Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump asserted Friday that the United States has made it through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, after new jobs numbers showed a surprising increase in employment. “We had the greatest economy in the history of the world. And that strength let us get through this horrible …
Read More »US likely suffered ‘heartbreaking’ unemployment in May
Washington, United States | AFP | Even as the world’s largest economy begins to reopen, the scale of the job losses in May will be devastating, and economists fear it will take many months to recover. More than 21 million jobs disappeared in March and April as the unemployment rate surged …
Read More »Trump trying to ‘divide’ America: ex-Pentagon chief Mattis
Washington, United States | AFP | Former Pentagon chief Jim Mattis issued a stinging rebuke of his erstwhile boss Donald Trump on Wednesday, accusing the president of trying to “divide” America and failing to provide “mature leadership” as the country reels from days of protests. Mattis, who resigned in December 2018 …
Read More »Protesters welcome new charges in Floyd killing but remain in streets
Minneapolis, United States | AFP | US protesters welcomed new charges brought Wednesday against Minneapolis officers in the killing of African American man George Floyd — but thousands still marched in cities across the country for a ninth straight night, chanting against racism and police brutality. With a key demand met, …
Read More »Strongman admirer Trump sees US protests in warlike terms
Washington, United States | AFP | From the White House, President Donald Trump delivered blunt — some say alarming — instructions to local leaders confronting nationwide street protests against police brutality: “dominate.” “If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time,” he told state governors. And if they tried, but failed? “Then I …
Read More »Trump denies sheltering in White House bunker
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Wednesday denied media reports that he was rushed for his safety to the White House bunker while protests raged in the streets outside. “It was a false report,” Trump told Fox News radio, before elaborating that he did go into the secure area but only …
Read More »Trump says ‘common sense’ for Russia to rejoin G7
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Wednesday said it is “common sense” to bring Russia back into the G7, despite Moscow’s expulsion from the club after invading part of Ukraine. Speaking to Fox News radio, Trump said that the G7 countries — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United …
Read More »US defense chief opposes callup of regular army to quell unrest
Washington, United States | AFP | US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that he opposed invoking a rarely used law to deploy military to quell nationwide protests over police brutality against African Americans. “I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act,” Esper said, two days after President Donald Trump said …
Read More »As US protests rage, a tale of two leaders: Biden and Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | The nationwide US protests for racial justice are giving Joe Biden, sidelined for over two months by the coronavirus pandemic, the opportunity to reclaim the spotlight and display a contrasting leadership style to that of his November election opponent President Donald Trump. “This is very …
Read More »Amid pandemic, White House race becomes digital dogfight
Washington (AFP) The 2020 US presidential race is becoming a digital-first campaign as the coronavirus pandemic cuts candidates off from traditional organizing and in-person events. On the surface, President Donald Trump has the edge over Democrat Joe Biden because of the incumbent’s extensive digital infrastructure and large social media following. But …
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