Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to North Korea on Tuesday for a “friendly” visit, the Kremlin announced, as the West suspects Pyongyang of supplying Moscow with weapons for its Ukraine offensive.
The visit to the world’s most reclusive state comes as Putin seeks ammunition to continue his military campaign launched in February 2022, which has thrown Moscow into unprecedented global isolation.
It also comes nine months after Putin hosted North Korea’s Kim Jong Un on a rare foreign trip to the Russian Far East, where the pair lavished each other with praise.
“President Vladimir Putin on June 18-19 will go to the North Korean Democratic Republic on a friendly state visit,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Moscow said Putin will then travel to Vietnam.
Western countries, South Korea and Kyiv have accused Pyongyang of sending weapons to Moscow for use in Ukraine, in violation of UN sanctions on North Korea.
Putin has scaled down trips abroad since launching the Ukraine offensive, but has paid some high-profile visits to Moscow’s few key allies such as China.
Pyongyang rarely hosts foreign guests, isolated diplomatically and having shut itself off even more since the Covid pandemic.
Russia and North Korea, which share a small land border, have historic links since the Soviet Union helped found the tiny state after the Korean War in the 1950s.
Since the fall of the USSR, Russia was one of the few countries to have working relations with Pyongyang.
It will be Putin’s second visit to the country in his time in power, after a trip 24 years ago, shortly after becoming president, to meet Kim Jung Un’s father Kim Jong Il.
Back then, Putin was a frequent traveller, regularly touring the United States and Europe.
Now Russia finds itself under heavy international sanctions and the Kremlin leader is a persona non grata in most of the Western world, officially wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Kim said last week that ties with Russia had “developed into an unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms”.
When the leaders saw each other in September, Putin said he saw “possibilities” for military cooperation with North Korea, while Kim wished the Kremlin chief “victory” in Ukraine.
They symbolically gifted each other rifles and the Kremlin promised that Putin would visit in turn.
A string of Russian officials, including Moscow’s spy chief, have since visited North Korea in preparation for the visit.
In March, Russia also used its UN Security Council veto to effectively end UN monitoring of North Korean sanctions violations, a move seen as a victory for Pyongyang.
Both Russia and North Korea have denied that Pyongyang’s weapons are being used in Ukraine.
Kim’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jon, accused Seoul and Washington last month of “misleading public opinion” on the issue.
Ukraine, however, has reported finding N Korean shells on the battlefield.
In May, South Korea said its northern rival fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, with some experts saying they could be tests for weapons destined for use against Ukraine.
As the Kremlin and Pyongyang have publicly deepened their ties, Moscow’s relationship with South Korea — a Ukraine backer — has been hugely strained.
Seoul is a major weapons exporter to Kyiv. Its President Yoon Suk Yeol last month promised to maintain its support in a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
South Korea last month announced separate sanctions on Russian and North Korean individuals and companies allegedly trading military supplies.
For its part, Russia earlier this year detained a South Korean man, Baek Won-soon, on spy charges. He is believed to be the first South Korean detained on espionage charges in Russia for decades.
According to media reports, he may have been a missionary helping North Korean workers in Russia escape the country.
AFP
Ghana Rejects MTN Financial Support For Victims Of Xenophobic Attacks In South Africa
The Government of Ghana has declined a GHS20 million donation offered by MTN Ghana to support Ghanaian victims of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying it has already made adequate financial provision for the evacuation and reintegration of affected citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said it had become aware of media reports indicating that MTN Ghana was preparing to donate GHS20 million to Ghanaian victims of the attacks.
According to the ministry, the reports appeared to attribute the announcement of the intended donation to an interview granted by the MTN Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Yamson.
While acknowledging the gesture, the government said it had decided not to accept the financial support.
“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the John Mahama Administration had already made adequate provision for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the attacks.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms that the Mahama Administration has made adequate provision for ongoing evacuations and reintegration of Ghanaians and is therefore unable to accept this offer,” it said.
The ministry further disclosed that the government’s position had previously been communicated directly to MTN’s leadership during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), on August 14, 2026.
“This position of the Government of Ghana had earlier been directly conveyed to the Board Chair and CEO of MTN when they called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) on August 14, 2026,” the statement said.
The government, however, stressed that it remained committed to providing humanitarian assistance to Ghanaians being brought back from areas where they faced danger.
“Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana remains fully committed to current humanitarian evacuations and reintegration financial support for every Ghanaian brought back from harm’s way,” the ministry said.
It also pledged to disclose the total expenditure incurred on the evacuation exercise after its completion, describing the planned disclosure as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures that it will present to the general public a comprehensive account of the total cost of evacuations as soon as the exercise is concluded, in the interest of transparency and accountability,” it added.
The government also sought to reassure international businesses operating in Ghana that it would continue to support their operations irrespective of their countries of origin.
“Government will continue to create the best business ecosystem for all international brands operating in Ghana to succeed, irrespective of which country their businesses originated from,” the ministry said.
It added: “The welfare of all Ghanaians remains our utmost priority.”
The government’s decision comes amid concerns over the safety and welfare of Ghanaians affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with authorities undertaking evacuations and reintegration efforts for citizens brought back from harm’s way.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government’s existing arrangements were sufficient to cover the humanitarian response, making it unnecessary to accept the proposed MTN donation.
Earlier in July, fresh diplomatic tensions emerged between Ghana and South Africa after the Ghanaian government reportedly declined to host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for a planned state visit, citing concerns over the reported killing of a Ghanaian citizen and alleged xenophobic attacks against its nationals.
The decision follows the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, whom Ghana says was killed during demonstrations associated with renewed attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa on June 30, 2026.
Officials in Accra said the postponement of the visit reflects Ghana’s growing concern over the security of its citizens residing in South Africa. They maintained that ensuring the safety of Ghanaians abroad must take precedence over high-level diplomatic engagements.
President Ramaphosa had been expected in Ghana during the first week of August for a state visit aimed at reinforcing the longstanding relationship between both countries. The visit was also expected to provide an opportunity for discussions on bilateral cooperation and concerns surrounding attacks on foreign nationals.
US President Donald Trump has ordered American flags across the country to be flown at half-staff for one week following the death of country music legend Dolly Parton.
Trump made the announcement on Tuesday, August 25, as tributes continued to pour in for Parton, who died in Nashville at the age of 80.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest country singers, and far beyond, ever, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6 p.m. Rest in peace, Dolly! The world loves you. President Donald J. Trump.”
Parton’s death was announced by her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, in a video shared on social media.
The Tennessee-born singer had a career spanning seven decades and became one of the most influential figures in country music, while also establishing herself as a songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman and philanthropist.
Although Parton generally stayed away from political controversies, she had previously disclosed that she turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice during Trump’s first administration.
Speaking to the Today show in 2021, Parton explained her decision, saying: “I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn’t travel because of the COVID,”
She added: “Now I feel like if I take it, I’ll be doing politics, so I’m not sure.”
Parton devoted much of her career to charitable causes, including childhood literacy through her Imagination Library programme, which has distributed millions of books to children.
She established the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 and later created the Dolly Parton Scholarship for students from her home area of Sevier County, Tennessee.
She also supported communities affected by disasters, including donating funds to victims of the devastating East Tennessee wildfires. In 2017, she donated $1 million to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Parton was recognised across the music industry for her extraordinary career. She was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recorded 25 No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
She also received 10 Grammy Awards from 55 nominations.
An official statement released following her death described the impact of her life and career.
“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
A United States District Court in Manhattan has nullified the Donald Trump administration’s policy suspending the processing and issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, including Nigeria.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, U.S District Judge, Jeannette Vargas, described the January directive by the State Department as patently unlawful and said it exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
The policy, which took effect on January 21, had barred immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries on the grounds that they posed “a high risk for becoming a public charge” and relying on U.S government cash assistance.
Affected countries are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
President Donald Trump had early in the year, published a list of welfare dependent rates among immigrants, noting that about 33.3 per cent of Nigeria immigrants households received some form of public assistance.
According to the directive, older or overweight applicants can be denied, along with those who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalisation.
But delivering the judgement, Judge Vargas, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, held that the suspension ran afoul of federal immigration law, which expressly removed authority over consular processing of immigrant visas from the Secretary of State.
“The policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme,” she wrote.
The suit was filed by immigrant rights groups, Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, alongside U.S citizens sponsoring family members and visa applicants from the affected countries.
The State Department had, in a cable sent to U.S missions in January directed consular officers to refuse applicants whose visas were “print-authorized” but not yet printed.
It said the suspension was part of a full review to ensure the highest level of screening and vetting and to prevent foreign nationals from exploiting U.S welfare systems.
“Applicants from these countries are at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States,” the cable stated.
Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, had defended the move, saying: “The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generousity of the American people.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
President Trump has, since returning to office in January, pursued an aggressive immigration crackdown aimed at improving domestic security.
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