Uncategorized

PARIS — France's Pacific island territory of New Caledonia will hold a second referendum on independence next year, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Friday. Voters in a November 2018 poll chose to remain part of France by 57 per cent to 43 per cent, a result hailed by President Emmanuel Macron as "historic". The date for next year's poll will be decided over the coming fortnight, but will be either August 30 or September 6, Phillipe said. French since 1853, New Caledonia is a remote island territory in the southwestern Pacific and has around 270,000 inhabitants. It is located about 18,000km from mainland France – some 2,000km east of Australia. The bulk of New Caledonia's population is made up of indigenous Melanesians known locally as Kanaks (39 per cent) and European inhabitants, or Caldoches (27 per cent). There are also minorities from the relatively nearby Polynesia Pacific region, and a growing part of the population identifies as mixed-race or … [Read more...] about New Caledonia to hold new independence poll from France in 2020

WASHINGTON — Reeling from a Democratic impeachment investigation and rebellion in his own Republican Party, President Donald Trump retreated on Thursday to his comfort zone: the 2020 reelection campaign trail. Trump left the White House for Minneapolis where he was due to gather with his ferociously devoted core supporters at the basketball arena. The president told reporters that images showing thousands lined up outside ahead of his arrival were "amazing." The Minnesota city is a liberal bastion in the American heartland, giving Trump a juicy target for his favored rhetoric about a supposed far-left takeover of the US. Leftist Somali-American congresswoman Ilhan Omar represents Minneapolis and Trump, who has made Omar a kind of bogey figure among his right-wing supporters, is likely to tear into her. On Friday, he will take the "Make America Great Again" show to Louisiana. The focus on reelection in 2020 provides a respite for Trump after a turbulent two weeks. Democrats who … [Read more...] about Trump leaves Washington troubles for the campaign trail

Lưu Bình Nhưỡng, deputy director of the National Assembly Commission for People’s Aspirations, speaks to Hải Quan (Customs) newspaper about the need for the Vietnamese airline market to follow international standards. Việt Nam's air market is heating up with the appearance of several new airlines. Many experts say the market is entering a 'bubble development phase'. Do you think there is still room for growth? The growth of the aviation sector is a matter of course, in line with people's transport demands and rights to establish businesses. We definitely need good orientation and a common development strategy for the aviation sector. The Vietnamese aviation sector still faces many challenges, but it still has a lot more room for further growth. I could say that Việt Nam’s aviation market is still in a nascent stage. Competition between Vietnamese airlines and foreign airlines will … [Read more...] about Aviation rules must follow international standards

CAIRO — The Arab League is convening an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss Turkey's offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria, the body said on Wednesday. Following a request by Egypt, the region's foreign ministers will gather in Cairo on Saturday "to discuss Turkish aggression on Syrian territory", Hossam Zaki, the League's assistant secretary-general, said in a statement late on Wednesday. The announcement came after Turkey launched airstrikes and artillery fire along the border with war-torn Syria earlier in the day, drawing international condemnation. Backed by Syrian militants, it pushed on with a ground offensive in Tal Abyad, an area under the control of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara's attack follows an abrupt US policy shift which saw America withdraw its troops from positions in northern Syria, effectively greenlighting Turkey's military operation. Zaki deemed the offensive "an unacceptable assault on the sovereignty of an Arab member … [Read more...] about Arab League to hold emergency talks on Turkey’s Syria offensive

When you run for president, every aspect of your life story undergoes harsh scrutiny, whether it’s Bill Clinton’s draft avoidance, how George W. Bush ended up in the Texas Air National Guard, Barack Obama’s relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, or Donald Trump’s pay-off to Stormy Daniels. It’s up to voters to weigh any discrepancies and judge their overall importance to a candidate’s credibility. So far with Warren’s pregnancy story, there’s no way to get to the absolute truth. But personal experience tells us what most likely happened to her. In 1971, when Warren was a young teacher, there were no laws protecting pregnant women in the workplace and it was common for pregnant teachers to be forced to leave their jobs. Thirty years ago, the law then in place didn’t stop a boss from giving away my desk and job. And discrimination against pregnant women continues today. While it can be subtle, its effect on careers is always … [Read more...] about I believe Warren’s pregnancy story