The Philippines will hold joint naval drills with the United States, Japan and Australia, two diplomatic sources told AFP Thursday, as the four countries deepen military ties to counter China's expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.Joint patrols between the US, Japanese and Philippine coast guards are expected to be announced during the summit, one of the diplomatic sources told AFP, after joint drills were held for the first time last year.
Turkish MFA condemns attack on Turkish Consulate in Hannover azernews.az - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from azernews.az Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PARIS (Reuters) -France's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne is on his way to Ukraine, his first official trip, three diplomatic sources said on Friday, as Paris looks to reassure Kyiv of its support as the war with Russia nears its second anniversary. The trip comes at a time when political infighting in the United States and European Union has held up two major packages of assistance for Ukraine. A second French diplomatic source said it was deemed important to maintain a trip initially planned under the previous minister to underscore Paris' commitment at a time when things were tougher for Ukraine.
France is to close its embassy in Niger, diplomatic sources in Paris indicated on Friday. The move to shut down the embassy in the former French colony follows a coup at the end of July when the presidential guard ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. General Abdourahamane Tiani has seized power. Most of France's diplomatic personnel had left the country at the end of September after the embassy came under attack and a blockade was imposed, the diplomatic sources in Paris said. "France's embassy in N