Cape Canaveral, United States | AFP | The world’s most powerful rocket, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, blasted off Tuesday on its highly anticipated maiden test flight, carrying CEO Elon Musk’s cherry red Tesla Roadster toward an orbit near Mars. Screams and cheers erupted at mission control in Cape Canaveral, Florida as …
Read More »Britain hits back at Trump over attack on healthcare system
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain reacted angrily on Monday to a tweet from US President Donald Trump attacking its public healthcare system in the latest spat to strain US-UK ties, casting further doubt on his possible visit to London. “The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands …
Read More »Erdogan says premature to say who supplied Syria tank weapon
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Turkey has information concerning the source of an anti-tank missile that killed five Turkish soldiers in Syria but it is too early to announce its country of origin, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday. The soldiers were killed on Saturday in a strike on a …
Read More »Trump and Tillerson: Who speaks for America?
Bariloche, Argentina | AFP | President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were both addressing drug smuggling and immigration across the southern US border. But their stark difference in tone during separate Friday meetings underlined a divide that has some asking: “Who speaks for America?” Trump was in Virginia, …
Read More »Trump feels vindicated after Republican memo’s release
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump claimed vindication Saturday in the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 White House election, following the release of a controversial memo implying partisanship at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The declassified Republican document released Friday claimed that Democrat-funded research prompted …
Read More »UK police probing Weinstein assault claims by 9 women: media
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British police are now investigating sexual assault allegations brought by nine women against US film mogul Harvey Weinstein, according to media reports Saturday. Scotland Yard confirmed that its “Operation Kaguyak” was investigating 14 separate claims brought by nine women, but it doesn’t identify suspects unless …
Read More »THIS WEEK: US, AU pile pressure on South Sudan leaders
THIS WEEK: US, AU pile pressure on South Sudan leaders Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The African Union has joined the United States in considering sanctions against those blocking peace in South Sudan. African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat said that “the time has come” for sanctions as a way …
Read More »US jobs engine gathers speed in January as wages rise
Washington, United States | AFP | US job creation accelerated in January, as the labor market continued to absorb workers at a robust pace, unemployment clung to a record low and wages moved higher, the government said in a key report Friday. And with a near 10-year record in wage …
Read More »Republican memo alleges Justice Dept, FBI abuse of power
Washington, United States | AFP | Republican legislators released Friday a highly contentious memo alleging that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice abused their powers to spy on President Donald Trump’s election campaign. – Key findings – Based on classified materials, the four-page memo claims that …
Read More »Apple overtakes Samsung in shrinking smartphone market: survey
Washington, United States | AFP | Apple overtook Samsung in the fourth quarter as the largest smartphone producer in a declining global market for handsets, research firm IDC said Friday. A survey by IDC showed Apple — which reported its quarterly data Thursday — led all vendors with 77.3 million …
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