US First Lady, Melania Trump, will embark on her first extended solo international mission to Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt in October. Mrs Trump, on her visit, says she will use the visit to promote her “Be Best” child welfare initiative throughout Africa. She made this known on Wednesday at a reception for the spouses … Read more
A Jordanian soldier has been sentenced to life in prison with hard labour for killing three US military trainers last year. Marik al-Tuwayha, who pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder, attacked the men as their vehicles approached al-Jafr air base in November. One was killed at the base and two others died later in hospital. … Read more
Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Christian conservative broadcaster Pat Robertson on Wednesday amid a cascade of revelations about Russian election meddling that have rocked the White House. Trump has had next to nothing on his public schedule since he returned to the US last weekend from Germany. He heads back to Europe … Read more
Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states have extended the deadline for Qatar to accept a list of demands or face further sanctions by 48 hours. The initial deadline for Qatar to agree to the group’s 13 demands, including the shutting down of the Al Jazeera news network, expired on Sunday. The Gulf state, which … Read more
A US military court has charged an Indonesian detainee at Guantanamo Bay in connection with the 2002 bombing in Bali, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press news agency. The detainee, known as Hambali, was also charged in connection with an attack on the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003. According to rules … Read more
Four Arab states have sent Qatar a list of 13 demands it must meet if it wants them to lift their sanctions. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are asking the Gulf state to shut down its broadcaster, Al Jazeera. They are also asking Qatar to reduce ties with Iran and close … Read more
A former US diplomatic officer has been arrested and charged with giving top-secret documents to a Chinese agent. According to an affidavit, Kevin Mallory, a 60-year-old from Virginia, is said to have travelled to Shanghai in March and April 2017. He also failed to declare $16,500 (£13,000) in cash found in two carry-on bags when … Read more
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday fired a top correspondent over ethics violations after a news agency investigation uncovered potential business dealings with an Iranian-American businessman who was also a source. Jay Solomon, the newspaper’s chief foreign affairs correspondent and author of a book on secret deals involving Iran, “is no longer employed by The … Read more
Portugal has declared three days of mourning for the 61 victims of one of the country’s deadliest forest fires. Four children are among the victims, many of whom were found dead inside their cars as they tried to flee the central forested region of Pedrógão Grande. Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze … Read more
A catastrophic forest fire in Portugal has claimed at least 43 lives, officials say. Many died while trying to flee the Pedrógão Grande area, 50 km (30 miles) south-east of Coimbra, in their cars, according to the government. Several firefighters are among the 59 people injured. “Unfortunately this seems to be the greatest tragedy we … Read more
A catastrophic forest fire in Portugal has claimed at least 43 lives, officials say. Many died while trying to flee the Pedrógão Grande area, 50 km (30 miles) south-east of Coimbra, in their cars, according to the government. Several firefighters are among the 59 people injured. “Unfortunately this seems to be the greatest tragedy we … Read more
Seven US Navy crew members are missing after their ship collided with a merchant vessel off the coast of Japan. Among the injured is the USS Fitzgerald’s commanding officer, who was taken to hospital by helicopter. The destroyer collided with the container ship about 56 nautical miles (104km) south-west of Yokosuka. Aerial images showed heavy … Read more
Seven US Navy crew members are missing after their ship collided with a merchant vessel off the coast of Japan. Among the injured is the USS Fitzgerald’s commanding officer, who was taken to hospital by helicopter. The destroyer collided with the container ship about 56 nautical miles (104km) south-west of Yokosuka. Aerial images showed heavy … Read more
Seif al-Islam, the son and one-time heir apparent of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has been released after more than five years in detention, his captors said on Saturday. A statement by his captors, the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Battalion, said Seif al-Islam was released on Friday, but gave no details on his whereabouts. Battalion officials … Read more
US President Donald Trump is expected to underline the need to confront extremism in Islam when he makes a speech in Saudi Arabia later on Sunday. His address, to a summit of regional leaders, will come on the second day of his first presidential trip abroad. It is expected he will attempt to strike a … Read more
A member of Japan’s royal family, Princess Mako, is to surrender her royal status by marrying a commoner. The 25-year-old eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito will become engaged to law firm worker Kei Komuro, also 25, whom she met while studying together. Japan’s imperial law requires a princess to leave the royal family after marrying … Read more
A member of Japan’s royal family, Princess Mako, is to surrender her royal status by marrying a commoner. The 25-year-old eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito will become engaged to law firm worker Kei Komuro, also 25, whom she met while studying together. Japan’s imperial law requires a princess to leave the royal family after marrying … Read more
Donald Trump Jr. took an Indiana victory lap Monday, speaking at the state Republican party’s spring dinner just more than one year after the state’s primary propelled his father toward the presidential nomination. The President’s eldest son issued a call to action to the Indiana Republicans, noting that recent victories like his father’s 2016 win, … Read more
Mr Macron (centre left) on his first duty as president-elect, with President François Hollande Emmanuel Macron took his first steps as France’s president-elect on Monday but faces a tough task establishing a team that can govern effectively. His party has announced it is changing its name from En Marche to Republique En Marche (Republic on … Read more
Parents of the missing Chibok girls are slowly learning if their daughters are among the 82 freed by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria two days ago. The girls’ names were put on Twitter by the president’s office on Sunday. They were flown to the capital Abuja. But in Chibok, their home region in north-eastern Nigeria, … Read more