Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba | AFP | The controversial Guantanamo Bay prison still houses 40 aging inmates — and with no plans to close it, many of them will probably remain there until they die. The population still imprisoned at the military base in Cuba range from middle-aged to …
Read More »Saudi Arabia admits critic Khashoggi killed in Istanbul consulate
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia admitted on Saturday that critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its Istanbul consulate, saying he died during a “brawl”, an explanation that President Donald Trump called credible but drew scepticism from top US lawmakers. Riyadh announced the arrest of 18 Saudis in …
Read More »Migration over US-Mexico border ‘reaching moment of crisis’: Pompeo
Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that illegal migration across the US-Mexican border is near crisis levels, as a caravan of Honduran migrants prepared to enter Mexico bound for the United States. “President (Donald) Trump’s been clear about the largest issue we face …
Read More »Royals Harry and Meghan go barefoot on Bondi
Sydney, Australia | AFP | British royals Harry and Meghan kicked off their shoes and donned tropical garlands Friday as they hit Sydney’s famed Bondi beach for the latest stop on their Australian tour. Expectant Meghan put on a summer dress and set aside her high heels, while Harry ditched …
Read More »US opens federal investigation into Catholic Church abuse
New York, United States | AFP | The US has for the first time opened a federal investigation into abuse committed by Catholic clergy, issuing a subpoena to dioceses in Pennsylvania two months after the publication of a report on decades of sexual abuse in the state. The Archdiocese of …
Read More »Putin says US bears some responsibility for Khashoggi disappearance
Sochi, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the US bears a “certain responsibility” for the fate of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, adding that there is not enough evidence that Riyadh is behind his disappearance. “As far as I know, the journalist that disappeared lived in …
Read More »Pope ready to visit Pyongyang if invited: S.Korea’s Moon
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis is ready to visit North Korea if its leader Kim Jong Un extends a formal invitation, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday after meeting the pontiff. Moon briefed the pontiff about his visit to Pyongyang in September when Kim …
Read More »Is Africa starting to choke on China’s lending glut?
Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | It was a time for smiles and handshakes as the delegations from Sierra Leone and China Exim Bank sealed a loan to provide the impoverished West African state with a new airport. Just months later, the much-trumpeted Mamamah International Airport scheme, estimated to cost …
Read More »Harry and pregnant Meghan get baby gifts, meet koalas Down Under
Sydney, Australia | AFP | British royals Harry and Meghan received baby gifts, met a koala couple and posed in front of Sydney’s dazzling Opera House Tuesday, on their first public outing since announcing they are to become parents. The happy prince and his US-born wife laughed as they were …
Read More »King steps in as Riyadh defends itself in Khashoggi case
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Saudi King Salman has begun weighing in to try to defuse the growing crisis over missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the kingdom goes on the offensive triggering a fierce online media campaign. In a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday, …
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