by Anuj Chopra Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia will host a key investment summit on Tuesday, overshadowed by the killing of critic Jamal Khashoggi that has prompted a wave of policymakers and corporate giants to withdraw. Just ahead of the three-day Future Investment Initiative (FII), dubbed “Davos in the desert”, the kingdom sought to defuse the crisis with an about-face admission on Saturday that the journalist died in its […]
Asia
Dozens of casualties as multiple blasts rock Kabul polling centres
by Allison JACKSON KABUL, Afghanistan (AFP) — Multiple explosions rocked polling centres across Kabul on Saturday, causing dozens of casualties, amid growing anger among voters as they waited hours to cast their ballots in long-delayed legislative elections. At least 30 people have been taken to a trauma hospital run by the Italian NGO Emergency, including a dead child, the organisation said on Twitter, hours after the Taliban warned voters to boycott the ballot “to protect […]
Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi killed in Istanbul consulate: state media
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia on Saturday admitted that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul, state media said, two weeks after his disappearance sparked global furore. The kingdom also announced the sacking of a top intelligence official Ahmad al-Assiri and royal court media advisor Saud al-Qahtani, both top aides to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has faced mounting pressure over the Khashoggi affair. Saudi journalist […]
Afghan attack won’t change Kandahar security situation: Mattis
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday the killing of a top Afghan official would not fundamentally change the security situation in Kandahar province. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for Thursday’s shooting in the restive southern province that killed anti-Taliban strongman and police chief, General Abdul Raziq. At least two other people died during the attack inside a fortified government compound in Kandahar city that targeted a high-level security meeting. The […]
US downgrades Palestinian mission into Israel embassy
by Paul HANDLEY / Joseph DYKE Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States downgraded its main diplomatic mission to the Palestinians on Thursday, placing it under the authority of the US embassy to Israel. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the consulate general, a separate office which handled dealings with the Palestinians, would be replaced by a new Palestinian Affairs Unit inside the controversial new US embassy in Jerusalem. […]
Koreas and UN Command discuss demilitarizing border
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The two Koreas and the US-led United Nations Command held talks Tuesday on demilitarizing a section of the heavily fortified border dividing the peninsula, as a diplomatic thaw gathers pace. “The three parties examined the progress in removing landmines at the Joint Security Area (JSA)…and discussed other practical matters regarding steps toward disarming the area,” Seoul’s defense ministry said in a statement. The JSA, also known as the truce […]
Pompeo in Saudi for crisis talks on missing journalist
by Shaun Tandon Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — US top diplomat Mike Pompeo was in Saudi Arabia for urgent talks with King Salman Tuesday seeking answers about the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, amid US media reports the kingdom may be mulling an admission he died during a botched interrogation. “Rogue killers” could be to blame for the disappearance of Khashoggi, who has not been seen since he walked into the […]
Koreas and UN Command begin talks on demilitarizing border
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The two Koreas and the US-led United Nations Command began talks Tuesday on demilitarising a section of the heavily fortified border dividing the peninsula, as a diplomatic thaw gathers pace. “The first meeting between the South, North and the UNC on disarming the Joint Security Area (JSA) will take place at 10am today at Panmunjom,” Seoul’s defense ministry said in a message sent to reporters. The JSA, also known as […]
‘Calm before storm’ as Asian stocks drift higher
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Asian shares drifted marginally higher on Tuesday following another volatile session on Wall Street but a perfect storm of risks hovering over the global economy curbed investors’ enthusiasm. Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng market led the gains, rising by half a percentage point, while equities in Japan scraped into positive territory after suffering stiff losses the previous day. Chinese stocks opened essentially flat while markets in Australia and South Korea were […]
Turkey searches Saudi consulate as Trump speaks of ‘rogue killers’
by Fulya Ozerkan and Stuart Williams Agence France Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish police on Monday searched the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for the first time since journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing, as US President Donald Trump floated the idea that “rogue killers” could be to blame for his disappearance. Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident who became increasingly critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since he […]
China bemoans ‘confusing’ US signals but holds hope for a Trump-Xi meet
by Brian KNOWLTON</strong Agence France Presse WASHIGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will “probably” meet at a G20 summit next month, a US official said Sunday, as both sides seek answers for a badly strained relationship that a Chinese official called “very confusing.” “The presidents will probably meet at the G20 in Buenos Aires,” Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on the “Fox News Sunday” program. But […]
Saudi Arabia vows retaliation if punished over missing critic
by Omar Hasan Agence France Presse DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Saudi Arabia warned Sunday it would retaliate against any sanctions imposed on the oil-rich kingdom over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the Riyadh stock market plunged on growing investor jitters. From tech tycoons to media giants, a host of Western companies are now distancing themselves from the Gulf state, imperilling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s much-hyped economic reform drive. US President […]





