International

Trump taps supporters for advice on next debate

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — He may rely almost exclusively on his own political judgment during 2016, but Donald Trump is now seeking advice from supporters about how to improve his performance in the second presidential debate with Hillary Clinton. An email sent out Tuesday by his campaign includes a 30-question “debate preparation survey” for supporters ahead of their showdown. “The next debate against Hillary Clinton is just 5 days away. I need your immediate […]

At least 22 migrants dead off Libya: coastguard

ABOARD THE ASTRAL, Italy (AFP) — Twenty-eight Europe-bound migrants were found dead on a day of frantic rescues off Libya on Tuesday, including at least 22 in an overloaded wooden boat, an AFP photographer and the Italian coastguard said. The photographer, who was able to go aboard the vessel, said it appeared that many of the dead had suffocated. He said there were about 1,000 people on three levels. He counted 22 bodies and said […]

Battle over blame puts Deutsche Bank’s past in spotlight

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – by Pauline HOUEDE Deutsche Bank’s complaints that it is the target of speculators are triggering debate in Germany over where responsibility really lies for the troubled giant’s woes. After an eventful week that saw the Frankfurt institution’s shares plumb historic lows on fears over its financial health, Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel blamed the past decisions of “irresponsible managers” for Deutsche’s state. From the height of banks’ bid to compete with global investment banks […]

S.Africa students, police clash in campus battle

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) – by Sibongile KHUMALO South African police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas at student protesters in Johannesburg on Tuesday as authorities tried to re-open the prestigious Wits University after weeks of demonstrations. The university, along with many campuses across South Africa, has been closed for at least two weeks during protests over tuition fees, with violent clashes regularly erupting between students, police and private security guards. “There has been an […]

Palestinian local polls delayed for up to four months

HEBRON, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – by Samih Shahin The Palestinian government delayed municipal elections for up to four months Tuesday with Fatah and Hamas so far unable to overcome divisions to organise their first competitive polls in a decade. The postponement came a day after the Palestinian high court ruled that the elections, initially scheduled for October 8, should be held only in the West Bank and not in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. A new […]

Trump tumbles on rich list, down $800 mln: Forbes

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – It seems running for president is hurting Donald Trump’s finances big time. The Republican nominee’s fortune fell $800 million last year sending him tumbling 35 spots on a list of richest Americans, Forbes said Tuesday. The business magazine said the New York real estate mogul is worth $3.7 billion — down from an estimated $4.5 billion in March — and just over a third of the $10 billion that […]

IMF warns of protectionist threat to global growth

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – by Douglas Gillison The IMF on Tuesday left its global economic forecasts unchanged into 2017 but called on governments to take action against the threats of low growth and protectionism. With Britain voting to secede from the European Union and US presidential candidates disfavoring open borders, the International Monetary Fund said populist politics imperiled free trade and economic growth. Global output is expected to grow this year by 3.1 percent […]

Trump says news media obsessed with ‘alleged’ tax filing

  (Reuters) — U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Monday (October 3) appeared to complain about the public attention he has received over his leaked 1995 of tax filing which showed he had over $900 million in losses that year. The New York Times first reported the story, saying the losses were from bad business deals in the 1990s. Experts have said the losses might have allowed Trump to avoid paying federal income taxes […]

Turkey suspends more than 12,000 police officers in coup probe: statement

ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish authorities suspended more than 12,000 police officers over alleged links to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding the July failed coup, the police headquarters said on Tuesday. Of the 12,801 suspended from duty as part of the investigation into the coup attempt, 2,523 were police chiefs, the police authorities said in a statement. In total, Turkey has around 270,000 police officers. They were suspended over suspected links to the […]

Former Qaeda in Syria confirms a leader killed in raid

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A jihadist group that was formerly Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria on Monday confirmed that an air strike killed a senior leader after the Pentagon said it had targeted him. Ahmed Salama Mabrouk, an Egyptian also known by his nom de guerre Abu Faraj “was martyred after a coalition air strike in the west of Idlib province,” the Fateh al-Sham Front said in a statement on the Telegram app. Born in […]

New York orders Trump Foundation to cease fundraising

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The top state prosecutor in New York has ordered Republican nominee Donald Trump’s charitable foundation to stop fundraising in New York immediately, saying that it was operating without proper certification. The office of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman told the Donald J. Trump foundation last Friday that it must “cease and desist from soliciting contributions” in New York. The notice was made public on Monday. The notice of violation informed […]

UN vows to push for political solution in Syria

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The UN Syria envoy voiced deep disappointment Monday at the collapse of US-Russian talks to revive a Syria ceasefire, but vowed to keep working for a political solution. “The UN will continue to push energetically for a political solution of the Syrian conflict regardless of the very disappointing outcome of intense and long discussions among two crucial international stakeholders,” the office of Staffan de Mistura said in a statement. © 1994-2016 […]