Macron throws electoral net wide, meeting Sarkozy’s man in the south
MARSEILLE/PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron met hardline southern French conservative Christian Estrosi on Saturday, a sign of how widely the favorite to win France’s presidential election is throwing his centrist electoral net.
Philippines seeks to rename marine zone after China shows interest
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Saturday it was planning to change the name of a stretch of water east of the country in a bid to highlight its sovereignty over the area, which was surveyed recently by a Chinese vessel.
Dalai Lama arrives in India’s northeast on his way to region disputed by China
GUWAHATI (Reuters) – The Dalai Lama arrived in India’s northeastern state of Assam on Saturday ahead of a visit to neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, a region run by New Delhi but claimed by Beijing.
Egypt’s president leaves Cairo for Washington to meet Trump
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi left Cairo for Washington on Saturday where both sides will seek a renewed relationship after tensions over Sisi’s crackdown on opponents.
South Africa’s new finance minister beats reform drum amid Gordhan fallout
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa’s new finance minister signaled on Saturday he would oversee a redistribution of wealth to the country’s black majority, as a row over the sacking of his predecessor laid bare bitter divisions within the ruling ANC par…
British role in European security ‘unconditional’: foreign minister
PARIS (Reuters) – Britain’s contribution to European security is “unconditional”, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told a French newspaper, denying the government had made a veiled threat to reduce cooperation if there was no post-Brexit trade deal.
Iran rejects U.S. terror claim by Mattis, blames Saudi
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran rejected an allegation by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis that it was “the primary exporter of terrorism” and said on Saturday that the main source was U.S. ally Saudi Arabia.
Philippines’ Duterte invites EU critics, wants to ‘slap them’
(Editors’ note: Language in paragraph 6 may offend some readers)
British ‘implacable’ in support for Gibraltar: foreign minister
LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said the United Kingdom would remain “implacable and rock-like” in its support for Gibraltar after the European Union offered Spain a right of veto over the territory’s future relationship …
Trump sends letter to Vietnam’s president to promote ties
HANOI (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has written to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to promote more cooperation between the two countries, the government website cited Quang as saying.
