Worldwide
Mexico aims tariff countermeasures at key Republican-contested districts
President Donald Trump had announced the tariffs in March , saying they were necessary to protect the United States from unfair competition and thereby bolster national security. The European Commission, which coordinates trade policy for the 28 EU members, has said the bloc should be permanently exempted from the tariffs since it is an ally and not the cause of steel and aluminum overcapac... [Full Article...]
China rejects 'ridiculous' U.S. accusation of South China Sea militarization
Declining to rate America's ability to destroy the islands on a scale from 1 to 10, McKenzie said that "the United States military has had a lot of experience in the Western Pacific taking down small islands". The Global Times, a state-backed Chinese tabloid that does not reflect official policy, said in an editorial on Thursday that China must prepare to forcefully respond to any "extreme" U.S. [Full Article...]
Trump says North Korea talks positive, expects Kim letter
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , right, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov walk, during a meeting in Pyongyang , North Korea , May 31, 2018. "I think South Korea will do it". Hagin said the U.S is open to paying for the bill, but is considering asking Singapore, the host country to pay for North Korea's portion. [Full Article...]
Trump steel tariffs illegal, says UK's Liam Fox
The tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, which affect the EU, Canada and Mexico, come into effect on Friday. No other president ever brought it up. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned of the consequences, saying: "It's entirely up to U.S. authorities whether they want to enter into a trade conflict with their biggest partner, Europe". [Full Article...]
Pushing the envelope: Why was Kim's letter for Trump so big
Kim Yong-chul arrived at the White House Friday afternoon after two days of talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , bearing a letter for Mr. Trump from Mr. Mr. Kelly then escorted the North Korean delegation along the Rose Garden colonnade to the Oval Office, where they met with Mr. Trump, Mr. Pompeo and others. [Full Article...]
Cyclist pulls huge 'zombie' knife on driver after near collision
The man then pulls out a blade appearing to be more than 10 inches long typically used for survival or hunting purposes. But the driver has nowhere to go and hits an oncoming auto. CCTV footage shows the man kicking at a blue Volkswagen on a busy south London street before he pulls the massive blade out and attempts to attack its 19-year-old driver. [Full Article...]
Al-Qaeda warns Saudi crown prince over 'sin'
But just weeks before the ban on women driving is due to be lifted, almost a dozen prominent activists were arrested. The kingdom has lately embarked on an all-embracing social reform program, in the framework of "Vision 2030", famously introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; in line with it, he recently conducted a global tour aimed at reshaping Saudi Arabia's austere image overseas. [Full Article...]
Merkel felt compelled to run again to counter Trump
The New York Times further posits that the former U.S. president, known for his easy attitude, was of the view that the Democratic Party could have been wrong in their estimation of Trump's clout in the USA vote. Obama said that it had been moved to the entrance of his private White House study, known as the Treaty Room. "Obama and his team were confident that Clinton would win". [Full Article...]
Mattis takes hard line on China in Singapore speech
China asserts ownership and control of more than 80 percent of the South China Sea , a $5 trillion-a-year shipping route where five other countries including the Philippines and Vietnam have claims. "We did not do freedom of navigation for America alone, we do freedom of navigation , give freedom for all nations, large and small, that need to transit those waters for their own prosperity an... [Full Article...]
United States threatens to veto Palestinian protection resolution at UN
The vote is scheduled for 3:00 pm (1900 GMT, 3:00 am Saturday) on Friday. Israel's United Nations ambassador, Danny Danon, also criticized the draft resolution for not mentioning Hamas , the terror organization that rules Gaza. Israeli solders stand as a transporter carrying a tank drives by, on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and Gaza, near kibbutz Mefalsim, May 30, 2018. [Full Article...]
Uganda imposes controversial ‘WhatsApp tax’ on social media users
Today's approval also imposes a 1% tax on all transactions made through mobile. However, many Ugandans on social media see the tax as a government crackdown on free speech. The Ugandan government has imposed taxes on social media to raise money for the country and to avoid donor aid, a lawmaker told CNN. To identify those mobile internet users who access social media and messaging apps will poss... [Full Article...]
United States vetoes UN Security Council resolution calling for protection of Palestinians
US Ambassador Nikki Haley described the text as a "grossly one-sided approach" and vowed "the United States will unquestionably veto " the measure put forward by Kuwait on behalf of Arab countries. The United States vetoed on Friday a Kuwaiti-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Israel's use of force against Palestinian civilians, underlining Washington's differences with fri... [Full Article...]
Mattis Announces Name Change for U.S. Pacific Command
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The Pacific Command has 375,000 civilian and military personnel monitoring the greater Pacific region, including India . " Relationships with our Pacific and Indian Ocean allies and partners have proven critical to maintaining regional stability ", USA defence chief James Mattis said on Wednesday. [Full Article...]
India's economy will sustain growth of 7.5 to 8%: PM Modi
Singapore was the last stop in Modi's visit to three countries in Southeast Asia this week as part of an "Act East" policy of strengthening relations in the region amid concern over China's rising maritime influence, in particular in the disputed South China Sea. [Full Article...]
Lawyer to appeal $4 verdict in police shooting of black man
The family of a Florida man who was shot and killed in his garage by a police deputy has been awarded just $4 in damages, reports CBS . Tests showed Hill's blood-alcohol content was 0.40, five times the driving limit. "He made the best decision he could for the safety of his partner, himself and the public given the circumstances he faced". 'We appreciate the jury's time and understandi... [Full Article...]
Remains of man crushed by rock discovered at Pompeii
In the ensuing pyroclastic eruptions, the victim's thorax was crushed by a large block of stone that was violently thrown by the volcanic cloud. The ancient city of Pompeii is famous for housing over a thousand striking and unsettling figures of people frozen in time, preserved in ash for 2,000 years after the eruption of Mt. [Full Article...]
NUS, NTU rise in world university rankings, Education News & Top Stories
The top-rated institution in the list is Harvard University , followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. Two other United Kingdom institutions - both in London - University College London (joint 18th) and Imperial College London (20th), made it into the top 20. [Full Article...]
White House puts $50 billion worth of tariffs on China
In retaliation, China announced plans to impose new tariffs of 25 per cent worth United States dollars 50 billion on 106 American products including items like soybeans which could hurt American farmers. ZTE said the USA move threatened it with collapse. This was a "win-win" because it would reduce the trade deficit while providing high-quality products that Chinese consumers need, he said. [Full Article...]
U.N. voices concern on Saudi arrests of activists, missing prince
Although Saudi Arabia's state news agency claimed it was a shooting down of a toy dronethat had gotten too close to the royal property, some wondered if the gunfire was in fact a coup led by royals against King Salman . The UN official urged the Saudi Arabian authorities to reveal the locations of the detainees, and ensure their rights to due process guarantees. The activists were accused... [Full Article...]
Canada Imposes Retaliatory Tariffs On US Imports
Trudeau invoked decades of battles fought alongside the USA and defending North American airspace as proof that the US tariffs based on a national security investigation are "unacceptable" and "punitive". The White House went on to say they were able to reach agreements with a number of other countries including Australia, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea. [Full Article...]