International

Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:17 UTC
US has reestablished some deterrence toward Iran, Pentagon chief

United States Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday that the United States has reestablished some deterrence toward Iran in the wake of the Jan 3 drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Teheran says it has full respect for the independence and sovereignty of Iraq

Iran said on Wednesday it respects Iraq's territorial integrity, after firing missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. The early Wednesday strike led Iraq to say it would summon the Iranian ambassador.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 08:48 UTC
Something smells rotten in Maputo: Russian bank suing Mozambique over US$ 2bn in loans

Russian bank VTB is suing a Mozambique state-owned company over US$ 535 million it extended as part a series of loans now at the centre of a US$ 2 billion debt scandal. An online court filing dated Dec. 23 shows VTB has lodged a lawsuit in Britain’s High court against the Mozambique state and Mozambique Asset Management, which borrowed the money from VTB as part of a costly project that U.S. authorities say was an elaborate front for a bribery and kickback scheme.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 08:35 UTC
World Bank forecasts global expansion of 2.5% in 2020, but there are also too many uncertainties

Global economic growth is likely to be only slightly faster this year than the weak 0performance seen in 2019, according to a World Bank forecast. The world economy is likely to expand by 2.5% in 2020, up from 2.4% last year, the Bank's economists predict.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 07:00 UTC
“Bumpy” start for the Royals: Harry and Meghan want to spend most time in the US; Buckingham not convinced

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a statement saying they intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family. Here's that statement in full:
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 10:51 UTC
Iran’s retaliation in Iraq against U.S. forces is a “Slap in face”: Supreme Leader

Hours after Iran’s attacks on two bases in Iraq that houses United States troops, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed his nation considering the firing of 22 ballistic missiles as a “slap in the face” and that military action were “not sufficient” to end the American presence in the region. However, Iran’s authorities said they did “not seek escalation or war.”
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:50 UTC
Spain finally has a government: a coalition which includes a Catalan separatist group

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez won the narrowest of victories in Parliament on Tuesday to take power for a second term in Spain with the backing of the anti-austerity party Podemos and a Catalan separatist group.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:44 UTC
Falklands' Sea Lion project reaches farm-in deal with Tel Aviv listed Navitas

Rockhopper Exploration PLC on Tuesday said it has signed a milestone farm-in deal at the Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands. Rockhopper shares were 30% higher in early trade in London at a price of 19.44 pence each. Premier was 13% higher at 114.62p.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:26 UTC
Australia warned to prepare for another wave of evacuations as temperatures again begin to rise

Australian authorities warned people on Wednesday to prepare for another wave of evacuations as temperatures in the country's southeast began to rise after a days-long cool spell, bringing the danger of revitalized blazes.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Indonesia/China fisheries dispute escalates after Jakarta deploys fighter jets

Indonesia's air force deployed four fighter jets to the South China Sea on Tuesday in a stand-off with Beijing after Jakarta protested over a Chinese violation of its exclusive economic zone.