Manila, Philippines | AFP | China is expanding artificial islands in disputed South China Sea areas despite saying it stopped two years ago, according to a security think tank that released satellite images it said showed the land reclamation. Beijing claims most of the sea and has been turning reefs in …
Read More »China scores diplomatic coup in sea row
Manila, Philippines | AFP | China on Sunday scored a diplomatic coup in its campaign to weaken regional resistance against its sweeping claims to the South China Sea when Southeast Asian nations issued a diluted statement on the dispute and agreed to Beijing’s terms on talks. After two days of …
Read More »Foiled Australia plane plot directed by Islamic State: police
Sydney, Australia | AFP | A man instructed by Islamic State to bring down an Etihad Airways flight tried to use an unsuspecting passenger to carry a bomb on board, with a second poisonous gas plot also in the works, Australian police alleged Friday. The improvised device, using “high military-grade explosive”, …
Read More »Trump willing to invite Putin to White House, but not yet
Paris, France | AFP | US President Donald Trump is willing to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the White House, but not yet, according to official remarks released on Thursday. During a conversation aboard Air Force One flying into Paris, Trump said he was willing to engage the Russian leader …
Read More »Kuwait airline says US laptop ban lifted
Kuwait City, Kuwait | AFP | Kuwait Airways said Sunday that a ban on laptops and tablets in the cabins of its US-bound flights had been lifted by Washington. “Now our passengers flying from Kuwait International Airport to in #NY will be able to use all of their personal electronic devices,” …
Read More »Room service? Xi takes over Hong Kong luxury hotels
Hong Kong, China | AFP |China’s President Xi Jinping will want for nothing during his three-day visit to Hong Kong after taking over two entire luxury hotels with more than 1,300 rooms between them. The glitzy harbourfront Grand Hyatt and Renaissance, in the business and commercial district of Wan Chai, …
Read More »Vigilantes: Nigeria’s next security problem?
Maiduguri, Nigeria | AFP | In 2013, thousands of young men formed a rag-tag militia and rounded up Boko Haram members in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, then handed them over to the military. The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), as it later became known, was instrumental in driving the Islamist militants …
Read More »Museveni in Addis for IGAD summit
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia| PPU| President Yoweri Museveni has held a meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Addis Ababa. The meeting took place this afternoon shortly before the official starting of the 31st Extraordinary Summit of the Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State. The summit will …
Read More »Juncker says Europe can no longer ‘outsource’ protection
Prague, Czech Republic | AFP | Europe has to take care of its defence given the shift in US policy, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Friday, promoting a hefty defence fund announced by Brussels. “The protection of Europe can no longer be outsourced,” Juncker told a defence conference in …
Read More »MUSEVENI: Uganda to focus on 5 strategic issues in 2017-18
Kampala, Uganda| PWATCH UG| President Yoweri Museveni has during the State of the Nation Address on Tuesday outlined five key issues as major drivers towards economic stability for the country. The five issues include, “peace, development of the infrastructure and the human resource; wealth creation, job creation, and market access.” …
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