Washington, United States | AFP | The probe into Russia’s role in the US election pierced the innermost circle of the White House Saturday, with reports that Donald Trump’s son-in-law sought a secret communications line with Moscow — the most damning allegation yet from the scandal. With the president …
Read More »HANDSHAKE: Macron unshaken by Trump power grip
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Diplomacy can be a white-knuckle ride at times, but French President Emmanuel Macron refused to be shaken when he found himself in an unexpected standoff with US counterpart Donald Trump Thursday. Former reality TV star Trump is known to make visitors flinch with a strong …
Read More »Trump commits $300 million to fight Africa famine
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | US President Donald Trump told Pope Francis on Wednesday he was committing more than $300 million (270 million euros) to help prevent or tackle famine in Yemen and several countries in Africa. Trump, meeting the pontiff for the first time, said he …
Read More »‘What do you feed him on? Potica?’ Pope Francis asked Melania
Pope risks joke about Trump’s size Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | It could have caused a diplomatic incident but a culinary quip from Pope Francis seemed to have gone down well with Donald Trump and his wife Melania. In one of the lighter moments of his meeting with …
Read More »All smiles, in public at least, as Trump meets Pope Francis
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | US President Donald Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday in a keenly-anticipated face-to-face encounter between two world leaders who have clashed repeatedly. The private audience with the pontiff, which lasted just under half an hour, was preceded by a handshake …
Read More »Trump calls N. Korea’s Kim Jong-Un ‘madman with nuclear weapons’
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a “madman with nuclear weapons” during a telephone call with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, according to a transcript of the conversation released by US media Tuesday. A White House readout of the April 29 call …
Read More »Gloves off as Trump heads to Vatican
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Billionaire President Donald Trump heads to the Vatican on Wednesday to meet man-of-the-poor Pope Francis, with all eyes on whether they will end their sparring to find common ground. The two leaders have been at odds over issues from migration to climate change, …
Read More »CHINA: There is ‘no reason’ not to talk with N. Korea
United Nations, United States | AFP | China on Tuesday took a swipe at the United States, saying there was “no reason” to refuse dialogue with North Korea despite a string of missile tests strongly condemned by the UN Security Council. The council met behind closed doors to discuss …
Read More »Trump becomes first sitting US president to visit Western Wall
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Donald Trump on Monday became the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall in the disputed city of Jerusalem, placing his hand on one of the most sacred sites in Judaism. The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. Trump, …
Read More »Tensions deepen between Saudi, Iran, US after Trump visit
IRAN: US “simply milking” Saudi Arabia for billions of dollars Tehran, Iran | AFP | The yawning gap between Tehran and Washington has grown even wider with US President Donald Trump’s latest efforts to isolate Iran, which accused the United States of “milking” Saudi Arabia for petro-dollars. Trump’s choice of Saudi …
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