GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The European Union on Monday followed China in complaining to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. “Having a substantial interest as an exporter in this case, the European Union requests consultations with the United States” to agree “safeguards,” the EU said in a statement published on the world trade body’s website. US President Donald Trump sparked fears of a trade war in March when […]
Tag: politics
Brazil homeless group occupies apartment in Lula corruption case
GUARUJA, Brazil (AFP) — A group of homelessness activists briefly occupied Monday the seaside apartment at the heart of the corruption case that saw ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva imprisoned earlier this month. About 30 members of the Homeless Workers’ Movement and other leftist activists got into the triplex apartment in Guaruja, near Sao Paulo, hanging placards from the balcony in support of Lula. “Release Lula or there’ll be no peace,” they shouted. Lula […]
S. Korea’s Park will not appeal jail term: reports
South Korea (AFP) — South Korea’s disgraced former president Park Geun-hye will not appeal her 24-year prison sentence for corruption, reports said Monday. Park, 66, who was removed from office over a massive corruption scandal last year, was convicted of multiple criminal charges including bribery and abuse of power at a trial earlier this month. She has boycotted all court hearings since October, claiming unfair treatment. On Monday Park submitted an appeal waiver to […]
China launches website to report foreign spies
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China has stepped up its campaign against foreign espionage with a website in Mandarin and English encouraging people to report national security threats such as bids to “overthrow the socialist system”. The website, www.12339.gov.cn, launched by the Ministry of National Security on Sunday, also urges anyone to report attempts by Chinese nationals or foreigners to bribe state or military officials, instigate armed riots or incite ethnic separatism. Potential problematic behavior […]
Trump to host Nigerian president April 30: White House
UNITED STATES (AFP) — President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria will meet Donald Trump in Washington on April 30 to discuss issues including “fighting terrorism” and economic growth, the White House announced Sunday. “President Trump looks forward to discussing ways to enhance our strategic partnership and advance our shared priorities: promoting economic growth and reforms, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security, and building on Nigeria’s role as a democratic leader in the […]
Syrian war will go on despite Western strikes: British FM
UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) — British foreign minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said the Syrian war will inevitably continue after unprecedented Western strikes, which were limited to targeting the country’s alleged chemical weapons facilities. Britain and France on Saturday joined the US-led missile strikes, which came a week after a deadly attack on the town of Douma where civilians were hit with chlorine and sarin according to the Western powers. Despite describing the intervention as […]
North Korea commemorates birth of its founder
by Sebastien Berger © Agence France-Presse NORTH KOREA (AFP) — Thousands of North Korean devotees laid flowers before statues of the country’s founder Kim Il Sung Sunday on the anniversary of his birth. A constant stream of soldiers in brown uniforms, work unit personnel in suits, schoolchildren and families made their way to Mansu hill in the center of Pyongyang, where giant statues of Kim and his son and successor look out over […]
Ex-FBI chief Comey: Trump ran White House like a ‘mob boss’
by Paul Handley Agence France Presse Former FBI director James Comey says in a new book that President Donald Trump reminded him of a mafia boss who demanded absolute loyalty, saw the entire world against him, and lied about everything. According to excerpts of the book leaked by US media on Thursday, Trump was also obsessed with the alleged existence of a video in which Russian prostitutes said to be hired by Trump urinated […]
Australia admits tensions with China but denies ‘deep chill’
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s prime minister admitted Thursday bubbling tensions with China over allegations of Beijing meddling in domestic politics, but denied there was a “deep chill” in relations after reports ministers were being refused visas. Bilateral ties took a dive late last year when Canberra announced wide-ranging reforms to espionage and foreign interference legislation, singling out China as a focus of concern. It sparked a furious response from Beijing, which summoned Australia’s ambassador […]
N. Korea parliament meets but Kim absent ahead of summits
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea’s parliament has met to rubber-stamp Kim Jong Un’s policies, but the leader himself was conspicuously absent as he prepares for two key summits with South Korea and the US. Kim had been present at six out of eight previous Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) sessions held since he officially became party head six years ago, according to the South’s Unification Ministry. But he appeared to skip Wednesday’s meeting, with […]
Colombia’s FARC furious over ex-rebel’s arrest on drugs charges
BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — The arrest of a former FARC negotiator on US drug charges has brought Colombia’s landmark peace deal to its “most critical point,” the former rebel group warned on Tuesday. Jesus Santrich, a senior member of rebel-group-turned-political-party who had been slated to take a seat in Colombia’s Congress in July, was arrested on Monday in Bogota. Prosecutors in New York accuse him of conspiring to ship 10,000 kilograms of cocaine to […]
Trump praises Xi’s ‘kind words’ in fresh sign of trade detente
by Douglas Gillison and Ryan McMorrow in Beijing © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the “kind words” from Chinese leader Xi Jinping and pledged “great progress” in the looming trade dispute between the world’s largest economies. Still, the White House also admonished China to take concrete action on US complaints about unfair trade practices. Xi earlier Tuesday pledged to open Chinese markets and lower tariffs, remarks that […]





