‘Theatre of the absurd’? World powers trade insults over rights abuses in Iran, North Korea

‘Theatre of the absurd’? World powers trade insults over rights abuses in Iran, North Korea

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — A key UN Committee has condemned Iran’s widespread use of the death penalty and has urged the Islamic Republic to eliminate “all discrimination and rights violations against women and girls.” In a separate resolution, the Third Committee roundly chastised North Korea’s grave human rights situation […]

China role seen in military’s sidelining of Zimbabwe’s Mugabe

China role seen in military’s sidelining of Zimbabwe’s Mugabe

by WorldTribune Staff, November 17, 2017 Zimbabwe’s military seized control and placed 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe under house arrest just days after the army’s commander had met with senior Chinese military leaders, a report said. Observers have speculated that Constantino Chiwenga visited China to seek Beijing’s approval for a possible move against Mugabe, CNN reported […]

One week after Trump summit, China’s Xi Jinping sends envoy to N. Korea

One week after Trump summit, China’s Xi Jinping sends envoy to N. Korea

by WorldTribune Staff, November 15, 2017 Chinese President Xi Jinping this week plans to dispatch an envoy to North Korea amid frayed relations between the communist allies. Song Tao, the head of the international department at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), will visit Pyongyang on Nov. 17, one week after […]

VOA set to fire three employees for helping billionaire Chinese dissident expose CCP secrets

VOA set to fire three employees for helping billionaire Chinese dissident expose CCP secrets

by WorldTribune Staff, November 15, 2017 Three employees at Voice of America (VOA) said the government radio broadcaster is seeking their dismissals for insubordination following their interview with Chinese dissident Guo Wengui. The three workers, Sasha Gong, Fred Wang, and Robert Li, were notified in letters Nov. 3 that VOA planned to fire them allegedly […]

Freedom House: Governments’ increasing use of social media undermining democracy

Freedom House: Governments’ increasing use of social media undermining democracy

by WorldTribune Staff, November 14, 2017 Governments in 30 countries manipulated information on social media in an effort to advance their agendas and suppress dissent, a U.S.-based rights group said in its annual report on Internet freedom. “Paid commentators, trolls, bots, false news sites, and propaganda outlets were among the techniques used by leaders to […]

‘Donald the Strong’: Average Chinese take a liking to Trump

‘Donald the Strong’: Average Chinese take a liking to Trump

by WorldTribune Staff, November 13, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump’s straight-talking political style and deal-making ability have won him a legion of new admirers in China. His Chinese fans refer to him as “Uncle Trump,” “Grand Commander” and “Donald the Strong.” After Trump’s visit to the Forbidden City last week with President Xi Jinping, one […]

He wrote the book: Trump offers South China Sea deal

He wrote the book: Trump offers South China Sea deal

by WorldTribune Staff, November 12, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump, author of the bestseller “Art of the Deal”, offered his assistance in the dispute over China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. “I know we’ve had a dispute for quite a while with China. If I can help in any way, I’m a very […]

Trump concluded 37 trade deals in China, pressed Xi on drug linked to opioid crisis

Trump concluded 37 trade deals in China, pressed Xi on drug linked to opioid crisis

by WorldTribune Staff, November 10, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his first trip to China by concluding dozens of major trade deals between American and Chinese firms and pressing Chinese President Xi Jinping to curb exports of a drug that contributed to 20,000 U.S. opioid overdose deaths last year. The U.S. Commerce Department […]

In blow to U.S. alliance, South Korea’s foreign minister assures China on THAAD, Japan ties

In blow to U.S. alliance, South Korea’s foreign minister assures China on THAAD, Japan ties

by WorldTribune Staff, November 10, 2017 South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha, in a bow to China, has said Seoul will not seek any more deployments of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system. Kang also assured that the South will not join the U.S. missile defense networks nor seek a trilateral alliance involving Japan, Yonhap […]

Disunited front in Beijing: Corruption czar toppled, Xi rises, dissident silenced

Disunited front in Beijing: Corruption czar toppled, Xi rises, dissident silenced

The state media in Beijing contrasts “stability” in communist China with the political “chaos” across the Pacific in the U.S. Behind the elaborate staging for President Trump’s visit, a vicious power struggle has broken out into the open, held in check only by the censoring of a wealthy, well-informed dissident who could only be silenced […]