France's Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as PM

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist leader Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the daunting task of hauling France out of months of political crisis. Bayrou, the 73-year-old head of the MoDem group which is allied to Macron's party, was appointed nine days after Michel Barnier's government was ousted by parliament in a historic no-confidence vote following a standoff over an austerity budget. "The President of the Republic has appointed Mr. Francois Bayro

Dec. 13, 2024

Biden approves national security memo aimed at helping Trump on China, Iran, North Korea and Russia

President Joe Biden has approved a new national security memorandum that is meant to serve as a roadmap for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the White House said Wednesday. Biden administration officials began developing the guidance this summer. It was shaped to be a document that could help the next administration build its approach from day one on how it will go about dealing with the tightening relations

Dec. 11, 2024

[Trudy Rubin] Assad's fall leaves Syria's future uncertain

Syrians are dancing in the streets of Damascus and other cities, to celebrate the collapse of the hideous regime of Bashar al-Assad, the man responsible for an estimated 600,000 dead in a 13-year-long civil war -- including tens of thousands viciously tortured to death in his dungeons. Those still alive have been staggering out of liberated prisons, limping and running toward family and freedom. "This is the moment of celebration," I was told by the University of Oklahoma's Joshua

Dec. 11, 2024

[Graphic News] Korea’s 5G infrastructure ranked best in world

South Korea’s digital infrastructure is regarded as the world’s best, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, citing findings from the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024. In the report, South Korea ranked first among 29 countries, including non-OECD members such as China and the European Union, in “5G base station deployment.” The country recorded 593 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly surpassing Lithuania (328) and Finland (251). The OECD aver

Dec. 3, 2024

Germany's Scholz promises $685 million military aid in Kyiv amid domestic turmoil

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz unveiled 650 million euros ($685 million) of new military aid as he came to Kyiv on Monday, vowing Berlin would remain Ukraine's biggest backer in Europe at a crucial moment in the war, with Donald Trump set to return to the White House. The visit, his first to Kyiv since the early months of Russia's invasion in 2022, comes weeks after his governing coalition collapsed, setting him up for a tough election battle in February. The political turmoil in Europe

Dec. 2, 2024

China condemns Lithuania's expulsion of its diplomats

China on Monday condemned Lithuania’s expulsion of three Chinese diplomats as relations between the two countries continue to sour. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused Lithuania of expelling its diplomats and declaring them persona non grata “without any reason,” according to a statement posted on the ministry’s website. “China strongly condemns and firmly rejects this wanton and provocative action,” the spokesperson said. The spat comes amid an in

Dec. 2, 2024

Iran says will hold nuclear talks with France, Germany, UK on Friday

Tehran (AFP) -- Iran said on Sunday that it would hold nuclear talks in the coming days with the three European countries that initiated a censure resolution against the Islamic republic recently adopted by the UN nuclear watchdog. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced the meeting on Friday of the deputy foreign ministers of Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom to discuss a range of topics including the Iranian nuclear issue.

Nov. 24, 2024

What you need to know about Adani's US bribery indictment

BENGALURU (Reuters) -- Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his alleged role in a $265 million scheme to bribe Indian officials, sending shockwaves across his eponymous $142 billion ports-to-soybeans business conglomerate. Here is what you need to know about the US indictment. THE MAJOR US INDICTMENT Gautam Adani, one of world's richest people, faces his biggest challenge after being charged with seven others for alleged bribery related to power supply dea

Nov. 22, 2024

Trump picks ex-Florida Attorney General Bondi as attorney general after Gaetz's withdrawal

President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Department of Justice on Thursday, hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the post amid a controversy over his sexual misconduct allegations. Trump issued a statement on the designation of Bondi, who served as a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, after Gaetz withdrew, saying his confirmation process was "unfairly" becoming a "distraction" to Trump's transi

Nov. 22, 2024

Gaetz withdraws as Trump's nominee for attorney general

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general Thursday amid a controversy over sexual misconduct allegations that clouded the prospects for his confirmation. Gaetz announced the decision to withdraw from consideration for the top Justice Department post, dealing a setback to Trump's ongoing efforts to round out his Cabinet to push for his America First policy agenda. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confi

Nov. 22, 2024

Russia says Ukraine fired 6 ATACMs at the Bryansk region

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Ukraine fired six US-made ATACMs missiles at Russia’s Bryansk region. In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, the ministry said it shot down five of them and damaged one more. The fragments fell on the territory of an unspecified military facility, the ministry said. The announcement comes shortly after Washington lifted restrictions on Ukraine using US-made longer-range missiles to strike Russia. Ukraine didn't immediately co

Nov. 19, 2024

Ukraine strikes arsenal amid reports US ATACMS used in Russia for first time

Kyiv said on Tuesday it struck a Russian arsenal near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk region, over 110 kilometers from Ukraine, in what two Ukrainian media outlets reported was a first strike with US-supplied ATACMS missiles. There was no official confirmation from Ukraine about what weapon was used. The military's general staff and military intelligence agency did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Reuters and other outlets reported on Sunday that Kyiv was granted permissio

Nov. 19, 2024

Ukraine's Zelenskiy says NK troop contingent in Russia could grow to 100,000

The number of North Korean troops stationed inside Russia could grow to 100,000, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday. Kyiv and its Western allies say North Korea has supplied Russia with weaponry and troops to bolster its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Now, Putin has brought 11,000 North Korean troops to Ukraine's borders. This contingent may grow to 100,000," Zelenskiy said in a virtual address to the European Parliament. South Korea's spy agency said l

Nov. 19, 2024

Putin signs new nuclear doctrine after US arms decision for Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a revised nuclear doctrine declaring that a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. Putin’s endorsement of the new nuclear deterrent policy comes on the 1,000th day after he sent troops into Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. It follows US President Joe Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with US-supplied longer-range missiles. The sig

Nov. 19, 2024

Trump names Tesla CEO Musk to lead government efficiency department

US President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Tesla CEO Elon Musk, working in tandem with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, an organization tasked with reducing bureaucracy in the federal government. Trump issued a statement on the designation as he pledged during a presidential campaign to establish the department as part of a government reform effort. "I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with Ame

Nov. 13, 2024

Trump picks Fox News Channel host Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief

US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Fox News Channel host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary on Tuesday, describing him as a "warrior for the troops and for the country." Trump issued a statement on the designation of Hegseth, an Army veteran with tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as America's next defense secretary, who is tasked with handling a series of tough security challenges, including North Korea's military threats, Russia's war in Uk

Nov. 13, 2024

Trump officially names Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security advisor

US President-elect Donald Trump officially named Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security advisor on Tuesday, saying the Green Beret veteran will be a "tremendous" champion of his incoming administration's pursuit of "peace through strength." Trump made the announcement a day after he was reported to have offered the White House advisor post to Waltz, a veteran who served 27 years in the US Army and National Guard with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Mi

Nov. 13, 2024

[Graphic News] Dengue fever cases surge among S. Korean travelers

The number of dengue fever infections has spiked this year, with a South Korean university student recently dying from the mosquito-borne infection in Pakistan. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea has recorded 170 cases of dengue fever as of Oct. 26, a 16.4 percent increase from last year, with most cases caught while abroad. By country, Indonesia has the most cases, with 64 (37.6 percent of the total), followed by the Philippines with 44 cases (25.9 perce

Nov. 12, 2024

US announces charges in alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump

US prosecutors announced charges on Friday in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate former president Donald Trump and a prominent dissident Iranian-American journalist. The foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to avenge the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 in a US strike ordered by then-president Trump, the Justice Department said. Farhad Shakeri, 51, an Afghan national who is believed to be i

Nov. 9, 2024

Trump claims victory over Harris in US presidential election

Donald Trump claimed victory and pledged to "heal" the country Wednesday as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback. His exuberant speech came despite the fact that only Fox News had declared him the winner, with no other US networks having made the call so far. As jubilant supporters cheered and chanted "USA," Trump took to the stage at his campaign headquarters in Florida along with his wife Melania and several of his childre

Nov. 6, 2024