World News

Macron rejects 'confrontation' as he relaunches Asia strategy

French President Emmanuel Macron urged an end to "confrontation" Friday as he relaunched his strategy for the Asia-Pacific region after a bitter row over a cancelled submarine contract with Australia.. France's vocal engagement in the region comes after a rocky period last year, when Australia's previous prime minister Scott Morrison abruptly torpedoed a French contract to provide Canberra with submarines and announced a deal to buy US or British nuclear-powered subs instead.

Fri, Nov 18, 2022 2 mins read

World News

VP Harris tells Asia the US is 'here to stay'

Vice President Kamala Harris told Asian leaders on Friday that the United States is committed to the region for the long haul, rejecting doubts about its engagement as China expands its clout.. While the United States has taken a firm tone on China, some Asian officials have questioned the level of US economic engagement.

Fri, Nov 18, 2022 2 mins read

World News

US and allies vow pressure on North Korea after new missile launch

US Vice President Kamala Harris and leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada vowed to pressure North Korea as they held urgent talks Friday on Pyongyang's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.. "These unprecedented multiple ballistic missile launches undermine our security.

Fri, Nov 18, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Uruguay's Jorge Drexler eclipses Bad Bunny at Latin Grammys

Uruguay's top musical export Jorge Drexler overshadowed megastar Bad Bunny's hype at Thursday's Latin Grammys, scoring seven trophies including Best Record during the gala that saw Spain's Rosalia take home the coveted top album award.. Along with Bad Bunny -- whose smash "Titi Me Pregunto" ultimately scored two awards in the "urban" categories -- the 58-year-old was up against stacked competition including Rosalia, who won four awards including for her critically acclaimed album "Motomami," and Colombia's Karol G.  In his speech Drexler acknowledged the massive reach of Latin urban music including reggaeton, dedicating the award "to everyone who does urban music in Spanish because you've taken our music to places it was never in before."

Fri, Nov 18, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Upstarts challenge elderly political elite in Nepal election

Shouting matches with public officials and undercover sting operations on corrupt bureaucrats helped Nepali television host Rabi Lamichhane tap into widespread discontent over an elderly, back-scratching political leadership.. His work resonated with Nepalis dismayed at widespread graft that has routinely broken into open scandal, such as when members of the government's integrity agency were forced to step down after they were themselves accused of corruption.

Thu, Nov 17, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Wildlife summit could upend Hong Kong's shark fin trade

Hong Kong's controversial shark fin trade may face its biggest shakeup in years if conservationists get their way in securing tighter regulations at an international wildlife conference in Panama.. "If this Panama conference adds more species to (CITES regulations), the government should pay close attention," he told AFP.  "Wildlife smuggling has become very systematic and organised, so investigations need to be dialled up." hol/jta/axn/cwl

Thu, Nov 17, 2022 3 mins read

World News

North Korea fires suspected intercontinental ballistic missile, Seoul says

North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile Friday, Seoul's military said, the second launch in two days as Pyongyang continues a record-breaking blitz that has sent fears of a nuclear test soaring.. The launch comes a day after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile as its minister of foreign affairs, Choe Son Hui, warned Pyongyang would take "fiercer" military action if the United States strengthened its "extended deterrence" commitment to regional allies.

Thu, Nov 17, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Cuba bets on specialty coffee to boost industry

In the lush, fertile mountains of Cuba, farmer Jesus Chaviano dreams of adding his arabica beans to a list of specialty coffees the country hopes will lift an industry in decline.. Chaviano is optimistic that one day his coffee will be one of the feted specialty brands being exported from Cuba.

Thu, Nov 17, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Ukraine air defenses under pressure as Russia strikes infrastructure

Ukraine's air defenses are playing a key role in countering Russia's invasion, preventing Moscow's forces from gaining control of the skies and helping shield the country against missile and drone attacks.. - 'Top-level priority' - Milley said a Wednesday meeting of dozens of Ukraine's supporters "focused on how we, as a global coalition, can provide the right mix of air defense systems and ammunition for Ukraine to continue its control of the skies and prevent the Russians from achieving air superiority."

Thu, Nov 17, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Shark fin hunters in the soup as wildlife summit takes action

A global wildlife summit in Panama took an important step Thursday towards upgrading protection for sharks, the ancient ocean vertebrates targeted for their fins used in a status-symbol soup.. Shark fins -- which represent a market of some $500 million per year -- can sell for about $1,000 a kilogram in East Asia for use in shark fin soup, a delicacy.  

Thu, Nov 17, 2022 1 mins read