International

Obama, Trump hold ‘excellent’ White House talks

by Andrew Beatty WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Barack Obama and Donald Trump on Thursday put past animosity aside during a 90-minute White House meeting designed to quell fears about the health of the world’s pre-eminent democracy. As protests against the Republican property mogul’s shock election rumbled across US cities and world capitals contended with a suddenly uncertain world order, Obama and Trump vowed to carry out a smooth transition of power. After a nasty campaign […]

N. Korea urges policy shift from Trump administration

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Thursday warned the incoming Donald Trump administration will have to deal with a “nuclear state”, saying Washington’s push for denuclearisation was an “outdated illusion”. “If there is anything the Obama administration has done… it has put the security of the US mainland in the greatest danger,” said an editorial carried by the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun. “It has burdened the new administration with the difficulty of […]

Japan’s Abe to meet Trump next week: official

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to meet US president-elect Donald Trump next week in New York, officials said Thursday, after phone talks between the two following the billionaire’s shock election win. Abe and Trump spoke for about 20 minutes and tentatively set a date of November 17 for the meeting, just before Abe goes to Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a Japanese foreign ministry official told AFP. […]

Turkey’s Erdogan congratulates Trump after US strains

by Stuart WILLIAMS ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday telephoned Donald Trump to congratulate the triumphant US president-elect, as Ankara expressed hope for a new start in relations that were strained considerably under the presidency of Barack Obama. The warm reception from Ankara for Trump’s stunning win came as the two key NATO allies seek to overcome disputes ranging from Syria to the extradition of the alleged mastermind of the […]

Left-wing Democrats Sanders, Warren extend olive branch to Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Bernie Sanders, who galvanized young Americans during this year’s Democratic primary race, said Wednesday that he is ready to work with president-elect Donald Trump if he wants to “improve the lives of working families.” “Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media,” the Vermont senator said in a statement following the Republican billionaire’s […]

Clinton: US ‘more deeply divided than we thought’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton says the election showed the US is “more deeply divided” than [they] thought as she vowed to work with American President-elect Donald Trump, and urged fellow Democrats to allow him the chance to lead the deeply divided country. https://youtu.be/qlJ9PuJUtuc

World leaders take stock of shock Trump win

PARIS, France (AFP) — Politicians worldwide took stock Wednesday of Donald Trump’s shock US election victory, with the president-elect winning praise from far-right figures and a cautious welcome from key US allies. EUROPE Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Russia is ready and wants to restore full-fledged relations with the US… We understand that this will not be an easy path considering the unfortunate degradation of relations.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel referenced some of his most controversial […]

Ayotte is third Republican Trump critic to lose Senate race

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Senator Kelly Ayotte conceded to her Democratic challenger on Wednesday, making her the third Republican to lose a Senate race in a battleground state after refusing to endorse Donald Trump. Ayotte’s defeat to Governor Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire means another pick-up for the Democrats in the battle for control of the Senate. But Republicans outperformed expectations in Tuesday’s election and kept their grip on the chamber, with a […]

US strikes may have killed 119 civilians in Iraq, Syria: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon said Wednesday that US air strikes in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State group may have killed 119 civilians since 2014, a figure far lower than casualty estimates by monitoring groups. The figures released by Centcom, the US military command in the Middle East, came from a months-long review of reports and databases, it said, adding that the deaths and injuries stemmed from 24 air strikes. London-based […]

Trump election win sparks protests across US

by Gregory FEIFER WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Protesters rallied across the United States Wednesday to express shock over Donald Trump’s election victory, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency. In Washington, several hundred protesters gathered in front of the White House for a candlelight vigil on a damp, chilly evening, criticizing what they called Trump’s racism, sexism and xenophobia, and carrying signs reading “We have a voice!” […]

Obama to host Trump at White House

by Andrew BEATTY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama will host Donald Trump in the Oval Office Thursday, hoping to ease a smooth transition of power and steady nerves after an election that has shocked the world. Forty-eight hours after Trump’s improbable political victory, the 70-year-old president-elect will get a chance to measure the drapes ahead of his January inauguration. It could be a deeply uneasy meeting for two men who have sparred […]