Italian PM tells China’s premier of plan to quit Belt and Road Initiative: Italian media

New Delhi: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni outlined Italy’s plan to pull out of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit, Italian media reported on Sunday. Italy, seeking to minimise any backlash from the decision from Beijing, would as a replacement aim to revitalise a strategic […]

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Chinese premier calls for advancing economic globalisation, unity within G20

New Delhi: Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged on Saturday the Group of 20 (G20) members to resolutely advance economic globalization and promote unity, cooperation and inclusion within the G20. Keeping in mind the future of humanity, Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, Li […]

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Maldives election: Could be key for China, India rivalry

Male: A presidential election in the Maldives on Saturday could be decisive in determining whether China or India win a competition for influence over the tiny Indian Ocean island chain. Home to about 521,000 people, the Maldives is famous for its sun-kissed atolls and luxury tourist resorts but the rival Asian giants have both invested millions […]

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Main Afghan-Pakistan border crossing closed as forces exchange fire

Islamabad: The main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was closed on Wednesday as security forces from both countries exchanged fire, Pakistani security sources said. Local residents reported the sound of gunfire by the Torkham crossing and said people around the busy border area near the Khyber Pass had fled once the firing sarted. Security officials […]

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G20 Summit: Hasina-Modi meet on Sept 8

Dhaka: The much-anticipated bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will take place in New Delhi on September 8, on the eve of the two-day G20 Summit. The meeting will take place at the official residence of the Indian PM, hours after Hasina’s arrival in New Delhi to […]

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Asean summit kicks off in Jakarta with focus on regional economic growth

Jakarta: The 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and related summits kicked off in Indonesia’s Jakarta on Tuesday (5 September) with a focus on establishing the region as an epicentre of economic growth. Addressing the opening ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, whose country is holding the rotating Asean chair this year, urged Asean […]

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Taiwan presidential hopeful offers pets for pregnancies in push to boost birth rate

Taipei City: A billionaire presidential hopeful in Taiwan has proposed boosting the plummeting birthrate by offering couples free pets if they have a baby. Terry Gou, the founder of Apple-supplier Foxconn, announced his intention to seek the presidency as an independent candidate last week. In an early sign of how his campaign may run, Gou told […]

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Thailand’s king swears in new PM and cabinet

Bangkok: Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and cabinet ministers in a coalition government made up of 11 parties on Tuesday. Srettha, whose Pheu Thai party leads the coalition, and 33 cabinet ministers pledged their loyalty to the monarchy during the ceremony at the Dusit Palace in Bangkok. The government will deliver […]

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