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.

US Senator and key Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies

IANS | July 12, 2026 3:32 PM

Washington, July 12 (IANS) US Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican, South Carolina) and a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, has died after a "brief and sudden illness" on Saturday evening (local time), his office announced on Sunday. He was 71.

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.