An era will end in Communist-run Cuba on Thursday when President Raul Castro retires, likely handing over the reins to his right hand man Miguel Diaz-Canel, born the year after brothers Fidel and Raul led their 1959 leftist revolution. However after nearly 60 years of Castro rule, the change is ... Read More »
Trump’s CIA chief in secret meeting with North Korean leader: U.S. officials
U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo made a secret visit to North Korea over the Easter weekend and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. Pompeo’s trip made him the ... Read More »
Abe hopes Trump meeting will bring Japan in from diplomatic cold
Japan’s PM wants assurance his country won’t be overlooked in any North Korea deal Besieged by cronyism scandals that have prompted speculation he will be out of office by early summer, Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, will arrive in the US for talks with Donald Trump this week with a ... Read More »
Commonwealth leaders could choose next head after Queen this week
Ahead of leaders’ retreat, Theresa May makes clear that UK backs Prince Charles as next symbolic leader of organisation Commonwealth leaders could decide this week on who takes over from the Queen as head of the organisation, Downing Street has said. The news came as Theresa May prepared to address ... Read More »
Russia’s Putin predicts global ‘chaos’ if West hits Syria again
MOSCOW/DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions. In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, Putin and Rouhani agreed that the ... Read More »
Eurocontrol warns airlines of possible missile strikes into Syria
Pan-European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol on Tuesday warned airlines to exercise caution in the eastern Mediterranean due to the possible launch of air strikes into Syria in next 72 hours. Eurocontrol said that air-to-ground and/or cruise missiles could be used within that period and there was a possibility of ... Read More »
UK sends another warship to help impose North Korea sanctions
Assault ship HMS Albion will join HMS Sutherland and HMS Argyll, which is due in the region later in the year to take part in exercises with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. The ships will enforce the UN ban on ship-to-ship transfers of goods destined for North Korea. Several ... Read More »
UN in deadlock after US and Russia vote against each other to investigate Syria chemical weapons attack
US Ambassador Nikki Haley says the UN has ‘showed our complete failure to protect the Syrian people’ The United Nations was deadlocked as the US and Russia voted against each other over an investigation into the recent suspected chemical attack in Syria. Each country placed a resolution before the Security ... Read More »
Donald Trump says he will send military to guard Mexico border
The US president has become increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress on his signature campaign promise. In recent days he raged at Mexico for allowing a “caravan” of 1,500 migrants from Central America to walk toward the US border. Mr Trump said: “We’re going to do some things militarily. ... Read More »
After almost 70 years, is China and Vatican rift set to heal?
When millions of Chinese Catholics celebrate Easter this weekend, the future relationship between China and the Vatican is likely to be weighing heavily on their minds. After decades of bitter disagreement, Beijing and the Holy See appear to be on the cusp of a historic accord to resolve one of ... Read More »