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MARACAIBO, Venezuela (AFP)–Venezuelans are concerned over the safety of a “twin” viaduct of the collapsed Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy, after a fire on the concrete structure caused a major blackout. The 8.6 kilometer (five mile) General Rafael Urdaneta viaduct links second city Maracaibo with the rest of Venezuela. Designed by Italian structural engineer Riccardo Morandi, it predates by five years his 1967 bridge in Genoa that collapsed this week causing the death of 39 […]
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) – Three-time Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died Thursday, sparking tributes from across the political spectrum as current leader Narendra Modi mourned the “irreplaceable loss” of the respected statesman. The 93-year-old had battled poor health for years but his condition deteriorated sharply in recent days, with doctors placing him on life support. The sudden turn sparked a flurry of visits from top dignitaries, including Modi, who credited Vajpayee with laying […]
by Rob Lever Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US newspapers big and small hit back Thursday at President Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on the news media, launching a coordinated campaign of editorials stressing the importance of a free press. Leading the charge was The Boston Globe, which had issued an appeal for this drive — accompanied by the hashtag #EnemyofNone — that has been joined by more than 200 newspapers around the country. […]
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AFP) — US travel sanctions targeting Cambodian officials are “useless”, a ruling party spokesman said Thursday, as the kingdom shrugs off international criticism of a one-sided election win. The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) led by strongman Hun Sen won all 125 seats in parliament during last month’s poll. The main opposition did not contest the vote after a court dissolved the party, clearing the way for a landslide victory for the CPP. […]
by Jung Hawon Agence France-Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The first reunions in years of families divided by the Korean War evoke bittersweet memories for Kim Jong-gyu, whose few hours with her brother in 2014 -– under the watchful eyes of the North’s agents -– were probably their last ever together. “I felt so lucky and so happy to see that my brother was alive,” said the 83-year-old. “But seeing him for only a […]
by Andrew Beatty Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday revoked the security clearance of former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, and warned several other prominent critics they too risk being blacklisted. In a highly unusually directive, Trump claimed that Brennan — a former station chief in Riyadh who rose to lead the formidable spy agency — had become “erratic.” Brennan is a frequent Trump critic. Just hours […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China will send a top negotiator to the United States in late August to resume trade talks, the commerce ministry said Thursday, the first public meeting on the subject in weeks as the trade conflict intensifies. Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen, the deputy representative on international trade negotiations, will meet with a senior US treasury official, David Malpass, at the invitation of the United States, the ministry said in a statement. […]
by Blanca Morel / Julia Rios Agence France-Presse MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AFP) — Thousands of Nicaraguans marched through their capital on Wednesday demanding that anti-government protesters jailed over the past four months be released. “Liberty for our political prisoners,” yelled many in the rally. They also called for President Daniel Ortega, a 72-year-old former guerrilla who has been in power the last 11 years, to step down. The demonstration was a show of defiance over a […]
by Jordi Miro Agence France-Presse BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Imprisoned leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s unlikely bid for Brazil’s presidency took a big step forward Wednesday with the formal registration of his candidacy in the capital Brasilia. About 10,000 red-clad Workers’ Party faithful marched on the Supreme Electoral Court, where top Lula allies did the paperwork to name the two term ex-president, now in jail for corruption, as their champion in Brazil’s October […]
by Elodie Cuzin Agence France-Presse ALEXANDRIA, United States (AFP) — Closing arguments wrapped up in the trial of Paul Manafort on Wednesday with prosecutors accusing Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman of weaving a web of lies to avoid paying taxes on tens of millions of dollars he earned advising Russian-backed politicians in Ukraine. Defense attorneys sought, meanwhile, to cast doubt on the credibility of the government’s star witness in the case, which stems from […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US talks with North Korea on denuclearization are making progress “in the right direction,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday. Nauert said behind-the-scenes discussions with Pyongyang have normalized in the wake of President Donald Trump’s June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and subsequent meetings between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top Pyongyang officials. “We consider meetings, negotiations, conversations as we move forward behind […]
by Maxime Popov with AFP bureaus in Africa © Agence France-Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Touting military cooperation and “instructors,” arms deals and investment, Russia is making a comeback in Africa after years of inactivity and now aims to rival European countries and even China, analysts say. Moscow has worked hard over the last three years to strengthen its position in Africa, a pace that seems to have accelerated in recent months, they say. Its […]
