Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | African Union head Moussa Faki Mahamat on Monday criticised member states for a lack of solidarity shown to nations on the continent who are facing famine and drought. His comments came as heads of state gathered at the union’s headquarters in the Ethiopian …
Read More »Modi set to become first Indian PM to visit Israel
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel when he arrives on Tuesday, the result of growing ties that have led to billions of dollars in defence deals. Israel, in constant search of allies to vote in its favour at UN bodies as …
Read More »Key demands for resolving Qatar crisis
Doha, Qatar | AFP | A deadline was approaching Sunday for Qatar to accept 13 demands by several Arab states in return for lifting a de facto blockade. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, cut ties with Qatar on June 5 and issued their demands on June …
Read More »Macron in Mali for diplomatic push on Sahel anti-jihad force
Bamako, Mali | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mali on Sunday to consolidate Western backing for a regional anti-jihadist force, with France urging greater support for the Sahel region amid mounting insecurity. The so-called “G5 Sahel” countries just south of the Sahara — Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, …
Read More »Trump declares ‘patience is over’ with North Korea
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump declared that the US had run out of patience with North Korea over its nuclear drive Friday as he welcomed South Korea’s new leader Moon Jae-In to talks at the White House. While Moon has been arguing for greater engagement …
Read More »Saudis stand tough as top Gulf diplomats in US for Qatar talks
Washington, United States | AFP | Top Gulf diplomats were in Washington Tuesday as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought to help resolve the stubborn Qatar crisis, amid concerns that Saudi Arabia’s unyielding stance could foil the effort. With a one-week Saudi deadline looming for Qatar to meet …
Read More »Bromance as Trump and Modi hail friendship at first talks
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced each other as friends and partners Monday, pledging their quest for economic growth would strengthen rather than undermine ties between the world’s two largest democracies. While Trump’s relations with some traditional allies had …
Read More »Trump says North Korea threat must be ‘dealt with rapidly’
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump called on Monday for the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic programs to be “rapidly” tackled, as he thanked visiting Indian leader Narendra Modi for rallying behind sanctions on Pyongyang. “The North Korean regime is causing tremendous problems and …
Read More »South Koreans march to protest US missile defence system
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Thousands of protesters marched near the US embassy in Seoul on Saturday, accusing President Donald Trump of “forcing” South Korea to deploy a controversial American missile defence system opposed by China. The protest came as South Korea’s new president Moon Jae-In heads to Washington …
Read More »Ghana court rules transfer of ex-Guantanamo detainees unconstitutional
Accra, Ghana | AFP | Ghana’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the transfer of two former Guantanamo Bay detainees to the country was unconstitutional without parliamentary approval. Ghana had signed an agreement with the US government in January 2016 allowing the two ex-Guantanamo prisoners to live in the country. …
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