Hanoi / AFP Vietnam customs officials have seized nearly one tonne of ivory hidden in a timber shipment from Kenya, an official said on Thursday, the third major illegal haul of precious tusks in less than a month. The communist nation is a popular transit route for illegal ivory from Africa heading to other parts of Asia, namely China, …

  Brussels / AFP NATO and the European Union are partners in defence, not rivals, top officials said on Thursday, downplaying any suggestion EU military ambitions might undermine the US-led alliance which has protected Europe for decades. “I strongly believe it is absolutely possible to strengthen European defence without duplicating efforts by NATO,” alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said. “EU leaders …

  Tokyo / AFP The United States on Thursday reassured its key Asian allies Japan and South Korea that its policy seeking North Korea’s nuclear disarmament remains unchanged, after its intelligence chief called it a “lost cause”. Washington has always maintained it cannot accept North Korea as a nuclear state and, under President Barack Obama, has made any talks with …