France to join Japan patrol off N Korea
Paris: France will on Friday agree to join Japanese navy patrols off North Korea in a fresh sign of efforts to deepen ties and military links between Tokyo and Paris, officials said. Japan and France, which President Emmanuel Macron sees as a Pacific power because France controls territories in the region, share joint concerns about North Korea’s nuclear programme, as well as China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Sweden closing in on political accord Stockholm: Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats and Greens were nearing an accord Friday to form a minority coalition with centrist support and end months of post-poll gridlock, media reports said. A September election was inconclusive but if the Liberals and the Centre Party come aboard that will mean “a solution has been found,” Aftonbladet daily said on its website.
Chinese man suspected of spying held in poland
Warsaw: Poland said on Friday it had arrested a Chinese businessman and a Polish citizen suspected of spying for China, with local media identifying the former as a Huawei official.