Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump’s effort to revoke a CNN correspondent’s credentials went to court Wednesday, in a hearing that saw the channel backed by media groups — including arch-rival Fox News — who said the case was a matter of press freedom. Lawyers for …
Read More »Japan cyber security minister admits he has never used a computer
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | A Japanese minister in charge of cyber security has provoked astonishment by admitting he has never used a computer in his professional life, and appearing confused by the concept of a USB drive. Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, is the deputy chief of the government’s cyber security …
Read More »Trump pushes out senior advisor at start of expected White House reshuffle
Washington, United States | AFP | An angry Donald Trump pushed out a senior advisor Wednesday after First Lady Melania Trump demanded her sacking, with more heads set to roll in a White House reshuffle triggered by infighting and setbacks in the midterm elections. Melania Trump made the extremely rare …
Read More »African leaders meet for ‘last push’ on AU reforms
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | African leaders are set to gather this weekend for a special summit aimed at pushing through long-debated reforms to their pan-continental body. The changes seek to streamline and empower the African Union — an ambitious call for an organisation often seen as toothless and …
Read More »Media watchdog slams Gabon over ‘erosion’ of freedom
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Freedom of the press is being eroded in Gabon, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Wednesday, after the government suspended a newspaper for commenting on the hospitalisation of President Ali Bongo. Gabon’s media regulator, the High Authority for Communications (HAC), on Friday handed a three-month suspension …
Read More »UK’s May wins cabinet backing for Brexit deal
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May won the support of her cabinet on Wednesday for a draft divorce deal with the European Union that has put both Brexit and her leadership at stake. May emerged from a five-hour meeting with ministers that had sent the …
Read More »Facebook shuts more accounts aimed at political meddling
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook on Tuesday said it shut down more accounts aimed at influencing the US midterm election and that it is exploring a possible link to Russia. “As we’ve continued to investigate, we detected and removed some additional Facebook and Instagram accounts,” head of …
Read More »Melania Trump calls for firing of national security aide
Washington, United States | AFP | US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday publicly pushed for the dismissal of deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel — a rare criticism of a senior administration official by the president’s wife. The rebuke — via a brief statement from the first lady’s spokeswoman …
Read More »Trump says N.Korea missile work ‘normal’
Trump Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States was aware of undeclared North Korean missile bases revealed by US researchers but insisted all was fine. “We fully know about the sites being discussed, nothing new — and nothing happening out of the …
Read More »‘We don’t need their prize’: Myanmar defiant as Amnesty pulls Suu Kyi award
Yangon, Myanmar | AFP | Myanmar authorities and citizens leapt to the defence of Aung San Suu Kyi Tuesday after Amnesty International stripped her of its top award over indifference to atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims, doubling down on support for the civilian leader in the face of global ire. …
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