Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia is “deeply concerned” by the escalation of tensions over North Korea, the Kremlin said on Friday, after US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un exchanged stinging barbs. “Moscow is deeply concerned by an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula related to …
Read More »In political turn, Bieber rallies for Black Lives Matter
New York, United States | AFP | Pop star Justin Bieber, known more for headline-grabbing scandals than activism, on Friday took an unexpected political turn as he hailed the Black Lives Matter movement. The 23-year-old, who abruptly cut short a tour in July, took to Instagram to show support for …
Read More »Melania Trump harvests Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden
Washington, United States | AFP | Melania Trump made her first foray into the White House’s vegetable garden Friday, following in the footsteps of its creator and her predecessor, Michelle Obama. Dressed down in jeans, a plaid shirt and red gardening gloves, the first lady harvested and planted fresh produce …
Read More »US watchdog highlights flawed training of Afghan forces
Washington, United States | AFP | US efforts to train Afghanistan’s security forces are being hampered by slapdash instruction, shoddy oversight and governance failures, a watchdog warned Thursday as America sends thousands more troops to the war-torn nation. American assistance to the Afghan army and police has topped $70 billion since …
Read More »Mercedes pumps 1 bln euros into US e-car plant
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz said Thursday it would invest $1 billion in an Alabama factory as it prepares for electric vehicle production in the United States. “We are significantly growing our manufacturing footprint here in Alabama… We will be able to quickly ramp up …
Read More »Google likely to buy stake in Taiwan smartphone maker HTC: report
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Google is set to announce it is buying part of Taiwan-based smartphone maker HTC, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The deal for HTC’s smartphone design unit would give the US tech giant more control of its mobile handset hardware as it seeks to …
Read More »Merkel says in ‘clear disagreement’ with Trump over N. Korea
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday she was in “clear disagreement’ with US President Donald Trump over his threat to destroy North Korea. “I am against such threats,” Merkel said in an interview with the radio station Deutsche Welle. “We believe that any kind of military …
Read More »US, EU slam DR Congo army for using ‘excessive force’
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The United States and European Union on Wednesday urged Congolese security forces to refrain from using “excessive force” after soldiers fired on Burundian refugees last week, killing over 30. “The US government is dismayed by the violence and death of more than 30 Burundian nationals …
Read More »Melania Trump dines with spouses of world leaders at UN
United Nations, United States | AFP | US First Lady Melania Trump dined with the spouses of dozens of world leaders at the United Nations Wednesday, calling on them to protect children and teach them by example. Often criticized for her reluctance to fully assume the role of first lady, President …
Read More »Iran’s Zarif blasts Trump’s ‘ignorant hate speech’ at UN
United Nations, United States | AFP | Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday slammed US President Donald Trump’s address that took aim at Iran at the United Nations, calling it an “ignorant hate speech.” “Trump’s ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times — not the 21st century UN — …
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