Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would halt nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, in a Saturday announcement welcomed by US President Donald Trump ahead of a much-anticipated summit between the two men. Pyongyang’s declaration, long sought by Washington, will be seen …
Read More »Cinema makes return to Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia hosted its first public film screening in over 35 years on Friday, two days after US movie giant AMC unveiled the kingdom’s debut theatre in Riyadh. Clutching prized tickets for the sold-out showing of Hollywood blockbuster action film “Black Panther”, men …
Read More »Commonwealth backs Prince Charles as next head
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Commonwealth leaders agreed Friday that Prince Charles should follow his mother Queen Elizabeth II as the next head of the group at the close of a summit overshadowed by a row over Britain’s treatment of Caribbean immigrants. “The next Head of the Commonwealth shall …
Read More »NATO moves from Cold War bunker to glass and steel palace
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | With its futuristic curved roof, gleaming walls of glass and steel and host of eco-friendly features, NATO’s new billion-euro Brussels headquarters is a world away from the drab, low-slung warren of offices reeking of Cold War intrigue that it replaces. The alliance is almost halfway through …
Read More »IMF’s Lagarde warns against harming trade, investment
Washington, United States | AFP | With US-China frictions hanging over its annual meeting, the International Monetary Fund on Thursday warned governments to avoid harming trade and investment which have been key drivers of the global economic recovery. IMF chief Christine Lagarde said escalating trade tensions could reverberate through the world …
Read More »Assad still has ‘limited’ chemical capability: Pentagon
Washington, United States | AFP | The Syrian regime remains able to conduct chemical attacks, though only at a limited level, the Pentagon said Thursday following last week’s international cruise missile strikes on chemical targets. General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the US military’s Joint Staff, said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime …
Read More »Muslim woman who refused handshake denied French citizenship
Paris, France | AFP | France’s highest administrative court has upheld a decision to deny a French passport to an Algerian Muslim who refused to shake hands with officials during her citizenship ceremony, according to a ruling seen by AFP Thursday. The woman argued that her “religious beliefs” prevented her from …
Read More »Queen champions Charles as next Commonwealth chief
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday openly voiced her wish for her son Prince Charles to succeed her as head of the Commonwealth as she opened the group’s summit for potentially the final time. Queen Elizabeth, who turns 92 on Saturday, welcomed leaders from the 53 …
Read More »UN in security talks with Syria after chemical probe put on hold
Beirut, Lebanon | AFP | experts have said they were negotiating with Syrian and Russian authorities for international chemical inspectors to deploy to the site of an alleged toxic gas attack near Damascus, after a reconnaissance mission came under fire. The team from the world’s chemical arms watchdog has not yet …
Read More »Queen puts foward son as next head of Commonwealth
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of the Commonwealth, opened the Commonwealth summit for what may be the last time on Thursday voicing hope that her son would be allowed to carry on her role. Queen Elizabeth, who turns 92 on Saturday, welcomed leaders from …
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