South Korea’s president spoke of “heart-warming” moves toward peace on the Korean peninsula on Wednesday, a day before he is expected to relay an invitation to Pope Francis to visit North Korea. Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the number two in the Vatican, said a Mass in St. Peter’s ... Read More »
Despite US opposition, the UN will allow Palestine to act more like full member in 2019
UNITED NATIONS — The 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday allowed the Palestinians to act more like a full UN member state during meetings in 2019 when they will chair the group of 77 developing nations. The United States, Israel, and Australia voted against the move, which won 146 ... Read More »
Honduras, Guatemala move to stop migrant caravan after Trump threats
The organizer of a migrant caravan from Honduras was detained in Guatemala on Tuesday as the U.S. government threatened to withdraw aid from both countries and El Salvador if the flow of migrants north to the United States was not stopped. Up to 3,000 migrants, according to organizers’ estimates, crossed ... Read More »
Koreas to reconnect roads, rail, U.S. concerned over easing sanctions
The two Koreas agreed on Monday to begin reconnecting rail and road links, another step in an improving relationship in spite of U.S. concerns that the rapid North-South thaw could undermine efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The agreement on transport links came during talks ... Read More »
Bavaria election: Merkel’s conservative allies humiliated
Exit polls show CSU losing majority it has long enjoyed as far-right AfD makes gains Angela Merkel’s conservative partners in Bavaria have had their worst election performance for more than six decades, in a humiliating state poll result that is likely to further weaken Germany’s embattled coalition government. The Christian ... Read More »
Brexit talks stall before midweek EU summit
The stubborn problem of Britain’s land border with Ireland thwarted a drive to clinch a Brexit deal before a European Union summit this week, as negotiators admitted defeat after marathon talks and pressed pause for the coming days. EU negotiator Michel Barnier said after meeting British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab ... Read More »
Exclusive: Five Eyes intelligence alliance builds coalition to counter China
The five nations in the world’s leading intelligence-sharing network have been exchanging classified information on China’s foreign activities with other like-minded countries since the start of the year, seven officials in four capitals said. The increased cooperation by the Five Eyes alliance – grouping Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and ... Read More »
Taiwan pledges to boost national security amid Chinese pressure
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on Wednesday to boost national security, saying her government would not submit to Chinese suppression as Beijing ramps up pressure to assert its sovereignty over the self-ruled island. Tsai’s remarks came ahead of island-wide local elections in late November that are seen as a bellwether ... Read More »
Nikki Haley resigns as US ambassador to UN, shocking fellow diplomats
Nikki Haley has resigned as the US ambassador to the United Nations and will leave her post in January, in a move that stunned allied diplomats and other senior officials. Haley and Donald Trump announced her departure in the Oval Office. The timing came as a surprise to her colleagues ... Read More »
Brexit: Theresa May to face MPs after Chequers plan criticism
Theresa May will face the Commons for the first time since the EU rejected her Brexit plan, amid mounting pressure from some Tory MPs to change course. A week before a crucial meeting of EU leaders, the prime minister shows no sign of abandoning her proposals. Former Brexit Secretary David ... Read More »
Lebanese Ministry of Information