SEOUL, Feb 20, 2024 (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a Russian-made car, Pyongyang’s state media said Tuesday, as the two countries bolster ties in areas from tourism to defence. Kim was “presented with a car made in Russia for his personal use by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation”, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency reported. Kim’s powerful sister, Yo Jong, said the “gift serves […]
Tag: politics
Europe demands answers, diplomats summoned after Navalny’s death
PARIS, Feb 19, 2024 (AFP) – A host of European governments Monday summoned Russian diplomats following the prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said during a visit to Argentina that Russia’s ambassador in Paris would be summoned, while Norway’s foreign ministry issued a statement that it was calling on its top Russian diplomat “for a talk” about Navalny’s death. “In the conversation, Norwegian views will be conveyed about […]
Thai ex-PM Thaksin returns home after release on parole
BANGKOK, Feb 18, 2024 (AFP) – Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole Sunday, just six months after he was arrested following a dramatic return to the kingdom from 15 years of self-imposed exile. The controversial billionaire, twice elected premier and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was jailed for eight years on graft and abuse-of-power charges upon his return in August. But his sentence was cut to one year by King […]
Biden says Putin and ‘his thugs’ responsible for Navalny death
By Danny KEMP WASHINGTON, Feb 16, 2024 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden directly blamed Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday for the reported death of Alexei Navalny in prison, describing the Kremlin critic as a “powerful voice for the truth.” Saying he was “outraged,” Biden said he did not yet know exactly what had happened to 47-year-old Navalny, but that it was the fault of Putin and his “thugs.” “Make no mistake, Putin is […]
Trump fined $355 mn, banned from NY business in fraud trial
By Gregory WALTON NEW YORK, Feb 16, 2024 (AFP) – A New York judge ordered Donald Trump to pay $355 million over fraud allegations and banned him from running companies in the state for three years Friday in a major blow to his business empire and financial standing. Trump — almost certain to be the Republican presidential nominee this November — was found liable for unlawfully inflating his wealth and manipulating the value of properties […]
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dies in prison
MOSCOW, Feb 16, 2024 (AFP) – Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died Friday in the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year-term, Russia’s federal penitentiary service said. Western governments immediately attacked the Kremlin over the death of the most outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. Navalny lost consciousness after a walk and could not be revived by medics, the prison service said. “Navalny felt bad after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. […]
White House confirms Russia’s development of anti-satellite weapon, no immediate threat
By Danny KEMP WASHINGTON, Feb 15, 2024 (AFP) – Russia is developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon that is “troubling” for the United States but poses no immediate threat to people on Earth, the White House said Thursday. The announcement came a day after a wave of speculation sparked by US lawmakers making a cryptic warning of an unspecified but serious national security threat to the country. Moscow denied the “malicious” and “unfounded” claims, describing them […]
Papua New Guinea PM wins snap confidence vote
PORT MORESBY, Feb 15, 2024 (AFP) – Papua New Guinea’s James Marape faced down attempts to oust him as prime minister Thursday, surprising rivals by calling, and winning, a snap vote of confidence amid raucous scenes in parliament. Lawmakers shouted, screamed and shook their fists as Marape pre-empted a vote of no confidence, scheduled for next week, with a vote of his own which he won 84-0 amid an opposition walkout. Marape’s tenure has been […]
“Serious” national security alert: Russia building nuclear weapon in space, says US
WASHINGTON, Feb 14, 2024 (AFP) – The United States is facing a new and “serious” national security threat, top officials warned Wednesday, with two media outlets reporting it involves a Russian attempt to build a space-based nuclear capability. ABC News and The New York Times quoted unidentified officials saying that Russia was developing a nuclear, space-based anti-satellite weapon. According to officials quoted in the Times, Russia has not yet deployed such a capability. In public, […]
Republicans impeach US homeland security chief over border crisis
By Frankie TAGGART WASHINGTON, Feb 14, 2024 (AFP) – Republicans impeached US President Joe Biden’s immigration chief on Tuesday, the culmination of months of attacks on the Democratic administration as they seek to make border security a key issue in November’s election. Conservatives in the House of Representatives, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans, blame Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a surge in illegal entries from Mexico that they have called a “humanitarian catastrophe.” […]
US House leader rejects Ukraine aid despite Biden’s plea
By Camille CAMDESSUS WASHINGTON, Feb 14, 2024 (AFP) – The Republican leader of the US House of Representatives on Tuesday blocked war aid for Ukraine, ignoring President Joe Biden’s plea that passing the bill was vital for standing up to “Russian dictator” Vladimir Putin. Speaker Mike Johnson, who works closely with Biden’s likely challenger in the November election Donald Trump, told reporters he has no intention even of allowing a vote on the bill. “I […]
Biden slams Trump’s ‘appalling and dangerous’ NATO comments
WASHINGTON, Feb 11, 2024 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden slammed as “appalling and dangerous” comments by Donald Trump downplaying his commitment to NATO, warning Sunday that the former president intends to give Russian leader Vladimir Putin “a greenlight for more war and violence.” Biden spoke after Trump said in a speech Saturday that he would “encourage” Russia to attack members of NATO who had not met their financial obligations, his most extreme broadside against […]





