In his first cabinet appointments, President-elect Joe Biden is signaling that he favors competence and centrism and is not out to please his Democratic Party’s left-wing base, although he achieved historic firsts for women and minorities.
Hungary in ‘Soros’ spat with George Clooney
Hungary accused Hollywood star George Clooney of “limited” knowledge of politics Tuesday after the actor cited Prime Minister Viktor Orban as an example of “hate and anger” in the world.
Russia says Sputnik V virus vaccine 95% effective
Russia said Tuesday its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was 95 percent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives, as the global race heats up to develop a jab.
Taiwan expanding submarine fleet as China threat grows
Taiwan began construction on a fleet of indigenous submarines on Tuesday, the latest move by the out-gunned island to bolster its defences against increasingly bellicose threats from Beijing.
‘Vatileaks’ butler who betrayed pope dies after illness
Former pope Benedict XVI’s ex-butler, who was jailed for leaking secret papal documents to the media, has died after a long illness, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.
Pope derides anti-mask movements, backs racial justice campaign
Pope Francis took aim Monday at protests against coronavirus restrictions, contrasting them with the “healthy indignation” seen in the global demonstrations against racism after the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
Poorest must not be trampled in vaccines stampede: WHO
With Covid-19 vaccines on the horizon, the planet’s poorest must not be trampled as countries scramble to get their hands on them, the World Health Organization said Monday.
Curtailed Christmas could be ‘safest bet’: WHO
The WHO said Monday that avoiding family gatherings would be “the safest bet” over Christmas, insisting there is no zero-risk option for traditional holiday merry-making during the coronavirus pandemic.
John Kerry, who signed Paris accord for US, is Biden’s climate envoy
Former secretary of state John Kerry helped broker the landmark Paris Agreement and signed it on behalf of the United States, a decision subsequently reversed by President Donald Trump.
Biden signals US diplomatic shift with new team
President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced a foreign policy and national security team crammed with veterans from the Barack Obama years, signalling an end to the upheaval under President Donald Trump and a return to traditional US diplomacy.
Trump finally agrees to Biden transition – but still not conceding
Donald Trump came his closest yet to admitting election defeat Monday after the government agency meant to ease Joe Biden’s transition into the White House said it was finally lifting its unprecedented block on assistance.
Putin signs law raising income tax for high earners
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law on increasing income tax for high earners in the first move away from a flat tax system in place since 2001.
LGBTQ support lends ‘new taste’ to Thai politics
It takes Siraphob Attohi three hours to transform from a harried student into his drag queen persona Masala Bold — a wisecracking MC, who raises calls for gender equality during Thailand’s protests for democratic reforms.
Biden to start naming cabinet picks Tuesday as Trump resists
US President-elect Joe Biden will name his first cabinet picks on Tuesday, his chief of staff said, even as Donald Trump clung to unsubstantiated claims of fraud despite growing dissent from within his own party.
A decade on, Kadhafi’s cousin sees Arab Spring as Western plot
From his lavish Cairo apartment overlooking the Nile, Ahmed Kadhaf al-Dam reminisces fondly about the iron-fisted rule of Libya by his cousin Moamer Kadhafi, nearly a decade after his ouster.
Trump defends withdrawal from ‘unfair’ Paris climate accord
US President Trump on Sunday defended his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord, calling it “unfair and one-sided” even as President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the landmark agreement.
G20 to back ‘equitable’ access to coronavirus vaccine
G20 leaders will pledge to “spare no effort” in ensuring fair distribution of coronavirus vaccines worldwide, and reaffirm support for debt-laden poor countries, according to a draft communique seen by AFP Sunday.
France to punish ‘eco-cide’ with prison up to 10 years
France will make serious intentional damage to the environment punishable by up to 10 years in prison as part of planned “eco-cide” law, government ministers said in remarks published Sunday.
From ally to pariah? Saudi confident of ‘friendly’ ties with Biden
Saudi Arabia expects no major change in its relationship with the US under Joe Biden, a senior official told CNN, despite the president-elect pledging to turn the kingdom into a “pariah”.
Bye Donald! Twitter to hand @POTUS account to Biden on inauguration day
Twitter confirmed Saturday it will hand control of the presidential @POTUS account to Joe Biden when he is sworn in on inauguration day, even if President Donald Trump has not conceded his election loss.
Merkel, Germany’s ‘eternal’ chancellor, marks 15 years in power
In power so long she has been dubbed Germany’s “eternal chancellor”, Angela Merkel marks 15 years at the helm of Europe’s top economic power Sunday with her popularity and public trust scaling new heights as her remaining time in office ticks down.
Denying defeat, Trump offers fodder for world’s strongmen
The United States has long championed democracy around the world, pushing persistently, if not always consistently, for leaders to give up power when they lose.
Antimicrobial resistance as dangerous as pandemic: WHO
The World Health Organization warned Friday that growing antimicrobial resistance is every bit as dangerous as the coronavirus pandemic — and threatens to reverse a century of medical progress.
Vatican vows to get to the bottom of racy Papal Instagram ‘like’
The Vatican has launched an investigation into how Pope Francis’s Instagram account “liked” a raunchy photograph of a Brazilian bikini model with her bottom on display, an official said Friday.
