AP, New Delhi
India and South Africa will boost ties in key areas such as defense, maritime security, information technology and trade under a three-year strategic exchange program, their leaders said Friday.
The plan was announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after they met in New Delhi. Two-way trade is expected to rise to $10.65 billion in 2018-19 from $9.38 billion in 2017-18.
2 divers win Australian award for Thai cave
rescue
AP, Canberra
Two amateur divers who canceled their vacation plans to join what they thought was a hopeless mission to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand on Friday received one of Australia’s most prestigious awards.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison presented Australian of the Year Award 2019 trophies to anesthetist Richard Harris and his dive buddy Craig Challen, a retired veterinarian, at a ceremony in the national capital Canberra on the eve of Australia’s national day.
Iran holds infantry drill involving 12,000 troops
AP, Tehran
Iran’s state TV says the army has launched an annual infantry drill involving some 12,000 troops.
It quotes Gen. Nozar Nemati as saying the two-day exercise will unfold over a 500-square kilometer area in the central Isfahan province. He says the ground forces will practice new offensive tactics. Iran regularly holds exercises to display its military preparedness and has vowed to respond strongly to any attack by Israel or the United States, both of which view it as a regional menace.
Indonesia floods, landslides death toll climbs to 59
AFP, Makassar
Floods and landslides in Indonesia have now killed at least 59 people, the government said Friday, after heavy rain pounded Sulawesi island and forced thousands to flee their homes.
“I’ve never seen something this bad – this is the worst,” Syamsibar, head of South Sulawesi disaster mitigation agency, told AFP, adding that 25 people were still missing.
