US President Donald Trump is to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for the first time at a G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. They have both said they want to repair ties damaged by the crises in Syria and Ukraine, as well as Russia’s alleged meddling in the US election. Climate change and trade are … Read more
On Thursday, Mr Trump used a speech in the Polish capital Warsaw to call on Russia to stop “destabilising” Ukraine and other countries. Moscow should also end support for “hostile regimes” such as those in Syria and Iran and “join the community of responsible nations,” he said. President Trump urged Russia to join the “fight against common … Read more
US President Donald Trump is to argue that the future of Western civilisation is at stake in a keynote speech in the Polish capital Warsaw. Holding up Poland as an example of a country ready to defend civilisation, he will warn against the threats of “terrorism and extremism”. Poland’s conservative government shares Mr Trump’s hostile … Read more
Amnesty International has blamed “failing EU policies” for the soaring death toll among refugees and migrants in the central Mediterranean. In a report, it said “cynical deals” with Libya consigned thousands to the risk of drowning, rape and torture. It said the EU was turning a blind eye to abuses in Libyan detention centres, and … Read more
US President Donald Trump is due to give a major speech in Poland’s capital, Warsaw, laying out his vision for America’s relations with Europe. He can expect a warm welcome in the city’s historic Krasinski Square as Poland’s conservative government shares his hostile view of immigration and strong sense of national sovereignty. He is also … Read more
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the EU’s top officials will join forces Thursday and approve the broad outline of a landmark trade deal that would challenge the protectionism championed by US President Donald Trump. European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem on Tuesday announced the two sides had reached a “political agreement” on the EU … Read more
Pork lovers in the country can now heave a sigh and enjoy the delicacy despite the outbreak of the deadly African swine fever in parts of Ghana as veterinary experts say the disease does not affect humans. Outbreak of the disease in three districts of the Ashanti Region and parts of the Upper East Region … Read more
Both Kenya’s leading presidential contenders have pulled out of two planned televised debates ahead of the August 8 election, their parties said Wednesday. President Uhuru Kenyatta withdrew first, followed by his main rival Raila Odinga. The first of the debates organised by a consortium of Kenyan media was scheduled for Monday and the second on … Read more
Privately-run aid organisations rescuing migrants off Libya have slammed the idea of creating a “code of conduct” for them to follow, saying European ministers tackling the crisis are bungling their response. Italy, France and Germany held a working dinner on Sunday to prepare the ground for a six-point plan to address the biggest migrant phenomenon … Read more
The European Union on Tuesday warned it may consider additional sanctions against North Korea after it carried out what Pyongyang tested what it claimed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile. Last month, the EU expanded its sanctions blacklist after North Korea launched a volley of surface-to-ship cruise missiles off its east coast. The EU’s external … Read more
The European Union and Japan will hold a summit Thursday in hopes of sealing broad agreement on a massive trade deal after four years of tough negotiations. The landmark deal would mark a big victory for free trade just days before a G20 summit in Germany in which US President Donald Trump is expected to … Read more
More than 100,000 migrants have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe this year, the UN said Tuesday, amid mounting tensions among EU nations on how to tackle the crisis. Nearly 2,250 people have died in 2017 attempting the sea crossing from North Africa, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) added. Italy has taken … Read more
The EU warned Monday of possible violence in Kenya’s elections as it deployed observers ahead of the August 8 poll pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against his longtime rival Raila Odinga. The European Union said the threat of poll clashes which pushed Kenya to the brink 10 years ago, could not be dismissed. “It is no … Read more
The US decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement has given a “global push” to the deal, as other signatories have strongly recommitted to the landmark accord, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Monday. President Donald Trump, whose country is the world’s second biggest producer of greenhouse gases after China, drew widespread criticism when he … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday threw his weight behind a planned Sahel force to fight jihadists on a lightning visit to Mali but told countries in the region their efforts had to bear fruit. Faced with a growing number of jihadist attacks in central Mali which have also hit neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, … Read more
French energy giant Total will finally sign its multi-billion-dollar agreement to develop an Iranian offshore gas field on Monday, the oil ministry said, in the biggest foreign deal since sanctions were eased last year. “The international agreement for the development of phase 11 of South Pars will be signed on Monday in the presence of … Read more
Israeli authorities have re-arrested a prominent Palestinian lawmaker in an overnight raid over her leadership in a movement Israel considers a terrorist organisation, officials said Sunday. Khalida Jarrar was arrested in the raid in the Ramallah area in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s army said. The 54-year-old was released in June 2016 after 14 months … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mali on Sunday to consolidate Western backing for a regional anti-jihadist force, with France urging greater support for the Sahel region amid mounting insecurity. The so-called “G5 Sahel” countries just south of the Sahara — Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger — have pledged to fight jihadists on … Read more
The European Union’s top trade official said Saturday that a Japan-EU free trade deal was “almost there”, as the two sides look to ink an agreement seen as a push back against rising protectionism. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom was in Tokyo with agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan for two days of talks with Japanese officials. … Read more
The United Nations on Friday approved a nearly $600 million cut to its peacekeeping budget following pressure from the United States to reduce funding to the world body. The General Assembly approved by consensus the annual budget expected to total $7.3 billion, down from the current $7.87 billion spent on peace missions worldwide. UN member-states … Read more