News in Brief-(2024-02-16)
Friday, 16 February 2024
Two Chinese fishermen die after sea
chase by Taiwan coastguard
BEIJING, Feb 15: Two Chinese fishermen have drowned while being chased by the Taiwanese coastguard off Taiwan's northernmost Kinmen archipelago. Taipei said the fishing boat trespassed into Taiwanese waters on Wednesday. The four fishermen on board resisted an inspection and the boat capsized when authorities gave chase. Beijing "strongly condemned" the incident, saying it "seriously hurt the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait". — BBC
Russia, China clash with US, UK over attacks
on Yemen rebels for strikes on Red Sea ships
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 15: Russia and China on Wednesday accused the United States and Britain of illegally attacking military sites used by Yemen's Houthi rebels to launch missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood and UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward countered that the Houthi attacks are illegal, and their "proportionate and legal action" against the Yemen rebels are being taken in self-defense. — AP
Australian PM announces engagement
SYDNEY, Feb 15: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced his engagement to his partner of four years, Jodie Haydon. He proposed at the Lodge - the prime minister's official Canberra residence - on Valentine's Day, with a ring he specially designed. Mr Albanese, 60, and Ms Haydon, 45, met at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020. He is the first Australian leader to get engaged while in office. Mr Albanese shared the news on social media with a selfie, captioned: "She said yes." — BBC
Modi opens Hindu temple in UAE
ABU MUREIKHA, Feb 15: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Middle East's first traditional stone-built Hindu temple on Wednesday, internationalizing both his reelection campaign and his effort to push secular India into a Hindu state. The trip to the BAPS Hindu Mandir just north of the city of Abu Dhabi capped Modi's whistlestop tour of the United Arab Emirates during which the Indian leader embraced the UAE's president. — AP