Theresa May will return to Brussels later to press EU leaders for legally binding changes to the Brexit deal. The PM will insist the UK will not be “trapped” in the backstop – the plan to avoid the return of Irish border checks should no UK-EU trade deal be in ... Read More »
Trump wants out of America’s longest war, but Afghans can’t just walk away
Hope is real after landmark Taliban talks, but fears remain about what might happen if US troops depart The start of 2019 has brought for Afghanistan a tantalising hope of peace, fragile but very real, as the Taliban sat down for talks first with Americans in Qatar and this week ... Read More »
France accuses Italy of ‘unacceptable provocation’ after deputy PM meets yellow vest leaders
Luigi Di Maio says ‘winds of change’ have crossed the Alps France’s foreign ministry has said that Italy’s deputy prime minister meeting with leaders of the yellow vest movement is an “unacceptable provocation”. Luigi Di Maio, who also leads the populist, anti-establishment 5-Star party, said he met yellow vests leader ... Read More »
Polar express: magnetic north pole speeds towards Russia
Surge affects navigation and is believed to be caused by a ‘jet’ stream in Earth’s liquid outer core Something’s up in the Arctic: the north magnetic pole is on the move. But rather than drifting around aimlessly as it has for centuries, the pole has picked up speed and is ... Read More »
Afghan president says his government must be ‘decision-maker’ in any peace deal
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said on Tuesday no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as “the decision-maker”. Ghani’s government has so far been shut out of the evolving peace talks between Taliban negotiators and U.S. envoys to end more than ... Read More »
North Korea protecting nuclear missiles, U.N. monitors say, ahead of summit talks
North Korea is working to ensure its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities cannot be destroyed by military strikes, U.N. monitors said ahead of a meeting between U.S. and North Korean officials to prepare a second denuclearization summit. The U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, will meet his North ... Read More »
Russia warns against ‘destructive meddling’ in Venezuela as UK recognises opposition leader as president
The oppression of the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime must end,’ says Jeremy Hunt Russia has warned against “destructive meddling” in Venezuela as Britain recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. The US, Canada and several Latin American and European countries have disavowed Nicolas Maduro over his disputed re-election last ... Read More »
Democracy undergoing ‘alarming’ decline around the world, study finds
Think tank says ‘deterioration of US democracy will accelerate decline around the world’ Democracy is undergoing an “alarming” decline across the world as a growing number of countries move towards authoritarian rule, according to the Freedom House think tank. The US organisation’s annual “Freedom in the World” report found 2018 ... Read More »
Mueller investigation: Roger Stone says Russia probe is a ‘speeding bullet’ heading for Trump’s head
Mr Stone pleaded not guilty to federal charges this week stemming from the Mueller investigation Donald Trump’s former political adviser Roger Stone says that his former boss’ presidency is in big danger. Mr Stone, who on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to seven charges brought forward by special counsel Robert Mueller’s ... Read More »
Iran rejects talks on missiles, but says it will not increase range
Iran dismissed calls from the United States and Europe for curbs on its ballistic missiles, but said it had no plans to increase their range. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of a nuclear deal with Iran in May and reimposed sanctions, saying the accord did not address the Islamic ... Read More »