Washington, United States | AFP | The US military shot down a medium-range ballistic missile target off the coast of Hawaii early Wednesday, in a successful test of a missile interception system Japan is seeking to bolster its defense against North Korea. The test was performed by the US Missile Defense …
Read More »Iran’s Rouhani dismisses military site inspections
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday dismissed the idea of inspections at its military sites, reportedly floated by the United States, saying they were not required under a nuclear deal with world powers. “Our commitments to the world are clear… our relations with the IAEA (International …
Read More »Melania Trump makes waves with ‘storm stilettos,’ FLOTUS hat
Washington, United States | AFP | First Lady Melania Trump is making waves … for her flood fashion. The former model is always elegantly turned out and perfectly coiffed, and Tuesday was no exception as she left the White House with her president husband for storm-ravaged Texas. Trump was photographed walking …
Read More »Texas storm Harvey breaks historic rainfall record
Miami, United States | AFP | Hurricane Harvey has set what forecasters believe is a new rainfall record for the continental United States, officials said Tuesday. Harvey, swirling for the past few days off Texas and Louisiana — at times as a hurricane and at times a tropical storm — has …
Read More »Trump: ‘All options’ on table after NKorea missile launch over Japan
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that “all options” remained under consideration after North Korea launched a missile over Japan. “Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime’s isolation in the region and among all nations of the world,” the White House …
Read More »Year after album, Frank Ocean drops mellow new track
New York, United States | AFP | Frank Ocean, the introspective singer who has thumbed his nose at music industry conventions, has unexpectedly released a new song, a reflection on relationships set to a mellow R&B vibe. Ocean put out the new track, “Provider,” on his irregularly scheduled Apple Music radio …
Read More »Israel finalises deal for 17 more F-35 stealth fighters
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israel has finalised a deal to purchase 17 more F-35 stealth fighters in addition to 33 of the ultra-high-tech jets already ordered, the defence ministry said Sunday. Israel has already taken delivery of five of the jets, made by US-based Lockheed Martin and the most …
Read More »Tillerson keeps distance from Trump’s race row stance
Washington, United States | AFP | Secretary of State Rex Tillerson defended American values on Sunday after a UN panel criticized the official response to racist violence — but conspicuously declined to speak for President Donald Trump. Trump triggered outrage earlier this month when he suggested both sides were at …
Read More »Houston battles massive floods, Trump set for Tuesday Texas trip
Houston floods spark chaos, much more rain to come Houston, United States | AFP | Massive flooding unleashed by deadly monster storm Harvey left Houston — the fourth-largest city in the United States — increasingly isolated Sunday as its airports and highways shut down and residents were rescued from their inundated …
Read More »US reporter, 18 Sudanese killed in Kaya clashes
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | An American journalist has been killed while covering clashes between government and rebel forces in restive South Sudan, local officials and the US mission in Juba said on Sunday. A spokesman confirmed the clashes had resulted in 19 deaths. Christopher Allen, a freelance reporter …
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