A member of India’s Dalit community has been sworn in as the chief minister of Punjab state, marking the first time that someone from the lowest caste has achieved top office in the north-western province. On Monday, Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn in as 16th chief minister of Punjab in a small ceremony, reportedly only […]
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Volcanic eruption forces 5,000 people to flee La Palma villages as lava flow destroys homes
The mayor of El Paso, La Palma, Sergio Rodriguez Fernandez, says the volcanic eruption on the island has destroyed at least 20 homes, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 people, with hundreds more at risk from the growing lava flow. Speaking to TVE radio, Rodriguez Fernandez warned that the nearby village of Los Llanos de Aridane […]
North Korea slams South’s ‘sloppy’ submarine-missile launch as ‘self-comforting’, says Seoul set to ruin peninsula’s peace
North Korea has blasted its southerly neighbor’s recent submarine-missile launch, slamming Seoul’s attempt as “sloppy” and “self-comforting”, but claiming it spells further tension that will derail the peace on the peninsula. On Monday, Jang Chang Ha, chief of North Korea’s Academy of the National Defence Science, criticized South Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test as […]
Japan’s conservative PM contender wants to host US intermediate-range missiles as deterrent against North Korea & China
Sanae Takaichi, one of the contenders for the leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said she will ask the US to deploy intermediate-range missiles to the country as a deterrent against Pyongyang and Beijing. “Deploying intermediate-range missiles is absolutely necessary to protect the lives and territory of the Japanese people,” Takaichi said on […]
‘Lying, contempt & crisis in relations’: French FM says NATO must take note as he lashes out at US & Australia over AUKUS deal
French FM Jean Yves-Drian has continued to criticize the US and Australia for the AUKUS submarine deal, meant to go to Paris, insisting there may be major consequences to French-US relations and for the transatlantic alliance. “There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt. This will not do,” Foreign Minister Le […]
Malaysian PM says AUKUS will be ‘catalyst for nuclear arms race’ as ex-diplomat warns Australia is now ‘isolated’ in region
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has warned that the AUKUS deal to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines could spark a nuclear arms race in the region, while an ex-diplomat claims Canberra is now isolated. Ismail expressed concern about the effects on regional stability on Saturday, after he spoke to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison […]
France is ‘vital partner & oldest ally,’ US says as Australia ‘regrets’ recall of French envoys over nuclear submarine deal
Washington has insisted that Paris remains a “vital partner” after France recalled its ambassadors from the US and Australia, in protest over the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal that killed a French shipbuilding contract. “France is a vital partner and our oldest ally, and we place the highest value on our relationship,” State Department spokesperson Ned […]
TikTok & Twitter trolls in France’s crosshairs as education minister intervenes in bizarre high school cyberbullying campaign
French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer has urged schools to “reinforce vigilance” against a cyberbullying campaign high-school seniors are waging against incoming juniors on TikTok and Twitter under the hashtag #Anti2010. Some French sixth-graders born in 2010 will start secondary school this autumn, and they’ve reportedly been bombarded in recent weeks with abusive posts on TikTok […]
Blinken calls for more ‘normalization’ of ties with Israel as he celebrates Trump-brokered Abraham Accords
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on more countries in the Arab world to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel, offering rare praise to Trump’s diplomacy as he marked one year since the signing of a landmark peace deal. Speaking at a virtual meeting on Friday with his counterparts from Israel, Bahrain, Morocco and the […]
French billboard owner hit with €10,000 fine for depicting president Macron as Hitler on Covid protest poster
A court in southern France has slapped a billboard owner with a €10,000 fine for “public insult” after President Emmanuel Macron was depicted on the man’s public advertising panel as Hitler during anti-Covid-rules demonstrations. On Friday, a court in Toulon slapped Michel-Ange Flori with the hefty penalty of €10,000 ($11,755) for having represented the French […]
‘Expel all terror planners from Germany,’ Merkel’s potential successor says, as Syrian teen is accused of plot to attack synagogue
Armin Laschet, the new head of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) & her possible successor, has said migrants must be thoroughly integrated into society while terrorists must be expelled from the country. “Whoever integrates here, should integrate, learn German and also have a job, and should be allowed to stay. But those […]
Mixed signals from US as Blinken deletes tweet pledging Washington’s support to Hong Kong anti-government protesters
The US secretary of state has caused confusion by deleting a post critical of Hong Kong’s unseating of opposition council members and issuing a milder remark instead. A department spokesperson stuck to the original wording. This week, seven opposition district councillors in Hong Kong were unseated after a deadline expired for them to submit information […]
France mulling compensation claim as Australia pulls out of submarine contract worth billions, favoring UK & US partners
The French armed forces minister has said her government is looking at a number of options to minimize financial losses from Australia’s decision to end a lucrative submarine contract with France’s Naval Group. Speaking on Thursday, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said that the French government will look to ensure that the financial loss to […]
Duterte’s daughter seeking reelection as Davao mayor, despite leading polls to succeed her father as Philippines leader
The daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, who also tops all opinion polls on preferred candidates to replace him as president, has said she will seek to be reelected as mayor of Davao City, with her younger brother to run as vice-mayor. “According to Mayor Sara, she will run for reelection as Davao City Mayor,” Sara Duterte-Carpio’s […]
France says Biden acted like Trump as UK & US steal huge Aussie submarine deal in ‘brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision’
France’s foreign minister has spoken of his “anger” and “bitterness” and has criticized the US and Britain, after the allies agreed a deal to supply nuclear submarines to Australia, undoing Paris’ $40-billion deal for French subs. “I am angry and bitter. This isn’t done between allies,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told franceinfo radio on […]