Paris, France | AFP | European powers on Monday warned against a threatened Turkish offensive in northern Syria, saying the move, which has been facilitated by a US pullout, would boost the Islamic State group and spark a new refugee crisis. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long threatened that an …
Read More »Trump isolated after turning back on Syria, Republican allies
Washington, United States | AFP | Despite a bizarre boast about his “unmatched wisdom,” President Donald Trump found himself dangerously isolated Monday as his erratic policy on Syria infuriated the Republicans he needs to save him from impeachment. The new Washington upheaval began late Sunday when the White House announced removal …
Read More »EU presses UK to resubmit Brexit plan as end-game looms
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | With the resumption of crunch Brexit talks on Monday looming large, European leaders piled pressure on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to revise his offer — and to do so quickly. On Saturday Johnson started phoning his EU counterparts to sell his proposals for a managed …
Read More »Pompeo denounces ‘harassment’ after Democrats subpoena White House
Washington, United States | AFP | The Trump administration complained Saturday of harassment by Democratic lawmakers who issued subpoenas for documents regarding President Donald Trump’s alleged pressuring of Ukraine for political favors. And in a key development, a potential second whistleblower was reportedly weighing whether to come forward. The …
Read More »Prince Harry sues UK tabloids over ‘phone hacking’
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prince Harry has launched legal action against two British tabloid newspaper publishers, they confirmed Friday, over alleged phone hacking — just days after he condemned the press for critical coverage of his wife. Harry, 35, extended his campaign against the tabloids with fresh action …
Read More »Democrats subpoena White House as impeachment probe intensifies
Washington, United States | AFP | Democratic lawmakers on Friday demanded that the White House turn over documents related to allegations that President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine for political favors, as the explosive impeachment investigation against the US leader intensified. The congressional committees leading the probe cranked up the heat on …
Read More »US pressures tech giants over encrypted WhatsApp messages
Washington, United States | AFP | The US government on Friday urged tech giants to allow police to read encrypted messages, saying access was essential to prevent serious crime despite privacy concerns. After Facebook rejected giving access to law enforcement agencies, US Attorney General William Barr upped the pressure by …
Read More »Sanders had heart attack, doctors confirm as he is released
Washington, United States | AFP | Doctors confirmed on Friday that US Senator Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack three days ago, as they announced that he had been released from the hospital in Las Vegas. Sanders, 78, said he felt “great,” according to a statement from his campaign for …
Read More »Platini free to return to football but Qatar investigation goes on
Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Former UEFA president Michel Platini is finally free to return to football next week when his four-year ban for ethics violations ends, although he remains linked to a corruption investigation in his home country relating to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The former France …
Read More »Blow as PayPal abandons Facebook-backed Libra cryptocurrency group
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Pioneering digital payments firm PayPal on Friday said it is abandoning an alliance intended to oversee the Facebook-backed Libra cryptocurrency, which has come under attack by regulators. “PayPal has made the decision to forgo further participation in the Libra Association at this time,” …
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