Foreign policy

UN adopts resolution urging global cooperation on COVID-19

Apr. 2, 2020 11:26 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution Thursday recognizing “the unprecedented effects” of the coronavirus pandemic and calling for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat” the COVID-19 disease. It was the...

A woman listens to music at a park on Roosevelt Island, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in New York, with a United Nations building in the background. New York State entered a new phase in the coronavirus pandemic Monday, as New York City closed its public schools, and officials said schools statewide would close by Wednesday. New York joined with Connecticut and New Jersey to close bars, restaurants and movie theaters along with setting limits on social gatherings. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

UN General Assembly to decide on rival COVID-19 resolutions

Apr. 1, 2020 2:58 AM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — How should the U.N. General Assembly and its 193 member states respond to the coronavirus pandemic? Members have been sent two rival resolutions for consideration — and under new voting rules instituted because the global body isn’t holding meetings, if a single country...

FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2020 file photo, men from Bangladesh disembark from the Open Arms rescue vessel at the port of Messina after being rescued on Friday off the Libyan coast, in Sicily, Italy. The European Union announced Tuesday, March 31, 2020 the launch of a new naval mission in the Mediterranean Sea aimed at enforcing the U.N arms embargo on Libya, after Italy blocked a previous operation claiming that the warships attracted migrants. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios, File)

EU launches new naval mission to police Libya arms embargo

Mar. 31, 2020 8:35 AM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union announced Tuesday the launch of a new naval mission in the Mediterranean Sea aimed at enforcing the U.N. arms embargo on Libya, after Italy blocked a previous operation claiming that the warships attracted migrants to Europe's shores. The new operation, dubbed Irini, the...

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in Washington. Pompeo said Wednesday that the Group of Seven members were all aware of China's

US extends Iran nuclear cooperation sanctions waivers

Mar. 31, 2020 7:12 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday renewed several waivers on U.S. sanctions against Iran, allowing Russian, European and Chinese companies to continue to work on Iran's civilian nuclear facilities without drawing American penalties. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed off on the...

Europe's trade system with Iran finally makes first deal

Mar. 31, 2020 5:10 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — European countries trying to keep Iran's nuclear deal with world powers alive said Tuesday that a system they set up to enable trade with Tehran has finally concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export of medical goods. Britain, France and Germany conceived the complex barter-type...

FILE - In this Monday, March 2, 2020, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a military drill at undisclosed location in North Korea. North Korea has fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea said Sunday, March 29, 2020. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified.(Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

North Korea says US clearly doesn't want nuclear talks

Mar. 30, 2020 8:14 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Monday that “reckless remarks” by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made it clear that Washington has no intention of resuming nuclear talks, and warned that it is now compelled to pay back “the pains the U.S. has imposed on our...

A member of the Iranian army walks past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran, on Thursday, March 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iran defends virus response as Syria reports first death

Mar. 29, 2020 6:45 PM EDT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president on Sunday lashed out at criticism of authorities' lagging response to the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, saying the government has to weigh economic concerns as it takes measures to contain the pandemic. Syria meanwhile reported the first fatality from...

A man watches a TV screen showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 29, 2020. North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea said, calling it

North Korea test fires missiles amid worries about outbreak

Mar. 28, 2020 10:54 PM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea and Japan said, continuing a streak of weapons launches that suggests leader Kim Jong Un is trying to strengthen domestic support amid worries about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the...

Shoppers wearing face masks with a cart full of food supplies wait in line to pay at a supermarket counter in Singapore, Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2020. Singaporeans were seen buying food supplies in supermarkets following neighboring Malaysia's announcement of a nationwide lockdown from the coronavirus to begin Wednesday which could affect the flow of food supplies to the city state. (AP Photo/Ee Ming Toh)

The Latest: Singapore penalizing social distancing violators

Mar. 26, 2020 11:35 PM EDT

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. TOP OF THE HOUR: — U.S. leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases...

FILE - In this May 24, 2018 file photo, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, right, walks with his Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez as they review the troops during a military parade at Fort Tiuna in Caracas, Venezuela. On Thursday, March 26, 2020, the U.S. Justice Department made public it has charged in several indictments against Maduro and his inner circle, including Padrino, that the leader has effectively converted Venezuela into a criminal enterprise at the service of drug traffickers and terrorist groups as he and his allies stole billions from the South American country. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

US indicts Venezuela's Maduro on narcoterrorism charges

Mar. 26, 2020 9:42 PM EDT

MIAMI (AP) — Nicolás Maduro effectively converted Venezuela into a criminal enterprise at the service of drug traffickers and terrorist groups as he and his allies stole billions from the South American country, the Justice Department charged in several indictments made public Thursday against the...

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