Agencies
Athens, Nov 16: Globalisation has brought many economic benefits to the world but needs a “course correction” to address growing inequality, US President Barack Obama said Wednesday on his European farewell tour. Obama spoke during a visit originally planned as a valedictory lap, but which has become focused on reassuring jittery allies after the shock election victory by Donald Trump, a staunch critic of free trade agreements. “The global path of globalisation demands a course correction,” Obama said in an eagerly-awaited speech in Athens, before continuing his journey to Berlin. “When we see people, global elites, wealthy corporations seemingly living by a different set of rules, avoiding taxes, manipulating loopholes… this feeds a profound sense of injustice,” he added.
During the trip, the outgoing President has repeatedly referred to the anger that lately brought success to populist movements in Europe and the United States, such as the Brexit referendum and Trump’s shock victory last week. In comments Tuesday, Obama cautioned the world must guard against “a rise in a crude sort of nationalism or ethnic identity or tribalism that is built around an ‘us’ and a ‘them'”. European governments, especially eastern countries close to Russia’s orbit, have been shaken after Trump appeared to call into question Washington’s near 70-year security guarantee by saying he would only help NATO allies if they paid their way.
While Obama has generally been welcomed in Greece, there were some who came out into the streets in protest.
AFP
Trump denies transition disarray
Washington: Amid reports of disarray in his team, US President-elect Donald Trump has defended his handling of the transition to the White House. Trump said in a tweet Tuesday that the process of selecting his new Cabinet and other positions was “very organised”. According to the US media, two senior members of the transition team working on national security have been forced out. He replaced New Jersey Governor Chris Christie with Vice-President-elect Mike Pence as head of the transition team, BBC reported.
Mayor quits after racist post
Washington: The mayor of Clay in West Virginia has resigned and another county official is out following their exchange over a racist Facebook post that compared first lady Michelle Obama to an “ape in heels”. The county employee Pamela Taylor worked as director of the Clay County Development Corporation and wrote on Facebook: “It will be so refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady back in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a (sic) Ape in heels.”
According to CNN, Mayor Beverly Whaling commented on the post saying: “Just made my day Pam.” Clay county Commissioner Greg Fitzwater confirmed to CNN that Whaling resigned, but did not know if Taylor was terminated or quit her post.
Hijab ripped off
Chicago: A Muslim student’s hijab was allegedly ripped off and her hair pulled down by a classmate at a school in Minnesota, the latest in a series of assaults and threats reported against headscarf-wearing women in the US following Donald Trump’s win. The incident took place at Northdale Middle School in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, prompting Anoka-Hennepin School District to launch an investigation into what Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling an assault.