Beijing, China | AFP | China opened its Silk Road summit Sunday to showcase its ambitious plans to revive ancient trade routes from Asia to Europe and Africa. President Xi Jinping hailed the initiative for a massive network of rail and maritime links — dubbed One Belt, One Road — …
Read More »US envoy to Qatar says news from home ‘increasingly difficult’
Doha, Qatar | AFP | The US ambassador to Qatar has expressed her dissatisfaction with political events back home in a decidedly undiplomatic message posted on social media. Dana Shell Smith, who has been the American envoy to the Gulf emirate since 2014, took to Twitter in the hours after the …
Read More »Trump wants ‘mutually beneficial’ relations with Russia: Lavrov
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump is seeking “mutually beneficial” and “pragmatic” relations with Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday after meeting the US leader in the White House. “President Trump clearly confirmed his interest in building mutually beneficial, business-like pragmatic relations,” Lavrov …
Read More »Climate: China’s Xi talks tough as US hesitation frustrates talks
US, China must ‘lead the way’ on climate: Obama Bonn, Germany | AFP | UN climate negotiators in Bonn were left frustrated Tuesday as the White House postponed a meeting to determine whether America will stay in the 196-nation Paris Agreement to curb planet-harming fossil fuel. As uncertainty mounted over …
Read More »Now, China says it tested new missile in northeastern sea
Beijing, China | AFP | China has recently tested a new type of guided missile in a northeastern sea near the Korean peninsula, the defence ministry said Tuesday, hours after South Korean elections and amid regional tensions. The test in the Bohai Sea was conducted to “raise the operational capability …
Read More »North Korea congratulates France’s Macron for election victory
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea on Tuesday congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his victory in the French presidential election, expressing hopes that the new leader will achieve “development and prosperity”. France has no formal diplomatic relations with the nuclear-armed North. The message was sent by North Korea’s ceremonial …
Read More »Pope Francis to receive Donald Trump on May 24: Vatican
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis will receive US President Donald Trump at the Vatican on May 24, the Holy See said Thursday, ahead of a G7 summit meeting in Sicily. Trump’s audience with Francis in the morning will be followed by meetings with his Secretary of …
Read More »Ayebare reports to New York, presents credential to UN’s Guterres
Ambassador Adonia Ayebare has presented credentials to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Ayebare, who has been Senior Adviser Peace and Security at the African Union Permanent Observer Mission at UN, is now Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda at the United Nations in New York. At the brief ceremony, Guterres …
Read More »China demands immediate halt to US missile shield in South Korea
Beijing, China | AFP | China called Tuesday for the immediate suspension of a controversial missile defence system hours after Washington confirmed the shield was now operational in South Korea. “China’s position is clear-cut and firm. We oppose the deployment of the THAAD system in (South Korea) and urge relevant …
Read More »Trump to have a chat with Putin today
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump will speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by telephone Tuesday, the White House said in a statement. There was no indication about the topics of discussion for the two leaders. The call was scheduled for 12:30 pm (1630 GMT). Trump …
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