WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President-elect Donald Trump took aim Monday at a second US aerospace giant in as many weeks, this time attacking the F-35 stealth fighter and its “out of control” costs. With a current development and acquisition price tag of $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft — most of them destined for the Air Force — the Lockheed Martin-built plane is the most expensive in history, and costs are […]
Other News
Study suggests statins linked to lower dementia risk
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Some cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, appear to be linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease in certain people, suggested a study out Monday. However, not all patients benefited, and the report stopped short of establishing any cause and effect, so experts said rigorous clinical trials are needed to further explore the issue. The research in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Neurology was based on an […]
UN chief alarmed by reports of atrocities in Aleppo
UNITED NATION, United States (AFP) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is alarmed by reports of atrocities against “a large number” of civilians, including women and children, in recent hours in the Syrian city of Aleppo, his spokesman said Monday. “While stressing that the United Nations is not able to independently verify these reports, the secretary-general is conveying his grave concern to the relevant parties,” said spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Ban has asked his envoy Staffan de […]
Criticizing Trump, W.House says Taiwan ‘not a bargaining chip’
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama’s White House on Monday took aim at Donald Trump’s recent comments on Taiwan, saying the long-standing alliance should not be used as a “bargaining chip” with Beijing. “Taiwan is not a source of leverage, it’s a close partner of the United States,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, in an unusually direct criticism of Trump’s remarks. Earnest’s comments come after the president-elect suggested he could jettison Washington’s […]
Lasting IS defeat unlikely anytime soon: report
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The threat from the Islamic State group will likely endure for years to come, even if it loses all the territory it once held under its so-called “caliphate,” experts warned Monday. In a report, 20 experts on the Middle East and jihadism also described how organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the group formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front are adapting methods and continuing to expand. A US-led coalition has since […]
Duterte says he is ready to leave, pushes Congress on federal gov’t shift
(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is ready to step down in two or three years’ time if Congress would be able to lay the groundwork for a federal system of government. As a matter of fact, he said, he is even ready to leave office anytime if the people truly would not want him to continue as President. In his speech during the awarding ceremonies for the Ten Outstanding Young […]
Global warming is melting mountain glaciers: study
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Global warming is responsible for the melting of mountain glaciers around the world in the last century, scientists said Monday. Since glaciers respond slowly to climate change and are susceptible to yearly weather changes, there has been some debate in the scientific community about whether climate change was entirely to blame for their ice melt. For instance, the last report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded only […]
Army says battle for Aleppo in ‘final phase’
by Rim Haddad with Layal Abou Rahal in Beirut Agence France Presse ALEPPO, Syria (AFP) — The crucial battle for Aleppo entered its “final phase” Monday after Syrian rebels retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. President Bashar al-Assad’s forces held more than 90 percent of the onetime opposition stronghold of east Aleppo, a monitor and military official said, and appeared on the verge of retaking […]
Congress, at odds with Trump, eyes Russia hack probe
by Paul Handley with Jennie Matthew in New York Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Leading senators on Monday supported a congressional investigation into US intelligence assessments that Russia interfered in the election, putting top Republicans on a collision course with incoming president Donald Trump. The president-elect has dismissed the intelligence reports as “ridiculous” defying an increasing number of senators from his own party, as well as top Democrats, the Central Intelligence Agency […]
Kremlin blames lack of US cooperation for Palmyra blow
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The Kremlin on Monday deplored the lack of cooperation with the United States in Palmyra after Islamic State jihadists re-entered the ancient Syrian city over the weekend. “We regret that we have yet to completely neutralize their offensive,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the fighters’ return to the fabled city after an eight-month absence. “We also regret that there still is a lack of coordinated action and real cooperation with […]
Trump’s cabinet picks so far — a quick guide
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday formally nominated retired Marine general John Kelly to be his secretary of homeland security — the third former general tapped to join the Republican billionaire’s inner circle. The following is a list of key cabinet and other nominations made so far by Trump, who takes office on January 20: Cabinet Attorney General: Jeff Sessions, 69 One of Trump’s earliest supporters during the campaign, the […]
Turkey detains Kurds, hits militants after twin blasts
by Raziye Akkoc with Ezzedine Said in Istanbul Agence France Presse ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) – Turkey detained over 200 people including dozens of officials from pro-Kurdish parties and struck Kurdish militants in Iraq Monday in response to this weekend’s twin bombings claimed by a radical Kurd separatist group. The toll from Saturday’s attacks near an Istanbul football stadium and an adjacent park rose to 44 Monday, Health Minister Recep Akdag said. Most of the dead were police […]





