Moscow, Russia | AFP | US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Tuesday discussed holding a possible summit as the American leader congratulated the Russian President on his re-election. “I had a call with President Putin and congratulated him on his electoral victory,” Trump said, two days after Putin’s re-election. …
Read More »Britain must prove Russia’s involvement in spy poisoning or apologise: Kremlin
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Britain must prove Russia’s involvement in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in the UK or apologise, the Kremlin said Monday. “Sooner or later these unsubstantiated allegations will have to be answered for: either backed up with the appropriate evidence or apologised for,” …
Read More »Making French great again: Macron looks to Africa
Paris, France | AFP | He’s France’s most anglophone president ever, who reaches for the language of the old foe when telling global audiences that “France is back”, or that he wants ecologically to “make our planet great again.” Emmanuel Macron’s mastery of English has wowed foreign leaders, who are …
Read More »Nigeria skips African summit in blow to free trade deal
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will not attend the African Union summit in Rwanda this week, an official statement said Sunday, in a blow to plans to launch a major free trade treaty across 54 countries. The meeting in Kigali is intended to formally launch the …
Read More »‘We don’t want a new Cold War’, NATO chief says
London, United Kingdom | AFP | NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday the alliance did not want a return to Cold War hostilities with Russia while expressing support for Britain’s strong stance on the nerve agent attack. He said the targeting of former double agent Sergei Skripal fit a …
Read More »Hosting Merkel, Macron gets chance to push EU business
Paris, France | AFP | Having finally secured her fourth term as Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel heads to France on Friday for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, who is eager to push ahead with EU overhauls. Macron has called for a major reform drive to reinvigorate the European Union at …
Read More »Saudi warns it will pursue nuclear weapons if Iran does
Washington, United States | AFP | Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, Riyadh will follow suit — just days before he arrives in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump. “Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but …
Read More »Russian media accuses May of ‘poisoning’ ties
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian media on Thursday accused British Prime Minister Theresa May of having “poisoned” relations with Moscow by announcing the expulsion of diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former double agent with a nerve agent. “Theresa May has poisoned relations between London and Moscow,” …
Read More »Top State Dept aide fired after comment on Tillerson sacking
Washington, United States | AFP | One of the US State Department’s most senior officials was sacked on Tuesday after his comments on the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to contradict the White House version of events. “This has been the honor of a lifetime and I …
Read More »Sacked Tillerson: US must respond to Russia’s behavior
Washington, United States | AFP | Outgoing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned in his farewell remarks on Tuesday that Washington must do more to respond to Russia’s “troubling behavior and actions.” After he was sacked by President Donald Trump, Tillerson also said US efforts to pressure North Korea had …
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