AP, Beijing
China and Myanmar have pledged to forge closer ties as “blood brothers” following Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Beijing, her first diplomatic trip since taking power in March.
The neighboring countries said in a joint statement they would strengthen trade and cooperation on issues along the border, where fighting between Myanmar government forces and rebels have occasionally spilled over. There was no mention of progress, however, on a stalled $3.6 billion dam project in northern Myanmar primarily funded by Chinese energy interests, which was a key concern during the visit.
Nice truck attack toll rises to 86
AFP, Nice
A man hurt in last month’s massacre in the French city of Nice has died of his injuries, taking the death toll in the Bastille Day attack to 86, the government said Friday.
The latest victim leaves behind a wife and two children, the department in charge of assisting victims of attacks said.
The attack on France’s national holiday came eight months after 130 people were killed at a Paris concert hall and other nightspots in the capital in November by Islamic State (IS) gunmen and suicide bombers.
7,000 migrants live in Calais ‘jungle’ camp
AFP, France
Nearly 7,000 migrants are now living in the camp known as the “Jungle” in the French port of Calais, marking a sharp increase in recent months, local authorities said today.
The surge in the population of the largely makeshift camp emerged from a head count carried out by authorities the day before yesterday. The new figure of 6,901 people is 2,415 higher than in June.
China to develop next generation missile
PTI, Beijing
China will develop its next- generation cruise missiles based on a modular design, allowing them to be tailor-made for specific combat situations with high level of artificial intelligence (AI), a senior missile designer said.
“We plan to adopt a ‘plug and play’ approach in the development of new cruise missiles, which will enable our military commanders to tailor-make missiles in accordance with combat conditions and their specific requirements.
