International

Saturday, January 4th 2020 - 09:10 UTC
The new decade official portrait of the Queen and the three heirs

A portrait of the Queen with the next three heirs to the throne has been released to mark the start of the new decade. It shows the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George standing with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Saturday, January 4th 2020 - 09:08 UTC
The world's safest and most punctual airlines are in the Asia-Pacific region.

Qantas Airways was named the safest airline in the world on a Top 20 list published by AirlineRatings.com, followed by Air New Zealand and Taiwan's Eva Airways. Singapore Airlines was sixth, Cathay Pacific Airways ninth and Virgin Australia Holdings 10th.
Saturday, January 4th 2020 - 09:04 UTC
UK needs super talented “weirdos and mistifs” and no more “Oxbridge” graduates

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose Conservative Party trounced Labour in last month's elections, has vowed to strike new trade deals with countries outside Europe after Britain's departure from the European Union.
Saturday, January 4th 2020 - 09:00 UTC
Hillary Clinton appointed chancellor of Queen's University Belfast

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was appointed chancellor of Queen's University Belfast on Thursday, taking up the mainly ceremonial role in Northern Ireland where the peace process was one of the greatest successes of her husband's presidency.
Saturday, January 4th 2020 - 08:35 UTC
More cases in China of a mystery viral pneumonia; fears of a resurgence of SARS

China on Friday confirmed more cases of a mystery viral pneumonia that has sparked fears about a resurgence of SARS, the flu-like virus that killed hundreds of people more than a decade ago. The 44 cases, up from the initial 27 announced on Tuesday, include 11 “severe cases”, health authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan said in a statement.
Friday, January 3rd 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Australian navy in emergency evacuation operations; PM Morrison jeered by bushfire victims

The Australian navy on Friday began evacuating around 1,000 people stranded on the east coast of the fire-ravaged country as a searing weather front was set to whip up more blazes across the states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW).
Friday, January 3rd 2020 - 09:35 UTC
“US president ordered the killing of Iran revolutionary Guards' commander”

US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, who died in Baghdad “in a decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad”, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Friday, January 3rd 2020 - 09:19 UTC
Boris Johnson and English nationalism victory in the Brexit election: death knell for UK?

By Gwynne Dyer – Down on the turkey farm, the Scottish and Irish birds noticed the smiling man was holding a hatchet behind his back and hid. The Welsh turkeys looked confused and huddled together squawking. But the English turkeys marched bravely up to the chopping block, confident this would be a Christmas to remember.
Friday, January 3rd 2020 - 09:19 UTC
A Catalan separatist party could help confirm Sánchez as Spanish prime minister

A Catalan separatist party said on Thursday it would abstain during the Spanish parliament's upcoming vote to confirm Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez as prime minister, potentially ending the prolonged national political deadlock.
Thursday, January 2nd 2020 - 08:52 UTC
US/China Phase One trade deal to be signed 15 January at the White House

A partial new US-China trade agreement will be signed in the middle of next month, US President Donald Trump said, announcing that he will also then travel to China for continued talks.