New York, United States | AFP | As an impeachment storm rages in Washington, to say that Donald Trump’s tete-a-tete with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was hotly anticipated would be the understatement of the week. And it delivered: their appearance before the media in New York was tense, bizarre and …
Read More »FULL TRANSCRIPT: Trump asked Ukraine leader to investigate Biden
Transcript confirms Trump asked Ukraine leader to investigate Biden Washington, United States | AFP | The White House released a call transcript Wednesday confirming Donald Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to probe his political rival Joe Biden — a day after Democrats seized on the explosive allegation to launch an …
Read More »Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry of Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the opening of a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, saying he had violated the constitution in seeking help from Ukraine to hurt Democratic opponent Joe Biden. “The actions of the Trump presidency revealed the dishonorable facts …
Read More »USA mystified by ’15 Donald Trumps’ jibe at Rugby World Cup
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | USA coach Gary Gold said he was mystified by a comment from England’s Eddie Jones that the Eagles would play like “15 Donald Trumps” when they meet at the Rugby World Cup. “I’ve absolutely no idea what he means by that,” Gold said, ahead of …
Read More »The whistleblower and Trump phone call: What we know
Washington, United States | AFP | A mysterious whistleblower, a telephone call between President Donald Trump and a foreign leader, and military aid to Ukraine. Here’s what we know about the latest political firestorm swirling around Washington: – Whistleblower – On August 12, an unknown whistleblower in the US intelligence …
Read More »Iran warns of ‘World War III’
Iranian FM warns US or Saudi attack would trigger ‘all-out’ war: CNN Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iranian FM has warned that a US or Saudi attack would trigger ‘all-out’ war, CNN has reported. This came hours after Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Iran’s foes Thursday of agitating for war, as Washington and …
Read More »Trump orders increase in Iran sanctions as Germany extends Saudi arms ban
Washington, United States | AFP | Trump has ordered government to ‘substantially increase’ Iran sanctions but in Berlin, Germany has extended Saudi arms exports ban as tensions rise in the Middle East. Trump announced what he said would be substantial new sanctions against Iran in the first response to what US …
Read More »China plans new tariffs on $75 bn of US imports
Beijing, China | AFP | China announced Friday it will hit US soybeans, lobsters, peanut butter and other imports worth $75 billion with new tariffs in retaliation for Washington’s planned duty hikes, further intensifying the bruising trade war between the world’s top two economies. The punitive tariffs of 5 to …
Read More »Trump slams Danish PM’s ‘nasty’ rejection of Greenland deal
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump snapped back Wednesday at the Danish prime minister’s “nasty” dismissal of his attempts to purchase Greenland, heightening a row which had already prompted the US president to scrap a state visit. Hours after announcing he would not visit Copenhagen next month as …
Read More »Trump consoles shooting victims, rails against opponents
El Paso, United States | AFP | Trump consoled victims of mass shootings in Ohio and Texas on Wednesday, but despite promising a message of unity, he continued to rail at opponents while facing protests that his rhetoric on race has fueled extremism. Trump flew to El Paso, Texas, where a …
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