Donald Trump

Musk says he prefers ‘less divisive’ candidate than Trump in 2024

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2022

Elon Musk made clear on Thursday that even though he wants Twitter to lift its permanent ban on former President Donald Trump, that doesn’t mean he supports Trump in a prospective 2024 presidential campaign.

Ukraine war may lead to rethinking of US defense of Europe

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 15, 2022

WASHINGTON Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and his push to upend the broader security order in Europe may lead to a historic shift in American thinking about defense of the continent. Depending on how far Putin goes,…

‘I got along’: Trump avoids criticizing Putin

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2022

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday was given several chances during a Fox News interview to reject autocrats and walk back his praise for President Vladimir Putin of Russia but didn’t. Fox’s Sean Hannity set Trump up multiple…

Fears grow over Russian chemical threat to Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2022

Biden administration officials are raising alarms about the threat that Russia will escalate its war on Ukraine with chemical weapons

Son testifies against father in US Capitol attack trial

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

US Capitol delivered emotional testimony against his father on Thursday at the first trial stemming from the January 6 attack

Trump responds to conspiracy filing with more bogus vote claims

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

Donald Trump defended the 2021 storming of the US Capitol and repeated his bogus claims of voter lawmakers accused him

Trump to turn over documents in New York civil probe, need not testify during appeal

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

Donald Trump will turn over some documents to New York’s attorney general for her civil probe into his business practices

Trump calls Russia’s war on Ukraine ‘holocaust’

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 2, 2022

Donald Trump described Russia's war on Ukraine as a "holocaust" and said Moscow has to stop killing Ukrainians.

Trump favourite for president- at US conservative confab

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 28, 2022

rump does not run, 61 per cent of respondents said they would back DeSantis in the party’s presidential primary, far ahead of ex-secretary of state Mike Pompeo

Trump condemns Russia invasion, says he prays for Ukrainian people

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 27, 2022

Trump irked some Republican party members by describing Putin’s actions in Ukraine, where cities have been pounded by Russian artillery and cruise missiles, as “genius” and “pretty savvy.”

Trump’s social media app is set to be launched in Apple App Store on Monday

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 20, 2022

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday.

Trump, children are ordered to testify in NY attorney general probe

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 18, 2022

NEW YORK, A New York judge ruled yesterday that former US President Donald Trump and two of his adult children must answer questions under oath within 21 days in the state attorney general's civil probe into their family company.…

Georgia prosecutor asks for FBI protection after Trump rails against probe

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 1, 2022

he Georgia prosecutor looking into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results is asking the FBI for protection after Trump called for protests of the “racist prosecutors” investigating him. Fulton…

Trump sues New York attorney general, seeking to end civil probe

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 21, 2021

NEW YORK Former President Donald Trump sued New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday, seeking to end a yearslong civil investigation into his business practices that he alleges is purely political. In the lawsuit, filed two…

Washington, DC sues to recover millions of dollars from Jan. 6 rioters

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 15, 2021

CHICAGO The Attorney General for the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday demanding restitution from far-right extremist groups including the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys for their Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol.…

China, US officials hold meeting trade issues

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

BEIJING China and the U.S. held a virtual meeting on Saturday regarding the two countries’ fraught trade relationship, after a lengthy break in negotiations. China’s top trade negotiator Liu He referred to as U.S. Trade Representative…

Biden rejects bid by Trump to withhold January 6 documents

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

WASHINGTON President Joe Biden yesterday rejected a bid by Donald Trump to withhold documents from a congressional committee investigating the January 6 assault on the US Capitol by supporters of the former president. The House Select…

lawmakers to use defense bill to end support for Saudis in Yemen war

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

50 anti-war groups are urging lawmakers to use the annual defense program bill to finish all U.S. support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting in Yemen’s war. In a letter being sent Monday, the organizations turn lawmakers to use…

5 things Biden heads to the UN

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

President Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday for the primary time as president as world leaders take in new York City in the week . The meeting comes as Biden faces outrage from France over a replacement…

Trump takes shot at new GOP candidate in Ohio over Cleveland nickname

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2021

Former President Trump took an attempt at Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan (R) on Monday — hours after he entered the race for the state’s open Senate seat — over the recent name change to Cleveland’s team, which is owned by his father.…

US top general secretly called China over fears Trump could spark war

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2021

WASHINGTON The US top general secretly called his Chinese counterpart twice last year over concerns then-president Donald Trump could spark a war with China as his potential election loss loomed and in its aftermath, The Washington Post…

What’s next for the ‘Stay in Mexico’ strategy?

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 26, 2021

PHOENIX The Supreme Court's decision to order the restoration of the "remain in Mexico" immigration strategy is sparking criticism from advocacy groups and praised by former President Donald Trump. It's likewise provoking promises by the…

UN chief faces persistent challenges after leading body through pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2021

WASHINGTON UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to assume his second term after member states voiced resounding confidence in his ability to helm the international body. Guterres led the UN during the worst public health…

South Korea’s Moon to nudge Biden on North Korea diplomacy

THE ASIA LIVE May 21, 2021

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is hoping Friday’s White House meeting with President Joe Biden will lead to renewed diplomatic urgency by the U.S. on curbing North Korea’s nuclear program. The White House, however, is signaling that it…

Iran’s hard-line judiciary chief registers presidential run

THE ASIA LIVE May 15, 2021

Tehran, Iran The hard-line cleric in charge of Iran’s judiciary who also took part in a panel involved in the mass execution of thousands of prisoners in 1988 registered Saturday to run for the country’s presidency. Ebrahim Raisi has…

China says Xiaomi removal from U.S. blacklist “beneficial”

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2021

HONG KONG China’s commerce ministry on Thursday welcomed the removal of Xiaomi Corp. from a U.S. government blacklist, a day after the U.S. reversed a ban on U.S. investments in the smartphone maker that was imposed under former…

Beyond vaccines, UNESCO wants more global science shared

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2021

PARIS While the U.S. president is calling for suspending patents on COVID-19 vaccines, experts at UNESCO are quietly working on a more ambitious plan: a new global system for sharing scientific knowledge that would outlast the current…

Business group warns China boycotts spooking investors

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2021

BEIJING An American business group warned Tuesday that government-instigated consumer boycotts of foreign shoe, clothing and other brands in China are making companies less willing to invest. That is adding to anxiety over Beijing’s…

McCarthy sets Wednesday vote on Liz Cheney leadership ouster

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2021

WASHINGTON House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy set a Wednesday vote for removing Rep. Liz Cheney from her Republican leadership post in the chamber, saying it was clear that he and his GOP colleagues “need to make a change.” Cheney,…

Registration opens for hopefuls in Iran’s presidential vote

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2021

TEHRAN, Iran Iran opened registration Tuesday for potential candidates in the country’s June presidential election, kicking off the race as uncertainty looms over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers and tensions remain high…

South’s Moon hopes to restart North Korean diplomacy with Biden

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2021

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea’s leader said Monday he’ll use his upcoming summit with President Joe Biden to push to restart diplomacy with North Korea, saying that the U.S. has opted for a diplomatic, phased approach to resolve the…

Talks ‘intensify’ on bringing US back to Iran nuclear deal

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2021

VIENNA World powers held a fourth round of high-level talks Friday in Austria aimed at bringing the United States back into the nuclear deal with Iran, with both sides signaling a willingness to work out the major stumbling blocks.…

Iran, Saudis hold talks in Baghdad, few expect quick results

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2021

BAGHDAD A first round of direct talks between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran signaled a possible de-escalation following years of animosity that often spilled into neighboring countries and at least one still-raging war. But few…

Saudi Arabia, Iran hold talks to ease tensions: report

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 19, 2021

Riyadh Saudi and Iranian officials held direct talks this month in a bid to ease tensions between the two countries, a senior Iranian official and two regional sources said, as Washington works to revive a 2015 nuclear pact with Tehran…

Trump’s top diplomat calls WHO Covid report ‘a sham’

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 30, 2021

Washington Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, a strident critic of China, on Tuesday alleged that an international report into Covid's origins was a cover-up backed by Beijing. The long-awaited report by experts appointed by…

Senate starts 2nd impeachment trial of Trump in wake of Capitol riot

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 10, 2021

WASHINGTON The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump started Tuesday in the Senate, with the former U.S. president facing a charge of inciting a deadly attack on the Capitol last month amid his refusal to concede defeat in his bid for…

Judge says Amazon won’t have to restore Parler web service

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 22, 2021

Amazon won’t be forced to immediately restore web service to Parler after a federal judge ruled Thursday against a plea to reinstate the fast-growing social media app, which is favored by followers of former President Donald Trump. U.S.…

Israel concerned over Biden’s stance on Iran, Palestine

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 22, 2021

JERUSALEM Israeli officials expressed concern Thursday over the new US administration’s plan to revive a nuclear deal with Iran as well as reengaging in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, Israeli dailies reported. This follows the…

Will Netanyahu face Trump’s fate in Israeli elections?

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2021

JERUSALEM As Israel prepares to hold its fourth elections in two years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a tough electoral battle amid divisions inside his right-wing Likud party. Netanyahu also faces potential imprisonment…

Trump, Pompeo relegated to dustbin of history: Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2021

Iran’s foreign minister welcomed the departure of US President Donald Trump and his administration Wednesday while suggesting that newly elected President Joe Biden should abandon his predecessor’s policies. "Trump, Pompeo & Co. are…

On Day One, Biden targets Trump policies on climate, virus

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2021

WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump’s legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of…

Biden calls on Americans to overcome divisions

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2021

WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that “without unity, there is no peace.” Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he…

Trump leaves White House, says ‘It’s been a great honor’

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2021

WASHINGTON Donald Trump pumped his fist and waved as he departed the White House on Marine One Wednesday for the last time as president, leaving behind a legacy of chaos and tumult and a nation bitterly divided. Four years after…

Who are the ordinary folks trying to join inauguration?

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2021

WASHINGTON On a crisp, sunny, blustery afternoon, the scene outside the north side of the US Capitol is one of TV news reporters and cameras looking for any locals to interview along with big military-style trucks and camouflage-clad…

Has freedom of expression become hostage to tech giants?

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 18, 2021

The issues of digital privacy, data protection, and more so freedom of expression have once again come to the fore -- first by the decision of social media companies blocking US President Donald Trump and then by WhatsApp’s brazen move to…

North Korea holds huge military parade as Kim vows nuclear might

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2021

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea rolled out developmental ballistic missiles designed to be launched from submarines and other military hardware in a parade that punctuated leader Kim Jong Un’s defiant calls to expand his nuclear weapons…

US military confirms Biden as 46th commander-in-chief

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2021

WASHINGTON The US Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a message Tuesday to the military saying a “violent riot” at the Capitol building was a “direct assault” on Congress and the Constitution and confirming President-elect Joe Biden will become…

US: Pence rejects invoking 25th Amendment to oust Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2021

WASHINGTON US Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday rejected invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump over last week's violence on Capitol Hill. In a letter to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Pence…

House votes on bill for Pence to invoke 25th Amendment

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2021

WASHINGTON The US House of Representatives voted late Tuesday on a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to oust President Donald Trump over last week’s violent Capitol riot. The bill, which was…

US: Facebook removing all ‘stop the steal’ content

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 12, 2021

WASHINGTON Social media mainstay Facebook announced Monday it is removing all content from its platform that bears the phrase "stop the steal," a popular refrain among US President Donald Trump's supporters that falsely alleges…

North Korea threatens to build more nukes, cites US hostility

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2021

SEOUL, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to expand his nuclear arsenal as he disclosed a list of high-tech weapons systems under development, saying the fate of relations with the United States depends on whether it…

A farewell to @realDonaldTrump, gone after 57,000 tweets

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2021

WASHINGTON @realDonaldTrump, the Twitter feed that grew from the random musings of a reality TV star into the cudgel of an American president, died Friday. It was not quite 12 years old. The provocative handle was given birth by a New…

White House condemns Capitol riot, flees questions

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2021

WASHINGTON The White House on Thursday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" a violent riot of US President Donald Trump's supporters at the Capitol, but then quickly exited the briefing room, refusing shouted questions from…

UN rights chief ‘deeply troubled’ by US Capitol attack

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2021

GENEVA The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Thursday her office is "deeply troubled" by the attack the day before on the US Capitol triggered by "incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders" when rioters stormed the…

Merkel ‘sad and furious’ over riots in US

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2021

BERLIN German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed regret that US President Donald Trump “did not admit his election defeat” and caused further tensions in his country. Speaking at a party meeting on Thursday, Merkel said she was…

Former US presidents slam storming of Congress

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2021

WASHINGTON Former American presidents on Wednesday condemned the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump as Congress met to certify Electoral College votes. The 43rd president, George W. Bush, in a…

US Congress reconvenes to count Electoral College votes

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2021

WASHINGTON The US Congress reconvened Wednesday evening to count Electoral College votes after pro-President Donald Trump rioters derailed the final step before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn-in to office later in January.…

Afghan peace talks may suffer from Trump’s departure

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2021

KABUL, Afghanistan Already shaken by a fresh flare-up of violence, the fragile Afghan peace process may face “problems” following the departure of US President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, experts believe. They also argue that incoming…

Trump insists US presidential election was rigged

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2021

WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump repeated his claim that the Nov. 3 presidential election was rigged as he spoke during a rally in Georgia a day before the southern state's Senate runoff. "There's no way we lost Georgia. There's…

US House OKs $2,000 stimulus payments to most Americans

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 29, 2020

WASHINGTON The Democratic-held House of Representatives voted Monday to increase COVID stimulus payments to most Americans to $2,000, though the measure's fate remains uncertain. The 275-134 vote sends the proposal to more than triple…

Trump signs Taiwan act into law, angering rival China

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 28, 2020

US President Donald Trump on Sunday signed the Taiwan Assurance Act into law, which was part of the wider $1.4 trillion federal government spending bill for the fiscal year of 2021. After days of stalling, the bill was jointly signed…

Iraq denounces US pardons to agents in Iraqis murders

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 24, 2020

Iraq denounced Wednesday a decision by US President Donald Trump to grant clemency to four US security contractors who were convicted of killing Iraqi civilians in 2007. "The Ministry sees that this decision didn't take into…

Melania to divorce Donald Trump?

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 9, 2020

WASHINGTON Melania Trump is "counting every minute" to divorce her husband, American president Donald Trump, following his defeat in the US Election 2020, according to a report in Daily Mail, which cited a former aide to the First Lady.…

George W. Bush congratulates Biden on US election win

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 9, 2020

WASHINGTON Former Republican President George W. Bush on Sunday congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory in the 2020 election. "Though we have political differences, I know Joe…

Biden promotes unity, turns to business of transition

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 8, 2020

WILMINGTON, Del. Joe Biden used his first national address as president-elect to vow to heal a deeply divided nation, declaring it was time to “let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end” and reaching out to the millions…

Future US participation in Paris Agreement rests on election

THE ASIA LIVE Nov 4, 2020

Whatever the outcome of the presidential election, the United States will leave the Paris accord on Wednesday, becoming the first country to ever withdraw from an international climate change pact. It may prove to be a temporary blip…

World shares, US futures gain after last Trump-Biden debate

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 23, 2020

World shares and U.S. futures advanced Friday after President Donald Trump and his challenger former Vice President Joe Biden faced off in their second and final debate before the Nov. 3 election. Stocks rose Friday in Paris, London and…

Trump, Biden fight over the raging virus, climate and race

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 23, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden fought over how to tame the raging coronavirus during the campaign’s closing debate, largely shelving the rancor that overshadowed their previous face-off in favor…

Trump says will accept peaceful transfer after balking

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 16, 2020

WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will accept a peaceful transfer of power if his Democratic rival wins the presidency on Nov. 3 but insisted he wants to see "an honest election." "They try to take down a…

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Barrett pledges to follow law, not personal views

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 12, 2020

WASHINGTON Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s pick for a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, said she will rule based on the law, not her personal views, in prepared remarks issued on Sunday ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing this…

White House staff, Secret Service eye virus with fear, anger

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 6, 2020

WASHINGTON The West Wing is a ghost town. Staff members are scared of exposure. And the White House is now a treatment ward for not one — but two — COVID patients, including a president who has long taken the threat of the virus lightly.…

Asian shares rise on optimism about Trump’s recovery

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 5, 2020

TOKYO Shares rose Monday in Asia as investors were encouraged by positive reports about President Donald Trump’s health after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Trump briefly ventured out in a motorcade on Sunday to salute cheering…

Trump takes a brief car ride, ignoring own COVID infection

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 5, 2020

BETHESDA, Md. Infected and contagious, President Donald Trump briefly ventured out in a motorcade on Sunday to salute cheering supporters, a move that disregarded precautions meant to contain the deadly virus that has forced his…

Trump COVID infection thrusts world in uncharted territory

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 3, 2020

PARIS News that the world’s most powerful man was infected with the world’s most notorious disease dominated screens large and small, drawing shock, sympathy and some barbs for President Donald Trump. The outpouring from world leaders and…

Claims from Trump and Biden’s first debate

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 30, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden sparred Tuesday in their first of three debates, hoping to sway undecided voters planning to cast ballots by mail and in person in the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 3…

Angry opening: Trump, Biden lash, interrupt each other

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 30, 2020

CLEVELAND Marked by angry interruptions and bitter accusations, the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden erupted in contentious exchanges Tuesday night over the coronavirus pandemic, job losses…

Ethics experts see national security concern in Trump’s debt

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 29, 2020

WASHINGTON Revelations that President Donald Trump is personally liable for more than $400 million in debt are casting a shadow over his presidency that ethics experts say raises national security concerns he could be manipulated to sway…

Saudi Arabia: G-20 gathering of world leaders to be virtual

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia, which is presiding over the Group of 20 countries this year, said Monday that the upcoming November gathering of world leaders will be held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic. The kingdom had…

Federal judge postpones Trump ban on popular app TikTok

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

NEW YORK A federal judge on Sunday postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned the popular video sharing app TikTok from U.S. smartphone app stores around midnight. A more comprehensive ban remains scheduled for…

Trump paid $750 in US income taxes in 2016, 2017

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 28, 2020

President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for president and in his first year in the White House, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times. Trump, who has fiercely guarded his tax filings and…

Trump taps ’eminently qualified’ Barrett for Supreme Court

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 27, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Saturday, capping a dramatic reshaping of the federal judiciary that will resonate for a generation and that he hopes will provide a needed boost…

Putin says Russia and U.S. should agree not to meddle in each other’s elections

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

MOSCOW President Vladimir Putin called on Friday for an agreement between Russia and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other’s elections. In a statement ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Nov.…

Fight over Trump tax returns goes to appeals court -again

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 25, 2020

NEW YORK A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments Friday in President Donald Trump’s long-running fight to prevent a top New York prosecutor from getting his tax returns. Trump’s lawyers appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of…

Trump aims to use UN address to send strong message to China

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, who prefers speaking to boisterous crowds, is set to give a prerecorded address to the U.N. General Assembly as he grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, chilly relations between the U.S. and China and…

World powers set to take the stage, virtually, at UN debate

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2020

UNITED NATIONS The U.N.’s first virtual meeting of world leaders was set to start Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet’s biggest powers, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at…

US Space Force deploys to vast new frontier: Arabian Desert

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The newly formed U.S. Space Force is deploying troops to a vast new frontier: the Arabian Peninsula. Space Force now has a squadron of 20 airmen stationed at Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base in its first foreign…

Biden to GOP senators: Don’t jam through Ginsburg nominee

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 21, 2020

PHILADELPHIA Joe Biden on Sunday slammed President Donald Trump and leading Senate Republicans for trying to jam through a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and urged more senators to stand with a pair of GOP colleagues…

Japan’s PM Suga says agreed to coordinate closely with Trump after first talks

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2020

TOKYO Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the importance of their countries’ alliance in phone talks on Sunday, their first since Suga took over as Japan’s new leader. Suga said Trump told…

What does banning TikTok and WeChat mean for users?

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 20, 2020

The U.S. government is cracking down on the Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat, starting by barring them from app stores on Sunday. President Donald Trump has cited concerns about Chinese government snooping as his administration prepares to…

As Trump holds back, tech firms step in on election security

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

WASHINGTON Adam Schiff was in the audience at the 2018 Aspen Security Forum when a Microsoft executive mentioned an attempted hacking of three politicians up for reelection. It was the first that Schiff, then the top Democrat on the…

US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it will ban Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores on Sunday and will bar the apps from accessing essential internet services in the U.S. — a move that could effectively wreck the…

China announces regulations for ‘unreliable entity’ list

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

HONG KONG China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday issued regulations for its “unreliable entity” list, aimed at foreign companies it says endanger its national sovereignty, security or development interests. Companies that end up on…

Iran vows to go after Americans who killed top general

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran The chief of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened Saturday to go after everyone who had a role in a top general’s January killing during a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. The guard’s website quoted Gen. Hossein…

Biden would push for less US reliance on nukes for defense

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 19, 2020

WASHINGTON Democrat Joe Biden leaves little doubt that if elected he would try to scale back President Donald Trump’s buildup in nuclear weapons spending. And although the former vice president has not fully detailed his nuclear…

Negotiators search for TikTok deal structure as Trump’s deadline looms

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

WASHINGTON Amid a deadline on their heads set by President Donald Trump, negotiators struggled to formulate a new ownership plan for TikTok. A deal appeared to be taking shape this week that would allow Silicon Valley-based Oracle to…

Gulf between White House’s words, Trump’s actions on masks

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

WASHINGTON White House officials insist that President Donald Trump strongly supports face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus and always has. But the president’s own words and actions tell a very different — and sometimes puzzling…

Trump heats up culture war in appeal to Wisconsin voters

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

MOSINEE, Wis. President Donald Trump stepped up his rhetoric Thursday on cultural issues, aiming to boost enthusiasm among rural Wisconsin voters as he tries to repeat his path to victory four years ago. Making his fifth visit to the…

At town hall, Biden blasts Trump’s ‘criminal’ virus response

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

MOOSIC, Pa. Joe Biden on Thursday went after President Donald Trump again and again over his handling of COVID-19, calling Trump’s downplaying of the pandemic “criminal” and his administration “totally irresponsible.” “You’ve got to level…

Biden says he trusts vaccines and scientists, not Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

WILMINGTON, Del. Joe Biden said Wednesday that while he trusts what scientists say about a potential coronavirus vaccine, he doesn’t trust President Donald Trump. His comments come as the debate over a vaccine — how it will be…

US govt: Upcoming WeChat ‘ban’ won’t target its users

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

NEW YORK A looming U.S. ban on the Chinese app WeChat won’t target people who use the app to communicate, according to a government court filing Wednesday. President Donald Trump issued orders on Aug. 6 that targeted WeChat and TikTok…

Trump disputes health officials, sees mass vaccinations soon

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

WASHINGTON Openly contradicting the government’s top health experts, President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus could be ready as early as next month and in mass distribution soon…

Israel signs pacts with 2 Arab states: A ‘new’ Mideast?

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 16, 2020

WASHINGTON Israel on Tuesday signed historic diplomatic pacts with two Gulf Arab states at a White House ceremony that President Donald Trump declared will mark the “dawn of a new Middle East,” casting himself as an international…

Trump warns Iran of severe retaliation if US attacked

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump threatened late Monday to deliver a devastating response to any attack by Iran against the US. "Any attack by Iran, in any form, against the United States will be met with an attack on Iran that will…

Trump spurns science on climate: ‘Don’t think science knows’

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 15, 2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. With the smell of California wildfires in the air, President Donald Trump on Monday ignored the scientific consensus that climate change is playing a central role in historic West Coast infernos and renewed his…

TikTok owner picks Oracle over Microsoft as US tech partner

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 14, 2020

The owner of TikTok has chosen Oracle over Microsoft as the American tech partner that could help keep the popular video-sharing app running in the U.S., according to a person familiar with the deal who was not authorized to speak publicly…

Book: Kim Jong Un told Trump about killing his uncle

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 10, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s comments about the threat from the novel coronavirus attracted widespread attention after excerpts from journalist Bob Woodward’s book “Rage” were released. The excerpts also provide new details about…

Bold hopes for virus antibody tests still unfulfilled

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 8, 2020

WASHINGTON At the height of the coronavirus lockdown, President Donald Trump and his top health advisers trumpeted a new test that would help Americans reclaim their lives — one that would tell them if they already had the virus and were…

Kushner visits air base as part of Israel-US trip to UAE

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 1, 2020

AL-DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates Jared Kushner and U.S. officials visited a major air base in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, speaking to Emirati and American pilots on the tarmac, near the advanced F-35 fighter jets that the…

Oil companies accused of wanting to dump plastics in Africa

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 1, 2020

NAIROBI, Kenya The oil industry has asked the United States to pressure Kenya to change its world-leading stance against the plastic waste that litters Africa, according to environmentalists who fear the continent will be used as a dumping…

Biden vows end of national ‘darkness’ in convention finale

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 21, 2020

WILMINGTON, Del. Joe Biden vowed to unite an America torn by crisis and contempt Thursday night, accepting the Democratic presidential nomination and achieving a pinnacle in an unfinished quest that has spanned three decades and been…

Dems put divides aside, rally behind Biden at convention

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 18, 2020

NEW YORK Michelle Obama delivered a passionate condemnation of President Donald Trump during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, declaring him “in over his head” and warning that the nation’s mounting crises would only…

Trump orders Chinese owner of TikTok to sell US assets

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 15, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday gave the Chinese company ByteDance 90 days to divest itself of any assets used to support the popular TikTok app in the United States. Trump’s executive order said there is “credible evidence…

Radical or moderate? Trump paints Democratic ticket as both

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 13, 2020

WASHINGTON An overzealous prosecutor trying to hide her crime-fighting past — who is also weak on crime. The most radical pick for vice president ever — but too moderate to energize progressive Democrats. President Donald Trump’s campaign…

World shares march higher as S&P 500 nears all-time record

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 11, 2020

World stock markets rallied on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to cut taxes on capital gains and on middle income earners, pushing the S&P 500 to within striking distance of an all-time high. Markets rose even…

Asian shares mostly higher on stimulus moves, jobs data

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 10, 2020

Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Monday after President Donald Trump issued executive orders to provide tax relief and stopgap unemployment benefits for Americans hit by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Shares rose Monday in…

US sanctions pro-China leader of Hong Kong, other officials

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 8, 2020

WASHINGTON The U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong officials, including the pro-China leader of the government, accusing them of cooperating with Beijing’s effort to undermine autonomy and crack down on freedom in the former…

Global shares up amid jitters over US stimulus, China trade

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 5, 2020

BEIJING Global markets and U.S. stock futures rose Wednesday amid investor concern about U.S. stimulus spending and a trade agreement with Beijing. London and Frankfurt opened higher, while Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul rose. Tokyo…

Trump gives $35 million to aid human trafficking victims

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 5, 2020

WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Tuesday announced more than $35 million in Justice Department grants to organizations that provide safe housing for victims of human trafficking. Attorney General William Barr and presidential…

Microsoft confirms talks seeking to buy US arm of TikTok

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 3, 2020

NEW YORK Microsoft confirmed Sunday it is in talks with Chinese company ByteDance to acquire the U.S. arm of its popular video app TikTok and has discussed with President Donald Trump his concerns about security and censorship surrounding…

Trump says he’ll act to ban TikTok in US as soon as Saturday

THE ASIA LIVE Aug 1, 2020

NEW YORK President Donald Trump said he will take action as soon as Saturday to ban TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns. Trump’s comments came after published…

A more measured Trump doesn’t mean accurate

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 27, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump in recent days suddenly acknowledged the gravity of the coronavirus pandemic and edged away from some of his most audacious falsehoods about it. That’s not to say he gave the public an honest accounting.…

Twitter says it’s cracking down on QAnon conspiracy theory

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 22, 2020

HONG KONG Twitter says it is cracking down on accounts and content related to QAnon, the far-right U.S. conspiracy theory popular among supporters of President Donald Trump. The measures include banning accounts associated with QAnon…

Trump offers confusion, contradictions on immigration order

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 20, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is promising new executive action on immigration as he returns to the defining issue of his administration. But Trump has offered contradictory and confusing statements about his plans in recent days. His…

Trump, Biden try to outdo each other on tough talk on China

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 12, 2020

WASHINGTON China has fast become a top election issue as President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden engage in a verbal brawl over who’s better at playing the tough guy against Beijing. The Trump campaign put out ads showing Biden…

Kim’s sister says ‘no need’ for another US-North Korea summit

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 10, 2020

Seoul, South Korea The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Friday there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach. Kim and US President Donald…

France urges Netanyahu not to annex parts of West Bank

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 10, 2020

PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to annex Palestinian territory in the West Bank, warning that it would violate international law and threaten long-term peace efforts. The two…

US envoy meets officials in Seoul as Kim honors grandfather

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea President Donald Trump’s point man to North Korea met with South Korean officials on Wednesday for discussions on stalled nuclear diplomacy amid the North’s repeated claims that it has no immediate intent to resume…

Mexico president heads to Washington for meeting with Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

MEXICO CITY For his first foreign trip as president, Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador travels to Washington Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly taken shots at Mexico and Mexican migrants to rally his base.…

Trump pushes state, local leaders to reopen schools in fall

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 8, 2020

President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for…

North Korea rejects talks as US envoy arrives in Seoul

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 7, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Tuesday said it has no immediate intent to resume a dialogue with the United States as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in South Korea for discussions on stalled nuclear diplomacy. In…

Critics of US-Taliban deal say militants can’t be trusted

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 4, 2020

WASHINGTON Intelligence that Afghan militants might have accepted Russian bounties for killing American troops did not scuttle the U.S.-Taliban agreement or President Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw thousands more troops from the war. It…

North Korea says it has no plans for talks with US

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 4, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Saturday reiterated it has no immediate plans to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States unless Washington discards what it describes as “hostile” polices toward Pyongyang. The statement by…

US Congress urges Trump administration to get tougher on China’s Xinjiang crackdown

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 3, 2020

Washington, United States More than 75 US senators and House members on Thursday urged the Trump administration to take a tougher stance on China over its crackdown in that country's Xinjiang province and make a formal determination…

Trump, top officials defend response to Russia bounty threat

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 2, 2020

WASHINGTON Criticized for inaction, President Donald Trump and top officials stepped up their defense of the administration’s response to intelligence assessments that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Trump’s…

Caesar Act targets regime, not Syrians: Opposition

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 1, 2020

The Caesar Act only targets the Syrian regime, not Syrians themselves, said Anas al-Abdah, president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, a coalition of opposition groups. On Dec. 20, 2019, US President…

US envoy calls for Iran arms embargo renewal

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 28, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates An expiring United Nations weapons embargo on Iran must remain in place to prevent it from “becoming the arms dealer of choice for rogue regimes and terrorist organizations around the world,” the U.S. special…

In Wisconsin, Trump boasts of ‘aptitude for manufacturing’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 26, 2020

MARINETTE, Wis. Despite enormous economic headwinds and sky-high unemployment numbers, President Donald Trump sought to showcase his record as a job creator on Thursday during a visit to a shipyard in the battleground state of Wisconsin.…

‘Faces of the conquerors’: Trump trip to Rushmore draws fire

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 25, 2020

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. President Donald Trump’s plans to kick off Independence Day with a showy display at Mount Rushmore are drawing sharp criticism from Native Americans who view the monument as a desecration of land violently stolen from…

Trump says China trade deal still on after adviser’s remarks

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 23, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is tweeting that an initial trade agreement with China is still on after a top White House adviser’s comments seemed to suggest it was over, spooking markets late Monday. Trump tweeted: “The China Trade…

US judge denies Trump’s bid to block Bolton’s book but criticizes ex-adviser

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 21, 2020

Washington A US judge denied on Saturday a request by the Trump administration for an injunction to block publication of a book by Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton that alleges the president sought China's help…

Trump at rally falsely cites a Biden apology

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 21, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump falsely told supporters Saturday night that Democratic rival Joe Biden apologized for opposing his restrictions on travel from China early in the coronavirus pandemic. On multiple fronts, the revival of…

Trump holds fiery, defiant rally but crowd disappoints

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 21, 2020

Tulsa, United States US President Donald Trump hailed his supporters as "warriors" Saturday for defying the coronavirus and attacked his Democratic rivals at his first campaign rally in three months, an event with crowds far smaller than…

Court rejects Trump bid to end young immigrants’ protections

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants, the second stunning election-season rebuke from the court in a week after its ruling that it’s illegal…

Facebook removes Trump ads with symbols once used by Nazis

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 19, 2020

WASHINGTON Facebook has removed campaign ads by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence that featured an upside-down red triangle, a symbol once used by Nazis to designate political prisoners, communists and others in…

Chinese, US diplomats hold ‘constructive’ dialogue

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

A senior Chinese diplomat has met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chinese media reported Thursday. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the…

Trump extends existing sanctions on North Korea for 1 year

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday extended existing U.S. sanctions on North Korea for another year, citing the continued "unusual and extraordinary" threat posed by the regime. In a routine notice sent to Congress, Trump…

Administration seeking to roll back tech company protections

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

WASHINGTON The Justice Department proposed Wednesday that Congress roll back long-held legal protections for online platforms such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, putting down a legislative marker in President Donald Trump’s drive against…

Court strikes down Trump rule that drugmakers disclose price

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 18, 2020

WASHINGTON In a major legal setback for President Donald Trump on a high-profile consumer issue, a federal appeals court has ruled that his administration lacks the legal authority to force drug companies to disclose prices in their TV…

Trump on an AIDS vaccine that doesn’t exist

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2020

WASHINGTON Seizing on a medical milestone that doesn’t exist, President Donald Trump said Tuesday he thinks the same scientific expertise that produced a vaccine for AIDS can deliver one soon for COVID-19, too. There is no vaccine for…

US admits flaws as UN human rights body set to debate racism

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2020

GENEVA A U.S. ambassador said Wednesday that Washington “is committed to addressing its shortcomings, including racial discrimination,” and is being transparent about holding violators accountable — as the U.N.’s top human rights body was…

Trump’s false security on kids and COVID-19

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump may be giving parents a false sense of security when it comes to kids and COVID-19. In remarks Monday, Trump expressed a desire to have K-12 schools reopen in the fall in “full blast” while minimizing the…

Trump announces major US troop cut in ‘delinquent’ Germany

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Monday he is ordering a major reduction in U.S. troop strength in Germany, a move widely criticized by members of his own party as a gift to Russia and a threat to U.S. national security. “We’re…

Obama to hold joint fundraiser for Biden next week

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 16, 2020

WASHINGTON Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is getting some help from his “former boss,” Barack Obama, as he looks to fill his campaign coffers and unify the Democratic Party ahead of the November election. The former…

Trump addresses West Point grads amid tension with military

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 13, 2020

WEST POINT. N.Y. His relationship with top military officials strained, President Donald Trump on Saturday will address the graduating class at the U.S. Military Academy against a backdrop of urgent questions about the role of soldiers…

International Criminal Court condemns US sanctions order

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

THE HAGUE, Netherlands The International Criminal Court has condemned the Trump administration’s decision to authorize sanctions against court staff, saying it amounted to “an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the…

North Korea says its goal is to build ‘more reliable’ force against US

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

Pyongyang,North Korea North Korea on Friday said that its goal is to build up a "more reliable" force against long-term military threats from the United States. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon made the remark as the two…

Young people turned out to protest. Now, will they vote?

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 11, 2020

CHICAGO Young adults have filled streets across the country on a scale not seen since the 1960s to protest for racial justice after the death of George Floyd. But whether that energy translates to increased turnout in November is another…

EU wants tech giants to do more to counter virus fake news

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 10, 2020

BRUSSELS A senior European Union official warned online platforms like Google and Facebook on Wednesday to step up the fight against fake news coming notably from countries like China and Russia, but she praised the approach of Twitter for…

Venezuela, Minneapolis, Iran, Europe – Trump’s Last Gasps of Collapsing World Control. Or Is It?

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 10, 2020

Peter Koenig There comes a time when shooting around in circles just hits walls, bullets splinter off sidewalks, and shatter a window here and there. But people are in safety. They watch from a distance and with self-assurance. Venezuela…

Virus, racial unrest force Trump campaign to recalibrate

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

WASHINGTON Less than five months before voters will decide his fate, President Donald Trump is confronting a vastly different political reality than he once envisioned. For starters, if the election were held today, he’d likely lose. The…

Trump exaggerations on blacks’ economic gains

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is exaggerating economic gains for African Americans during his administration. He claims full credit for achieving the best economic figures for blacks across the board. That’s not accurate. Black…

Zuckerberg-funded scientists: Rein in hate on Facebook

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 7, 2020

BOSTON Dozens of scientists doing research funded by Mark Zuckerberg say Facebook should not be letting President Donald Trump use the social media platform to “spread both misinformation and incendiary statements.” The researchers,…

White House, Pentagon tensions near breaking point

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

ROBERT BURNS Tensions between the White House and Pentagon have stretched to near a breaking poin t over President Donald Trump’s threat to use military force against street protests triggered by George Floyd’s death. Friction in this…

Trump’s alternate reality in time of anguish

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

WASHINGTON “Vicious dogs.” “Ominous weapons.” Injured police. Gagging protesters. Shattered storefronts. Armed personnel at centers of power and landmarks. Anguish and arson. Taking the measure of these days in the nation’s capital,…

Trump heads to rural Maine but won’t escape demonstrators

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

WASHINGTON Maine’s Democratic governor is urging President Donald Trump to watch his tone during a visit to the state Friday to showcase a company that makes specialized swabs for coronavirus testing. And the sheriff in the state’s most…

Twitter disables Trump campaign’s George Floyd video tribute

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

Twitter has blocked a Trump campaign video tribute to George Floyd over a copyright claim, in a move that adds to tensions between the social media platform and the U.S. president, one of its most widely followed users. The company put a…

Study on use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 pulled

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

WASHINGTON The Lancet medical journal announced on Thursday retracting a study published on the treatment of COVID-19 patients with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. The drug has been repeatedly touted by US President Donald…

Trump skews history by saying he fired Mattis

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

WASHINGTON When Jim Mattis announced his resignation as defense secretary, President Donald Trump thanked him for “tremendous progress” in helping to rebuild the military and for “retiring with distinction.” Times changed and so did…

Google: State-backed hackers targeted Trump, Biden campaigns

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 5, 2020

BOSTON Google said state-backed hackers have targeted the campaigns of both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, although it saw no evidence that the phishing attempts were successful. The company confirmed the…

Trump denies tear gas use despite evidence

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 4, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump and some of his supporters are claiming authorities did not use tear gas against people in a crackdown outside the White House this week. There’s evidence they did. Law enforcement officials shy away from…

Trump questions render Trudeau speechless for 21 seconds

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

TORONTO Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canadians are watching what’s unfolding in the United States with “horror and consternation” and he paused for 21 seconds when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump and the…

Zuckerberg still under fire over inflammatory Trump posts

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

AKLAND, Calif. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn’t budging over his refusal to take action on inflammatory posts by President Donald Trump that spread misinformation about voting by mail and, many said, encouraged violence against…

Protesters return to the streets as Trump decries ‘lowlifes’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

WASHINGTON Undeterred by curfews, protesters streamed back into the nation’s streets Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump pressed governors to put down the violence set off by George Floyd’s death and demanded that New York call up…

Amid domestic US unrest, Pompeo hits China over Tiananmen

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is marking this week’s anniversary of China’s deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square — a day after federal forces used tear gas to clear peaceful protesters from a…

George Floyd protests rage for seventh day in US

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

WASHINGTON The US marked a seventh day of protests over the death of George Floyd on Monday as parts of the country saw both peaceful demonstrations and fierce clashes between police and demonstrators. In the nation's capital, Lafayette…

Tear gas, threats for protesters before Trump visits church

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 2, 2020

WASHINGTON It began with Attorney General Bill Barr standing with his hands casually in his pockets, not wearing a tie, surveying the scene at Lafayette Park across from the White House, where several thousand protesters had gathered for…

Asian stocks rebound after Trump avoids reigniting trade war

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 1, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rebounded Monday after President Donald Trump avoided reigniting a trade war with China amid tension over Hong Kong and the coronavirus pandemic. Hong Kong’s benchmark gained more than 3% and Shanghai and Tokyo…

China says US action on Hong Kong ‘doomed to fail’

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

BEIJING The mouthpiece newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party said that the U.S. decision to end some trading privileges for Hong Kong “grossly interferes” in China’s internal affairs and is “doomed to fail.” The Hong Kong government…

Trump strikes China over virus, Hong Kong and student visas

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced Friday that he would withdraw funding from the World Health Organization, end Hong Kong’s special trade status and suspend visas of Chinese graduate students suspected of conducting research on…

Merkel won’t attend G7 summit in person if US goes ahead

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

BERLIN Chancellor Angela Merkel will not personally attend a meeting in the U.S. with the leaders of the world’s major economies if President Donald Trump goes ahead with it, unless the course of the coronavirus spread changes by then, her…

Trump takes aim at WHO as US economic outlook worsens

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

WASHINGTON With new U.S. economic numbers highlighting the rough road ahead for a hoped-for rebound, President Donald Trump on Friday took aim at the World Health Organization and China, blaming both for their roles in the pandemic’s…

Trump fuels new tensions in moment of crisis

THE ASIA LIVE May 30, 2020

WASHINGTON Over 48 hours in America, the official death toll from the coronavirus pandemic topped 100,000, the number of people who filed for unemployment during the crisis soared past 40 million, and the streets of a major city erupted in…

Chinese grad students may be next hit by US-China tensions

THE ASIA LIVE May 29, 2020

WASHINGTON The Trump administration may soon expel thousands of Chinese graduate students enrolled at U.S. universities and impose other sanctions against Chinese officials in the latest signs of tensions between Washington and Beijing…

Asia shares fall as US-China tensions douse rally on Wall St

THE ASIA LIVE May 29, 2020

BANGKOK Shares fell Friday in Asia as investors awaited a news conference about China by President Donald Trump later in the day. Benchmarks declined in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney but rose in Shanghai. U.S. and Chinese officials have…

White House imposes coronavirus travel ban on Brazil

THE ASIA LIVE May 25, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world’s coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the U.S. in the number of confirmed cases. Trump had already…

Trump’s use of malaria drug likely to be welcomed in India

THE ASIA LIVE May 20, 2020

NEW DELHI President Donald Trump’s declaration that he was taking a malaria drug of dubious effectiveness to help fend off the coronavirus will likely be welcomed in India. Trump’s previous endorsement of hydroxychloroquine catalyzed a…

Pandemic planning becomes political weapon as deaths mount

THE ASIA LIVE May 16, 2020

WASHINGTON For the first three years of his presidency, Donald Trump did not publicly utter the words “pandemic” or “preparedness.” Not in speeches, rallies or his many news conferences, planned and impromptu. But on Friday, the White…

Obama emerges as central figure in 2020 presidential race

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

WASHINGTON Nearly eight years after he was last on the ballot, Barack Obama is emerging as a central figure in the 2020 presidential election. Democrats are eagerly embracing Obama as a political wingman for Joe Biden, who spent two terms…

Wall Street erases most of a morning loss in choppy trading

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

Wall Street erased most of a big morning loss on Thursday, the latest erratic moves in its wobbly week. The S&P 500 was down 0.7% after erasing much of an early loss of 1.9%. Markets in Asia and Europe fell to sharper drops, while…

Trump’s surprising target in war on media: Voice of America

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’ has had many targets in his war against the media, but perhaps none is more surprising than the Voice of America, the venerable U.S.-funded institution created during World War II to broadcast independent…

Trump, GOP launch broad attack on Russia probe foundations

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump and Republicans are launching a broad election-year attack on the foundation of the Russia investigation, including declassifying intelligence information to try to place senior Obama administration…

Despite virus, Pompeo in Israel to talk West Bank annexation

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

JERUSALEM U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank, as Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian teen in a clash with…

Biden plans to stay home, testing limits of virtual campaign

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

Joe Biden has no foreseeable plans to resume in-person campaigning amid a pandemic that is testing whether a national presidential election can be won by a candidate communicating almost entirely from home. The virtual campaign Biden is…

Trump-backed lawmaker faces school board head in Wisconsin

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

MADISON, Wis. Voters in northern Wisconsin donned masks and minded their personal space on Tuesday in the state’s second pandemic election in little more than a month, a special congressional race being watched for clues about bigger…

Biden, Sasse win easily in Nebraska’s in-person primary

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

OMAHA, Neb. Nebraska’s primary election was overwhelmingly quiet Tuesday as voters steered clear of polling sites while shattering the state record for absentee voting with nearly 400,000 mail-in ballots. Presumptive Democratic nominee…

Fauci warns of serious consequences if US reopens too soon

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

WASHINGTON Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, warned on Tuesday that “the consequences could be really serious” if cities and states reopen the U.S. economy too quickly. More COVID-19 infections are…

Trump faces virus at White House amid push to ‘reopen’ US

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump insisted Monday his administration has “met the moment” and “prevailed” on coronavirus testing, even as the White House itself became a potent symbol of the risk facing Americans everywhere by belatedly…

Pandemic creates electoral uncertainty for Trump, Democrats

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

Presidential politics move fast. What we’re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign: Days to general election: 176 THE NARRATIVE President Donald Trump’s reelection is facing growing headwinds less than six months before…

Trump asking justices to bar demands for taxes, bank records

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is hoping to persuade a Supreme Court with two of his appointees to keep his tax and other financial records from being turned over to lawmakers and a New York district attorney. The justices are hearing…

Putin-Trump call focuses on coronavirus, arms control, oil

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2020

MOSCOW U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed progress in combating the coronavirus pandemic along with arms control issues and oil prices in a phone call Thursday, the White House and the Kremlin said.…

Trump vetoes Congress resolution that restricts him from taking military action against Iran

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2020

Washington US President Donald Trump has vetoed a resolution aimed at constraining his ability to take military action against Iran, saying Congress should not have passed it. In a statement released on Wednesday, Trump said that he has…

Intel nominee faces skeptics, vows to resist Trump pressure

THE ASIA LIVE May 6, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s nominee for national intelligence director sought at his confirmation hearing Tuesday to shed his reputation as a loyalist to the president, insisting to skeptical Democrats that he would carry out the…

Virus-afflicted 2020 looks like 1918 despite science’s march

THE ASIA LIVE May 5, 2020

WASHINGTON Despite a century’s progress in science, 2020 is looking a lot like 1918. In the years between two lethal pandemics, one the misnamed Spanish flu, the other COVID-19, the world learned about viruses, cured various diseases,…

We will have a vaccine by the end of year: US President Donald Trump

THE ASIA LIVE May 3, 2020

Washington US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) expressed confidence that a vaccine for coronavirus could be available by the end of the year. "I think we'll have a vaccine by the end of the year," Trump said at a Fox News…

Glad to see Kim Jong-un is back and well,says President Trump

THE ASIA LIVE May 3, 2020

Washington US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said he is glad to see that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is "back and well". "I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!" Trump wrote on Twitter. He also retweeted…

Congress refuses rapid coronavirus testing offer from Trump administration

THE ASIA LIVE May 3, 2020

Washington US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have rejected an offer of the Trump administration to carry out rapid COVID-19 testing in Congress. "No reason to turn it down, except politics. We have…

US allows use of 1st drug shown to help virus recovery

THE ASIA LIVE May 2, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. regulators on Friday allowed emergency use of the first drug that appears to help some COVID-19 patients recover faster, a milestone in the global search for effective therapies against the coronavirus. The Food and Drug…

Trump says he won’t extend social distancing guidelines

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 30, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the…

White House aiming for Trump pivot from virus to economy

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 27, 2020

WASHINGTON After two months of frantic response to the coronavirus, the White House is planning to shift President Donald Trump’s public focus to the burgeoning efforts aimed at easing the economic devastation caused by the pandemic. Days…

No, don’t inject disinfectant: Outcry over Trump’s musing

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 25, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s raising of unproven, even far-fetched ideas for fighting COVID-19 -- including his latest musing about injecting disinfectants into people -- triggered an outcry from health officials everywhere. It also…

Veterans Affairs chief plugs unproven drug

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 25, 2020

WASHINGTON Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie is taking advocacy of an unproven drug for the coronavirus even farther than President Donald Trump, claiming without evidence that it’s safe and that it has been effective for young and…

Disinfectant riff is latest of many Trump science clashes

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 25, 2020

WASHINGTON What President Donald Trump says and does often flies in the face of mainstream science. Coronavirus and the idea of injecting disinfectants is only the latest episode. When a rare solar eclipse happened in 2017, astronomers…

California Gov. Newsom finds new friend in Washington: Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. These times were strange enough. And then California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump started getting along. The liberal Democrat — the leader in the headquarters of the Resistance — has taken to singing…

Trump showcases idea heat, humidity could help fight virus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

WASHINGTON The White House on Thursday pitched “emerging” research on the benefits of sunlight and humidity in diminishing the threat of the coronavirus as President Donald Trump encourages states to move to reopen their economies. Past…

Pandemic fallout tracks nation’s political divide

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

WASHINGTON America’s entrenched political divide is now playing out over matters of life and death. Republican governors, urged on by President Donald Trump, are taking the first steps toward reopening parts of their states’ economies in…

Senate approves $483B virus aid deal, sends it to House

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

WASHINGTON A $483 billion coronavirus aid package flew through the Senate on Tuesday after Congress and the White House reached a deal to replenish a small-business payroll fund and provided new money for hospitals and testing. Passage…

Trump bars new immigration green cards, not temporary visas

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced what he described as a “temporary suspension of immigration into the United States” on Tuesday. But the executive order would bar only those seeking permanent residency, not temporary workers.…

Michigan governor: Trump’s messaging causes ‘greater danger’

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 22, 2020

ANSING, Mich. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s plan to suspend immigration is distracting from efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic and part of “inconsistent messages” that spread fear and put…

Immigration to US going to be temporarily suspended, says Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

Washington The battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic got more intense as US President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States. "In light of the attack from the…

Lockdown tensions grow as people seek to resume work or play

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 20, 2020

WASHINGTON The coronavirus is touching all levels of society and increasing tensions as governments start to ease restrictions that health experts warn should be done gradually to avoid a resurgence of the illness that has killed more than…

North Korea denies that Kim sent Trump ‘a nice note’

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 20, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Sunday dismissed as “ungrounded” President Donald Trump’s comment that he recently received “a nice note” from the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un. Trump said during a press briefing on the coronavirus…

Trump falsely blames governors for virus test

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 20, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is wrongly casting blame on governors and the Obama administration for shortages in coronavirus testing and declaring victory over what he calls relatively low death rates in the U.S. That’s too soon to…

Nations debate easing virus restrictions as economies falter

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

BEIJING Governments around the world are wrestling with when and how to lift economically painful virus-control measures as unemployment rises and rent payments come due. Many places have mandated strict restrictions on movement to try to…

Watchdog panels slowly take shape over $2T in virus cash

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

WASHINGTON Congressional oversight of about $2 trillion for the coronavirus crisis began to take shape Friday as three members were appointed to a congressional commission that will monitor how the money is spent. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn.…

Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen to serve out prison sentence at home

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s former lawyer and longtime fixer Michael Cohen will be released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement because of the coronavirus pandemic. Cohen is currently…

With new virus plan, Trump passes buck to states

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

CHICAGO President Donald Trump’s guidelines for states to reopen their economies had the hallmarks of a permission structure. But what he really created was a blame structure. On Friday, he emphatically embraced protesters who defied the…

No plan in sight: Test troubles cloud Trump recovery effort

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

WASHINGTON The United States is struggling to test enough people to track and control the spread of the novel coronavirus, a crucial first step to reopening parts of the economy, which President Donald Trump is pushing to do by May 1.…

China says no plans to limit export of anti-virus supplies

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 16, 2020

BEIJING China won’t restrict exports of medical goods needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic, a government spokesman said Thursday, amid global tension over scarce masks and ventilators. China, the biggest maker of surgical masks and…

Medical intelligence sleuths tracked, warned of new virus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 16, 2020

WASHINGTON In late February when President Donald Trump was urging Americans not to panic over the novel coronavirus, alarms were sounding at a little-known intelligence unit situated on a U.S. Army base an hour’s drive north of…

EU blasts Trump’s WHO funding cut, fears it worsens pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 15, 2020

GENEVA Nations around the world reacted with alarm Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced a halt to the sizable funding the United States sends to the World Health Organization. Health experts warned the move could jeopardize…

Fauci: ‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 14, 2020

WASHINGTON Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday the U.S. does not yet have the critical testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the nation’s economy, adding a dose of caution to…

Trump claims he has ‘total’ authority over reopening economy

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump claimed the “total” authority to decide how and when to reopen the economy after weeks of tough social distancing guidelines aimed at fighting the new coronavirus. But governors from both parties were…

2020 Watch: How and when will Trump reopen the economy?

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2020

MONTCLAIR, N.J. Presidential politics move fast. What we’re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign: Days to general election: 204 THE NARRATIVE More people have died of COVID-19 in the United States than in any other…

Trump’s fundraising slows amid outbreak, still sets records

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s record-setting fundraising pace slowed slightly amid the coronavirus outbreak but remained strong as he maintains a massive cash advantage over Democrats. The Trump reelection campaign and the…

Will voters want a president who feels their pain?

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2020

WASHINGTON In 1992, Americans ousted an incumbent president in the middle of an economic downturn because his challenger, Bill Clinton, seemed to better feel their pain. Twenty years later, when the nation was still climbing out of…

Signs missed and steps slowed in Trump’s pandemic response

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 12, 2020

WASHINGTON By the time President Donald Trump first spoke publicly about the coronavirus, it may already have been too late. Interviewed at Davos, a gathering of global elites in the Swiss Alps, the president on Jan. 22 played down the…

Trump urges Congress to pass $251B small business fund

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 10, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday called on Congress to approve a $251 billion small business fund to help the coronavirus-hit economy. Stressing that the U.S. had "the biggest" stock market increase since 1974 in only four days this…

Africa supports WHO against US’ ‘China-centric’ comment

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 8, 2020

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia The African Union Commission chairman said he was surprised to learn about a campaign launched by the U.S. president against the World Health Organization (WHO). On Tuesday, the U.S. President Donald Trump…

White House pushes unproven drug for virus, but doctors wary

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 7, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump and his administration kept up their out-sized promotion Monday of an anti-malaria drug not yet officially approved for fighting the new coronavirus, even though scientists say more testing is needed…

Intelligence official ‘disappointed’ after ouster by Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

WASHINGTON The ousted inspector general of the intelligence community says he is “disappointed and saddened” that President Donald Trump fired him, but he also encouraged other inspectors general to continue to speak out when they are…

Trump tempers officials’ grave assessments with optimism

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

WASHINGTON The U.S. surgeon general said Sunday that Americans should brace for levels of tragedy reminiscent of the Sept. 11 attacks and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while the nation’s infectious disease chief warned that the new…

Trump pitches unapproved drug for coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is pitching an unapproved medicine for COVID-19 sufferers that science has not concluded is effective or safe. “Take it,” he said of the drug. For people sick with the coronavirus, he said Sunday, “It can…

Trump says ‘toughest’ weeks ahead as coronavirus spreads

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 5, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump warned Saturday that the country could be headed into its “toughest” weeks yet as the coronavirus death toll mounts, but at the same time he expressed growing impatience with social distancing guidelines…

Trump talks with US pro sports leaders to discuss virus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 5, 2020

President Donald Trump talked to many U.S. pro sports leaders about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, saying he was looking forward to the resumption of competitions “as soon as we can.” “I want fans back in the arenas,” Trump said…

Trump fires watchdog who handled Ukraine complaint

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community who handled the whistleblower complaint that triggered Trump’s impeachment. Trump informed the Senate intelligence…

US urges masks as dramatic steps to combat virus roll out

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

NEW YORK The Trump administration urged Americans to cover their faces in public and limited exports of medical supplies Friday as New York’s governor took his own dramatic step to fight the coronavirus — vowing to seize unused ventilators…

Russia to the rescue? US, Moscow spar over aid deliveries

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

WASHINGTON An odd new front in the U.S.-Russian rivalry has emerged as a Russian military cargo plane bearing a load of urgently needed medical supplies landed this week at New York’s JFK airport. Russia cast it as a magnanimous aid…

3M fires back at Trump over order to produce more face masks

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

Manufacturing giant 3M pushed back Friday against criticism from President Donald Trump over production of face masks that are badly needed by American health care workers. The company said it has been producing as many masks as possible…

White House convenes oil CEOs as bust threatens US boom

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 3, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump offered assurances of better times and coronavirus tests to oil CEOs at a White House summit Friday, but no firm proposals for easing the industry’s way as the coronavirus pandemic and plunging petroleum…

Face coverings recommended, but Trump says he won’t wear one

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 3, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of…

Trump says he expects Russia, Saudis to cut oil production

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Thursday that he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia will end an oil war and dramatically cut production. The global gut in production, coupled with a slowing economy from the coronavirus pandemic, has…

Trump’s contradictory views on China shift as crisis grows

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has held an unequivocal position about China and the coronavirus — several of them. Trump initially praised China, then excoriated Beijing after it made unsubstantiated claims that the virus originated in…

Trump resists national shutdown, leaving it up to states

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is resisting calls to issue a national stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the new coronavirus despite his administration’s projections that tens of thousands of Americans are likely to be killed by…

Fractures grow among Iraq militias, spell political retreat

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 1, 2020

BAGHDAD In February, an Iraqi militia commander trained by Iran took over the empty office of his slain superior, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, killed weeks before alongside Iranian military mastermind Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike.…

Rouhani: U.S. has lost opportunity to lift Iran sanctions amid coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 1, 2020

DUBAI Iran’s president said on Wednesday that, with the advent of the coronavirus, the United States had missed a historic opportunity to lift sanctions on his country, though the penalties had not hampered its fight against the infection.…

Trump’s misfires on virus death rates, tests

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 1, 2020

WASHINGTON Facing a grim reality of surging coronavirus cases, President Donald Trump is making premature assertions about relatively low death rates in the U.S. and revising history about how seriously he viewed the threat, including the…

White House projects 100K to 240K US deaths from virus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 1, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Americans to brace for a “hell of a bad two weeks” ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current…

No proof drug touted by Trump drug is effective against coronavirus: EU

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 31, 2020

BRUSSELS The European Commission said on Tuesday there was no evidence that a drug touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential miracle cure against COVID-19 was effective against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Trump…

China’s Huawei says ’19 sales up 19% despite U.S. sanctions

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 31, 2020

BEIJING Chinese tech giant Huawei said Tuesday its sales of smartphones and other products grew by double digits last year despite U.S. sanctions but warned it now faces a “more complicated” global environment. Huawei Technologies Ltd. is…

Trump extends virus guidelines, braces US for big death toll

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 30, 2020

WASHINGTON Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even…

Trump a rosy outlier on science of the virus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 29, 2020

WASHINGTON Groundless assurances keep coming from President Donald Trump, a rosy outlier on the science of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been that way since before the virus spread widely in the United States, when he supposed that the…

Trump: No quarantine, but travel advisory for NY, CT and NJ

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 29, 2020

NORFOLK, Va. President Donald Trump backed away from calling for a quarantine for coronavirus hotspots in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, instead directing Saturday night that a “strong Travel Advisory” be issued to stem the spread…

Not all or nothing: Anti-virus lockdowns could lift slowly

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 27, 2020

WASHINGTON For the millions of Americans living under some form of lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, not knowing when the restrictions will end is a major source of anxiety. Will life events — weddings, funerals, even just…

A defiant Maduro threatens ‘cowboy’ Trump after drug charge

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 27, 2020

MIAMI Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stood defiant in the face of a $15 million bounty by the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges, calling Donald Trump a “racist cowboy” and warning that he is ready to fight by whatever means…

Trump says feds developing new guidelines for virus risk

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 27, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump says that federal officials are developing guidelines to rate counties by risk of virus spread, as he aims to begin to ease nationwide guidelines meant to stem the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to the…

Trump struggles to adjust to crisis presidency

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has never been known for his patience or long attention span. Now, as the coronavirus crisis threatens his presidency, and upends his campaign for reelection, Trump is rapidly losing patience with the…

Testing blunders crippled US response as coronavirus spread

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2020

WASHINGTON A series of missteps at the nation’s top public health agency caused a critical shortage of reliable laboratory tests for the coronavirus, hobbling the federal response as the pandemic spread across the country like wildfire.…

Trump deploys National Guard to 3 states over COVID-19

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 23, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has activated the National Guard to help New York, California and Washington state in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, where more than 240 people alone have died…

Trump focuses attention on possible coronavirus treatments

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 20, 2020

President Donald Trump focused attention on possible treatments for the new coronavirus on Thursday, citing potential use of a drug long used to treat malaria and some other approaches still in testing. At a White House news conference,…

American attitudes make virus response a hard sell

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 18, 2020

When Americans are summoned to deal with an attack or defy overwhelming odds, the response typically goes something like this: Fight. Hold the line. Stand together. This won’t stop us. Keep on living your life. We will prevail. Some of the…

Governments grapple with virus border closures, lockdowns

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 18, 2020

BERLIN Governments around the globe grappled Wednesday with how to implement border closures, travel restrictions and lockdowns that have unleashed transportation chaos and imperiled economies, but which authorities say are needed to slow…

Coronavirus rocks already strained ties between US, China

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 18, 2020

WASHINGTON Badly strained ties between the United States and China are deteriorating further with the two sides hurling harsh accusations and bitter name-calling over responsibility for the spread of the novel coronavirus. The global…

US tells older people to stay home, all ages to avoid crowds

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 17, 2020

WASHINGTON Racing to stall an expected surge of coronavirus cases, the White House on Monday released a series of sweeping guidelines that for the next 15 days will temporarily rewrite the norms of American society. President Donald…

US moves nearer to shutdown amid coronavirus fears

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

CHICAGO Officials across the country curtailed many elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, with health officials recommending that groups of 50 or more don’t get together and a government expert saying a…

‘Bigger than any one of us’: Biden, Sanders take on pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

WASHINGTON Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders sought in Sunday’s Democratic debate to cast themselves as best-positioned to lead the nation through a global pandemic, uniting in their criticism of President Donald…

Trump, American exceptionalism and the virus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 14, 2020

WASHINGTON Americans normally hear from President Donald Trump when he is opining on Twitter, riffing from a rally stage or otherwise improvising. This past week was different as he sat in the Oval Office with a script laid out for him to…

Virus cases balloon around the world as China recovers

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 14, 2020

BEIJING As the rest of the world mobilized to fight the widening coronavirus pandemic on Saturday, China continued to ease up lockdown measures in its hardest-hit region, where the number of new cases has dwindled. The virus that first…

Nations employ drastic tactics to fight microscopic foe

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 13, 2020

MADRID, Spain Tens of millions of students stayed home on three continents, security forces went on standby to guard against large gatherings of people, and bars, restaurants and offices closed Friday to slow the spread of the coronavirus…

Impact of pandemic stretches from schools to world’s leaders

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 13, 2020

NEW YORK Schools shut down across much of Europe. Gatherings were canceled or banned from California to Germany. And the coronavirus reached directly into the world’s centers of power Thursday, with politicians in Canada, Brazil, Spain and…

Asian shares plunge after Wall Street’s worst day since ’87

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 13, 2020

NEW YORK Shares have plunged in Asia, with Japan’s benchmark sinking 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987. Markets worldwide have retreated as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus…

Sanders may have learned wrong lessons from 2016

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 12, 2020

Bernie Sanders pledged to harness the energy from his first campaign to turn out more voters in 2020. He would build a coalition of black, young and working-class voters who were energized by his transformative vision for America to build a…

Trump suspends travel from Europe to US for 30 days

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 12, 2020

WASHINGTON Taking drastic action Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced he is cutting off travel from Europe to the U.S. and moving to ease the economic cost of a viral pandemic that is roiling global financial markets and disrupting…

Trump, Saudi crown prince talk amid oil price war

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 10, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman on Monday amid a global oil price war started by the oil-rich Kingdom last weekend. "The President and the Crown Prince discussed global energy markets and other…

Trump has not been tested for coronavirus-White House

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 10, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump has not been tested for the coronavirus, the White House said on Monday, though at least two lawmakers with whom he has recently come into contact have announced they were self-quarantining after…

Trump’s rosy take on govt’s handling of virus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 9, 2020

WASHINGTON As the stock market convulses, airline schedules buckle and businesses worry their overseas supply lines will snap, President Donald Trump is looking on the sunny side of an economy clouded by the coronavirus. For weeks he’s…

Court blocks ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy on part of US border

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 5, 2020

SAN DIEGO In the latest twist on a key Trump administration immigration policy, a federal appeals court said it will prevent the government from making asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for U.S. court hearings starting next week unless the…

US senators demand intel body release Khashoggi info

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2020

WASHINGTON The bipartisan leaders of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee are demanding that the Trump administration disclose information about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a letter addressed to acting Director of…

Trump’s India Visit Was Aimed Against China but Produced No Results

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 27, 2020

During U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India on Monday and Tuesday, he was led to a packed cricket stadium with about 100,000 people in Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, the home of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although many…

Trump defends Modi, refuses to weigh in on citizenship law

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2020

NEW DELHI Defending the host who has showered him with pomp and pageantry, President Donald Trump refusedTuesday to speak out publicly against a controversial new Indian citizenship law pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that has…

New violence erupts in Indian capital over citizenship law

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2020

NEW DELHI New violence erupted in the Indian capital on Tuesday, a day after at least seven people, including a police officer, were killed and more than 100 others were reportedly injured in clashes between hundreds of supporters and…

Trump expresses optimism about eventual US-India trade deal

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2020

NEW DELHI President Donald Trump said Tuesday he’s optimistic about the prospects of inking a trade deal with India despite moves by both sides that created doubt about the ability to reach an agreement. Trump emerged from a pair of…

Trump’s India visit moves from pomp to trade, military talks

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2020

NEW DELHI President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India turned to substance Tuesday after opening with a heavy dose of pomp and pageantry, but few concrete accomplishments were expected from the whirlwind trip. Trump kicked off his…

Watch:Trump messes up while trying to pronounce Tendulkar, Kohli’s names

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

US President Donald Trump may have heaped praise on Indian cricketing stars Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli but he certainly doesn't know much about how their names are pronounced. The American president was speaking at a rally in…

Trump at India rally: US has a ‘very good’ relation with Pakistan, hopes for reduced…

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) India United States President Donald Trump on Monday said that the US had a very good relationship with Pakistan and that Washington was working with Islamabad in a very positive way. Trump made the comments while…

PM Modi, Donald Trump share at least 6 hugs during Ahmedabad events

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

New Delhi,India The chemistry between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump was evident once again on Monday as the two leaders shared hugs at least six times through the course of engagements in Ahmedabad.…

India’s unity an inspiration to the world: Donald Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) India United States President Donald Trump on Monday lauded India's diversity in his speech to a packed Motera stadium here and said the harmonious coexistence of millions of followers of various religions in the…

FACT CHECK: Trump’s tax fictions; Dem debate misfires

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

WASHINGTON In their boisterous presidential debate, several Democrats sold short the health care plans of rivals and Mike Bloomberg distorted his position on the “stop and frisk” police strategy when he was New York City mayor. In an…

Netanyahu banks on Trump plan to drive up pro-settler votes

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

ATERET, West Bank With Israel’s prime minister eager to court the votes of the country’s influential West Bank settlers, President Donald Trump’s Mideast plan seemed to be the key to ramping up their support ahead of critical elections…

U.S. President Donald Trump in India.See Best Pics

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they arrived in Ahmedabad this afternoon for a 36-hour visit to India. President Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared…

President Trump with PM Modi visit Sabarmati Ashram

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) India US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Monday reached Sabarmati Ashram for a brief stopover on their way to Motera Stadium from the Ahmedabad Airport. The first couple of US was accompanied by…

PM Modi welcomes President Trump to India with a hug

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) India Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the US President Donald Trump on Monday as he arrived in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on his first official visit to India in a bid to strengthen ties…

Trump, wife Melania land in Ahmedabad

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) India US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump landed in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Monday, shortly before 12 pm. The US President will participate in the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium in a short…

Crowds gather to greet Trump hours before he lands in India

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

AHMEDABAD, India Crowds were lining up outside a giant stadium in western India on Monday ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s first visit to the country during which t Trump lands in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Indian Prime Minister…

Sanders’ path has echoes of Trump’s 2016 campaign

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 23, 2020

A burn-it-down candidate is topping a splintered field of more moderate contenders and setting the party’s establishment wing on edge. It’s how Donald Trump began his unlikely march to the Republican nomination in 2016. And four years…

Trump’s India visit: Are Ahmedabad’s paan shops giving Modi a headache?

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 20, 2020

New Delhi,India As India gears up to host US President Donald Trump on his visit to the country, Ahmedabad's paan shops may be giving Modi headaches. It's not everyday that the American president comes to India. This is Trump's first ever…

Indian farmers threaten to burn Trump, Modi effigy

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 17, 2020

NEW DELHI, India Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India on Feb. 24-25, the Indian farmers' association in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday showed displeasure over a proposed India-U.S. trade…

Iran’s president: Trump doesn’t want war ahead of 2020 vote

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 16, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that he doesn’t believe the U.S. will pursue war with his country, because it will harm President Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection bid. Rouhani said that Trump knows that war with…

Trump: I’m number 1 on Facebook, Modi number 2

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 15, 2020

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday expressed happiness over the fact that he has more followers than any other political leader on Facebook, followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump made the remark in a tweet…

US senators request assessment on Kashmir issue

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 13, 2020

WASHINGTON Four U.S. senators asked the State Department on Wednesday to provide assessments on India's crackdown in Kashmir, weeks before President Donald Trump's visit to New Delhi. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike…

Stormy US-Europe relations as top officials head to Munich

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 13, 2020

WASHINGTON Some of President Donald Trump’s top foreign policy priorities stand at pivotal moments as two high-level national security officials head to an annual security forum in Germany. Strains in the trans-Atlantic relationship have…

Coronavirus fears continue to pressure global stock exchanges

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 11, 2020

NEW YORK Major US stock indices finished at fresh records Monday, shrugging off worries about the coronavirus that pressured other equity markets and drove oil prices lower. As the outbreak continued, Chinese President Xi Jinping donned a…

Trump acquitted by Senate in impeachment trial

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 6, 2020

President Donald Trump has been cleared in his impeachment trial, ending a congressional bid to oust him from office that bitterly divided the US. The Senate, run by the president’s fellow Republicans, voted to acquit him 52-48 on charges…

Muslim nations reject Trump’s Mideast plan in Saudi meeting

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 3, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Days after Gulf Arab states expressed their support for President Donald Trump’s efforts at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, representatives from these same countries and other Muslim nations gathered…

Iowa in Focus: Democrats open 2020 with hope, anxiety

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 3, 2020

Hopeful but also afraid. Uncertain but still focused. Iowa’s Democrats will arrive at their 2020 kickoff caucuses on Monday with a mix of emotions and one urgent mission: voting President Donald Trump out of office in November. For months,…

GOP sends message that Trump’s actions were OK

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 2, 2020

Republicans have decided it was OK. With their expected vote this coming week to acquit President Donald Trump of abusing power and obstructing Congress, GOP senators are giving their express approval to the conduct that landed Trump at…

Churches for Middle East Peace warns on US plan

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 30, 2020

Jose Kalathil NEW DELHI The plan presented on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and further fleshed out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is nothing less than a recipe for endless oppression and injustice, said Katie…

India calls for direct talks between Israel, Palestine

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 30, 2020

New Delhi India on Wednesday asked Israel and Palestine to engage with each other following the roll out of U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century”. In a statement, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that New Delhi has…

GOP squirms as Bolton prepares to dish on Trump White House

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 29, 2020

WASHINGTON For much of the last 20 years, John Bolton was a conservative poster child, a Republican hawk whose worldview helped shape the GOP establishment’s approach to dicey foreign policy questions. Now, as President Donald Trump’s…

Israel could clash with international court on settlements

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 29, 2020

JERUSALEM Emboldened by a supportive White House, Israel appears to be barreling toward a showdown with the international community over its half-century-old settlement enterprise in the West Bank. With the prosecutor of the International…

What’s in Trump’s Middle East plan

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 29, 2020

More than two years after he first proposed a plan to revive the long-moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process, US President Donald Trump released details on Tuesday of his proposal to solve a conflict that has frustrated peacemakers for…

‘Deal of Century’ and the plan to relocate Palestinians

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 28, 2020

The Israeli authorities have made it a tradition to bomb Gaza at least once a month. Most recently, their F-16 jets have bombed the south of Gaza under the pretense of retaliation. On the other hand, it goes without saying that Israel…

Trump to unveil Middle East peace plan to Israeli leaders this week

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 27, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to disclose details of his long-delayed Middle East peace proposal to Israeli leaders on Monday, as he attempts to generate some momentum toward resolving one of the world’s most…

Trump on lifting Iran sanctions: ‘No thanks!’

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 26, 2020

NEW YORK U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran's proposal to lift sanctions against Tehran Saturday. "Iranian Foreign Minister says Iran wants to negotiate with The United States, but wants sanctions removed. No Thanks!," Trump wrote…

Trump invites Netanyahu, rival as peace plan expected

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 24, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump invited Israel's Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief political rival to Washington next week, the White House said Thursday amid reports that Trump's peace plan would soon be revealed. Trump…

US may release Mideast peace plan before Tuesday: Trump

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 24, 2020

WASHINGTON The U.S. may release its long-awaited Middle East peace plan ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit next week, President Donald Trump said Thursday. "Sometime prior to that. Probably we’ll release it a…

US: Brazilian asylum-seekers to ‘remain in Mexico’

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 23, 2020

Brazilian asylum-seekers from the U.S. will remain in Mexico for the duration of their immigration cases, according to a report from BuzzFeed news. Two sources with knowledge of the matter told the news outlet Wednesday about an expansion…

Trump: US ready to ‘help’ in India-Pakistan Kashmir dispute

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 22, 2020

President Donald Trump said the United States was watching developments between India and Pakistan over Kashmir "very closely" and was prepared to help if necessary, but did not say how. Speaking ahead of talks with Pakistan Prime Minister…

Stage set for 50th edition of World Economic Forum

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2020

DAVOS, Switzerland Amid global upheavals such as the escalation in northwestern Idlib city of Syria, the ongoing civil war in Libya and a U.S.-Iran crisis, the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual gathering is set to begin on Jan. 21 in…

Trump team, House managers trade sharp views on impeachment

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 19, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s legal team issued a fiery response Saturday ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial, while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion, saying the president betrayed public trust…

A look at Europe’s Mideast presence after Iran’s warning

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran’s president said Wednesday that European troops in the Middle East “could be in danger” if their nations join the United States’ maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic that had led to a…

Dems strain for civility, contrasts burst through

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2020

WASHINGTON Electability questions persist. Anxieties about gender and sexism are resurgent. And three leading candidates are about to get yanked off the campaign trail for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Those deep…

Iran warns Europe as diplomat says officials ‘lied’ on crash

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran Iran’s president warned Wednesday that European soldiers in the Mideast “could be in danger” after three nations challenged Tehran over breaking the limits of its nuclear deal. Tehran’s top diplomat meanwhile acknowledged that…

Standoff in the Middle East

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

Cynics expressed that the latest salvo from President Trump that led to stealth assassination of an Iranian military leader in Baghdad was designed to divert attention from his impending impeachment trial in the US Senate. This usually is…

Key moments in the unraveling of Iran’s nuclear deal

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

The decision by European nations to trigger a dispute resolution mechanism in the Iran nuclear deal marks the latest step in the unraveling of the accord, which began when President Donald Trump walked away from the agreement and began…

Idea to dismiss articles of impeachment cools in Senate

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

WASHINGTON Senate Republicans signaled they would reject the idea of simply voting to dismiss the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump as the House prepares to send the charges to the chamber for the historic trial. “I…

US officials cite deterrence to defend lethal drone strike

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

WASHINGTON For all of the Trump administration’s insistence that the threat of an “imminent” attack led to the American drone strike on Iran’s top general, U.S. officials behind the scenes say the strike was motivated as much, if not more,…

Russians hacked company key to Ukraine scandal: researchers

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

BOSTON A U.S. cybersecurity company says Russian military agents successfully hacked the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the scandal that led to President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Russian agents launched a phishing campaign in…

Trump’s fate rests with McConnell in impeachment trial

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump needs Mitch McConnell more than ever. With Trump finally facing his impeachment trial, this promises to be a defining moment for both men, They started their relationship unevenly three years ago when…

Iran dismisses Trump’s tweeted support for Iranians: state media

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2020

LONDON Iran’s government spokesman dismissed on Monday tweets by U.S. President Donald Trump voicing support for Iranians, saying the Iranian people would remember he killed a top general and was the reason many were facing economic…

Asian stocks rise ahead of US-China trade pact

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rose Monday ahead of the signing of a U.S.-Chinese trade pact as investors shrugged off weaker-than-expected American jobs data. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and South Korea advanced. Japanese markets were…

‘Fail Not:’ What to watch ahead of Trump’s Senate trial

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2020

WASHINGTON Hear ye, hear ye: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is hitting the send button on President Donald Trump’s impeachment. That’s after she paused the whole constitutional matter, producing a three-week standoff with Senate Majority…

FACT CHECK: Trump says Pelosi, Dems defended Iran general

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on the impeachment investigation and Democrats’ stance on Iran strained the truth on various fronts, from claiming that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended Iranian Gen. Qassem…

How a debunked Ukraine theory endures against all evidence

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 12, 2020

The theory took root in vague form well before Donald Trump laid claim to the White House in 2016. The candidate’s close confidant tweeted about it. His campaign chairman apparently spoke about it with people close to him. What if, the…

Trump backs Iranian anti-government protestors

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 12, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump threw his support Saturday behind Iranian anti-government protestors after Tehran's unintentional downing of a Ukraine plane. "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since…

Trump sends North Korea’s Kim birthday wishes

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

SEOUL U.S. President Donald Trump sent a happy birthday message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea’s national security adviser Chung Eui-Yong said on Friday. Chung, who met Trump in Washington this week, told reporters that…

Crash may be grim echo of US downing of Iran flight in 1988

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The Western allegation that Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner and killed 176 people offers a grim echo for the Islamic Republic, which found itself the victim of an accidental shootdown by American forces over…

Pelosi’s delay tests public opinion on impeachment

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

WASHINGTON Democrats know they don’t have the votes to convict President Donald Trump when the Senate convenes as the Court of Impeachment. So they are pursuing the case in the court of public opinion. It became a defining moment, one…

Trump turns to those he has scorned for help on Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

WASHINGTON As tensions fester with Iran, President Donald Trump finds himself turning to the very people and entities he’s spent three years dismissing or alienating: NATO, Western allies and U.S. intelligence agencies. Trump, who once…

Asian shares rise after US stocks set records as fears fade

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares rose Friday as worries receded the United States and Iran might be stepping closer to the edge of war, and U.S. indexes hit records. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% in morning trading to 23,776.09.…

Statue mocking Donald Trump torched in Slovenia

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia A wooden statue mocking U.S. President Donald Trump was burned to the ground Thursday in Slovenia, the birthplace of his wife Melania, authorities said. The nearly eight-meter (26-foot) high construction, erected last…

Risky Gulf Arab strategy tested by killing of Iran general

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirate U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf have loudly pushed for hawkish policies by Washington to pressure, isolate and cripple Iran, but this high-stakes strategy is now being put to the test by the unexpected U.S.…

Asian stocks, oil prices rebound as Iran anxiety eases

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rebounded Thursday as anxiety over potential U.S.-Iranian conflict eased. Tokyo’s benchmark gained more than 2%. Shanghai, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia markets also advanced. Markets sank after Tehran…

Trump changes terms of 2020 race with Iran turmoil

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

The election was always going to be about Donald Trump. But over the span of a few days, the yearslong focus on the Republican president’s performance on the economy, health care and immigration has been overtaken by an urgent debate over…

UK PM Johnson calls suggestions he is soft on Trump ‘absolute fiction’

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson shrugged off suggestions on Wednesday that he would fall into line with the United States over its Middle East policy because he wanted a trade deal after Brexit. “This is absolute fiction,” he…

Trump to address the nation amid showdown with Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump faces one of the greatest tests of his presidency after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops and plans to address the nation on Wednesday. Iran’s attack was its most brazen…

Trump Threatens “Very Big Sanctions” on Iraq “Like They’ve Never Seen”

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

Following a vote by the Iraqi parliament to remove foreign troops from the nation, the US president threatened to destroy Iraq’s economy in retaliation and to refuse to leave unless an expensive military base worth billions of dollars was…

Oil up, stocks down after Iran missile attack on US troops

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

BEIJING Oil prices rose and Asian stock markets fell Wednesday after Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian general. Brent crude futures, the benchmark for international oils, spiked more…

Trump insists ‘All is well!’ after Iran missile attack

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump insisted “All is well!” on Tuesday after Iran fired surface-to-surface missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. He promised to make a statement to the nation Wednesday morning about the…

Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at bases in Iraq

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran: Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing a top Revolutionary Guards commander, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American troops in a major escalation between…

What impact will Soleimani killing have on US election?

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2020

One perhaps unintended consequence of the assassination of Iranian military supremo Qassem Soleimani by the US is that it fundamentally alters the nature of the US presidential election this November. Conventional wisdom is that by all but…

US B-52s head to Indian Ocean amid Iran tension

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2020

The U.S. is planning to deploy six B-52 strategic bomber aircraft to a base in the Indian Ocean amid heightened tension with Iran, according to a media report. Citing a U.S. official, CNN claimed Monday that the B-52s will be available for…

India, US have grown from strength to strength: PM Modi tells Trump on phone

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2020

New Delhi Ties between India and the United States have grown from strength to strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Donald Trump during a telephonic conversation and expressed his desire to continue to work with the US President for…

US prepares for possible Iranian reprisal after drone strike

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 7, 2020

WASHINGTON U.S. officials braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, noting heightened military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible “tit-for-tat” attempt on the life of an American military…

Trump warns Iraq of sanctions if US forces expelled

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2020

If the Iraqi government forces the removal of U.S. forces, Baghdad will face “sanctions like they’ve never seen before,” President Donald Trump said Sunday. Trump said the prospective economic penalties would far outweigh the crippling…

Trump warns of sanctions if Iraq tries to expel U.S. troops

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump insists that Iranian cultural sites are fair game for the U.S. military, dismissing concerns within his own administration that doing so could constitute a war crime under international law. He also warned…

Daughter of slain Iran general warns families of US troops

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2020

EHRAN, Iran An Iranian general who replaced the leader killed by a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad vowed in remarks aired Monday to take revenge as Tehran abandoned the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in response to…

Asian markets slide on alarm over Mideast tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2020

BANGKOK: Shares skidded in Asia on Monday, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index down 2% on concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East following the killing by a U.S. air strike of an Iranian general. Shares also fell in most other Asian…

Pompeo: US military would only hit lawful targets in Iran

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2020

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that any target the U.S. military may strike in Iran, in the event Iran retaliates against America for killing its most powerful general, would be legal under the laws of armed…

White House gives lawmakers formal notice of Iraq strike amid complaints from Democrats

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2020

WASHINGTON The White House sent to Congress on Saturday formal notification of Friday’s U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, amid complaints from Democrats that President Donald Trump did not notify lawmakers or seek…

Soleimani’s body arrives in Iran as Trump issues new threats

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran: The body of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike, arrived Sunday in Iran to throngs of mourners, as President Donald Trump threatened to bomb 52 sites in the Islamic Republic if Tehran retaliates by…

Trump says 52 targets already lined up if Iran retaliates

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 5, 2020

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Saturday, threatening to hit dozens of targets in the Islamic Republic “very fast and very hard” if it retaliates for the targeted killing of the head of Iran’s…

Trump: Aim of killing Iranian general was to ‘stop a war’

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 4, 2020

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered the killing of a top Iranian general “to stop a war,” not start one, but in the tense aftermath the Pentagon braced for retaliation by sending more troops to the Middle East.…

Thousands in Baghdad mourn Iranian general killed by US

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 4, 2020

BAGHDAD: Thousands of mourners chanting “America is the Great Satan” marched in a funeral procession Saturday through Baghdad for Iran’s top general and Iraqi militant leaders, who were killed in a U.S. airstrike. Gen. Qassem Soleimani,…

Iran vows ‘harsh’ response to US killing of top general

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 3, 2020

BAGHDAD: Iran has vowed “harsh retaliation” for a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad’s airport that killed Tehran’s top general and the architect of its interventions across the Middle East, as tensions soared in the wake of the targeted…

North Korea begins key meeting before year-end deadline for US

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 29, 2019

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea has opened a high-profile political conference to discuss how to overcome “harsh trials and difficulties,” state media reported Sunday, days before a year-end deadline set by Pyongyang for Washington to make…

Trump invites Britain’s Johnson to the White House in new year: Sunday Times

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 22, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper reported. The report added that Trump’s invitation to Johnson was made after…