AFP UK

Gedaref (Sudan) (AFP) – In Sudan’s breadbasket of Gedaref, farmers are battling both drought and soaring production costs as they try to salvage this year’s harvest. Across the country, farmland that could feed the world’s largest hunger crisis many times over lies fallow. The powerful El Nino climate pattern strengthening in the Pacific Ocean, which impacts winds and rains across the world, has delayed crucial rains and led water levels in the life-giving Nile to drop precipitously.

Moskau (AFP) – The head of the CIA, John Radcliffe, did not meet President Vladimir Putin on his visit to Moscow but had “contacts” with Russia’s special services, the Kremlin says, without elaborating what was discussed. “There have been contacts through the security services. I can tell you that there have been no meetings with the President of Russia,” says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a diplomatic deal is not possible with the “savages” who rule Iran as he hails US President Donald Trump’s new campaign of economic pressure. Netanyahu has long been sceptical of diplomacy with Iran, openly campaigning against a 2015 nuclear deal brokered by then US president Barack Obama, but he has been publicly careful not to criticise Trump while he sought a negotiated settlement.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a diplomatic deal is not possible with the “savages” who rule Iran as he hails US President Donald Trump’s new campaign of economic pressure. Netanyahu has long been sceptical of diplomacy with Iran, openly campaigning against a 2015 nuclear deal brokered by then US president Barack Obama, but he has been publicly careful not to criticise Trump while he sought a negotiated settlement.

Copiapó (AFP) – Northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, is blanketed with a riot of colourful wild flowers after unusually heavy rains triggered a rare ‘flowering desert’ event.

Copiapó (AFP) – Northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, is blanketed with a riot of colourful wild flowers after unusually heavy rains triggered a rare ‘flowering desert’ event.

Al-Qadarif (AFP) – In Sudan’s breadbasket of Gedaref, farmers are battling both drought and soaring production costs as they try to salvage this year’s harvest. Across the country, farmland that could feed the world’s largest hunger crisis many times over lies fallow. The powerful El Nino climate pattern strengthening in the Pacific Ocean, which impacts winds and rains across the world, has delayed crucial rains and led water levels in the life-giving Nile to drop precipitously.

Nashville (AFP) – Nashville residents pay homage to country music icon Dolly Parton, laying flowers outside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, after her team confirmed she has died after a “brief battle with cancer”. More than just a singer, Parton wrote some 3,000 songs, starred in major Hollywood films and donated millions to charities in her home state and beyond.

Ottawa (AFP) – Canada says that its counter-tariffs responding to US President Donald Trump’s latest duties will range between 15 percent and 50 percent, as a trade war intensifies between the historically close allies. “Canada will match the United States’ tariffs dollar for dollar, rate for rate,” says Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne during a press conference.

Ottawa (AFP) – Canada says that its counter-tariffs responding to US President Donald Trump’s latest duties will range between 15 percent and 50 percent, as a trade war intensifies between the historically close allies. “Canada will match the United States’ tariffs dollar for dollar, rate for rate,” says Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne during a press conference.

Beijing (AFP) – China says it will safeguard its interests after Washington laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Beijing’s economic partner Iran. “Cooperation between China and Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian tells a regular news briefing.

Beijing (AFP) – China says it will safeguard its interests after Washington laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Beijing’s economic partner Iran. “Cooperation between China and Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian tells a regular news briefing.