Current World Issues: What's Going On

Trump adviser George Papadopoulos lied about Russian links By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington An election campaign adviser to Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. George Papadopoulos admitted the talks happened while he worked for Mr Trump, not before, court papers show. He said he had been told the Russians possessed "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. Separately, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering unrelated to the 2016 election. The charges against Mr Papadopoulos are the first to be brought by Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating alleged links between Russia and the Trump campaign. How does the Papadopoulos case affect Trump? It has the potential to damage the US leader because it relates directly to his campaign, analysts say. Mr Papadopoulos - a Chicago-based international energy lawyer - was close e...

Xi Jinping 'most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong' The unanimous vote to incorporate "Xi Jinping Thought" happened at the end of the Communist Party congress, China's most important political meeting. Mr Xi has steadily increased his grip on power since becoming leader in 2012. This move means that any challenge to Mr Xi will now be seen as a threat to Communist Party rule. More than 2,000 delegates gathered in Beijing's Great Hall of the People for the final approval process to enshrine "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era" into the Communist Party constitution of China. At the end of the process, delegates were asked if they had any objections, to which they responded with loud cries of "none", reported journalists at the scene. Skip Twitter post by @nvanderklippe Xi Jinping: Please raise your hands if you disagree (to work report). The shouts of “meiyou!” ring...

Sebastian Kurz: Austrian conservative set to become world's youngest leader Austria's conservative People's Party, led by 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, is set to win the country's general election, projections suggest. Mr Kurz is on course to become the world's youngest national leader. The People's Party was set to win more than 31%. It is so far unclear whether the Social Democrats or the far-right Freedom Party will finish second. Short of a majority, Mr Kurz's party could seek an alliance with the anti-immigration Freedom Party. Addressing his supporters, Mr Kurz said: "It is time for change in this country. Today is a strong order for us, to change this country, and I say thank you to you all who made this possible. "I'm overwhelmed, I am happy, and I look forward to working for Austria." Who is Sebastian Kurz? Before the election, Mr Kurz served as Europe's youngest-ever foreign minister, after he was appointed ...