The talks between North Korea and the US that took place in Vietnam, aimed at getting the communist regime to give up its nuclear weapons, collapsed last week, reports The New York Times. North Korea rejected President Trump's offer to "go big" and "trade all its nuclear weapons, material and facilities for an end to the American-led sanctions squeezing its economy".
That may make it seem
Still, it's hard to see how any further progress can be made, says Edward Luce in the Financial Times. There is talk of another summit, but the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "now has the global recognition he wants and can wait out the clock for Trump's presidency to end".
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In any case, it's questionable whether Trump "has the patience to, or the realistic possibility, of persuading Kim to do something he has no intention of doing". Instead of pursuing the "chimera" of a North Korea-US peace deal, Trump would be better advised to pay more attention to the current "dangerous stand-off" between India and Pakistan.
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Steve Webb: The triple lock is there to do a job. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of itThe triple lock means 13 million pensioners will now get an above-inflation state pension boost in April. While the rising cost of the policy has stirred controversy, Steve Webb, who served as pensions minister when it was introduced, argues the triple lock is vital and should stay. Webb speaks to Kalpana Fitzpatrick on the new episode of MoneyWeek Talks – out now.
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How retirement pots risk running out 11 years early if inflation remains highPension savers could find their retirement income may not last as long as they anticipated over fears that inflation may not slow down
