The US state department has confirmed it offered millions of dollars to the captain of an Iranian oil tanker which is at the centre of a diplomatic row. Brian Hook, head of the department’s Iran Action Group, emailed the captain…
US-China trade war likely to be a marathon (TheNational)
In the fable, the tortoise wins the race because the hare lies down to take a nap after bolting into the lead. Slow, dogged persistence triumphs over flighty arrogance. If this were the story of the US-China trade war, it’s…
Tehran denies US claim of destroying Iranian drone (Guardian)
Tehran on Friday denied the United States had downed one of its drones, saying all Iranian aircraft were accounted for and jesting Washington may have accidentally hit their own machine. The latest incident in the strategic Strait of Hormuz comes…
Trump hits China as trade war escalates (BBC)
The US has more than doubled tariffs on $200bn (£153.7bn) worth of Chinese products, in a sharp escalation of the countries’ damaging trade war. Tariffs on affected Chinese goods have risen to 25% from 10%, and Beijing has vowed to…
South Korea and US to end large-scale war games (BBC)
The US and South Korea have confirmed they will no longer hold large-scale joint military exercises which have always infuriated North Korea. The alliance’s defence chiefs said the decision supported “diplomatic effortsto achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula”. A number…
Huawei denies wrongdoing after US criminal charges (BBC)
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has denied any wrongdoing after US prosecutors filed a host of criminal charges against the firm. Huawei has also rejected criminal claims against its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Canada last month.…
Presidency reacts to statements on the CJN by US, UK and EU
The Presidency has reacted to what it described as coordinated statements by the United States of America, United Kingdom and the European Union in the matter of the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen. A…
China: Huawei arrest is rights abuse (BBC)
China has urged the US and Canada to “clarify” the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer. The daughter of the founder of the Chinese telecoms giant was arrested in Vancouver on 1 December and could face extradition to…
Finally: Atiku heads to America (The Cable)
Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has finally been issued a visa to the United States, TheCable can report. A family source disclosed this to TheCable on Saturday and confirmed that the former vice-president has left…
Trump administration temporarily blocked from banning asylum seekers (HuffPost)
A federal judge barred the Trump administration on Monday from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in San Francisco. The request…