Congo Republic Votes in Election Expected to Extend Sassou’s Long Rule

BRAZZAVILLE, March 15 (Reuters) – Congo Republic votes on Sunday ⁠in ⁠a presidential election widely expected ⁠to extend 82-year-old Denis Sassou Nguesso’s decades-long rule by another ​five years, with limited active opposition and little uncertainty about the result. Two of the country’s ‌best‑known opposition leaders remain in prison, ‌while others are in exile. Several opposition …

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Australian Government Deploys Military to Assist Flood-Hit Northern Territory

SYDNEY, March 15 (Reuters) – Australia’s ⁠Prime ⁠Minister Anthony Albanese ⁠said on Sunday that troops would ​be deployed to help communities hit by ‌a days-long flood emergency ‌in the country’s north. Albanese said ⁠the ⁠centre-left government had approved deployment of Australian Defence ​Force personnel to help communities around the flood-hit Northern Territory town of Katherine, …

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Taiwan Says Large-Scale Chinese Military Flights Return After Unusual Absence

TAIPEI, March 15 (Reuters) – Taiwan on Sunday reported ⁠the ⁠return of large-scale Chinese air ⁠force activities around the island after an unexplained absence of ​more than two weeks that prompted speculation in Taipei as to Beijing’s motives. China, which ‌views democratically governed Taiwan as its ‌own territory, normally sends fighter jets, drones and other …

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French Mayoral Elections Gauge Far-Right Strength Before Presidential Ballot

By Ingrid Melander and Juliette Jabkhiro PARIS, March 15 (Reuters) – French voters head to ⁠the ⁠polls on Sunday to elect their mayors ⁠in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right ​and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year’s presidential election. Heading nearly 35,000 municipalities – …

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