NEW YORK – A forceful President Barack Obama put Republican challenger Mitt Romney on the defensive on foreign policy on Monday night, with analysts and an immediate poll giving him the victory in their final debate just 15 days before the November 6 vote. Obama displayed the experience of a commander-in-chief in explaining U.S. policy…
NEW YORK – A more aggressive Barack Obama buried the memory of a poor first showing as he and Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney clashed in the second presidential debate in New York. Mr Obama, perceived to have lost their first encounter, came out swinging on the economy, tax and foreign policy. Snap polls after…
BENGHAZI – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she takes responsibility for the security failure at the Benghazi consulate that led to the killing of four Americans in Libya last month. Mrs Clinton said ensuring the safety of US diplomatic staff overseas was her job, not that of the White House. US Republicans have…
DAMASCUS – UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has appealed for Iranian help to implement a ceasefire in Syria over the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Following a visit to Tehran, Mr Brahimi said such a ceasefire could “allow a political process to develop”. Meanwhile, Turkey said the number of Syrian refugees in its camps now…
DAMASCUS – Turkish civilian planes are no longer allowed to fly over Syria, Damascus has said, amid growing tensions between the two neighbouring countries. The ban took effect at midnight (2100GMT) on Saturday. This comes just days after Turkey intercepted a Syrian-bound plane, claiming it carried Russian-made munitions for the Syrian army. Syria has described…
HARARE – The African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) says it will increase its lending capacity to Zimbabwe to $800 million as part of efforts to enhance economic growth of the southern African country. Jean-Louis Ekra, Afreximbank president, last week said the continental bank will continue with its mandate of supporting African economies. “We have…
HARARE – Zimbabwe have vowed to go on the offensive from word go in the second leg of the 2013 African Nations Cup final qualifier away to Angola on Sunday despite carrying a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead. Warriors assistant coach Peter Ndlovu — a firm believer in attacking football — told reporters yesterday that going…
TOKYO – China’s top banker has pulled out of the International Monetary Fund meetings in Tokyo Wednesday in a move widely seen as a protest for the ongoing dispute between Japan and China over islands in the East China Sea. Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People’s Bank of China, was scheduled to give the…
CARACAS – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has hailed a “perfect victory”, after defeating Henrique Capriles to secure a fourth term in office. Chavez won 54% of the vote, the electoral council announced, with turnout at about 81%. Brandishing a replica of the sword of independence hero Simon Bolivar, he pledged Venezuela would continue its “march…
HOMS – The Syrian city of Homs has been subjected to its most severe bombardment in five months, activists say. Aircraft and artillery targeted the neighbourhood of Khaldiya, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There are also reports of fresh violence across the country. Activists reported fierce clashes in the second city Aleppo, and…
