International

Monday, January 13th 2020 - 09:07 UTC
Beijing will not change its position despite Taiwan's president landslide election victory; threats from Xinhua news agency

China will not change its position that Taiwan belongs to it, Beijing said on Sunday, after President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election and said she would not submit to China’s threats, as state media warned she was courting disaster.
Monday, January 13th 2020 - 08:51 UTC
Prolific Galapagos giant tortoise Diego is credited for saving his species from extinction

Prolific Galapagos giant tortoise Diego is being released back into the wild after being credited by authorities with almost single handedly saving his species from extinction. The 100-year-old tortoise, who was recruited along with 14 other adults for a captive breeding program, will be returned to his native island of Espanola in March, the Galapagos National Parks service (PNG) said on Friday.
Monday, January 13th 2020 - 08:42 UTC
All ready to sign US/China Phase 1 trade deal, following lengthy translation process

China's commitments in the Phase 1 trade deal with the United States were not changed during a lengthy translation process and will be released this week as the document is signed in Washington, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:59 UTC
Iran admits it downed “unintentionally” the Ukrainian jet killing 176 people

Iran’s military early on Saturday morning announced its role in the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet that killed all 176 people on board, saying the shootdown was “unintentional” and blaming “human error.”
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:56 UTC
Major oil discovery offshore Suriname next to Guyana's prolific Stabroek's block

Apache Corp and Total SA announced they had made a major oil discovery in a closely watched area off the coast of South America’s Suriname, sending Apache’s shares surging nearly 27%.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:51 UTC
Boris Johnson tells EC president it will insist on “maintaining control of UK fishing waters”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that Britain would insist on “maintaining control of UK fishing waters” after it leaves the EU, setting up a big clash with Brussels as the two sides prepare for testing negotiations after Brexit.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:46 UTC
US imposes more sanctions on Iran in retaliation for missile attack on its bases

The United States imposed more sanctions on Iran on Friday in retaliation for its missile attack on US forces in Iraq this week and vowed to tighten the economic screws if Tehran continued “terrorist” acts or pursued a nuclear bomb.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
New Spanish government takes oath of office next Monday: outstanding names in the cabinet

Women experts and radical leftists looked set to play a dominant role in Spain's new coalition government as Pedro Sanchez on Friday named a senior global trade expert as his top diplomat.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:31 UTC
Hong Kong troubles ensure election victory for Taiwan's incumbent candidate

By Gwynne Dyer – “Over the past few years, China’s diplomatic offensives, military coercion, interference and infiltration have continued unabated,” said Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on New Year’s Day, as the Jan. 11 elections neared. “China’s objective is clear: to force Taiwan to compromise our sovereignty.” But every leader of her Democratic People’s Party (DPP) has always said that.
Saturday, January 11th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Killing of investigative journalist finally knocks out Malta Prime Minister accused of hampering the case

Malta's outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Friday (Jan 10) said he was “paying the highest political price” for failing to solve a journalist's killing, the investigation into which he has been accused of hampering.