French PM Bayrou survives latest no-confidence motion
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Tuvalu seeks US assurance after visa ban list error
SYDNEY: Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that scientists predict will be submerged by rising seas, said it is seeking written assurance from the United States that its citizens will not be barred from entry after being apparently mistakenly included in a list of 36 countries facing visa bans. An internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed the United States, which has already barred entry for citizens from 12 countries, was considering expanding travel restrictions to the 36 countries, including three Pacific Island states, Reuters and other media reported last month. Nations on the list would have 60 days to take corrective action, the cable showed. The news had caused significant concern in Tuvalu, whose population of 11,000 is at risk from rising sea levels, and where a third of residents have applied to an Australian ballot for a landmark climate migration visa. Tuvalu's ambassador to the United Nations, Tapugao Falefou, said he had been told by a U.S. official that Tuvalu's inclusion on the list was 'an administrative and systemic error on the part of the U.S. Department of State'. In a statement on Tuesday, Tuvalu's government said it had not received any formal notification that it was on the list, and had also been assured by the United States embassy in Fiji it was 'an error within the system'. 'The Embassy has provided verbal assurances that there are no current restrictions on Tuvaluan nationals entering the United States, and that the matter is being reviewed with authorities in Washington,' the statement from Tuvalu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade said. It added Tuvalu was seeking a 'formal written confirmation to that effect and continues to engage the U.S. Government to ensure Tuvaluans are not unfairly affected'. The U.S. embassy in Fiji, citing U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order suspending entry for 12 countries, said in a statement to Reuters on Wednesday that the United States was protecting national security through the its visa process. 'The Department of State and other U.S. government agencies assess other countries' security capabilities; information-sharing and identity management practices; exploitation of the U.S. visa system, such as overstay rates; and failure to facilitate the repatriation of their removable nationals,' a spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Suva said. The Secretary of State would consult with the Attorney General, Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to assess whether suspensions should be 'continued, terminated, modified or supplemented', the statement added. A U.S. official familiar with visa policy who is not authorized to speak publicly told Reuters 'no decisions have been made, and any speculation is premature'. 'Tuvalu's public statement mischaracterizes and omits some of the valid concerns the United States has with travelers from that country,' the official added. The other Pacific Islands listed in the cable were Vanuatu and Tonga. Tonga's government had received an official U.S. warning, and was working on a response, Tonga media reported. Vanuatu's government did not respond to a request for comment.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
French PM Bayrou survives no-confidence vote as RN holds back
PARIS: French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou survived his latest no-confidence motion in parliament on Tuesday, after far-right National Rally (RN) lawmakers refrained from backing a measure brought by his opponents on the left. The measure garnered 189 votes, falling well short of the threshold needed to oust the government. Despite surviving his eighth no-confidence motion since taking office last December, Bayrou's premiership appears increasingly shaky. He now finds himself in the same position as his predecessor Michel Barnier, whose three-month stint as prime minister ended after the National Rally called time on his rule. Officials from the RN - the single largest party in the National Assembly but short of a majority - said they would not back the no-confidence motion. They prefer to refrain until later in the year, when even more complex talks over passing the 2026 budget threaten to once again topple France's government. Bayrou faces an uphill challenge to secure 40 billion euros in spending cuts for the 2026 budget. The Socialists filed the no-confidence motion after months-long talks to tweak the country's disputed pension reform ended without a deal. Bayrou convened the talks to secure the Socialists' support against an earlier no-confidence motion, but their fragile accord is now dead. RN party president Jordan Bardella, interviewed on CNews on Monday, gave no indication the RN would back the no-confidence measure. Instead, he called on French President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve parliament and call fresh legislative elections. Macron, whose second and final term as president will end in 2027, called a snap parliamentary vote last year after the RN surged in European Parliament elections. He can dissolve Parliament again from July 8. 'I don't see how anything healthy can emerge between now and 2027,' Bardella said.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Anwar departs for a series of high-level meetings
Heading abroad: Anwar at KLIA departing for official visits to Italy, France and Brazil from July 1 to 7. — Bernama SEPANG: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is on a series of visits to three countries, starting with Italy, followed by France and Brazil. The chartered Malaysia Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and his delegation departed KL International Airport at 2.15pm yesterday. His three-day official trip to Italy is part of Malaysia's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation at the global level. The visits to the major economic hubs of Rome, Paris and Rio de Janeiro aim to strengthen Malaysia's diplomatic ties and trade relations with the respective nations, Bernama reported. The three markets collectively recorded bilateral trade valued at RM50.91bil last year. Anwar is accompanied by a business delegation comprising representatives from major Malaysian corporations and innovative enterprises, including PETRONAS, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Maybank, FGV, YTL Power, and Sunway. The Prime Minister's inaugural visit to Italy is at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni. Malaysian Ambassador to Italy Datuk Zahid Rastam said the visit was expected to further strengthen bilateral relations across a wide range of sectors. In Rome, Anwar will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. In Paris, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron. Their discussions will focus on trade, technology and education sectors. Besides the roundtable with France's industry giants, Anwar will engage with local Muslim leaders, meet Malaysian citizens in France and deliver a public lecture at Sorbonne University on Friday. After Paris, Anwar will head to Rio de Janeiro to attend the 17th BRICS Summit on the invitation of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Malaysia's role as a BRICS Partner Country and Asean Chair for 2025 will emphasise the importance of multilateralism based on law, governance of artificial intelligence, climate action and global health, representing the aspirations of over 650 million Asean citizens. Anwar will attend the BRICS Summit as a partner country in the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, among others.
