BEIJING (Reuters) – China and Europe should “unite and co-operate” against global uncertainties, Premier Li Qiang told the European Union chief on the sidelines of the annual G20 summit in New Delhi. “Risk prevention does not preclude co-operation, interdependence should not be equated with insecurity,” Li told EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. Li urged the bloc to provide a non-discriminatory environment for Chinese firms, adding that China was willing to strengthen dialogue and co-operation in areas such clean energy and green finance, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. “China and the EU should further unite and co-operate, and use the stability of China-EU relations as a hedge against the uncertainty of the world situation,” it quoted Li as saying.

  

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NAYPYIDAW (Reuters) – Myanmar has received the first shipment of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Charlie Than, Myanmar’s trade minister, told the Russian RIA state news agency in remarks published on Sunday. “Two aircraft have already been delivered,” Than told RIA on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia’s annual forum aimed at developing economic cooperation in the region and encouraging foreign investment, which starts on Sunday in the port of Vladivostok. Russia and Myanmar signed a contract in September 2022 for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, RIA said. The Sukhoi Su-30SME multi-role fighter jet is designed for enemy’s aerial targets engagement, aerial reconnaissance, combat employment and pilot training, according to Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-controlled arms exporter. Separately, Than told the Russian TASS state news agency that a number of bilateral agreements will be signed at the East Economic Forum, including on developing tourism between the two countries.

 

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MADRID (AFP) – Hundreds of teachers marched through the streets of the Spanish capital, protesting against the privatization of public education and better working conditions. “We are here defending public education, it is a very important public service. It is true warranty of equality of conditions between different social sectors. Public education is a true social elevator, the only one that allows the most disadvantaged people to progress socially. And we find a political movement that goes in the opposite direction here in Madrid, that supports concerted and private education to the detriment of public education, which will be left for people with fewer resources”, said one of the protesters. “We are starting the courses in Madrid and as always, with a shortage of teachers, with classrooms full of students. There is a lack of media, there is a lack of institutes, there is a lack of cabbages. There are many construction booths, many barracks where the kids are thought, and we cannot allow it one more year”, stated another protester. Protesters carried placards and banners displayed by the demonstrators reading ‘Public education, neither bought, nor sold, It is to be defended’, ‘More teachers and more doctors!’, and ‘More investment to the public school’, among others and chanted slogans denouncing privatization.

 

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ADDIS ABABA (Bloomberg) – Ethiopia completed the fourth and final filling of its contentious dam on the Nile River’s main tributary, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Sunday.

In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Abiy said the process was finished despite “external pressure” and congratulated all who worked on the project. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of major friction between Ethiopia and downstream nations Egypt and Sudan. Cairo argues the project could sharply curtail its access to river flows that provide the North African nation with over 90% of its freshwater needs. The Ethiopian premier and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi this summer agreed on moving ahead with talks related to finalizing the agreement about filling and operating the $5 billion dam. The first official discussions between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the hydropower project in over a year ended without a breakthrough last month. Ethiopia says more talks are planned in its capital, Addis Ababa, in September.

 

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MALE, Maldives (AP) – The Maldives presidential election was headed toward a second round between the top two candidates after none of the eight contestants secured more than 50 percent of the vote for an outright win, local media reported. Main opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz secured a surprise lead with more than 46 percent of votes, while the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 39 percent in an election that turned into a virtual referendum over which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago state. The second round will take place later this month. Saturday’s vote was to choose the country’s fifth freely elected president since Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008. Eight candidates are vying for the post with Solih, perceived as pro-India, facing off against his main rival Muiz, who is seen as pro-China.