Category: Celebrities

Amid protests, UK lawmakers debate downgrading Trump visit

Thousands of protesters against U.S. President Donald Trump rallied outside Britain’s Parliament on Monday, while lawmakers inside urged the government to rescind its offer to the president of a state visit stamped with pomp, pageantry and royal approval. In a passionate debate that’s unlikely to change the British government’s position, Trump was labeled a misogynist, a bigot and a “petulant child” by opposition legislators.

Pence tries to reassure Europeans, anxious over Trump rhetoric, of US support

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence moved Monday to assuage European Union fears about the strength of Washington’s support for the union and its commitment to European security through the NATO military alliance. In meetings in Brussels, Pence said he was acting on behalf of President Donald Trump “to express the strong commitment of the United States to continued cooperation and partnership with the European Union.”

EU welcomes Pence assurance of Trump’s support

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence assured the European Union in Brussels on Feb. 20 that the Trump administration will develop their cooperation in trade and security and backs the EU as a partner in its own right. A month after U.S. President Donald Trump caused alarm by renewing his endorsement of Brexit and suggesting others may follow Britain out of the EU, Pence told reporters that he had come to “the home of the European Union” with a message from the president.

US ‘not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil’: Mattis

The United States is not about to plunder Iraq’s petroleum reserves, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who arrived in Baghdad on Feb. 20, said as he sought to soothe partners rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly said both while campaigning and since his election that America, whose troops occupied Iraq for eight years, should have grabbed Iraqi oil to help fund its war effort and to deprive the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant of a vital revenue source.

Thousands protest as MPs debate Donald Trump’s state visit

In a packed Westminster Hall, MPs were considering Theresa May’s decision to extend the invitation to the US president in a debate being held in response to petitions signed by millions of Britons. Anti-Trump chants were heard from Parliament Square before the debate, and appeared to die down as Labour MP Paul Flynn opened proceedings.

Defense chief Mattis says no plans to seize Iraq’s oil

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday the United States does not intend to seize Iraqi oil, shifting away from an idea proposed by President Donald Trump that has rattled Iraq’s leaders. Mattis’ arrived on an unannounced visit in Iraq as the battle to oust Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants from western Mosul moved into its second day, and as the Pentagon considers ways to accelerate the campaign against the terror group in both countries where it still holds significant territory.

Europeans wonder if Trump will act on Pence’s reassurances

U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence was the latest in a trio of high-ranking Trump emissaries to tell European allies in person that the United States will steadfastly support NATO and demand that Russia honour its commitments to end fighting in Ukraine. Some European leaders, however, remain skeptical of whether Pence and the U.S. secretaries of state and defence actually speak for President Donald Trump.

Report: Israeli leader turned down regional peace initiative

An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned down a regional peace initiative last year that was brokered by then-American Secretary of State John Kerry , in apparent contradiction to his stated goal of involving regional powers in resolving Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. Haaretz reported that Netanyahu took part in a secret summit that Kerry organized in the southern Jordanian port city of Aqaba last February and included Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.

Graham: Trump must punish Russia for election interference

A senior U.S. Republican senator urged President Donald Trump Sunday to take action against Russia over allegations that Moscow interfered in the election that brought him to power. U.S. intelligence officials have told Trump that Moscow tried to influence voters by hacking Democratic emails and trolling social media sites, but Trump has sought to downplay Russia’s role in the election.

What President Trump inherited

“I own nothing in Russia, I have no loans in Russia, I don’t have any deals in Russia”, Trump said. President Trump embraces white identity politics, which excludes Jews, Hispanics, Muslims, African-Americans, Asians -anyone who is not of Northern European heritage, white and Christian.

Angelina Jolie attends premiere with kids

Angelina Jolie took her six children with her as she made her first red carpet appearance since splitting from Brad Pitt. The ‘Maleficent’ actress was joined by her kids – Maddox, 15, Shiloh, 10, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, and eight-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox – at the film premiere of ‘First They Killed My Father’ in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Pence says US to hold Russia accountable, stand with NATO

U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence on Saturday conveyed a message to jittery partners that the Trump administration will “hold Russia accountable” and maintain steadfast support for NATO, a military alliance the American commander in chief once dismissed as “obsolete.” In his overseas debut as vice-president, Pence told the audience at the Munich Security Conference that the U.S. would be “unwavering” in its commitment to NATO and that President Donald Trump would “stand with Europe.”

Trump sons open Dubai golf club as namesake now US president

Two of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sons ceremonially opened a Trump-branded golf club in Dubai on Saturday, meeting privately with Emirati elites as questions remain about how separated their father is from the empire bearing his name. Eric and Donald Trump Jr., who now lead the Trump Organization, watched as fireworks lit the sky over the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, on the outskirts of the city-state home to the world’s tallest building and other architectural marvels.

Ap Fact Check: The audacity of hype

In the Washington week that wasn’t, President Donald Trump’s new administration whirred like a “fine-tuned machine,” piling on big-league accomplishments at a pace never before seen. Immigration agents newly empowered by Trump’s call to secure borders sent hordes of bad foreigners back home, validating a president who won the most lopsided Electoral College victory since Ronald Reagan.

In Europe, Pence says US will hold Russia accountable

Vice President Mike Pence vowed Saturday that the United States will “hold Russia accountable” even as President Donald Trump searches for new common ground with Moscow at the start of his presidency. Pence, in an address to the Munich Security Conference, also offered assurances to European allies that the U.S. “strongly supports” NATO.

The Latest: Pence: US to ‘will hold Russia accountable’

Vice-President Mike Pence says the United States will “hold Russia accountable” even as President Donald Trump searches for new common ground with Russia at the start of his presidency. Pence says at the Munich Security Conference in Germany that with regard to Ukraine, the international community must hold Russia accountable and demand that it honour a 2015 peace agreement aimed at ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russia-backed separatists.

Pence Reassures Europeans of `Unwavering’ U.S. Commitment

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence sought to allay European concerns about the presidency of Donald Trump, using a speech in Munich to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to NATO and the European project. “Today, on behalf of President Trump, I bring you this assurance,” Pence said Saturday during an address to the Munich Security Conference.

Pence assures Europe US will ‘hold Russia accountable’ 0:0

Vice President Mike Pence vowed Saturday that the United States will “hold Russia accountable” even as President Donald Trump searches for new common ground with Moscow at the start of his presidency. Pence, in an address to the Munich Security Conference, also offered assurances to European allies that the U.S. “strongly supports” NATO.

Ford not scrapping plans to build Mexico factories: company exec

The US auto maker said a factory planned for the central state of Guanajuato would build engines and transmissions, while another in the northern city of Chihuahua would make vehicle parts for use by Ford factories in the US, South America and Asia. While this news may seem like a sudden turn away from an American jobs centered plan seemingly arranged by President Donald Trump, Ford has actually had these plans on the books since 2015, and had never meant to veer from them.

McCain slams Trump in Munich speech without using his name

Republican Sen. John McCain delivered a withering critique of President Donald Trump in a speech Friday that highlighted fractures within the GOP as the new administration struggles to overcome a chaotic start. Speaking in Germany at the Munich Security Conference, McCain didn’t mention the president’s name, according to the prepared text, while he lamented a shift in the United States and Europe away from the “universal values” that forged the Western alliance seven decades ago.

Trudeau, Merkel differ on answering Trump call for more NATO defence spending

The pro-trade show of solidarity that Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are likely to make in Berlin later today will mask differences in how to deal with Donald Trump’s call for NATO members to boost military spending. Trump has called the 28-country alliance obsolete and Defence Secretary James Mattis told his fellow defence ministers in Brussels this week that while the U.S. still holds NATO in high regard, it expects its allies to start spending more on defence or the Trump administration will “moderate its commitment.”

US under pressure on Syria stance ahead of Geneva talks12 min ago

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today faces a grilling by global peers seeking clarity about Washington’s position on the Syria conflict ahead of crunch UN peace talks in Geneva. On the sidelines of a G20 gathering in Germany, Tillerson will join a group of countries supporting the Syrian opposition for talks pushing a political solution to the nearly six-year war.

Lawmakers push for answers on Trump teama s Russia ties

A crisis over the relationship between President Donald Trump’s aides and Russia deepened as a growing number of Trump’s fellow Republicans demanded expanded congressional inquiries into the matter. Trump sought to focus attention on what he called criminal intelligence leaks about his ousted national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump charts new Mideast course; maybe no separate Palestine

President Donald Trump listens as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during their joint news conference Wednesday in the East Room of the White House. WASHINGTON – Charting a striking new course for the Middle East, President Donald Trump on Wednesday withheld clear support for an independent Palestine and declared he could endorse a one-nation solution to the long and deep dispute between Palestinians and Israel.

More

As some cities reaffirm support for sanctuary policies that protect immigrants, Phoenix finds itself in an unusual position to push back against any immigration actions by the new White House. The Phoenix City Council on Wednesday will discuss a petition to adopt the sanctuary label, following the lead of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and others in a city with one of the nation’s largest populations of immigrants in the country illegally.

Justin Bieber to perform in India

All the Indian ‘Beliebers’ are in for a treat as American pop sensation Justin Bieber is bringing his ‘Purpose World Tour’ to the country with a performance on May 10 in Mumbai. Apart from India, the Asia leg of the tour comprises Tel Aviv in Israel and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, according to promoters of the tour White Fox India.

Justin Bieber to perform in India

All the Indian ‘Beliebers’ are in for a treat as American pop sensation Justin Bieber is bringing his ‘Purpose World Tour’ to the country with a performance on May 10 in Mumbai. Apart from India, the Asia leg of the tour comprises Tel Aviv in Israel and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, according to promoters of the tour White Fox India.

Sri Lankan prime minister says refugees safe to come home

Sri Lankan asylum seekers held on Pacific island camps who could potentially find new lives in the United States are free to return home without fear of persecution, Sri Lanka’s prime minister said Wednesday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made the comments during a visit to Australia in which he discussed with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull bilateral cooperation on combating people smuggling.

Trump toilets, condoms could be flushed after his China win

President Donald Trump’s triumph in the fight to wrest back his brand for construction services in China could spell the end of more than 225 Trump-related marks here that don’t belong to him, including Trump toilets, Trump condoms, Trump pacemakers and even a “Trump International Hotel.” After a decade of grinding battle in China’s courts, an official finding in Trump’s favor expected this week could signal a shift in fortune for the U.S. president’s intellectual property.