Author: admin@primenews

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi had a message for his European counterparts over the weekend: no matter how the world changes, China will be “consistent and stable” – a “force for stability.” The claim, which Wang delivered during remarks at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, comes as European leaders are warily watching the upcoming United States elections – concerned that the potential return of former President Donald Trump could upend their partnership with Washington. Those concerns flared in the past week after Trump said he would not defend NATO allies that failed to spend enough on defense – a stunning threat for many in Europe…

At least 49 bodies were found at the site of a gun battle between tribes in Papua New Guinea’s remote highlands, police told CNN Monday, in a gruesome escalation of hostilities in the country. Those killed were believed to be warring members of the Ambulin and Sikin tribes who were armed with “military style” automatic weapons, according to Enga Province Police Commander George Kakas. The bloodshed broke out Sunday morning over a protracted land dispute in the Middle Lai area of Enga Province, located over 600 kilometers (more than 370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea,…

There was a huge bang. A massive hole opened up in the side of the plane, minutes into a flight. Wind and noise filled the cabin, clothes and phones were ripped from passengers and hurled into the void. The metal of airplane seats twisted towards the opening. It was an extremely lucky day. Because for the 171 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots on board Alaska Airlines flight 1282 who experienced all of that on January 5, it could have been so much worse. “It’s fortunate that nobody died and there were not more serious injuries,” Jennifer Homendy, the…

China has reported a record upsurge in travel and consumption during a longer-than-usual Lunar New Year holiday season, touting the gains as signs that the world’s second largest economy is regaining its footing thanks to the government’s supportive policies. But according to CNN calculations based on official data, the average tourism-related spending per trip was below pre-pandemic levels, as consumer confidence remains weak amid deflationary pressure. A total of 474 million trips were made within mainland China during the Year of the Dragon travel season, up 34% compared to the same holiday in 2023 and 19% higher than in 2019, according to…

Back To The Future star Michael J Fox, who is living with Parkinson’s disease, made a surprise appearance at the Baftas to present the best film award. The 62-year-old actor came onstage in a wheelchair but insisted on standing up at the podium to hand out the prize to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Fox received a standing ovation, with many social media users posting that they were in tears seeing him on stage. He was diagnosed in the 1990s and rarely makes public appearances. Davis Guggenheim’s film, Still: A Michael J Fox Movie, was nominated for best documentary but lost out…

What a night at the Bafta film awards. And we’re not just talking about Oppenheimer picking up the most prizes. David Tennant brought a dog, Barry Keoghan showed his love for Sophie Ellis-Bextor and our favourite US star Da’Vine Joy Randolph cracked on to Chiwetel Ejiofor. We’re here for it. Here’s some of the top moments you might have missed from the ceremony and behind the scenes. Bring on the Anglophiles There wasn’t a single British male up for best actor or supporting actor this year and supporting actress nominee Rosamund Pike told us on the red carpet: “I don’t…

Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr and director Christopher Nolan were all honoured for their work on Oppenheimer as the film dominated the Bafta Awards. Murphy was named best actor for playing J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, while Downey Jr won best supporting actor. The drama won seven Baftas including best film. Poor Things picked up five, including best actress for Emma Stone. Best supporting actress went to Da’Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers. Oppenheimer and the acting winners could well repeat their successes at the Oscars in three weeks – although Oscar and Bafta…

Huge crowds have rallied in Mexico’s capital, protesting against proposed changes to the electoral authority ahead of June’s presidential elections. The Mexico City government said some 90,000 people turned out in the city’s Zocalo Square. The rally organisers said the figure was much higher. The opposition accuses President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of trying to weaken the National Electoral Institute – an autonomous, non-partisan body. He says the INE is biased and corrupt. Since his victory in the 2018 presidential elections, Mr López Obrador has been pushing for a reform of the INE, which he says will save taxpayers $150m…

No one town can capture the mood of this huge, struggling nation, after almost two years of war. But perhaps Lyman comes close. This is a small, half-ruined railway town, first seized by Russia, then liberated, and now trapped, precariously, near the frontlines of the Donbas. Its civilian inhabitants seem torn between determination and despair. “Only peace matters now. I want peace. Only peace. On any terms,” said Oleksandr Rogovitz, a 74-year-old retired businessman, living alone in the icy ruins of a nine-storey apartment block on the edge of Lyman. When we first met Oleksandr and his eight cats exactly one year…

UK Special Forces blocked Afghan troops they had fought alongside from relocating to the UK after the Taliban seized power, BBC Panorama can reveal. Leaked documents show special forces rejected applications despite some containing compelling evidence of service alongside the British military. Afghan commandos accompanied British special forces on some of the most dangerous missions of the conflict. The Ministry of Defence said it was conducting an independent review. When the Taliban swept to power in August 2021, members of Afghan Special Forces units CF 333 and ATF 444 – known as the “Triples” – were among the groups most…