Beijing, China | AFP | China’s Xi Jinping on Sunday secured a path to rule indefinitely as parliament abolished presidential term limits, handing him almost total authority to pursue a vision of transforming the nation into an economic and military superpower. The move reverses the era of “collective” leadership and …
Read More »Netanyahu to meet Israel coalition heads for crisis talks
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to meet with Israel’s ruling coalition heads, his office said Saturday, to discuss a political crisis that could force early elections. A meeting with leaders of two ultra-Orthodox parties was to be held later Saturday, to be followed the next …
Read More »DR Congo opposition rally behind exiled leader Katumbi
Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA | AFP | Democratic Republic of Congo opposition groups rallied behind exiled figure Moise Katumbi at talks in South Africa on Saturday aimed at forging a united front to fight elections due by the end of the year. Exiled Katumbi led dozens of opposition leaders at the …
Read More »Military vehicles to roll through Washington in parade
Washington, United States | AFP | Military vehicles will roll through Washington on November 11 in a salute to veterans, a Pentagon memo said Friday, detailing President Donald Trump’s dream of hosting a military parade. The White House announced a month ago that Trump had asked for a large-scale military …
Read More »Macron-Modi love on show as France courts India
New Delhi, India | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday said he wanted his country to be India’s best partner in Europe as he started a three-day trip to the country aimed at ratcheting up security and energy ties. Macron, who was welcomed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi …
Read More »Putin says will not change constitution to cling to power
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to be reelected for a fourth term in an upcoming ballot, said Saturday he had no plans to change the constitution to stay in the Kremlin beyond 2024. Asked by the US television network NBC whether he would …
Read More »Obama in negotiations to create Netflix series: report
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Former US President Barack Obama is in negotiations with Netflix about producing a series of shows for the online streaming giant, according to US media reports. Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama would provide Netflix with exclusive content, with the format …
Read More »Macron warns Trump all sides would lose in ‘trade war’
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday warned his US counterpart Donald Trump against forging ahead with planned tariffs on European steel and aluminium, saying it risked starting a mutually destructive “trade war”. In a telephone call with Trump, the French leader expressed his “deep concerns”, …
Read More »UN chief hails ‘progress’ in DR Congo to hold long-delayed vote
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | UN chief Antonio Guterres on Friday hailed “progress” towards holding long-delayed elections in DR Congo but criticised the government for brutally putting down demonstrations against President Joseph Kabila. Kabila was due to stand down from office in December 2016, ending his second elected term. …
Read More »Italians queue for free cash promised by Five Star
Rome, Italy | AFP | Dozens of Italians have been queueing at tax offices to claim money promised by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in the weekend election — even though the party is not yet in power. A key election pledge of the Five Star Movement (M5S) was to provide …
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