Tag: politics

Biden says ‘yes,’ US forces would help defend Taiwan against China

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that US forces would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion, while the White House said Washington’s policy was unchanged. Asked by the CBS “60 Minutes” program whether US troops would defend Taiwan, Biden said “yes,” if it were “an unprecedented attack.” This was not the first time that Biden has declared US forces would take part in a war between China and Taiwan, with […]

Italy storms kill 10 sparking pre-vote climate change debate

Rome, Italy  (AFP) At least 10 people died and four were missing after violent storms lashed central Italy, reports said Friday, pushing the issue of climate change up the agenda the week before elections. Water swept through towns and villages, turning streets into rivers after about 400 millimetres (16 inches) of rain reportedly fell in two hours. Emergency services initially put the death toll at seven but this rose mid-morning to 10, according to the […]

Taiwan warns Russia, China ties ‘harm’ international peace

by Amber WANG Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan said on Friday ties between Russia and China were a threat to global peace and that the international community must resist the “expansion of authoritarianism”. Russia’s Vladimir Putin met Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for their first face-to-face talks since the start of the conflict in Ukraine on Thursday, hailing their strategic ties in defiance of the West. In the Uzbek city of Samarkand, Xi told […]

Couple formally charged in Argentine VP assassination attempt

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — The gunman who tried to shoot Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Kirchner in the face was formally charged Thursday with attempted homicide, as was his girlfriend, courts documents showed. Fernando Sabag Montiel, 35, was caught on stunning video pointing a pistol at Kirchner from close range as she greeted supporters outside her home on September 1. After Montiel’s weapon failed to go off — for reasons still unknown — he was […]

Lufthansa back in private hands as govt sells rescue stake

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Lufthansa said Wednesday the German state had sold the stake it took in the airline as part of a rescue package at the peak of the Covid pandemic, and booked a healthy profit in the process. In the spring of 2020, borders were shutting worldwide, forcing airlines everywhere to ground planes and put staff put on forced leave. To save Lufthansa from bankruptcy, the German government took a 20-percent stake in […]

Ruto to be sworn in as Kenya’s president after divisive poll

by Hillary ORINDE Agence France-Presse NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — William Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya’s president on Tuesday after narrowly winning the coveted job in a bitterly fought but largely peaceful election. About 20 heads of state and thousands of spectators are expected to attend his inauguration at a Nairobi stadium. A notoriously ambitious politician who has been deputy president since 2013, Ruto beat his rival Raila Odinga — who had been backed […]

North Korea law allows for nuclear first strike, makes program ‘irreversible’

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has passed a law allowing it to carry out a preventive nuclear strike and declaring its status as a nuclear-armed state “irreversible”, state media said Friday. The announcement comes at a time of crumbling ties between the North and South, with Pyongyang blaming Seoul for the outbreak of Covid-19 in its territory and conducting a record number of weapons tests this year. The law will allow North Korea […]

US Justice Dept appeals freeze on review of seized Trump documents

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Justice Department said Thursday it was appealing a Florida judge’s order to freeze access to thousands of documents, including top secret files, seized from former president Donald Trump’s home. The department said the order Monday by federal court Judge Aileen Cannon to sequester all the documents for review by an independent “special master” hindered its ability to conduct criminal investigation related to Trump’s possession of the classified documents. […]

Taiwan leader confident of US trade deal

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan is confident it can sign a trade deal with Washington, its leader told visiting US lawmakers Thursday, adding that the island “will not back down” against Chinese threats. Washington unveiled plans for formal trade talks with Taiwan in a show of support as China was staging huge military drills last month. Taiwan lives under constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims the democratically ruled island as part of […]

US calls Erdogan threats to Greece ‘unhelpful’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Tuesday called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s warnings to Greece over sea disputes “unhelpful” and urged the two NATO allies to settle differences diplomatically. “At a time when Russia has again invaded a sovereign European state, statements that could raise tensions between NATO allies are particularly unhelpful,” a State Department spokesperson said when asked about Erdogan’s remarks, without naming him. “The United States continues to encourage […]

New UK PM Truss promises to ride out economic storm with new-look top team

by Phil HAZLEWOOD with Stuart GRAHAM at Balmoral Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Liz Truss on Tuesday unveiled her new top team as she formally took over from Boris Johnson as UK prime minister, with no place for white men in any of the three senior-most cabinet posts for the first time ever. As expected, she rewarded allies to her during her victorious Conservative leadership campaign, promoting Kwasi Kwarteng to finance, James Cleverly […]

Taiwan says Chinese military drone entered air defense zone

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan said a Chinese military reconnaissance drone entered its air defense zone on Monday, the latest incursion as relations between the two neighbors remain tense. The drone, identified by Taipei’s defense ministry as a BZK-007 vehicle, crossed into the southwest corner of the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) along with eight Chinese warplanes. Taiwan’s ADIZ is much larger than its airspace and overlaps with part of China’s ADIZ and even […]