WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden will visit Vietnam next month to meet with top officials on issues ranging from technology and the economy to regional stability and climate change, as Washington eyes closer ties in a region where China looms large. Biden will meet with Communist Party General Secretary NguyenContinue Reading
JOHANNESBURG: Iran and Saudi Arabia are among six nations invited on Thursday (Aug 24) to join the BRICS bloc of developing economies. The United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia are also set to join the bloc from 2024. The announcement was made at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg byContinue Reading
WASHINGTON: The United States said on Wednesday (Aug 23) it wanted to extend a science agreement with China but only for six months as it seeks revisions, following criticism from US lawmakers that it boosts an adversary. Signed in 1979 by president Jimmy Carter and China’s leader Deng Xiaoping, theContinue Reading
WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday (Aug 23) expanded its sanctions against Myanmar to include foreign companies or individuals helping the country’s military junta to procure jet fuel that it uses to launch airstrikes on its own people, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. The Treasury was alsoContinue Reading
WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday (Aug 23) expanded its sanctions against Myanmar to include foreign companies or individuals helping the country’s military junta to procure jet fuel that it uses to launch airstrikes on its own people, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. The Treasury was alsoContinue Reading
JOHANNESBURG: Leaders of the BRICS emerging economies, which account for about a quarter of the world’s wealth, meet in Johannesburg this week looking to widen the bloc’s influence and push for a shift in global geopolitics. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to host China’s President Xi Jinping, India’s PrimeContinue Reading
Mr Walters said it is important to lock these down for future political considerations, so that the countries will still have these agreements even if Mr Biden, Mr Kishida or Mr Yoon are no longer in office, “because they eventually will change”.
There remains, however, issues to be ironed out among the three countries.
Mr Matthew Goodman, senior vice-president for economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that some of the economic policies pursued by the Biden administration at home has a “protectionist bent” which concerns its allies like Japan and Korea.
These include policies which are good for US growth, along with potential critical investments in clean energy that would reduce costs and provide new technologies for its people.
“So I think there are still some doubts on the economic side about the Biden administration’s approach to the region,” said Mr Goodman.
A video taken by a passenger appears to show the man, who was wearing a backpack, threatening passengers and staff.
Police did not specify the nationality of the man though they said he is a resident of Canberra.
They had earlier stressed the incident posed no “impending threat to the community” – although it did cause 32 domestic flights to be cancelled and created lengthy delays of up to 90 minutes for others. No international flights were cancelled.
“In the interest of safety, the commander of the flight made a decision to return to Sydney,” said a Malaysia Airlines spokesperson in response to CNA’s queries on Monday night.
The airline added that other passengers and crew members completed disembarkation at 7pm.
The man has also been charged with one count of not complying with cabin crew’s safety instructions, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) added.
“The AFP will not divulge operational matters, however, an emergency response plan was enacted and an evacuation was initiated once it was deemed safe for passengers and crew.”
The man is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
The offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of over A$15,000 (S$13,200).
The World Health Organization on Monday (Aug 7) flagged a batch of contaminated common cold syrup, manufactured by an Indian company, the latest in a series of warnings by the agency about substandard medicines from the country. The United Nations agency said the batch of the syrup, branded Cold Out,Continue Reading
BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone conversation on Monday (Aug 7) that China would uphold an independent and impartial position on Ukraine as it strives to find a political settlement to the issue. Wang’s comments to Lavrov were announced in aContinue Reading