New York, United States | AFP | Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton met Egypt’s president in New York on Monday as the two US presidential candidates tried to bolster their diplomatic credentials at the United Nations. Democratic standard-bearer Clinton said last week that she would meet Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along …
Read More »Two top China steelmakers announce merger to combat glut
Shanghai, China | AFP | Two of China’s top steelmakers announced plans Tuesday to merge,creating the world’s second-largest manufacturer of the commodity as markets struggle with a glut caused by Chinese overcapacity. The world’s second largest economy is trying to overhaul its lumbering state sector and especially its steel industry, …
Read More »Aid 31-vehicle convoy attacked as Syria ceasefire collapses
Aleppo, Syria | AFP | A convoy delivering aid to Syrians in Aleppo province was hit by a deadly air strike hours after the Syrian military declared an end to a week-long ceasefire, with an outraged UN warning it could amount to a war crime. The UN said at least …
Read More »New York, New Jersey bomb suspect in custody
New York, United States | AFP | The Afghan-born American wanted in connection with weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey was taken into custody on Monday following a shootout with police, US television networks reported. Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, was taken into custody by police in Linden, New …
Read More »New York police seek 28-year-old man in connection with bombing
New York, United States | AFP | New York authorities said Monday they are seeking a 28-year-old man in connection with a bombing in the city that injured 29 people. Police and the FBI released a photo of Ahmad Khan Rahami, a naturalized US citizen of Afghan origin, saying he …
Read More »Putin’s party scores crushing win in Russia parliament vote
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia’s ruling United Russia party has cruised to an easy victory in parliamentary polls that could pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to glide to a fourth term in 2018 elections, partial results showed. Sunday’s ballot for the 450-seat State Duma was smooth sailing …
Read More »Q&A: Bill Gates on why disease fight is tough but progress is ‘incredible’
Montreal, Canada | AFP | Through his foundation, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is the top nongovernmental donor to the Global Fund against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with plans to give $600 million between 2017-2019. In an interview with AFP, Gates said the Global Fund’s successes have given him hope, even …
Read More »‘Intentional’ New York blast injures 29 people
New York, United States | AFP | An explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York on Saturday night, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America’s financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Mayor Bill de Blasio indicated the blast was not …
Read More »IS sex slavery survivor Yazidis named UN goodwill ambassador
United Nations, United States | AFP | A young Iraqi woman who survived rape and abuse as a sex slave of Islamic State fighters has became a UN goodwill ambassador for the dignity of survivors of human trafficking. Nadia Murad Basee Taha, a 23-year-old Yazidi woman, called for justice for the …
Read More »Brazil’s big party is over – now the hangover?
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | Brazil’s been partying hard for five years, hosting a string of international mega-events that end this Sunday with the Paralympics. So is it time for the hangover? There was the 2014 football World Cup, the Confederations Cup, the Rio+20 United Nations environmental summit, …
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