China says not competing for influence in South Pacific

Port Vila, Vanuatu, June 1 (AFP/APP):China has insisted it has “no intention to compete” for influence in the South Pacific as foreign minister Wang Yi and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong again jetted around the region Wednesday on duelling diplomatic charm offensives. In a statement […]

Danes begin voting on joining EU’s common defence policy

Copenhagen, June 1 (AFP/APP): Traditionally eurosceptic Denmark began voting Wednesday in a referendum on whether to overturn its opt-out on the EU’s common defence policy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The vote comes on the heels of neighbouring Finland’s and Sweden’s historic applications for NATO […]

Biden, Fed chair discuss US inflation at White House

Washington, May 31 (AFP/APP): President Joe Biden held a rare White House meeting with the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, on Tuesday to discuss soaring inflation and White House attempts to tame the politically damaging price surge ahead of midterm elections. “I am […]

Around 100 dead in clashes between Chad gold miners

N’Djamena, May 30 (AFP/APP): Around 100 people have died in clashes between gold miners in northern Chad, Defence Minister General Daoud Yaya Brahim said on Monday. Violence broke out on May 23 at Kouri Bougoudi near the Libyan border, sparked by a “mundane dispute between […]

Nepal flight missing with 22 on board

Kathmandu, May 29 (AFP/APP):A passenger plane with 22 people on board went missing in Nepal on Sunday, the operating airline and officials said, as poor weather hampered a search operation. Nepal’s air industry has boomed in recent years, carrying goods and people between hard-to-reach areas […]

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