Gangneung, South Korea | AFP | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the South’s President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang Saturday, Seoul said, even as the US warned against falling for Pyongyang’s Olympic charm offensive. The invitation, delivered by Kim’s visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim …
Read More »UN chief urges dialogue in talks with N. Korea ceremonial leader
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged North Korea’s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam to engage in dialogue on ending the nuclear crisis during a brief exchange in South Korea, a UN spokesman said Friday. Kim and Guterres attended a dinner ahead of the …
Read More »UN agrees sanctioned N.Korea official to attend Olympics
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Thursday gave permission for a North Korean official under international sanctions to travel to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics along with Kim Jong Un’s sister, diplomats said. South Korea presented on Wednesday a request to the council’s sanctions committee …
Read More »Nigeria’s president warns Togo about political instability
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned about the dangers of political unrest as he met the new envoy from Togo, where there has been a wave of anti-government protests. Buhari did not specifically mention Togo as he received the newly appointed ambassador, Lene Dimban, …
Read More »US to unveil ‘toughest sanctions ever’ on N. Korea: Pence
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Washington will soon unveil its “toughest and most aggressive sanctions” ever against North Korea, US Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday after talks with Japan’s prime minister in Tokyo. He also warned that North Korea, which will participate in this month’s Winter Olympics as part …
Read More »UN chief takes aim at Burundi leader’s bid to extend rule
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is sharply criticizing a bid by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza to make changes to the constitution that could see him hold onto power for another decade or more, according to a report obtained by AFP on Tuesday. Guterres said …
Read More »Britain hits back at Trump over attack on healthcare system
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain reacted angrily on Monday to a tweet from US President Donald Trump attacking its public healthcare system in the latest spat to strain US-UK ties, casting further doubt on his possible visit to London. “The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands …
Read More »DR Congo tells Brussels Airlines to cut flights as tensions spiral
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday told Brussels Airlines to reduce by nearly half the number of its weekly flights to Kinshasa, in a ramping up of tensions with its former colonial power Belgium. The move comes after Belgian and EU officials condemned a …
Read More »Trump and Tillerson: Who speaks for America?
Bariloche, Argentina | AFP | President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were both addressing drug smuggling and immigration across the southern US border. But their stark difference in tone during separate Friday meetings underlined a divide that has some asking: “Who speaks for America?” Trump was in Virginia, …
Read More »Turkey says Assad must go ‘at some point’
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Turkey on Saturday said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should leave office “at some point” in the future but denied there was any kind of contact between Ankara and Damascus over ending the seven year civil war. Ankara has been a prime foe of Assad throughout …
Read More »