China wants African nations to switch from USD to yuan in debt repayments

IANS | July 12, 2026 3:40 PM

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) Beijing has started asking African countries to shift their debt repayments to China from the US dollar to the yuan as part of its strategy to strengthen its own currency and dent the dominance of the American currency in the global payment system as per a media report.

China's missile launch inside South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone carries geopolitical signals: Report

IANS | July 12, 2026 3:21 PM

Beijing, July 12 (IANS) China's test-firing of a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean - which it termed routine training - has sparked concerns, with Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and others criticising the move, as the timing and location inside the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone carry geopolitical signals, as per a report.

India's Russian crude imports jump 34 pc to record high in June

IANS | July 12, 2026 2:52 PM

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) India's imports of Russian crude oil climbed to a record high in June, even as Russia's overall oil export revenues declined amid softer global prices, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).