New York, United States | AFP | Michael Bloomberg confirmed Sunday that he is running for president, joining the crowded field of Democrats seeking to take on his fellow New York billionaire, President Donald Trump. His 11th-hour entry highlights the fluid nature of the Democratic contest just three months before …
Read More »ANALYSIS: 45 years after Nixon, another US president faces impeachment
Washington, United States | AFP | On August 7, 1974, a trio of top Republican leaders went to the White House and told President Richard Nixon that party support was eroding and impeachment was inevitable. He resigned the next day. Fast forward 45 years, and another US president, Donald Trump, …
Read More »US authorizes ‘several’ firms to sell to Huawei amid sanctions
Washington, United States | AFP | US officials said Wednesday they have agreed to grant licenses to “several” firms to provide components to Chinese tech giant Huawei, which faces sanctions imposed over national security concerns. A Commerce Department spokesman said the agency had granted “narrow licenses to authorize limited and specific activities which do not …
Read More »Sondland: Trump never discussed Ukraine aid freeze
Washington, United States | AFP | US diplomat Gordon Sondland said Wednesday President Donald Trump never spoke to him about stalled military aid to Ukraine or any alleged link to Trump’s demands for political investigations. “I never heard from President Trump that aid was conditioned on an announcement of (the investigations),” …
Read More »US faces Palestinian, international criticism of Israel settlement move
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | The United States faced stiff international and Palestinian criticism Tuesday over its decision to no longer consider Israeli settlements illegal, while the Jewish state’s premier cheered on the “historic” move. The United Nations and European Union stressed the decision would not change the reality that …
Read More »North Korea ‘no longer interested’ in summits with US: KCNA
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea is “no longer interested” in summits with the US unless Washington offers new concessions in their nuclear negotiations, Pyongyang said Monday, hours after Donald Trump hinted at the prospect. “You should act quickly, get the deal done,” Trump tweeted Sunday, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong …
Read More »HP rejects takeover bid from Xerox
Washington, United States | AFP | HP Inc. said Sunday it turned down a $33 billion hostile takeover bid from Xerox, saying it undervalued the computer and printer maker. But the HP board said it still would like to discuss the possibility of reaching a deal with its rival, a …
Read More »In comes Natalie E. Brown, out goes Amb Malac at US Mission in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Diplomat Natalie E. Brown, who will replace Ambassador Malac early next year at the US Mission in Kampala, has served in several hot spots in Africa before getting the new appointment to Uganda. A career member of the US Foreign Service, Brown carries experience …
Read More »China’s economy shows further signs of weakness
Beijing, China | AFP | China’s economy showed further signs of strain on Thursday with data showing a sharp slowdown in consumer spending and factory production, while investment growth hit a record low as the trade war with the US takes its toll. The readings are the latest to give a …
Read More »Brexit will make Britain ‘second-rate player’: EU’s Tusk
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Britain will be a “second-rate player” after Brexit, unable to compete with big powers like the US, China and EU, outgoing EU Council president Donald Tusk warned Wednesday. The former Polish premier said Brexit supporters were deluded if they thought leaving the EU would bring a …
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