Eastern African bloc seeks summit to deploy regional force in Sudan
Addis AbabaReuters An eastern African bloc called on Monday for a regional summit to consider deploying troops into Sudan to protect civilians, after nearly three months of violence between the army and a paramilitary faction. Fighting that erupted on 15th April in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, has spread to other parts of the country and driven […]
Economy, energy row and drugs loom at North American summit
Mexico City, Mexico Reuters North American leaders aim to give new impetus to strengthening economic ties at a meeting this week, even as a major dispute grinds on over Mexico’s energy policies which has distracted from cooperation on other issues like immigration. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will host his US counterpart Joe Biden […]
Biden agrees in principle to Ukraine summit with Putin
Reuters US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the French leader said on Monday, offering a possible path out of one of the most dangerous European crises in decades. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement he had pitched to […]
Biden, Putin set to meet in 18th-century Swiss villa for summit
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold their 16th June summit in an 18th-century Swiss villa overlooking Lake Geneva, a soothing setting for what promises to be heated talks. Bitter disputes over election interference, cyber attacks, human rights and Ukraine hang over their first face-to-face meeting since […]
ASEAN calls summit on Myanmar crisis as EU imposes sanctions
Reuters South-East Asian countries will discuss the crisis in Myanmar at a summit in Jakarta on Saturday, the ASEAN bloc’s secretariat said on Tuesday, after the European Union imposed its toughest sanctions yet on the junta that seized power there on 1st February. The 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been trying to […]
In pandemic spotlight, public banks ponder a greener role
Barcelona, SpainThomson Reuters Foundation Limping along after a COVID-19 body blow, the global economy needs investment by public development banks more than ever, officials say – and shifts in how they do business could set a precedent for a greener, more equitable future. From ending support for fossil fuels to expanding debt relief and protecting […]
North Korea asks for food aid as its president discusses denuclearisation
World Watch Monitor As the leaders of North Korea and the United States are scheduled to meet in Vietnam for a second round of denuclearisation talks, North Koreans continue to flee human rights abuses and increasing food shortages. As with the first round of talks, the conditions that make North Korea the toughest place on […]
US State Department religious freedom summit ends with commitments, critiques
RNS The US State Department concluded its first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom on Thursday, with declarations promising further efforts to reduce religious persecution, even as critics said they are waiting to see its statements turned into actions. Closing the meeting of some 350 government officials, religious freedom advocates and others from more than 80 […]
US VP Mike Pence threatens Turkey over detained US pastor at religious freedom summit
RNS Vice President Mike Pence used a State Department summit of foreign ministers and religious leaders to call on Turkey to release US pastor Andrew Brunson and threatened the country with sanctions if it did not. “If Turkey does not take immediate action to free this innocent man of faith and send him home to […]