Washington, United States | AFP | World Bank lending to countries like China that are rich enough to finance their own development hurts poor countries that need help, a senior US Treasury official said Wednesday. David Malpass, Treasury’s under secretary for International Affairs, cited China as a prime example of the …
Read More »US judge allows psychologist to evaluate ‘El Chapo’
New York, United States | AFP | A US judge on Wednesday authorized a psychologist to examine Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, one of the world’s most notorious criminals, after his lawyer complained that his mental state is deteriorating in a New York jail. The 60-year-old kingpin, accused of …
Read More »Trump in China for talks on North Korea’s ‘cruel dictatorship’
Beijing, China | AFP | US President Donald Trump toured the Forbidden City with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday as he began the crucial leg of an Asian tour intended to build a global front against North Korea’s nuclear threats. After warning North Korea’s “cruel dictatorship” in a speech in …
Read More »NY could seek Weinstein indictment next week: reports
New York, United States | AFP | Manhattan’s district attorney is preparing a criminal case against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein which he could present to a grand jury as early as next week, US media reported Tuesday. The reports, quoting anonymous law enforcement officials, came after police confirmed they had …
Read More »Syria to join Paris climate pact, isolating US
Bonn, Germany | AFP | Syria told the UN climate talks in Bonn on Tuesday that it would join the Paris Agreement, leaving the United States as the only nation in the world opting to stay outside the landmark treaty. “We are going to join the Paris Agreement,” the Syrian delegate, …
Read More »Twitter to double tweet limit to 280 characters
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Twitter announced Tuesday it would double the limit for tweets to 280 characters in a bid to draw in more users and boost engagement at the social network. “We’re expanding the character limit! We want it to be easier and faster for everyone …
Read More »Who’s great again? Trump faces ‘king of China’ Xi
Beijing, China | AFP | Xi Jinping and Donald Trump have one thing in common — they both want to make their nations great again. But while China’s leader is on the rise, the US president arrives in Beijing laden down with heavy baggage. Xi will roll out the red …
Read More »Apple’s $120 mn patent award from Samsung upheld by top US court
Washington, United States | AFP | The US Supreme Court on Monday upheld a $120 million patent award Samsung was ordered to pay Apple in the latest ruling in a series of legal skirmishes between the top two smartphone makers. The US justices let stand without comment a 2016 appeals court …
Read More »Cyclist who gave Trump the finger loses her job: report
Washington, United States | AFP | Juli Briskman didn’t think twice when she gave President Donald Trump the finger as his motorcade passed her while she was cycling on a road near his golf club. “He was passing by and my blood just started to boil,” the Democrat mother of two, …
Read More »US tells DR Congo to stick to election timetable
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States on Monday backed plans by the Democratic Republic of Congo to hold elections in December 2018 and warned President Joseph Kabila must stick to the timeline. The election commission in Kinshasa announced on Sunday that the long-awaited presidential, legislative, regional and …
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