Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea said Wednesday that it is considering strikes near US strategic military installations in Guam with its intermediate range ballistic missiles, state news agency KCNA reported. The threat came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened Pyongyang with “fire and fury” over its missile …
Read More »UN sees early warning signs of genocide in C. Africa
United Nations, United States | AFP | Renewed clashes in the Central African Republic are early warning signs of genocide, the UN aid chief said Monday, calling for more troops and police to beef up the UN peacekeeping mission in the strife-torn country. Some 180,000 people have been driven from their …
Read More »US and China pressure North Korea after sanctions vote
Manila, Philippines | AFP | The United States and China piled pressure on North Korea Sunday to abandon its nuclear missile programme after the UN Security Council approved tough sanctions which could cost Pyongyang $1 billion a year. One day after Council members voted unanimously for a partial ban on exports …
Read More »China scores diplomatic coup in sea row
Manila, Philippines | AFP | China on Sunday scored a diplomatic coup in its campaign to weaken regional resistance against its sweeping claims to the South China Sea when Southeast Asian nations issued a diluted statement on the dispute and agreed to Beijing’s terms on talks. After two days of …
Read More »UN toughens sanctions on North Korea
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously backed a US-drafted resolution that significantly strengthened sanctions on North Korea, imposing a ban on exports aimed at depriving Pyongyang of $1 billion in annual revenue. The sweeping measures were the first of that scope to be …
Read More »Sudanese leader Bashir, wanted by ICC, arrives in Morocco
Rabat, Morocco | AFP | Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, wanted on genocide charges by the International Criminal Court, arrived in Morocco late Thursday for a “private” visit. Bashir arrived at Tangiers airport, accompanied by ministers and other senior Sudanese officials, according to the Le360 news site, considered close to circles in …
Read More »Angry Trump says Russia ties at ‘very dangerous low’
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump claimed relations with Russia had hit an all-time and “very dangerous” low Thursday, putting the blame on Congress after he reluctantly approved sanctions against Moscow. After Moscow called the sanctions a declaration of “economic war” that had exposed the …
Read More »Gambia revokes diplomatic passports of ex-leader Jammeh and family
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia has revoked the diplomatic passports of ex-leader Yahya Jammeh and his associates, the foreign ministry said Thursday, as the new government pursues former regime figures it believes embezzled state funds. Jammeh plundered an estimated $50 million before leaving for exile in Equatorial Guinea …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Qatar hits back at rivals with Neymar soft power play
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | With the anticipated transfer of football phenomenon Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, Qatar is hitting back at its Gulf rivals with a high-profile soft power play. Paris Saint-Germain — owned by sanctions-hit Qatar — are poised to sign Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona …
Read More »Russia says US sanctions ‘dangerous’ and ‘short-sighted’
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that new US sanctions, signed into law by President Donald Trump, are a “dangerous” and “short-sighted” policy. In a statement, the ministry said the sanctions against Russia had put global stability at risk, a matter Moscow said it and the United …
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