Politics

BEIJING / AFP China has imposed restrictions on imports of North Korea coal and sales to the North of jet fuel under UN sanctions imposed in response to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests. The sanctions announced on Tuesday allow some imports of North Korean coal, iron ore and other materials for civilian use. But they ban any trade connected to ...

Yangon / AFP Myanmar foreign minister Aung San Suu Kyi met her Chinese counterpart in Naypyidaw on Tuesday, an official said, as relations with Beijing take centre stage in the first diplomatic foray of her newly installed pro-democracy government. The Southeast Asian nation sees its giant neighbour—and largest trading partner—as its biggest foreign policy preoccupation with border wars and controversial ...

Cape Town / AFP South African President Jacob Zuma faced an impeachment attempt in parliament on Tuesday after the country’s top court ruled that he had violated the constitution over spending on his private residence. Zuma will almost certainly survive the impeachment vote, which requires a two-thirds majority, as his ruling African National Congress holds an overwhelming number of seats. ...

Moscow / AFP Nadiya Savchenko’s 22-year sentence formally began on Tuesday with the Ukrainian pilot to be sent to prison camp in the next 10 days unless Kiev secures a swap deal with Moscow. The 34-year-old military pilot was convicted on March 22 over the killing of two Russian journalists in east Ukraine, a charge she denies. “The court did ...

Baku / Bloomberg Deadly clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces over the NagornyKarabakh region continued for a third day on Monday despite international pressure to halt the worst fighting in decades over the disputed territory. Azerbaijan said three of its troops were killed overnight when Armenian forces shelled its positions using mortars and grenade launchers, taking the overall death toll ...

Myanmar / AFP Myanmar’s Aung San SuuKyidropped plans to run two major ministries but will act as spokeswoman for the country’s new president, a ruling party official said on Monday. Banned from becoming president by a junta-era constitution, SuuKyi has cemented control over the country’s first civilian-led government in decades by taking on a string of senior roles in the ...

Maldives / AFP Maldives police have released 16 journalists arrested during a protest against a perceived government crackdown on press freedom on the politically troubled holiday islands, officials said on Monday. The journalists, which the government said were released late Sunday, have been ordered to report to police for questioning over the demonstration held outside President Abdulla Yameen’s office in ...

Brussels / AFP Brussels airport scheduled nearly 40 flights on Monday, officials said, as Belgium struggles to get back to normal after two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the departure hall nearly two weeks ago. The number was a sharp rise over the three flights at Belgium’s main air hub on Sunday, but a far cry from the 600 ...

Brazil / Bloomberg Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s top lawyer will present final arguments before an impeachment committee on Monday at the start of a crucial two weeks in the embattled leader’s bid to stay in power. Solicitor General Jose Eduardo Cardozo was due to face the cross-party committee for the last time before it votes on whether to recommend Rousseff ...

Djibouti / AFP A French warship ploughs through the sparkling waters between Africa and Arabia on a joint training drill with the US that highlights Djibouti’s growing strategic role for the world’s militaries. On the sun-blasted rocky shores of the tiny Horn of Africa nation, some 500 French troops march alongside 50 US Marines near the town of Arta, wearing ...