WORLD

Istanbul, Turkey | AFP |  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened Friday to open Turkey’s borders to allow migrants to reach the EU, in a move that would tear up a landmark deal that has reduced the flow. Erdogan’s comments, some of his toughest in recent times against the European Union, …

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |  He’s a mercurial army general known for penning saccharine ballads and angry tirades against his critics. Now Thailand’s junta chief has launched a new eye-catching project: trimming the waistlines of the kingdom’s civil servants. Former army chief turned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha ditched his fatigues …

Moscow, Russia | AFP |  President Vladimir Putin on Thursday joked with a schoolboy that Russia’s borders “don’t end anywhere”. Putin was speaking at a televised awards ceremony held by the Russian Geographical Society. On stage Putin questioned Miroslav Oskirko, a nine-year-old prodigy who said he knew the borders of …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Donald Trump has received just two classified intelligence briefings since winning the presidency earlier this month, far less than his immediate predecessors, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. The Republican’s limited engagement with his team of intelligence analysts has some officials questioning the real estate …

Palm Beach, United States | AFP | Donald Trump began to broaden the base of his future cabinet Wednesday, nominating two conservative women including a critic, after his earlier picks rewarded campaign loyalists. Trump’s nomination of South Carolina’s 44-year-old governor, Nikki Haley, as US ambassador to the United Nations will …

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | AFP | An Australian surgeon kidnapped by jihadists nearly two years ago whose whereabouts remain unknown has been declared a citizen of the west African nation, an official decree announced Wednesday. “Arthur Kenneth Elliott, born 11 November 1934 in Perth, in Australia…. a surgeon” has been …

Strasbourg, France | AFP | The European Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a freeze of membership talks with Turkey over its post-coup crackdown, further escalating tensions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has already dismissed the vote as having “no value” as it is non-binding, and as most …

President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out on the recent election and referendum reversals in the US and UK, that have led to the victory of Donald Trump and defeat of David Cameron. He explained that one leading factor has been a backlash after these nations launched “unjust” wars across the world. …

Washington, United States | AFP | Two weeks on from his election victory, Donald Trump shows every sign that he will govern as he campaigned — with late night tweet storms, attacks on the press and a flirtation with the extremes of US political life. True, the president-elect has backed …

Washington, United States | AFP |  The Pentagon has softened rules on US troops carrying firearms while at government facilities, an action prompted by a series of deadly attacks on uniformed personnel. Troops already carry weapons as part of certain job functions, but the new rules will allow commanders to …