Tight security is in place across Paris for the inauguration of Emmanuel Macron as France’s president. Mr Macron, an independent, won a resounding victory in last weekend’s second round of voting against the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. The former investment banker had never contested an election before and only formed his centrist political movement … Read more
A Russian blogger arrested after posting a video of himself playing Pokemon Go in a church has been found guilty of insulting religious believers and inciting hatred. The court in the Ural mountains city of Yekaterinburg is yet to sentence Ruslan Sokolovsky, 22. The blogger filmed himself playing the game in 2016 in the local … Read more
The US ambassador to Qatar has expressed her dissatisfaction with political events back home in a decidedly undiplomatic message posted on social media. Dana Shell Smith, who has been the American envoy to the Gulf emirate since 2014, took to Twitter in the hours after the dramatic sacking of FBI director James Comey by President … Read more
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated France’s centrist politician Emmanuel Macron on his presidential election victory, saying their countries share a “responsibility toward peace and development in the world.” “China stands ready to work with France to move the strategic Sino-French partnership to a higher level,” Xi said in a congratulatory note, according to … Read more
Five things you need to know about France’s vote. Why is this election important? France is choosing its next president. The election is being closely watched because, for the first time in modern French history, neither of the two candidates in the decisive second round is from the mainstream parties of the left or right. … Read more
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to press for a ceasefire to halt the war in Syria. The two spoke by telephone for the first time since the US launched air strikes against Syria nearly a month ago, straining relations. Other topics discussed included North Korea and the timing of … Read more
The Progressive People Party (PPP) have expressed delight in the political changes in France. In a statement signed by Paa Kow Ackon, Communication Director of the political party, he wrote “We are particularly excited that voters in France made an emphatic rejection of the so-called two traditional political parties that have ruled the country since … Read more
The Progressive People Party (PPP) have expressed delight in the political changes in France. In a statement signed by Paa Kow Ackon, Communication Director of the political party, he wrote “We are particularly excited that voters in France made an emphatic rejection of the so-called two traditional political parties that have ruled the country since the … Read more
France is preparing to vote in presidential elections on Sunday, amid high security after a fatal assault on a Paris policeman three days ago. About 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers are being deployed around the country after Thursday’s attack by a gunman. Eleven candidates are vying to be the country’s next president, with leading candidates … Read more
Sevran, France – A few hundred feet away from Sevran’s Beaudottes metro station is a wall of metal attached to a railing, without distinguishing features except for the posters on it. Every one of France’s presidential candidates is there and judging by the levels of damage, it is clear who the Paris suburb’s vandals like … Read more
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis met Qatar’s emir Saturday during a visit to the oil-rich Gulf state, home to the largest US air base in the Middle East. The visit to Doha is part of a regional tour that has included stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. Mattis is scheduled to visit Djibouti on … Read more
French President Francois Hollande has given citizenship to 28 Africans who fought for France in World War Two and other conflicts. Mr Hollande said France owed them “a debt of blood”. The veterans – many from Senegal, and aged between 78 and 90 – received their new certificates of citizenship at the Elysee Palace in … Read more
Russia hailed Donald Trump when he came to power as the leader who could help restore battered ties between Moscow and Washington. But the US president’s surprise missile strike in Syria against the Kremlin’s ally Bashar al-Assad has instead thrown down a gauntlet, infuriating Moscow and challenging its dominance in the war-torn country. Since launching … Read more
François Hollande’s reign as president was marked by a secret love affair, deadly terror attacks, and an economic policy U-turn that could still rip his own Socialist Party apart – so much for the normality he promised French voters five years ago. Hollande was crowned France’s first Socialist president in 17 years after beating conservative … Read more
The man suspected of killing 14 people by bombing a St Petersburg train is a native of Kyrgyzstan who obtained Russian citizenship, the Central Asian country’s security service says. Forty-nine people were injured in the explosion between two underground stations on Monday afternoon. The Kyrgyz security service named the bomber as Akbarzhon Jalilov, who it … Read more
The man suspected of killing 11 people by bombing a St Petersburg train is a native of Kyrgyzstan who obtained Russian citizenship, the Central Asian country’s security service says. At least 45 people were injured in the explosion between two underground stations on Monday afternoon. The Kyrgyz security service named the bomber as Akbarzhon Jalilov, … Read more
French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on Friday, Russian state television reported. “We by no means want to influence the current events but we reserve the right to communicate with all representatives of all political forces of the country, as do our partners in … Read more
The Jordanian King arrived in Morocco on Wednesday for an official visit to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments. King Abdullah II met with King Mohammed VI upon his arrival. An official ceremony was held at the Royal Palace to receive the King, where the artillery fired a 21-gun salute. King Abdullah was received by … Read more
A retired US Navy admiral and eight other high-ranking officers have been charged with corruption and other offenses in a sprawling bribery probe dubbed the “Fat Leonard” case, prosecutors said Tuesday. Retired rear admiral Bruce Loveless, a Navy intelligence officer, is the second admiral to be charged in the case, which has now grown to … Read more
A Jordanian soldier who shot dead seven Israeli schoolgirls in 1997 was released from prison Sunday after serving out his life sentence, sparking outrage from the families of those killed. In March 1997, Ahmad Dakamseh fired an automatic weapon at schoolgirls on a trip to the Jordan-Israel border, killing seven of them and wounding five … Read more