International

Trump attacks, Clinton lies low as last debate nears

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump fired off an erratic new broadside at Hillary Clinton on Sunday, making more explosive claims that American media and a conspiracy to commit voter fraud are rigging the presidential election against him. Amid the latest Twitter blasts from the Republican White House nominee, his running mate Mike Pence sought to lower tensions by insisting his camp would accept defeat if that’s what voters decide on November 8. Two […]

Operation to retake Mosul from IS has begun: Iraq PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Operations to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group have begun, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced early Monday on state television. “The time of victory has come and operations to liberate Mosul have started,” he said in an address broadcast by the Iraqiya channel. “Today I declare the start of these victorious operations to free you from the violence and terrorism of Daesh (IS),” he said, addressing […]

Trump challenges Clinton to drug test, says vote ‘rigged’

Portsmouth, United States (AFP) — by Mary Schwalm Donald Trump has challenged his rival Hillary Clinton to a drug test before their next debate, suggesting the Democrat was “pumped up” on performance-enhancing drugs in a stunning new twist to the brutal White House race. The unsubstantiated attack from the Republican nominee came as a new poll out Sunday shows Clinton with a four-point lead over her Republican rival, suggesting that Trump still holds a solid […]

UN chief set to visit hurricane-hit Haiti to highlight needs

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (AFP) — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon travels to Haiti on Saturday to visit areas devastated by Hurricane Matthew and highlight the emergency needs of the Caribbean nation. Ban will conduct an aerial survey of the damage along with Prime Minister Jean-Charles Enex, then visit Les Cayes on Haiti’s southern coast — one of the cities hardest-hit by Matthew — the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) said in a statement. During the visit, […]

Motorcycling: Zarco takes Moto2 Japan Prix pole

Motegi, Japan  (AFP) — Defending Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco secured pole position for Sunday’s Japan Grand Prix for the category after earning a new circuit record in qualifying on Saturday. The French rider, who is also leading this season with 202 points, clocked 1min 49.961sec, the best ever lap at Twin Ring Motegi circuit, which was 0.067sec faster than Thomas Luthi and 0.356sec faster than Franco Morbidelli who will share the front row. Alex Rins, […]

Stampede kills 24 at religious gathering in India

  by Sanjay Kanojia VARANASI, India | AFP | — A stampede at a religious gathering in northern India killed at least 24 people Saturday as thousands of devotees of a controversial guru tried to cross a bridge at once, police said. The followers of Jai Gurudev, a leader of a local religious sect, had gathered on the outskirts of Varanasi, a Hindu holy town in Uttar Pradesh state, when the deadly stampede broke out. […]

11 dead in Vietnam floods: state media

  HANOI, Vietnam | AFP |– At least 11 people have died and several more are missing in heavy flooding in central Vietnam, state media said Saturday, with tens of thousands of homes completely submerged by water. The communist government has ordered local authorities to mobilise the army and police to rescue trapped residents following heavy downpours, state-run Vietnam Television reported. The channel said at least 11 had died in the flooding with some 27,000 […]

African leaders tackle piracy, illegal fishing at Lome summit

Lome, Togo (AFP) – Stemming the astronomical losses caused by crime in the oceans surrounding Africa is the focus of a major continental summit on Saturday in the Togolese capital, Lome. “Over recent decades, the accumulated revenue losses resulting directly from illegal activities in the African maritime sector add up to hundreds of billions of US dollars, without counting the loss of human lives,” the African Union (AU) said in an online statement about its […]

China, Bangladesh lift ties to strategic partnership of cooperation

Dhaka, Bangladesh (Reuters) — Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday and the two leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation. During the meeting, Xi said that the closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation the two sides forged in 2010 has yielded fruitful results, with bilateral cooperation advancing steadily in political, economic, cultural, and security, as well as on international and regional affairs. […]

Obama enshrines Cuba normalization as official US policy

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President Barack Obama on Friday announced a directive formalizing a policy of normalization with Cuba and unveiling a new round of loosened trade and travel rules. In a statement, Obama said the directive  lays out an official framework for continuing normalization aimed at making it “irreversible.” “This new directive consolidates and builds upon the changes we’ve already made, promotes transparency by being clear about our policy and intentions, and […]

Obama warns ‘democracy itself’ at stake in US election

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) – by Andrew BEATTY US President Barack Obama warned Friday that American “democracy itself” is on the ballot in November’s presidential election, as White House concern grows about the lasting impact of Republican Donald Trump’s scorched-earth campaign. At a fiery campaign event for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Cleveland, Ohio, Obama trashed Trump as a dictator-in-the-making, but also voiced concerns about how Trump’s legion of supporters might react to a possible election […]

Japan’s prime minister meets his Mongolian counterpart, calling on stronger ties

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat agreed to strengthen ties during a bilateral talk held on Friday (October 14) in Tokyo. This is Erdenebat’s first visit to a foreign country after taking office. He was welcomed at the Japanese Prime Minister’s office with a full honour guard review before sitting down for talks. “During our bilateral back in July in Ulaanbaatar, Prime Minister Erdenebat and I […]