(Reuters) Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Monday (December 9) called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States in the most dramatic response by a candidate yet to last week’s shooting spree by two Muslims who the FBI said were radicalized. We have no choice,” Trump said at a rally in South Carolina, warning of more Sept. 11-style attacks if stern measures are not taken. In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Trump told a […]
International
Don’t listen to the cynics, Schwarzenegger tells climate conference
Former California governor and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger told delegates at the United Nations’ climate conference on Monday (December 7) to ignore the naysayers who say a global deal is out of reach. The motivational address came as ministers representing many of the 195 parties met in Paris with the talks moving into their second phase before a December 11 deadline for an agreement. “I know there are the cynics around here, when you walk […]
Strong 7.2 quake strikes in Tajikistan, felt in New Delhi
An earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude struck Tajikistan on Monday, shaking buildings as far away as the Indian capital of New Delhi and in Pakistan, the U.S. Geological Survey and witnesses said. A spokesman for Tajikistan’s Emergencies Committee said it had no information so far on any casualties or damage from the quake. The quake did not affect Russian military bases in Tajikistan, RIA news agency reported, citing Russia’s defence ministry. The epicentre of the quake […]
BREAKING NEWS: Venezuela opposition wins majority in legislative elections; Maduro accepts results
Venezuela’s opposition won control of the legislature from the ruling Socialists for the first time in 16 years on Sunday (December 6), giving them a long-sought platform to challenge President Nicolas Maduro. Election board head Tibisay Lucena said the opposition Democratic Unity coalition won 99 seats to the Socialists’ 46 in the 167-national National Assembly with some districts still to be counted. “In nominal mode, the Socialist United Party of Venezuela has 24 nominal representatives, […]
U2 pay tribute to Paris victims but no Eagles of Death Metal
Irish rock band U2 paid tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks on their return on Sunday (December 6) to France, where two concerts had been canceled following the shootings. But Eagles of Death Metal did not make a rumored appearance with U2. The U2 Paris concerts were originally scheduled for Nov. 14 and 15, and were postponed after coordinated Islamic State attacks on the French capital killed 130 on Nov. 13. The deadliest […]
French far-right tops vote in first round of regional elections
France‘s far-right National Front topped the vote nationally in the first round of high-stakes regional elections on Sunday, provisional results showed, a major boost for the anti-immigration party. Boosted by fears over the Nov. 13 Islamic State attacks that killed 130 people in Paris, stubbornly high unemployment and worries about immigration, Marine Le Pen’s party secured 30.6 percent of the vote nationally, an exit poll by Ifop-Fiducial poll showed on Sunday night. The anti-Europe, anti-immigration […]
Venezuelan parliamentary election goes on smoothly
The parliamentary election of Venezuela went on smoothly on Sunday, with nearly 20 million Venezuelans voting for the parties they support at polling stations. Voters queued early at polling stations, which opened at 06:00 across the country and would remain open for 12 hours. In the election, the governing United Socialist Party (USP) will contend with the opposition and neutral parties for the 167 seats in the National Assembly. The government dispatched more than 160,000 […]
“Human energy” transforms Eiffel Tower for climate conference
The Eiffel Tower was the backdrop of a light display featuring 24 roving searchlights and an international sports project on Sunday (December 6), to mark the Un ited Nations climate conference. Tourists admired the iconic monument as it lit up. “I came here as Christmas is approaching, to watch the light show, to buy presents and do some shopping and because I love Paris,” a tourist, Lea, said. Lydia, a British citizen, said she had […]
Obama in speech to nation vows to defeat ‘new phase’ of terrorist threat
President Barack Obama warned Americans on Sunday the terrorist threat to the United States had evolved into a dangerous “new phase” in the aftermath of a deadly California shooting rampage, but vowed to destroy Islamic State and other militant groups. In a rare Oval Office address, Obama sought to calm a U.S. public increasingly jittery about the fight against Islamist militancy that once appeared to be waged overseas. But he offered no major shift in […]
China ready to support Africa’s industrialization: Chinese president
China stands ready to provide capital, technology and personnel to Africa for pushing forward industrialization in the continent, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Friday. Xi made the announcement in his address at the close ceremony of the High-Level Dialogue between Chinese-African Leaders and Business Communities and the 5th Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs in Johannesburg. “The achievement of inclusive and sustainable development in Africa hinges on industrialization, which holds the key to creating […]
Obama calls for stronger gun control, renewed fight against ISIS in rare Oval Office address
Excerpts from President Obama’s Speech on keeping the Americans safe after the San Bernardino massacre: > “This was an act of terrorism, designed to kill innocent people.” >”I have authorized U.S. forces to take out terrorists abroad precisely because I know how real the danger is” >”As Commander-in-Chief, I have no greater responsibility than the security of the American people.” >”The threat from terrorism is real, we will overcome it. We will destroy ISIL and […]
Obama to Americans: ‘Do not give in to fear’
(Reuters) President Barack Obama will tell Americans on Sunday what the government is doing to keep them safe following the mass killing by a couple in California last week that is being investigated as an act of terrorism, but no major shift in strategy was expected. In a rare Oval Office address at 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT) (9:00am Manila time), Obama will lay out the security steps the United States has taken since Islamic […]
