by Sylvie Lanteaume Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States -Russia is “complicit” in atrocities perpetrated by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad because of its “deliberate” choice to violate terms of a ceasefire in besieged Eastern Ghouta, the Pentagon said Thursday, in comments hammered home separately by the US national security advisor. Thousands of civilians poured out of Eastern Ghouta as the capture of a key town brought Syria’s government even closer to retaking the devastated rebel enclave […]
Tag: Donald Trump
Trump fires top diplomat Tillerson, names Pompeo successor
by Dave Clark / Jerome Cartillier Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump on Tuesday sacked his top diplomat Rex Tillerson and named current CIA chief Mike Pompeo to succeed him, ending a rocky tenure by the Texas oilman who had frequently been at odds with the mercurial US president. A senior White House official said Trump wanted to reshuffle his team with a view to launching talks with North Korea, following […]
Tillerson and Trump’s rocky road to ‘Rexit’
by Sara KAMOUNI Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – US President Donald Trump Tuesday announced he was firing Rex Tillerson, capping months of speculation the secretary of state was on the verge of being pushed out. Here is a roundup of the numerous points of friction between the pair during Tillerson’s 14-month tenure — on everything from North Korea to climate change: – Iran deal’s future – Trump has blasted the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — aimed at […]
Trump blocks Broadcom’s bid to buy Qualcomm
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump blocked Monday an unsolicited bid by Singapore-based Broadcom to take over smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm, citing national security concerns. Trump issued an order barring the proposed mega-acquisition, saying there is credible evidence such a deal “threatens to impair the national security of the United States,” according to a White House statement. The order came despite Broadcom’s assurances that it would complete its move to the United […]
US still ‘not heard directly back’ from N.Korea: Tillerson
ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — The United States has still “not heard anything directly back” from Pyongyang over plans for a US-North Korean summit, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday as he urged patience. “There will be several steps (which) will be necessary to agree on the location and the scope of those discussions. We have not heard anything directly back from North Korea although we expect to hear something,” he said in the […]
EU slams trade ‘bullies’ as Trump tariffs row deepens
by Alex PIGMAN Agence France-Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium – The EU on Monday said Europe would not waver against trade “bullies” as a row with US President Donald Trump over controversial steel and aluminium tariffs deepened. The jab from Brussels came after the US tycoon singled out Europe in the surging trade dispute, threatening to tax German cars if the European Union doesn’t lower barriers to US products. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said that in some places, […]
Trump spy chief defends N.Korea talks, says Pyongyang bends to pressure
by Jim MANNION Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump deployed his spy chief Sunday to sell his snap decision to engage North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in momentous nuclear talks that the president himself predicted would be a “tremendous success” but others warn carry big risks. CIA director Mike Pompeo portrayed North Korea as buckling under the pressure of US-led international sanctions and insisted there would be no let-up for the […]
Trump sees ‘tremendous success’ in upcoming N. Korea talks
by Michael Mathes Agence France Presse MOON TOWNSHIP, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump predicted “tremendous success” Saturday in upcoming groundbreaking talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and suggested the reclusive state wants to “make peace” despite a years-long nuclear standoff. The comments came after the American leader said he has received encouragement from the leaders of China and Japan, and assurance that North Korea had promised not to shoot missiles in […]
Trump to make the first trip to Latin America
by Andrew Beatty Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump will make his Latin America debut next month, visiting Peru and Colombia after harsh rhetoric towards Hispanic migrants and neighbors to the south. Trump will travel to Peru to attend the Summit of the Americas in Lima on April 13-14, a gathering of leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. From there he will visit Colombia, White House officials told AFP. The announcement ends […]
US, China agree to keep the pressure on North Korea
by Andrew Beatty Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump enlisted Friday the help of China’s Xi Jinping to keep sanctions pressure on North Korea, amid fears that an audacious diplomatic gambit by the US president could lead to backsliding. In an evening tweet, Trump praised a possible future agreement with the communist North as “very good” for the international community as a whole, after the US leader stunned the world by accepting […]
Japan PM hails N. Korea talks on basis of denuclearization
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s prime minister on Friday welcomed the surprise announcement of a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un by May. “I highly appreciate North Korea’s change that it will begin talks on the premise of denuclearization,” Shinzo Abe said, adding that he planned to visit the United States to meet Trump “as early as April”. Japan has been cautious about a recent Olympics-driven rapprochement on the […]
White House confirms Trump has agreed to meet North Korea’s Kim
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House confirmed Thursday that President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to seek a deal on denuclearization while stressing US sanctions will remain in place. “President Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon,” press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement following the announcement made by South Korea. “He will accept the invitation to meet […]





