United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned that any bid to address concerns about Iran should not jeopardize the hard-won nuclear deal after US President Donald Trump demanded changes to the accord. The United States is concerned the deal, thrashed out over 12 years …
Read More »Russia’s Lavrov lashes out at US at annual press conference
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeatedly attacked the US at his annual press conference Monday, accusing Washington of issuing ultimatums and failing to recognise “the reality of the emerging multipolar world”. Lavrov said the past year had not been easy from a foreign policy perspective as …
Read More »Netanyahu disappointed by ally Modi’s Jerusalem rejection
New Delhi, India | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he was “disappointed” by India’s refusal to back recognition of Jerusalem as his country’s capital but would not let it spoil his landmark visit to the Asian giant. Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would “catch up” with …
Read More »White House pushes back over Trump N. Korea quote
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Saturday denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un,” Trump was quoted as telling The …
Read More »At UN, diplomats are watching Candidate Haley
United Nations, United States | AFP | One year into the job, Nikki Haley stands out as the star of President Donald Trump’s administration, and diplomats say the UN ambassador is directing some of that star power into a likely White House bid. Speculation about Haley’s presidential ambitious has picked up …
Read More »White House hails drop in Chinese trade with N.Korea
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Friday welcomed news of a sharp drop in Chinese trade with North Korea, saying it would help put pressure on the regime of Kim Jong-Un. China reported earlier that its imports from North Korea plunged 33 percent last year — …
Read More »Churches in Chile firebombed ahead of pope visit
Santiago, Chile | AFP | Three Catholic churches were firebombed in the Chilean capital Santiago on Friday, days before the start of a visit to the country by Pope Francis. President Michelle Bachelet condemned the incidents, which happened during the night and caused minor damage. “It’s very strange, because it’s …
Read More »UK blames protests as Trump cancels London trip
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The British government blamed the threat of mass protests for President Donald Trump’s decision Friday to cancel a visit to London to open the new US embassy, and warned that criticism of the White House risked harming US-UK relations. Trump said he was abandoning next …
Read More »Macron ‘happy’ Merkel coalition deal in sight
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday he was “happy and very satisfied” that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had achieved a breakthrough with the Social Democrats on her bid to form a coalition. Macron, who had pressed the Social Democrats (SPD) to return to a grand coalition …
Read More »Trump decision looms over Iran deal as Europe watches
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump was set Friday to decide whether to jeopardize the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by re-imposing American sanctions, against the wishes of European leaders who say the agreement is working just fine. Washington agreed to sanctions relief under the terms of …
Read More »