London, United Kingdom | AFP | Ten countries accounting for 2.5 percent of world GDP are hosting more than half the world’s refugees, Amnesty International said Tuesday as it slammed what it called the selfishness of wealthy nations. In a report on the plight faced by the world’s 21 million …
Read More »US drops Russia talks as Syria pushes Aleppo onslaught
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States on Monday abandoned its effort to convince Russia to impose a ceasefire on the Syrian regime as government forces pursued their relentless onslaught on eastern Aleppo. Accusing Moscow of abetting Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad’s assault on civilian districts of the city, …
Read More »Philippines, US hold war games after Duterte tirades
Manila, Philippines | AFP | The Philippines and the United States launched war games on Tuesday against the backdrop of the unusual threat of American forces being ejected from the Southeast Asian nation, as its firebrand leader pivots to China. President Rodrigo Duterte has sustained a verbal assault on the …
Read More »Why divided Colombia said ‘No’ to peace deal
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombians say they are sick of their country’s 52-year civil war. So why did a thin majority of voters reject their biggest chance yet for peace? Forecasts ahead of Sunday’s surprise referendum result misjudged how divided Colombians are over how to settle the conflict …
Read More »Pope visits Azerbaijan on Caucasus peace tour
Baku, Azerbaijan | AFP | Pope Francis on Sunday arrived in mainly Muslim Azerbaijan on the last leg of his peace tour of the volatile ex-Soviet Caucasus region, just months after visiting arch-foe Armenia. The pontiff held a mass for the country’s tiny Catholic community in the capital Baku ahead …
Read More »Clinton says campaign donations hit record $154 mln in September
Washington, United States | AFP | Hillary Clinton said Saturday she raised a record $154 million in September in her race for the White House against Donald Trump. In August, Clinton raised $143 million and Trump $90 million. It is common for campaign donations to increase as the election …
Read More »THERESA MAY: a private woman and political enigma as UK PM
Birmingham, United Kingdom | AFP | Facing ever-louder calls to define what Brexit means, the honeymoon is already over for British Prime Minister Theresa May after her meteoric rise to Downing Street following the vote to leave the EU. May swept to power ultimately unopposed in July in an internal …
Read More »TAX AMNESTY: Indians disclose $10 billion in hidden wealth
New Delhi, India | AFP | Indians have declared almost $10 billion in hidden wealth under a government amnesty on tax evasion, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s moves to crack down on huge piles of black money. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the four-month scheme that closed …
Read More »‘Unhinged’ Trump ready to drag Clinton sex scandals into US campaign
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump indicated in a new interview that he’s ready to drag ex-president Bill Clinton’s sex scandals into the White House campaign, after Democrats lashed out at the billionaire’s Twitter rant against a pro-Hillary ex-Miss Universe. Trump told The New York Times that he …
Read More »Protests turn violent over California police shooting of Olango
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | A third evening of protests in a San Diego suburb turned violent overnight, with protesters breaking car windows and throwing glass bottles at police over the latest death of an unarmed Alfred Okwera Olango, 38. Between 50 and 75 protesters took over an …
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