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VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — Former Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern announced Saturday he would retire from politics, thereby also ending his bid to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as EU Commission president next year. Kern, who stepped down as head of the opposition Social Democrat (SPOe) party last month, earlier indicated he had considered putting himself forward as a candidate to take over from Juncker. But on Saturday, the 52-year-old told reporters he was ending his career […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court appeared all but certain to win approval from the Senate after two key lawmakers endorsed him on Friday. Senator Susan Collins — a maverick member of Trump’s Republican party — and her Democrat counterpart Joe Manchin said allegations that Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted a fellow teenager nearly four decades ago were unproven. “I do not believe these charges can […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak was jailed for 15 years for corruption Friday, becoming the latest of the country’s ex-leaders to be sent to prison. The 76-year-old CEO-turned-president, who served from 2008 to 2013, was found guilty on charges including bribery and embezzlement and ordered to pay a fine of 13 billion won ($11.5 million) by the Seoul Central District Court. “Bringing everything into consideration, heavy punishment for the […]
by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s much-loved public broadcaster scrambled to safeguard its hard-won reputation for impartiality Thursday, forcing out a chairman accused of intervening in news coverage to please the government. Top executive Justin Milne told the ABC he would step down, after the institution’s board held crisis talks in Sydney and the government announced an inquiry into his actions. According to leaked emails, Milne unsuccessfully pressed for […]
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — The luxury-loving wife of Malaysia’s former prime minister Wednesday faced a marathon questioning session by investigators probing the multi-billion-dollar scandal that helped topple her husband’s government. Rosmah Mansor, widely reviled in Malaysia due to her profligate spending and imperious manner, arrived at the anti-corruption agency before 10:00 am (0200 GMT) and had still not emerged nine hours later. Local media have reported that officials are wrapping up their probe […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US immigrants who get public benefits like food stamps or housing vouchers could be denied green cards, under a new proposal from President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump came to power pledging to make immigration to the United States more difficult, and reduce the number of people allowed to stay in the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Saturday that under the proposed rule change, being a current or […]
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that US officials should either support President Donald Trump or quit after a report that the Justice Department’s Number Two discussed ways to remove Trump over mental incompetence. The New York Times reported last week that deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had suggested secretly recording Trump to set the stage for pursuing the US Constitution’s 25th Amendment, which provides for […]
by Elaine Yu Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — A new high-speed rail link between Hong Kong and mainland China launched Sunday, a multi-billion-dollar project that critics say gives away part of the city’s territory to an increasingly assertive Beijing. Chinese security have been stationed in semi-autonomous Hong Kong for the first time at the harbourfront West Kowloon rail terminus, as part of a new “special port area” that is subject to […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States expanded its sanctions war against Russia to China on Thursday, announcing punitive measures against a Chinese military organization for buying Russian fighter jets and missiles. Stepping up pressure on Moscow over its “malign activities,” the US State Department said it was placing financial sanctions on the Equipment Development Department of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, and its top administrator, for its recent purchase of Russian Sukhoi […]
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AFP) — Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was released from prison late Wednesday to be met by jubilant supporters after a court suspended his prison sentence for corruption pending an appeal hearing. Sharif — who was ousted from office last year by the Supreme Court for alleged corruption — was freed along with his daughter. Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were arrested on their return in July from London to campaign in […]
by Sam Reeves Agence France Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia’s toppled leader Najib Razak was arrested Wednesday and will be charged over allegations that $628 million linked to state investment fund 1MDB ended up in his personal bank accounts, officials said. Allegations that Najib and his cronies looted huge sums from the investment vehicle were a major factor in the shock defeat of his long-ruling coalition in elections in May, at the hands […]
by Richard CARTER Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Shinzo Abe is poised to win a third term as head of his political party on Thursday, putting him on track to become Japan’s longest-serving premier and realize his dream of reforming the constitution. Polls show Abe, 63, is expected to romp to victory in a two-horse race for the leadership of his conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that will effectively hand him three more […]
