The United States and Russia were on a collision course over the alleged Syrian chemical attack on Wednesday as Washington’s top diplomat prepared for talks in Moscow. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled for a day of talks with his opposite number Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that will now be dominated by the war … Read more
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet face-to-face for the first time Thursday, opening a new chapter in the world’s most consequential relationship amid growing crises over North Korea and trade. The presidents of the world’s two pre-eminent economic and military powers will rendezvous in the south Florida sun at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate for a summit … Read more
A senior US official praised China on Tuesday for its commitment to fighting the spread of synthetic drugs, particularly the powerful opioid fentanyl which is ravaging swathes of the United States. Fentanyl is a potent prescription painkiller which is extremely addictive, leading people to seek out illegal copycat versions. Pop star Prince died from a … Read more
With North Korea’s drive to field a nuclear-armed missile rapidly emerging as President Donald Trump’s first foreign crisis, his top diplomat is heading to a nervous region. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a former oil executive with no government experience, has yet to make an impact in Washington, where he has not even appointed … Read more
Hacking had no effect on the outcome of the US election, President-elect Donald Trump has said after a meeting with intelligence chiefs. However, Mr Trump said he would ask for a plan within 90 days of taking office on how to stop cyber-attacks. US intelligence chiefs believe Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic Party … Read more
The Israeli government reached out to President-elect Donald Trump for help in pressuring the Obama administration to veto a UN Security Council resolution condemning settlement activity, a senior Israeli official told CNN. Egypt delayed a potential showdown vote at the Security Council on the resolution after pressure from the Israelis, a Western official said Thursday. … Read more
The UN has suspended all aid convoys in Syria after its lorries were attacked by warplanes near Aleppo on Monday. The convoy had received proper permits, and all warring parties – including Russia and the US – had been notified, a UN spokesman said. Eighteen of the 31 lorries, containing wheat, winter clothes and medical … Read more
The US government has expressed “outrage” over an attack on an aid convoy near the Syrian city of Aleppo that, a war monitor says, left 12 dead. The UN has confirmed that the convoy was hit near the town of Urm al-Kubra, without giving details. But activists say an air strike hit the trucks hours … Read more