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Christopher Luxon has been warmly welcomed by China's President in Lima on the sidelines of the APEC Summit. It is the first time Xi Jinping and Luxon have met, with the meeting scheduled for 30 minutes. In his opening remarks, President Xi acknowledged the sound and steady growth between China and New Zealand and commended Luxon for his efforts building the relationship since he took office a year ago. He also said China was ready to work together with New Zealand to create more firsts. President Xi noted Luxon had visited China many times in his previous life before politics. NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets with China's President, Xi Jinping in Lima. Photo: Pool / Chris Skelton "Since taking office as the Prime Minister you have attached importance to New Zealand's relati...

US House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson. Photo: AFP / Drew Angerer US House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson said that a congressional ethics panel should not release a report examining allegations of sexual misconduct against Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for US attorney general. Lawmakers of both parties on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they want to see the unreleased House Ethics Committee report on Gaetz, as part of a Senate confirmation process for cabinet nominees that would start next year with public hearings. "I'm going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report, because that is not the way we do things in the House," Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters in the US Capitol on Friday (local time). G...

A ball of fire erupts as an Israeli strike hits a building in Beirut's southern Ghobeiri neighbourhood on 15 November 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. Photo: AFP Hezbollah is considering a US-Israeli ceasefire proposal, sources told CNN, as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group intensify. The US ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, relayed the proposal to the Lebanese government on Thursday night (local time), a Lebanese official familiar with the discussions told CNN. Authorities are "optimistic" that Hezbollah will agree to the terms of the agreement and expect to submit an official response to the latest proposal next Monday, the official said. "Diplomatic efforts are on fire now," the source said. Israel launche...

Ireland lock Joe McCarthy reacts after scoring a try against Argentina. Photo: AFP Ireland survived a fierce second-half comeback from Argentina to narrowly defeat the Pumas 22-19 in Dublin and just about bounce back from last week's disappointing loss to New Zealand. Ireland led 22-9 at halftime after ruthlessly punishing an early Argentina yellow card with two tries in the first seven minutes from Jack Crowley and Mack Hansen. Joe McCarthy added a third after Tomas Albornoz had kept the visitors in touch. A very different Argentina side emerged after the break with Juan Cruz Mallia slicing the hosts open and Albornoz cutting the lead to just three points before Ireland composed themselves, in no small part thanks to an impressive debut off the bench from 21-year-old flyhalf Sam Prende...