United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States urged the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday to scrap plans to use electronic voting for the first time in elections this year, saying it risked undermining the credibility of the historic polls. After much delay, the DR Congo will hold …
Read More »In UAE, India’s Modi inaugurates a summit and a temple
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi capped a whirlwind visit to the UAE on Sunday, giving a keynote address as guest of honour at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Modi praised the United Arab Emirates, home to 3.3 million Indian nationals, for having …
Read More »Touting ‘transformation’, French PM seeks investment in Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe promised lower taxes and a business-friendly France at a global summit in Dubai on Sunday, seeking investment from the oil-rich Gulf region. “France is undergoing great transformation,” Philippe said, addressing a thousand-strong audience at Dubai’s World Government Summit. …
Read More »UK’s Johnson meets Myanmar’s Suu Kyi on Rohingya crisis
Naypyidaw, Myanmar | AFP | Britain’s foreign minister Boris Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar’s capital on Sunday to press for action on the Rohingya crisis, as the country faces mounting pressure to punish troops accused of atrocities against the Muslim minority. Johnson spoke with the embattled …
Read More »Modi becomes first Indian PM to visit West Bank
Ramallah, Palestinian Territories | AFP | Narendra Modi on Saturday became the first Indian prime minister to visit the occupied West Bank where he held talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas as part of a Middle East tour. The visit, which came weeks after Modi hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin …
Read More »Kim Jong Un invites S. Korea’s Moon to Pyongyang
Gangneung, South Korea | AFP | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the South’s President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang Saturday, Seoul said, even as the US warned against falling for Pyongyang’s Olympic charm offensive. The invitation, delivered by Kim’s visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim …
Read More »UN chief urges dialogue in talks with N. Korea ceremonial leader
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged North Korea’s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam to engage in dialogue on ending the nuclear crisis during a brief exchange in South Korea, a UN spokesman said Friday. Kim and Guterres attended a dinner ahead of the …
Read More »UN agrees sanctioned N.Korea official to attend Olympics
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Thursday gave permission for a North Korean official under international sanctions to travel to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics along with Kim Jong Un’s sister, diplomats said. South Korea presented on Wednesday a request to the council’s sanctions committee …
Read More »Nigeria’s president warns Togo about political instability
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned about the dangers of political unrest as he met the new envoy from Togo, where there has been a wave of anti-government protests. Buhari did not specifically mention Togo as he received the newly appointed ambassador, Lene Dimban, …
Read More »US to unveil ‘toughest sanctions ever’ on N. Korea: Pence
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Washington will soon unveil its “toughest and most aggressive sanctions” ever against North Korea, US Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday after talks with Japan’s prime minister in Tokyo. He also warned that North Korea, which will participate in this month’s Winter Olympics as part …
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