BEIJING – A strong earthquake shook a mountainous region in southwestern China near a famous national park, killing 13 people, injuring 175 others and knocking out power and phone networks. At least five of the dead were tourists, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said. At least 28 people had serious injuries, according to the Aba…
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that 755 staff must leave US diplomatic missions, in retaliation for new US sanctions against Moscow. The decision to expel staff was made on Friday, but Mr Putin has now confirmed the number who must go by 1 September. It brings staff levels to 455, the same…
PARIS – The head of the French armed forces has quit after a clash with President Emmanuel Macron over budget cuts. Gen Pierre de Villiers said in a statement he could no longer “guarantee the durability of the army model” that he considered necessary to ensure France’s protection. France’s government last week revealed major cuts…
NEW YORK – President Donald Trump has been party to an eye-watering 4,000 lawsuits over the last 30 years, US media say. And now the mogul turned commander-in-chief has attracted one more, after seven people sued him for blocking them on Twitter. Mr Trump is an avid user of the social media forum, which he…
HAMBURG – US President Donald Trump is to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for the first time at a G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. They have both said they want to repair ties damaged by the crises in Syria and Ukraine, as well as Russia’s alleged meddling in the US election. Climate change and…
NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that he is considering a “pretty severe” response following the country’s long-range missile test. “They are behaving in a very, very dangerous manner and something will have to be done about it,” he said. But he moderated his comments, saying: “We’ll just take a…
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a radical overhaul of the country’s government. Speaking at the historic Palace of Versailles, he said he planned to cut the number of lawmakers by a third. Doing so would produce a more efficient government and put France on a “radically new path”, said Mr Macron. The…
SEOUL – North Korea said it has issued a standing order for the execution of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her spy chief for what it said was a plot to assassinate its leader, and it demanded that the South hand the pair over. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said…
LONDON – The Queen is to receive an 8% increase in income from public funds, after the Crown Estate’s profits rose by £24m. The Sovereign Grant, which pays for the salaries of her household, official travel and upkeep of palaces, is to increase by more than £6m in 2018/19. It comes as accounts revealed the…
NEW YORK – President Donald Trump has accused his predecessor Barack Obama of inaction over alleged Russian interference in the US election in 2016. Mr Trump said Mr Obama had learned well before the 8 November poll about the accusations and “did nothing”. His comments followed an article in the Washington Post which said that…
