Pacaraima (Brazil) – The remote Brazilian town of Pacaraima is used to outsiders — tourists curious about spectacular nearby mountains — but a sea of Venezuelan refugees is pushing locals’ hospitality to breaking point. Before, Pacaraima’s main attraction was its location near Monte Roraima in Venezuela, believed to have inspired ... Read More »
Spy poisoning: How could the UK retaliate against Russia?
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is braced to take “extensive measures” against Russia should it not offer a credible explanation of how an ex-spy and his daughter were poisoned on British soil with a military-grade nerve agent. “Should there be no credible response,” Mrs May told parliament, “we will conclude ... Read More »
Australia to stress international law in South China Sea dispute
SYDNEY – Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will on Tuesday hail the role of international law in settling regional conflicts, comments apparently aimed at bolstering Australian efforts to build a coalition against Chinese assertiveness. Bishop, in a speech ahead of a special meeting of the Association of South East Asian ... Read More »
Japan pledges to pay ‘£2m for nuclear inspections in North Korea in bid to help end its atomic programme’
Japan has reportedly offered to pay more than £2m to fund any international inspection of North Korea’s nuclear facilities in a bid to encourage the rogue country to ends its weapons programme. Tokyo made the gesture after Pyongyang pledged to scrap its weapons and asked for direct talks with Donald ... Read More »
Russia says it has successfully tested advanced hypersonic missile
Russia’s Defense Ministry says it has successfully tested one of the “invincible” missiles that President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month could deliver a warhead at hypersonic speed and pierce US defenses. “A MiG-31 fighter crew of the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted a combat training launch of a hypersonic missile ... Read More »
Serbia ‘open to solutions’ on Kosovo
BUCHAREST, Romania: Serbia’s president said Thursday that his country won’t recognize Kosovo as an independent nation, but is open to discussing solutions to the contentious issue. “If we recognize Kosovo … Albanians will gain everything, and my question is — what will Serbs get?” said President Aleksandar Vucic, who was ... Read More »
South Korean officials leave for US with message from North Korea to Trump
Top South Korean negotiators left for the United States Thursday to brief their American counterparts on the outcome of their historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un earlier this week. South Korean National Security Office Head Chung Eui-yong revealed few details of the trip as he boarded a ... Read More »
Iran’s missile production has increased three-fold: Guards commander
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran has increased its missile production three-fold, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said Wednesday, according to the Fars news service. The commander did not explain during what time period the production increase had taken place. “In the past we had to do a lot of explaining to ... Read More »
Sri Lanka declares state of emergency over fears anti-Muslim attacks in Kandy could spread
Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency after a sudden spike in violence against Muslims in a central town, and amid fears the unrest could spread to other parts of the country. President Maithripala Sirisena said the declaration would “empower” the country’s armed forces and police to respond to ... Read More »
China angered with U.S.-Taiwan travel bill, adding to tensions
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China expressed anger on Thursday after the U.S. Senate passed a bill promoting closer U.S. ties with Taiwan, but the step drew praise from the self-ruled island which pledged to deepen cooperation. The move adds to tensions between China and the United States, already at loggerheads ... Read More »
Lebanese Ministry of Information