Political news

• Obama says Japanese leader's Pearl Harbor visit shows power of reconciliation

  27-12-2016 23:44
  U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the site of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor showed the power of reconciliation. "This historic gesture speaks to the power of reconciliation. ... A reminder that even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and a lasting peace," Obama said in a ceremony standing next to Abe.
  
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• The Latest: Trump resumes Twitter fight against Obama

  27-12-2016 23:28
  
  The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST): 5:20 p.m. Donald Trump is continuing the debate over whether he would have won an election against President Barack Obama. Trump writes on Twitter ...
  
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• US raises no objection over China aircraft carrier drill

  27-12-2016 23:27
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States says China has the right to sail in international waters after a Chinese aircraft carrier cruised past Taiwan and into the contested South China Sea.
  
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• Trump Tower lobby briefly evacuated over suspicious package

  27-12-2016 23:24
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Police briefly evacuated the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, home to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, on Tuesday after a suspicious package was discovered, authorities said. A spokesman for New York City's Police said the department's bomb squad responded to the scene, and the authorities issued an all-clear message shortly afterward. Trump is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and was not at the 58-story skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. The l
  
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• Japan's Abe offers condolences at Pearl Harbor for victims of war

  27-12-2016 23:19
  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his condolences on Tuesday to the people who were killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, after visiting the memorial to the sunken battleship USS Arizona. "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the prime minister of Japan I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who have lost their lives here," Abe said.
  
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• Syrian opposition urges rebels to cooperate in ceasefire efforts

  27-12-2016 23:02
  BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition's main political body on Tuesday urged rebel groups to cooperate with "sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire deal but that it had not been invited to any conference, referring to a meeting in Kazakhstan proposed by Russia. Riad Hijab, general coordinator for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said confidence-building measures were needed to create an atmosphere for political transition talks which should be held in Geneva and sponsored by the
  
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• Trump taps ex-Bush official Bossert to counter domestic threats

  27-12-2016 23:00
  By Richard Cowan PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday selected former Bush administration official Thomas Bossert as a counterterrorism adviser who will focus heavily on cyber threats. As assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, Bossert will concentrate on domestic security issues and help craft the administration's cyber security policies, the transition team said. "We must work toward cyber doctrine that reflects the wisdom of
  
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• Australia's Woolworths sells petrol chain to BP for $1.3 billion

  27-12-2016 22:59
  Australian supermarket giant Woolworths Ltd is selling its chain of petrol stations to BP plc for A$1.8 billion ($1.29 billion) in cash, Woolworths said in a statement on Wednesday. The sale of the fuel business, comprising 527 petrol stations and 16 development sites was flagged in September as part of a broader divestment drive at Woolworths. "The release of $1.785 billion from the sale will be used to strengthen our balance sheet and reinvest in our core businesses," Woolworths Chief Executiv
  
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• Factbox - Celebrities pay tribute to Carrie Fisher

  27-12-2016 22:57
  (Reuters) - Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films, died on Tuesday aged 60, her family said. Following are some notable reactions to her death: STAR WARS ACTOR HARRISON FORD "Carrie was one-of-a-kind ... brilliant, original. A wonderful talent & light has been extinguished." STAR WARS ACTOR BILLY DEE WILLIAMS (@realbdw) "I'm deeply saddened at the news of Carrie's passing.
  
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• Cuba passes law that bans naming sites after Fidel Castro

  27-12-2016 22:56
  Cuba's National Assembly approved a law on Tuesday that bans commemorative statues of Fidel Castro and naming public places after him, in accordance with the wishes of the revolutionary leader, who died last month. Castro always said he did not want a cult of personality, although critics point out that the cult was everywhere. "His fighting spirit will remain in the conscience of all Cuban revolutionaries, today, tomorrow and always," President Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother, told the Ass
  
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• Obama, Japan's Abe show solidarity in Pearl Harbor visit

  27-12-2016 22:50
  By Jeff Mason HONOLULU (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a symbolic joint visit to Pearl Harbor to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance on Tuesday, weeks before Republican Donald Trump takes over at the White House.     Abe and Obama commemorated the dead at the USS Arizona Memorial, built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona. Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial, a centrepiece
  
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• Ex-Argentine leader Fernandez indicted, tied to nuns and guns scandal

  27-12-2016 22:49
  By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was indicted on Tuesday on charges she ran a corruption scheme with a public works secretary who was arrested in June while trying to stash millions of dollars in a convent. A federal judge accused them and other officials of the Fernandez administration of crimes "including the deliberate seizure of funds principally meant for public road works." Corruption charges have long swirled around Fernandez and her
  
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• Gabon recall Sunderland’s Ndong for Nations Cup

  27-12-2016 22:30
  LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - African Nations Cup hosts Gabon restored Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong to their squad as they became the first country to name their final 23-man selection for next month's finals. Ndong was kicked out last month after skipping training ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Mali but was named on Tuesday to take part in the Jan. 14 to Feb. 5 tournament. Gabon, who play the opening game against Guinea Bissau in Libreville, go into the finals having changed their coac
  
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• Trump signals shift from Obama's focus on multilateralism

  27-12-2016 22:28
  
  For eight years, President Barack Obama's foreign policy doctrine has been rooted in a belief that while the United States can take action around the word on its own, it rarely should.
  
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• Liverpool thrash Stoke to delight manager Klopp

  27-12-2016 22:17
  Liverpool chalked up an emphatic 4-1 win over Stoke City on Tuesday that left manager Juergen Klopp purring with delight after they fought back from an early deficit to keep their Premier League title challenge on track. Goals from Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino put the home side ahead by halftime and they romped to victory with a Giannelli Imbula own goal and Daniel Sturridge strike after Stoke threatened an upset with a Jonathan Walters header.
  
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• Cuba says economy shrank this year in tandem with Venezuela crisis

  27-12-2016 22:15
  By Sarah Marsh and Marc Frank HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's economy shrank 0.9 percent this year in tandem with the crisis in its key trading partner Venezuela, President Raul Castro told the National Assembly on Tuesday in a closed-door speech, predicting a slightly brighter outlook for 2017. The figure suggests the economy contracted sharply in the second half after the cash-strapped government drastically cut imports, investment and fuel in response to lower exports and a drop in cheap oil delive
  
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• Will 2017 be the year to defeat sports doping?

  27-12-2016 22:03
  The Associated Press named last fall’s feel-good victory by the Chicago Cubs – who won baseball’s World Series for the first time in more than a century – as the top sports story of 2016. Already an international biathlon event and an international speed-skating competition, both scheduled to be held in Russia in March, will be moved to venues in other countries. As of now, Russia is still scheduled to host the 2018 World Cup of soccer, one of the most watched and most pr
  
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• Swansea City sack American manager Bradley

  27-12-2016 21:54
  Swansea City sacked manager Bob Bradley on Tuesday less than three months after the American took charge, with the January transfer window looming and the Premier League's second-bottom club desperate to get out of relegation trouble. Swansea were thrashed 4-1 at home by West Ham United on Monday and stand level on 12 points with basement side Hull City after 18 games, four points adrift of the safety zone. "We are sorry to lose Bob after such a short period of time," said Swansea chairman Huw J
  
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• U.S. says not providing portable missiles to Syrian rebels

  27-12-2016 21:53
  The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday the United States was not providing any shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to the Syrian opposition. Russia said on Tuesday that a U.S. decision to ease restrictions on arming Syrian rebels had opened the way for deliveries of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, a move it said would directly threaten Russian forces in Syria. "The fact is that we're not providing any kind of MANPADS ... to the Syrian opposition," State Department spokesman Mark Tone
  
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• U.S. calls 'ludicrous' Turkey's claims coalition supported terrorists in Syria

  27-12-2016 21:44
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Tuesday rejected as "ludicrous" accusations by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that U.S.-led coalition forces supported terrorist groups in Syria including Islamic State and Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD. State Department spokesman Mark Toner there was no was basis for such an accusation. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
  
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• Wing flap fault main theory behind Black Sea Russian jet crash

  27-12-2016 21:43
  By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian investigators looking into the crash of a military plane that crashed, killing all 92 on board, believe a fault with its wing flaps was the reason it plunged into the Black Sea, an investigative source told the Interfax news agency on Tuesday. The plane, a Tupolev-154 belonging to the Defence Ministry, disappeared from radar screens two minutes after taking off on Sunday from Sochi in southern Russia, killing dozens of Red Army Choir singers and dancer
  
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• Oil rallies in thin trade, adds to year's gains

  27-12-2016 21:42
  By David Gaffen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil gained 1.5 percent Tuesday, continuing its year-end rally with support from expectations of tighter supply once the first output cut deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in 15 years takes effect on Sunday. U.S. crude prices have surged 25 percent since mid-November, helped by expectations for OPEC's supply cut and generally solid U.S. economic figures that have also bolstered equity prices. Trading was thin on Tuesday as just 257,000 front-month futur
  
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• Kerry to speak on Middle East peace on Wednesday - State Department

  27-12-2016 21:42
  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will make remarks regarding Middle East peace on Wednesday and discuss next steps needed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Tuesday. Toner rejected claims that the Obama administration had pushed for a United Nations Security Council resolution on Friday demanding an end to Israeli settlement building. Breaking with a long-standing approach of diplomatically shielding Israel, the United States did not wiel
  
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• Dollar gains against yen in thin trading after U.S. data

  27-12-2016 21:21
  By Sam Forgione NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar rose against the yen on Tuesday on stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data and expectations for a hawkish Federal Reserve, but remained below a recent 10-month high in thin holiday trading. The data helped underscore expectations that the Fed would raise interest rates at a faster pace next year, a view that gained traction after the Fed on Dec. 14 projected three rate hikes next year, up from the two foreseen in September. "The prospect of
  
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• Cuban parliament passes law that bans naming sites after Fidel Castro

  27-12-2016 21:20
  Cuba's National Assembly approved a law on Tuesday that bans erecting commemorative statues of Fidel Castro or naming public places after him, in accordance with the wishes of the revolutionary leader who died last month. Castro always said he did not want a cult of personality although critics point out that the cult was everywhere. "Our main homage will not be to name everything we build after him but rather to keep his work alive and continue our socialist society," lawmaker Jennifer Bello Ma
  
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• Trump taps ex-Bush official Bossert for counterterrorism post

  27-12-2016 21:09
  By Richard Cowan PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump filled another post in his national security team on Tuesday, selecting former Bush administration official Thomas Bossert as the chief counterterrorism adviser in the White House Bossert is slated to focus on domestic security issues, while Trump's pick for national security adviser, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, will handle international security matters, according to a statement. Trump's transition tea
  
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• Resurgent Liverpool fight back to thrash Stoke

  27-12-2016 20:59
  Liverpool celebrated their third Premier League victory in a row as an inspired performance gave them a 4-1 home success over Stoke City after they fell behind early on in an entertaining clash at Anfield on Tuesday. Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, a Giannelli Imbula own goal and a strike from substitute Daniel Sturridge lifted Liverpool back into second place, six points behind leaders Chelsea, after Jonathan Walters headed the visitors in front after 12 minutes. The home side, who had dominated
  
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• House GOP aiming to prevent another Democratic sit-in

  27-12-2016 20:58
  WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are aiming to ensure there's no repeat of a Democratic sit-in last summer over gun control.
  
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• Argentines declare $90 billion in tax amnesty, but recession lingers

  27-12-2016 20:55
  Argentina said on Tuesday that $90 billion (73 billion pounds) in assets had been declared so far under the government's tax amnesty plan, which outgoing Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay called "an extraordinary success." Other government data published Tuesday showed economic activity fell 4.7 percent in October compared with the same month a year earlier, as the economy remains in recession a year into centre President Mauricio Macri's administration. The government hopes that funds declared
  
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• Italian minister under investigation in procurement probe

  27-12-2016 20:41
  Italian Sports Minister Luca Lotti is under investigation as part of a probe relating to contracts handled by public procurement agency Consip, a judicial source said on Tuesday. Lotti, who is one of former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's closest allies, met prosecutors in Rome on Tuesday at his own request and denied any wrongdoing, his lawyer said. The former cabinet undersecretary took up the ministerial post in the new government which was formed following Renzi's resignation earlier this mont
  
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• Watership Down author Richard Adams dies at 96

  27-12-2016 20:39
  British novelist Richard Adams, the author of "Watership Down", which sold millions of copies and captivated a generation of children, has died aged 96, his family said. Adams, a self-confessed countryside-loving man, was a civil servant who left government after realising the city was not for him. Adams also wrote a sequel to Watership Down, the name of hill in the north of Hampshire, near where he grew up in the English countryside.
  
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• Obama, Japan's Abe to show solidarity in Pearl Harbor visit

  27-12-2016 20:37
  By Jeff Mason HONOLULU (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will use a symbolic joint visit to Pearl Harbor to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance on Tuesday, weeks before Republican Donald Trump takes over at the White House. Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, and Abe will meet to discuss ties between the two former World War Two foes before going together to the site of the 1941 attack. Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor with torpedo plan
  
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• AP FACT CHECK: Ex-agent didn't write book outing Obama

  27-12-2016 20:29
  A widely shared story that claimed a former Secret Service agent outed President Barack Obama as a gay man and a radical Muslim is false.
  
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• Swansea city sack manager Bradley

  27-12-2016 20:26
  (Reuters) - Swansea City have sacked American manager Bob Bradley, the Premier League's second-bottom club said on Tuesday in a statement on their official Twitter feed. Swansea lost 4-1 at home to West Ham United on Monday and stand level on 12 points with basement side Hull City after 18 games with three wins and three draws. (Writing by Ken Ferris; Editing by Alison Williams)
  
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• Carrie Fisher, Star Wars' Princess Leia, dies at 60

  27-12-2016 20:25
  By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films and later endured drug addiction and stormy romances with show business heavyweights, died on Tuesday aged 60, her daughter said through a family spokesman. "It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," Lourd said in a statement issued by Simon Halls. "She was loved by the world, and she will be mis
  
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• Trump names Bush-era veteran and policy newcomer to posts

  27-12-2016 20:08
  
  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump appointed an experienced hand from the George W. Bush era to his national security circle Tuesday and a figure from the Trump Organization to make international deals.
  
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• At Pearl Harbor, US, Japan look to move past legacy of war

  27-12-2016 20:07
  
  Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent ...
  
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• Russia's Gazprom files proposals to EU aimed at ending antitrust case

  27-12-2016 19:55
  Russia's Gazprom said on Tuesday it had filed proposals with the European Commission aimed at resolving a five-year EU case over the Russian gas giant's alleged monopoly practices. The Russian state gas exporter, which supplies a third of the EU's gas, has been on the European Commission's radar since 2012, culminating in charges last year that it overcharged customers in eastern and central Europe and blocked rivals. Since then, Gazprom has offered concessions aimed at staving off a potential f
  
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• Watford draw has sting in the tail as mascot row erupts

  27-12-2016 19:29
  
  Crystal Palace's 1-1 draw at Watford in the Premier League had a sting in the tail as an argument blew up over the behaviour of the home team's mascot Harry the Hornet. Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, booked for diving in Monday's match, was clearly upset and ushered away by staff when the mascot performed a mock dive at his feet after the final whistle. "The mascot was out of order," Palace's new manager Sam Allardyce told reporters, suggesting the incident should be investigated.
  
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• L'Oreal steps up investments in digital start-ups

  27-12-2016 19:20
  By Astrid Wendlandt PARIS (Reuters) - French cosmetics giant L'Oreal said on Tuesday it was investing in an early stage fund managed by private equity firm Partech Ventures, making its second investment in digital and technology start-ups in less than a year. L'Oreal, which makes Armani perfume and Biotherm cream, said it was investing several million euros in the fund, alongside companies such as Accenture, Nokia and the United States' Cisco. Partech Ventures, which is based in Paris and has of
  
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• Garden bridge charity warns more delays could terminate project

  27-12-2016 19:09 via theguardian.com
  
  Trust insists pedestrian crossing across the Thames will be built but that hold-ups have affected fundraisingThe charity behind the proposed garden bridge across the Thames in London has warned that any more hold-ups to the controversial and much-delayed project could see it having to be scrapped altogether.While the Garden Bridge Trust insists it remains confident the tree and plant-filled pedestrian crossing will be built, it has conceded that the delays have affected fundraising and that any
  
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• Star Wars actor Carrie Fisher dies at 60 - People

  27-12-2016 19:05
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films and later endured drug addiction and stormy romances with show business heavyweights, died on Tuesday, People magazine reported, citing the family's publicist. “It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning,” the statement from family spokesman Simon Halls read. Fisher was 60 years old. (Reporting by Daniel W
  
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• Russia says Syrian government and opposition in talks

  27-12-2016 19:02
  By Andrew Osborn and Tom Perry MOSCOW/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted on Tuesday as saying that the Syrian government was consulting with the opposition ahead of possible peace talks, but a Saudi-backed opposition group said it knew nothing of the negotiations. Lavrov did not say where the consultations were taking place or which opposition groups were taking part. Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holdin
  
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• Russia's foreign minister discussed Syria peace plan with U.S. Kerry

  27-12-2016 19:01
  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry said in statement. It also said that Lavrov informed Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels may lead to more casualties. (Writing by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Louise Ireland)
  
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• No Trump meeting with Republic of Congo president - Trump spokeswoman

  27-12-2016 18:31
  U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has no meeting planned with Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou, a Trump spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Sassou's spokesman, Thierry Moungalla, earlier had said Sassou, a member of the African Union's High Level Committee on Libya, and Trump were scheduled for a U.S. meeting on Tuesday to discuss the political turmoil in Libya and other African issues. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said there had never been a meeting scheduled and would not be one before Trump
  
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• George Michael's partner expresses sadness at finding musician dead

  27-12-2016 18:31
  George Michael's partner has spoken of his sadness at discovering the 53-year-old musician, a multi-million selling idol of 1980s and 1990s pop, dead at his Oxfordshire home on Christmas morning. British police said the death of Michael, who had a turbulent private life and problems with drugs, was "unexplained but not suspicious". "It's a Xmas I will never forget finding your partner dead 7peacefully in bed first thing in the morning," Fadi Fawas, 43, said in a Tweet posted late on Monday.
  
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• The Latest: Trump taps Greenblatt international advisor

  27-12-2016 18:30
  The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST): 12:28 p.m. One of President-elect Donald Trump's main advisers on U.S.-Israel relations will be his special representative for international ...
  
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• Trump picks his company lawyer for special negotiator - statement

  27-12-2016 18:29
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican President-elect Donald Trump has turned to his long-time company's top lawyer to serve as a special negotiator for trade deals and other talks, Trump's team said in a statement on Tuesday. Jason Greenblatt, chief legal officer for The Trump Organization who served as Trump's adviser to the Middle East, will work as Trump's special representative for international negotiations, the statement said. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
  
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• U.S. accuses Chinese citizens of hacking law firms, insider trading

  27-12-2016 18:26
  By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three Chinese citizens have been charged with trading on confidential corporate information that was obtained by hacking into the networks and servers of U.S. law firms, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday. Iat Hong, a 26-year-old Macau resident,, was arrested on Sunday in Hong Kong and charged along with Bo Zheng, of Changsha, China, and Chin Hung of Macau, with engaging in conspiracies to commit insider trading, wire fraud and computer intrusion in an indic
  
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• US, Russian militaries sharing more information on Syria

  27-12-2016 18:09
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-Russian talks on their separate fights against the Islamic State group are becoming more productive and more frequent, American officials said, with both sides trading information in real time and even outlining some of their strategic objectives in the months ahead. The progress dispels the notion that ties between the former Cold War foes are "frozen."
  
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