International news with relevance to Thai and regional readers
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said his visit to Russia shows the “strategic importance” of the two countries’ ties, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday ahead of an expected summit with President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, which could be as early as Wednesday, is being watched apprehensively by Washington and allies, who suspect the two leaders will discuss
Say goodbye to refilling that Coke. McDonald’s is getting rid of self-served soda. The Chicago-based fast food chain plans to eliminate self-service soda machines at its U.S. restaurants by 2032, McDonald’s confirmed this week. It’s unclear if locations outside the U.S. will follow suit. In an email to The Associated Press Tuesday, McDonald’s USA said
A Dutch art detective has recovered a precious Vincent van Gogh painting that was stolen from a museum in a daring midnight heist during the coronavirus lockdown three-and-a-half years ago, police said Tuesday. Arthur Brand took possession of the missing painting, the 1884 “Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring”, worth between three and six million
Homeless, traumatised and in some cases feeling abandoned by the authorities, many survivors of Morocco’s powerful earthquake escaped death only to fear they are now on their own to stay alive. The deadly quake has put a heavy burden on the North African kingdom’s emergency resources and some stranded in shattered communities were angry and
The United States and Vietnam warned on Monday against the “threat or use of force” in the disputed South China Sea, days after the latest clash involving Chinese vessels. President Joe Biden and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong said the competing claims on the strategic waterway must be settled under international norms. Beijing
NEW DELHI (AP) — President Joe Biden and his allies on Saturday announced plans to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe, an ambitious project aimed at fostering economic growth and political cooperation. “This is a big deal,” said Biden. “This is a really big deal.” The corridor,
US President Joe Biden arrives in Vietnam on Sunday set to deepen cooperation between the two nations, in the face of China’s growing ambitions in the region. Biden — who is flying from the G20 summit in New Delhi — will meet the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, on Sunday, and is expected
U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for nearly an hour on Friday about joint plans on technology, infrastructure and the importance of a healthy democracy, shortly after Biden arrived in New Delhi for a G20 summit over the weekend. The two leaders pledged to cooperate on issues from democratic values
A powerful earthquake shook Morocco late Friday and killed nearly 300 people, according to a preliminary government count, with terrified residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh at 11:11 pm (2211 GMT), the US Geological Survey reported. Strong tremors
China’s premier said on Wednesday major powers must oppose a new Cold War, a thinly veiled reference to Washington as top Asian and US officials gathered for talks in Indonesia. Beijing has expressed concern about US-backed blocs forming on its doorstep, while facing disputes with other powers in the region over the South China Sea
A man accused of throwing a pipe bomb at Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April has been charged with attempted murder, a court spokeswoman said Wednesday. Ryuji Kimura, 24, is suspected of tossing the explosive device towards Kishida during a campaign event in western Japan. Kishida was unharmed after the attack, while Kimura was
London, United Kingdom – Britain’s Charles III reaches the milestone of his first year as king this week, with his reign so far characterised by a smooth transition from that of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The anniversary on Friday is expected to be marked privately, given the date is also that of his
