US Secretary of State says the arms agreements will help Saudi Arabia deal with ‘malign Iranian influence’. The US and Saudi Arabia signed arms deals worth almost $110bn on Saturday, the first day of President Donald Trump’s visit to the…
Category: World News
Trump seeks to win over Muslims with Islam speech
After saying ‘Islam hates us’ and calling for a Muslim travel ban, Trump seeks to reset relations with Islamic world. Donald Trump is set to deliver a major speech on Islam during his visit to Saudi Arabia, just two months…
Keep it short and give Trump a win – God save America
By PETER BAKER Washington — As Saudi Arabia’s leaders prepared to make a pitch to the White House for a visit by President Trump, a PowerPoint presentation was put together complete with slides describing Saudi demographics, investments in the United…
Iran’s President Rouhani wins 2nd term by a wide margin
Tehran, May 20 (AP/UNB) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani won re-election by a wide margin Saturday, giving the moderate cleric a second four-year term to see out his agenda pushing for greater freedoms and outreach to the wider world.
Islamic preacher Zakir Naik granted Saudi citizenship
Dhaka, May 20 (UNB)- Controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, booked under an anti-terror law, has been granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia, according to media reports.
Trump asks Muslims on first foreign trip: Drive out terrorists
Washington, May 20 (AP/UNB)- President Donald Trump will use his first visit to the Middle East to call for unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a “battle between good and evil” and…
Iranians elect next president
Behrouz Javid Tehrani Millions of Iranians are consuming the latest twists and turns of the presidential and city council election season on their Telegram accounts and Twitter feeds, with voting scheduled for May 19. And during this time of expanded…
3 injured after fire breaks out at Google conference
Mountain View – Authorities say three people were injured after a fire broke out during Google’s I/O developer conference in California. AP/UNB news reported
Thai school without walls fosters minds sans barriers
Kei Franklin explores how one school in Thailand fosters “good citizens,” going beyond simple environmental education. This article is excerpted from EarthEd, the latest edition of State of the World which examines how, education worldwide can help people better adapt…
Trump election: Former FBI boss to lead Russia inquiry
A former FBI boss has been named special counsel to oversee an inquiry into Russia’s alleged meddling in the election and any Trump campaign ties.
Mexico’s award-winning crime journalist shot dead
Veteran reporter, who covered drug trafficking and organised crime, was the fifth journalist killed in Mexico this year. Javier Valdez, an award-winning reporter who specialised in covering drug trafficking and organised crime, was murdered in the northern Mexico state of…
Trump ‘shared classified information with Russia’
President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about so-called Islamic State (IS) to Russia’s foreign minister, sources have told US media.
N Korea carries out new ballistic missile test, fuels furies
North Korea has carried out another ballistic missile test days after a new president took office in the South. The missile was launched near north-western Kusong, flying hundreds of miles then landing in the Sea of Japan. It puts immediate…
Comey’s independent streak, dramatic flair could haunt Trump
Washington – James Comey cut an unorthodox path as FBI director, time and again compelled by what he described as strongly held convictions to speak with unusual candor and eloquence about the bureau’s work. It’s a combination of qualities that…
More pain for department stores pulls US stock indexes lower
New York – Shares of department stores sank again Friday, hurt by more evidence that shoppers are turning away from them. A drop in Treasury yields also put pressure on bank stocks, and the weakness helped pull the Standard &…
Developed countries trying to reinterpret Paris Deal: G77
Bonn, 12 May (T Ajit)- The G77 and China said that developed countries are intending to reinterpret the Paris Agreement (PA) by their stance in the negotiations at the Bonn climate talks. At the contact group meeting of the UNFCCC’s…
Concerns arise over freed Nigerian abductees
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, May 10 (IPS) – Following the release of over 80 missing schoolgirls, human rights groups have expressed concerns about their rights and future. After a series of negotiations, the Government of Nigeria recently struck a deal…
Yemen minister says 60 percent of population in dire poverty
Riyadh – Yemen’s planning minister says 60 percent of the country’s population is in dire poverty more than two years since the Shiite rebels forced the country’s internationally recognized government and president out of the capital. AP/UNB news agency reported
Korea’s leader willing to visit North, talk to US, China
Seoul – New South Korean President Moon Jae-in said as he took office Wednesday that he is open to visiting rival North Korea under the right conditions to talk about its aggressive pursuit of nuclear-tipped missiles. AP/UNB news agency reported
Comey fired to kill Trump-Russia inquiries: Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) slammed President Trump Tuesday for firing FBI Director James Comey, calling his decision “deeply troubling” and suggesting that the president is attempting to sway the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. “Donald…
Kushner emerged as conduit for Canada on NAFTA talks
Washington – On the day the White House threatened to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, emerged as a key conduit between the United States and Canada. AP/UNB news…
Car bomb in Thailand’s Muslim-dominated south wounds over 50
Pattani – Suspected insurgents in Thailand detonated a car bomb Tuesday outside a busy shopping center in the south of the country, wounding more than 50 people in a huge blast that ripped the building apart and sent people running…
Trump to announce federal court nominees
Washington – President Donald Trump is set to announce several nominees to fill federal court openings. A White House official said Monday that a formal announcement would come later in the day, with names released at an afternoon press briefing.…
In a divided France, challenges await President-elect Macron
Paris – It will be a short honeymoon for French President-elect Emmanuel Macron. France’s youngest president faces the daunting task of reuniting a troubled and divided nation riven by anxieties about terrorism and chronic unemployment and ravaged by a bitter…
Macron’s decisive win to become French President
Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron has decisively won the French presidential election, defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Mr Macron won by 66.06% to 33.94% to become, at 39, the country’s youngest president.
Macron, political upstart who may become French president
Paris – French centrist Emmanuel Macron has already achieved an immense task: A former outsider with little political experience, he is now the front-runner in France’s presidential race, banking on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures…
French voters decide between Le Pen and Macron
French voters are choosing their next president after an unpredictable campaign that has divided the country. The second round contest pits centrist Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old former investment banker, against the far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen, 48.
Death count marches upward to 38 amid Venezuela unrest
Caracas – The number killed in Venezuela amid mounting political unrest rose to 38 on Friday, as opposition leaders reported that dozens of officers had been detained for refusing to repress protesters. AP/UNB news agency reported
French watchdog: large amount of Macron data leaked
Paris – France’s election campaign commission says “a significant amount of data” has been leaked on social networks following a hacking attack allegedly suffered by centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, 36 hours before the nation votes Sunday in the crucial…
A polished Le Pen maintains gritty image in French vote
Paris – The months of grueling campaigning have polished her image. The driving ambition has been softened to widen her appeal to French voters. But Marine Le Pen has not lost the gritty, populist edge that speaks to the common…