International

Obama confident he could have won the White House again

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama says he could have been reelected for a third term and that the nation still largely embraces his political vision despite last month’s election of Donald Trump to succeed him. The US leader’s remarks were made in an interview posted on the podcast “The Axe Files,” produced by CNN and the University of Chicago. Obama, who winds up his second and final term in office in just […]

Parts of crashed Russian plane found in Black Sea

by Vasily MAXIMOV with Maria ANTONOVA in Moscow Agence France Presse SOCHI, Russia (AFP) — Russian rescuers found Monday the first parts of the Syria-bound military plane that plunged into the Black Sea, as officials dismissed terrorism as a possible cause of the crash that killed all 92 people on board. The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Russia’s military base in Syria […]

US led UN ‘gang-up’ on Israel settlement vote: ambassador

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House orchestrated a “gang-up” against Israel on last week’s UN settlement vote, its ambassador to Washington said Monday in the latest sign of anger between the longtime allies. Ambassador Ron Dermer said in an interview with CNN that the Israeli government plans to show evidence of the alleged US maneuvering in due time. “What is outrageous is that the United States was actually behind that gang-up. I think […]

Japan’s Abe in Hawaii to visit Pearl Harbor with Obama

HONOLULU, United States (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday ahead of a symbolic meeting with President Barack Obama at the site of the Pearl Harbor attack. Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe will be the first to go to the US Arizona Memorial, the wreck where 1,177 US personnel died. Tuesday’s visit comes 75 years after Japan’s December 1941 attack on the base of the US […]

Police evacuate three Moscow railway stations after bomb threat: agencies

(REUTERS) Police in Moscow have evacuated almost 3,000 people from three different railway stations after receiving an anonymous bomb threat, Russian news agencies reported on Monday. The TASS news agency said police planned to use sniffer dogs to check the Kazansky, Leningradsky and Yaroslavsky railway stations. All three stations are located on the same Moscow square. (Writing by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Andrew Osborn)  

Chinese carrier enters South China Sea amid renewed tension

  (REUTERS)  A group of Chinese warships led by the country’s sole aircraft carrier entered the top half of the South China Sea on Monday after passing south of Taiwan, the self-ruled island’s Defense Ministry said of what China has termed a routine exercise. The move comes amid renewed tension over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own, ineligible for state-to-state relations, following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s telephone call with the island’s president that upset […]

Indonesian militants planned New Year’s assault with machetes: police

  (Reuters)  Indonesian militants supporting Islamic State planned to attack a police post on New Year’s eve with machetes and knives, a police spokesman said on Monday. The plot was broken up after police arrested two of the would-be attackers who led them to their hideout, where police shot dead their two co-conspirators on Sunday after police said they tried to attack officers with machetes. “The four of them were planning to attack a police […]

Obama pays last presidential holiday visit to Hawaii marine base

Kaneohe, United States | AFP | US President Barack Obama on Sunday visited American troops at a Hawaii military base, the last time he will participate in his holiday tradition as commander-in-chief. Obama and the first lady Michelle visited the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, close to where the presidential couple are vacationing with their daughters. Speaking weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s scheduled inauguration, Obama called his time as commander-in-chief “the privilege of […]

China to establish diplomatic ties with Sao Tome: Reuters witness

  China is set to sign an agreement on Monday establishing diplomatic ties with former Taiwan ally Sao Tome and Principe, according to a banner in a state guesthouse in Beijing announcing the ceremony, a Reuters witness said. Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada said on Thursday that breaking relations with Taiwan was the correct decision given China’s importance as a strategic partner and the need to improve the lives of Sao Tomeans. […]

PM Abe to send message Japan won’t repeat war atrocities

  (REUTERS) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he wants to send a message to the world during his visit to Pearl Harbor that Japan will never repeat the atrocities of past wars. “The alliance between Japan and the United States is one with hope in dealing with various problems in the world,” Abe said in a speech to the Japanese business lobby Keidanren. “I hope this visit will be a historical one with […]

Twelve years after Asia tsunami, 400 bodies unidentified in Thailand

  (REUTERS) At least 400 victims of Asia’s 2004 tsunami that killed 226,000 people remain unidentified in Thailand 12 years on, police said on Monday. The 9.15 magnitude Dec. 26 earthquake triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean in one of the biggest natural disasters in history. Thailand, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka were among the worst hit countries. Some 5,395 people were killed in Thailand, among them about 2,000 foreign tourists.  “Since the 2004 […]

Taiwan says Chinese aircraft carrier passes south of island

  (REUTERS)  A group of Chinese warships led by the country’s sole aircraft carrier has passed through waters south of Taiwan and is heading southwest, Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Monday of what China has termed a routine exercise. The ministry said the aircraft carrier the Liaoning, accompanied by five other vessels, had passed 90 nautical miles south of Taiwan’s southernmost point on Monday morning via the Bashi Channel, between Taiwan and the Philippines. “Staying […]