Washington, United States | AFP | Engulfed in an impeachment inquiry and other political turmoil, US President Donald Trump on Friday trumpeted the success of his hard-line stance with China, claiming to have scored a major win in the grinding trade war between the economic powers. But while Trump took a …
Read More »Aria that cost Marie-Antoinette her head is sung again at Versailles
Versailles, France | AFP | The last time the strains of the aria “Oh Richard! Oh my king!” echoed around the Opera Royal at Versailles it was for Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette just before they were dragged off to Paris and their doom by their revolting subjects. The piece from “Richard …
Read More »From Minnesota to Michigan, Trump aims to turn scandal into reelection fuel
Lake Charles, United States | AFP | As impeachment pressure mounted on Donald Trump, the president left Washington for the second day in a row Friday to rally hardcore supporters in a bid to turn the scandal into fuel for his 2020 reelection. Framing himself as the victim of a plot …
Read More »More companies back away from Facebook’s Libra coin
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook’s digital currency alliance lost more companies on Friday amid heavy criticism from regulators around the world on the planned Libra global cryptocurrency. Credit card giants Visa and Mastercard, online marketplace eBay and digital payments firm Stripe each announced they had changed their minds …
Read More »Aviation experts blast FAA over 737 MAX redesign approval: report
Washington, United States | AFP | US aviation regulators came in for heavy criticism on Friday over lapses in certifying the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which has been grounded following two crashes that killed 346 people. The report, authored by a team of international aviation regulators, said the US Federal Aviation …
Read More »EU and UK intensify Brexit talks ahead of key summit
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | British and EU negotiators agreed Friday to intensify efforts to find a new Brexit withdrawal agreement, just days before a key European summit. European Union member states will review progress on Monday, following a meeting between influential leaders French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela …
Read More »Trump announces ‘very substantial’ but partial China trade deal
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Friday hailed a breakthrough in his drawn-out trade war with China, saying the two sides reached an initial deal that included a surge in purchase of American farm products. With the agreement — which also covers intellectual property, financial services and …
Read More »Brexit deal hopes hang on British breakfast with Barnier
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Britain and Europe’s top Brexit negotiators sit down together Friday to test what British and Irish leaders say might be a “pathway” to a deal. Technical talks on an agreement to govern Britain’s EU divorce are stalled, just days before what had been billed as a …
Read More »Bookies bet on Greta Thunberg for Peace Prize, experts don’t
Oslo, Norway | AFP | Bookies have Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as the name to beat ahead of Friday’s Nobel Peace Prize announcement, although experts say Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed or a representative of the free press are more likely. Speculation in Norwegian media on the eve of the announcement …
Read More »Kipchoge, the monastic marathon man, aims for the moon
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | As he prepares for more assaults on the peaks of marathon running, Eliud Kipchoge stays true to an austere lifestyle despite his fame and fortune. The Kenyan superstar, who holds the marathon world record and is reigning Olympic champion, hopes to become the first man …
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