US mayor quits over racist post on First Lady
WASHINGTON • A mayor from West Virginia has resigned amid a furore over a racist Facebook post that described First Lady Michelle Obama as an "ape in heels", United States media said.
Ms Beverly Whaling, the mayor of the tiny town of Clay, had appeared to applaud the incendiary comment.
Clay County Development Corp director Pamela Ramsey had reportedly posted after Mr Donald Trump's election win: "It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels."
Mayor Whaling responded: "Just made my day Pam."
The comments were later deleted and both women's Facebook pages were taken offline.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Ivanka 'hawks' bracelet worn for dad's interview
NEW YORK • A US$10,000 (S$14,000) gold bracelet worn by Ms Ivanka Trump for her father's television interview, followed the next day by a message promoting the jewellery, has led to a mini-scandal.
It started with a "style alert" e-mail sent on Monday by Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry to fashion journalists around the world. The message, designed to highlight the upscale brand, featured a gold and diamond bracelet from her company's "Metropolis" collection, with the cost ranging above US$10,000. The e-mail quickly spread on social media, raising a storm of criticism as some saw it as blurring the lines between business and politics as Mr Donald Trump prepares to take office on Jan 20.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Trump's climate views may change, says Kerry
MARRAKESH (Morocco) • US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a speech yesterday at an international climate conference that he could not speculate on President-elect Donald Trump's climate policies, but that his views might change when he is in office.
Mr Trump has called climate change a hoax, and said he would rip up the 2015 Paris deal, halt any US taxpayer funds for United Nations global warming programmes, and revive the US coal sector.
More than 360 mostly American companies and investors, including a dozen Fortune 500 firms, yesterday called on Mr Trump to uphold the 196-nation Paris climate pact.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
