, the Slovenian-born former model who could become America’s first foreign-born first lady in two centuries, appealed to her husband’s soft side in the battleground state of Pennsylvania Thursday. Dressed in a filmy pink blouse and white skirt, it was the 46-year-old’s first solo campaign appearance — the third wife of Donald Trump she is a full-time mother to the mogul’s youngest child, Barron. “He will […]
Clinton plots final push as race tightens
by Andrew BEATTY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton saturated the airwaves and deployed star surrogates to battleground states Thursday, looking to snuff-out an eleventh-hour insurgency that has put Donald Trump at the gates of the White House. As a slew of polls showed the race tightening, President Barack Obama shuttled into Florida for multiple rallies aimed at firing up the Democratic base and turning out the vote for Clinton in a must-win state. […]
Yemenis protest UN peace roadmap
ADEN, Yemen (AFP ) – Thousands of Yemenis protested Thursday against a new UN plan to end the devastating conflict between rebels and the Saudi-backed government, saying it would legitimise the insurgents’ power grab. The demonstrations in the southern city of Aden and other locations took place shortly before UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed arrived in Sanaa for peace talks with the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. “We reject the plan of Ould Cheikh (Ahmed),” read […]
Over 100 dead in new migrant tragedy, second wreck feared
by Ella Ide with Andreas Solaro aboard the Topaz Responder ROME, Italy (AFP) – At least 110 people are feared to have drowned off Libya when a migrant boat capsized, and more may have died in another stricken vessel, the UN’s refugee agency said Thursday, citing survivor testimony. “A vessel with around 140 people on board overturned Wednesday just a few hours after setting off from Libya, throwing everyone into the water. Only 29 people […]
US airstrikes kill 30 Afghan civilians, officials say
by Gul Rahim KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (AFP) – US airstrikes early Thursday killed at least 30 Afghan civilians, including women and children, in the volatile northern province of Kunduz, officials said, after a Taliban assault left two American soldiers dead. The airstrike triggered emotionally-charged protests in the provincial capital, with the victims’ relatives parading mutilated bodies of dead children piled into open trucks through the streets of Kunduz city. The carnage underscores worsening insecurity after the […]
