Davos, Switzerland | AFP | US President Donald Trump relaunched a major trade offensive against Europe on Wednesday, threatening to hit the EU with damaging auto tariffs if Europeans failed to agree a long-delayed trade deal. With observers warning that global harmony on trade was crucial to the health of the …
Read More »Trump trial opens with fiery clashes over witnesses
Washington, United States | AFP | Republicans and Democrats clashed over calling witnesses and demanding White House documents on the first full day Tuesday of the historic impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. House impeachment managers led by veteran prosecutor Adam Schiff used the opening debate over trial procedures to lay …
Read More »On impeachment day, Trump sees only ‘joy and optimism’ in Davos
Davos, Switzerland | AFP | From his mountain perch at the Davos conference on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump saw only a perfect world. Back in Washington, the Senate was about to enter the heart of the impeachment trial threatening his presidency. In the Swiss Alps, campaigners warned that climate change …
Read More »Trump rejects climate ‘prophets of doom’ as Thunberg warns Davos
Davos, Switzerland | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Tuesday assailed environmental “prophets of doom”, delivering an uncompromising message in Davos after Swedish teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg slammed government inaction on the climate crisis. Thunberg was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear a typically bullish speech by …
Read More »Historic Trump impeachment trial to begin in earnest
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s historic impeachment trial begins in earnest Tuesday in the Senate, with Democrats calling for his removal from office and Republicans determined to acquit him — and quickly, if possible. Four months after the Ukraine scandal exploded and went on to overshadow the …
Read More »Thunberg, Trump to offer competing visions at climate-focused Davos
Davos, Switzerland | AFP | The starkly opposed visions of US President Donald Trump and Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg on climate change will clash in Davos on Tuesday as the World Economic Forum tries to face up to the perils of global warming on its 50th meeting. The four-day gathering …
Read More »Trump brief assails impeachment, demands immediate acquittal
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s lawyers submitted a trial brief Monday calling his impeachment by the House “a dangerous perversion” of the US constitution and demanding his immediate acquittal by the Senate. Almost simultaneously, House impeachment managers responded to an earlier Trump filing, saying the president had …
Read More »Libya in chaos since 2011 overthrow of Kadhafi
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | A nine-month offensive by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar to seize the capital from the UN-recognised government has left hundreds dead and dragged in regional and world powers. As world powers push efforts for a ceasefire in the oil-rich country, with a peace conference held in Berlin …
Read More »Trump announces will nominate two allies for Fed board
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate two allies for the board of the Federal Reserve, which the US president has repeatedly accused of not doing enough for the economy. Trump had originally tweeted in July he would nominate Christopher Waller, a director of the …
Read More »Iraq ouster of foreign troops would show US ‘failure’: analysts
Baghdad, Iraq | AFP | When it invaded in 2003, the United States promised “Iraqi freedom,” democracy, and prosperity. But 17 years later, its troops may be ousted from a country beset by just the opposite. After a parliamentary vote earlier this month, Iraq’s government is preparing to order foreign forces …
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