Stock markets slump after US Pres Trump announces Mexico tariffs

LONDON, May 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European and Asian stocks unravelled Friday, resuming a midweek slump, with investors spooked by a ratcheting up of trade war clouds after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on all Mexican imports. The biggest faller among Europe’s leading indices was Frankfurt, down a hefty 1.8…

First the emperor, now the queen: US Pres Trump revels in royal splendour

WASHINGTON, June 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Just a few days after returning from his visit to Japan, where he met new Emperor Naruhito, US Pres Donald Trump heads to Britain, where Queen Elizabeth II will receive him during a state visit that could be rocky. The US president — who has…

China must stop eroding neighbours’ sovereignty: US

SINGAPORE, June 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States warned China on Saturday against threatening its neighbours’ sovereignty and said Washington was investing in new military technology in the next five years to keep Asia stable. “China can and should have a cooperative relationship with the rest of the region ……

Update: 12 dead after gunman fires ‘indiscriminately’ in Virginia govt complex

WASHINGTON, June 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A longtime public utilities employee sprayed gunfire “indiscriminately” in a government building complex on Friday in the US state of Virginia, police said, killing 12 people and wounding six in the latest mass shooting to rock the country. The gunman was also killed after trading…

Haitian investigators say president in ’embezzlement scheme’

PORT-AU-PRINCE, June 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A panel of judges on Friday accused Haitian President Jovenel Moise of being at the centre of an “embezzlement scheme” that siphoned off Venezuelan aid money meant for fixing roads. The accusation was the latest linked to Venezuela’s Petrocaribe aid programme, which has been plagued…

African free trade zone takes effect: African Union

ADDIS ABABA, May 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An African free-trade zone came into force on Thursday, a step toward creating what the African Union (AU) hopes will be a continent-wide market of 1.2 billion people worth US$2.5 trillion. “This is a historic milestone!” tweeted Albert Muchanga, AU commissioner for trade and…

Strong quake strikes off El Salvador, no initial reports of damage

SAN SALVADOR, May 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An earthquake measured at 6.6-magnitude struck off the coast of El Salvador early on Thursday, though emergency services in the Central American country said there were no initial reports of significant damage. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake’s epicentre was in the Pacific Ocean…

Malaysia arrests 3 terror suspects with Daesh links

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysian police have arrested three terror suspects, Malaysia’s police chief Abdul Hamid Bador said. The suspects – a Malaysian man and two foreigners aged between 28 and 42 – were arrested during an operation conducted by the Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division from May 24 to May 30, Abdul…

Mexico to send USMCA trade deal to Senate for ratification

MEXICO CITY, May 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico’s government will send the trade deal known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the Senate to carry out the process of ratification, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said. Speaking at his morning news conference, Lopez Obrador said he expected the Senate, which…

Taliban, Afghan opposition officials claim ‘progress’ at talks

MOSCOW, May 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Taliban officials and Afghan opposition figures claimed to have made “tremendous progress” at Moscow talks, but the announcement rang hollow as discussions yet again excluded the Afghan government and no ceasefire was announced. The ultra-conservative Islamist insurgents spent more than two days at a plush hotel…