Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Monday threw its support behind a Congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the US election, saying lawmakers had a “special responsibility” to investigate such an explosive issue. “We have long supported the principle of congressional review of this matter,” said …
Read More »TRUMP: I don’t want China dictating to me
Washington, United States | AFP | President-elect Donald Trump questioned in an interview broadcast Sunday whether the United States should continue its “one China policy” unless Beijing makes concessions on trade and other issues. “I don’t want China dictating to me,” Trump said as he made a vehement defense of …
Read More »EU, Mali sign deal to return migrants
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The European Union on Sunday signed an agreement with the Malian government aimed at enabling the return of migrants who have reached Europe’s shores, and whose asylum requests have been refused. “It is the first time the EU establishes such a precise mechanism with …
Read More »Early US astronauts faced uncertainty, danger and death
Miami, United States | AFP | John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, but for a solid hour of that journey, NASA feared he was about to die in a blazing fireball. In fact, all of the original crew of astronauts, known as the Mercury …
Read More »China’s Xi Jinping calls for stricter party control of universities
Beijing, China | AFP | China’s president Xi Jinping has called for the Communist Party to exert greater ideological control over universities, state media reported Friday, amid a broad crackdown on academic freedom and dissent in the world’s second-largest economy. Institutes of higher education must “serve the rule of the …
Read More »Obama orders ‘full review’ of 2016 election cyberattacks
Washington, United States | AFP | President Barack Obama has ordered a review of all cyberattacks that took place during the 2016 election cycle, the White House said Friday, amid allegations of Russian interference. “The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during …
Read More »Trump’s cabinet so far: wealthy, white and war-tested
Washington, United States | AFP | Four billionaires, three generals, a handful of women and nothing but conservatives: President-elect Donald Trump is building a super-rich, unorthodox and largely white inner circle to run the United States from January 20. They include a retired general whose salty language and warrior’s determination …
Read More »Clinton warns of danger of fake news ‘epidemic’
Washington, United States | AFP | Hillary Clinton issued a stern warning Thursday against the proliferation of fake news, branding it an epidemic with “real world consequences” that must be addressed in order to protect the nation’s democracy. The Democrat Clinton lost last month’s presidential election to Republican Donald Trump …
Read More »South Korean lawmakers impeach president
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | South Korean lawmakers on Friday voted to impeach President Park Geun-Hye, stripping away her sweeping executive powers over a corruption scandal and opening a new period of national uncertainty. The National Assembly ballot immediately transferred Park’s authority to the prime minister, pending a decision …
Read More »Media – China should build more nuclear arms to prepare for Trump
Beijing, China | AFP | China should “significantly” increase military spending and build more nuclear weapons as a response to US President-elect Donald Trump, an editorial in the nationalistic Global Times newspaper said Thursday. China should “build more strategic nuclear arms and accelerate the deployment of the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic …
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