San Francisco, United States | AFP | Google on Monday fired the author of an internal memo defending the gender-gap in Silicon Valley tech jobs as a matter of biology, according to media reports. The move, which was not officially confirmed by Google, splashed fuel on a burning controversy about whether …
Read More »Pentagon, S.Korea review missile size guidelines
Washington, United States | AFP | The Pentagon is working with South Korea to review guidelines governing the size of missile warheads Seoul can deploy, an official said Monday, setting the stage for the South to boost its missiles’ power. Current guidelines limit the destructive capabilities of South Korea’s own …
Read More »For women CEOs, danger lurks atop the corporate ladder
New York, United States | AFP | In one recent 24-hour span, two women were pushed out of leadership roles at major US corporations, spotlighting how investor pressure can frustrate efforts to broaden diversity in the boardroom. Ellen Kullman, Meg Whitman, Mary Barra, Indra Nooyi, Marissa Mayer, Irene Rosenfeld, Sheri McCoy …
Read More »Apple’s China problem highlights conundrum for tech sector
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Apple’s decision to bow to Chinese officials by removing apps to sidestep online censorship underscores the dilemma faced by US tech companies seeking to uphold principles while expanding their business. The iPhone maker is the latest from Silicon Valley to face a conundrum in …
Read More »Trump turns to base to protect imperiled presidency
Bedminster, United States | AFP | Beset by investigations, dire approval ratings and growing party dissent, Donald Trump is stirring up his base, hoping to mobilize an army of political shock troops to protect his presidency. Revelations that a grand jury has been impaneled to investigate his finances and his campaign’s …
Read More »US and China pressure North Korea after sanctions vote
Manila, Philippines | AFP | The United States and China piled pressure on North Korea Sunday to abandon its nuclear missile programme after the UN Security Council approved tough sanctions which could cost Pyongyang $1 billion a year. One day after Council members voted unanimously for a partial ban on exports …
Read More »UN toughens sanctions on North Korea
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously backed a US-drafted resolution that significantly strengthened sanctions on North Korea, imposing a ban on exports aimed at depriving Pyongyang of $1 billion in annual revenue. The sweeping measures were the first of that scope to be …
Read More »Australia PM brushes off leaked Trump phone transcript
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia’s prime minister Friday sought to downplay an unflattering account of a controversial refugee swap deal which emerged in a leaked transcript of a bad-tempered phone call with US President Donald Trump. The Washington Post published the full details Thursday of private calls between Trump and …
Read More »Angry Trump says Russia ties at ‘very dangerous low’
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump claimed relations with Russia had hit an all-time and “very dangerous” low Thursday, putting the blame on Congress after he reluctantly approved sanctions against Moscow. After Moscow called the sanctions a declaration of “economic war” that had exposed the …
Read More »US grand jury impaneled for Russia probe: report
Washington, United States | AFP | Special counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury to investigate Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday — a step toward possible criminal indictments. The newspaper, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that the …
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