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☆ Russian foreign ministry summons Canadian envoy over plane confiscation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, June 15 (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it had summoned a Canadian diplomat in Moscow in protest over the confiscation of an Antonov plane in Toronto, and warned that Russian-Canadian relations were on the "verge of being severed." Canada on Saturday ordered the seizure of a Russian-registered Antonov-124 cargo plane at Toronto's airport, its first such asset seizure aimed at putting pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine invasion. Russia told Brian Ebel, the deputy head of Canada's embassy in Moscow, that it viewed the plane seizure as "cynical theft," according to a statement from the foreign ministry. A spokesperson for the Canadian foreign ministry acknowledged Moscow's concerns, and reiterated Ottawa's "unwavering" support for Ukrainians. Those who have enabled, supported and profited from Russia's war in Ukraine will be held accountable," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Persons: Brian Ebel, Trudeau, Ottawa's, Justin Trudeau, Ismail Shakil, Mark Potter, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: OTTAWA, Saturday, Canada, NATO, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Canadian, Moscow, Toronto, Canada, Russian, Toronto's, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Ottawa

Neither Azour nor Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Frangieh came close to winning the 86 votes needed to win in a first round vote. Azour, the IMF's Middle East Director and an ex-finance minister, won the support of 59 of 128 lawmakers. Hezbollah and its allies then withdrew from the session, denying the two-thirds quorum required for a second vote in which 65 votes are enough for victory. Azour thanked lawmakers who backed him, saying he hoped the will expressed by "the majority of deputies" would be respected. George Adwan, a Christian lawmaker with the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces party, said the vote was "a major victory" because it showed Azour close to 65 votes.

Persons: Gebran Bassil, Azour, Suleiman Frangieh, Frangieh, Nabih Berri, Michel Aoun, Hussein al, Haj Hassan, Bashar al, Assad, George Adwan, Mohamed Azakir, Matthew Miller, Miller, Mohanad Hage Ali, Riad Salameh, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan dialled, Issam Abdallah, Simon Lewis, Tom Perry, John Stonestreet, Mark Heinrich, William Maclean Organizations: BEIRUT, Hezbollah, IMF, Maronite, Hezbollah Lebanese Forces, REUTERS, U.S . State Department, Carnegie Middle East Center, West, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Iran, Muslim, Saudi Arabia, Lebanese, Yemen, Beirut, Washington, U.S, United States, Israel, Damascus

☆ House Passes Resolution Calling on Russia to Free U.S. Prisoners
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Why It MattersThe House has weighed in to condemn Mr. Whelan’s detention in the past, but Tuesday’s resolution was the first time that either chamber of Congress had officially called for Mr. Gershkovich’s release. Mr. Gershkovich’s arrest came just a few months after a high-profile prisoner swap in which Brittney Griner, an American W.N.B.A. American officials tried and failed to secure the release of Mr. Whelan in the deal. Mr. Whelan, who holds American, Canadian, Irish and British passports, has insisted he was visiting Russia as a tourist, and was set up. It is not clear which Russian prisoners the Kremlin would seek in exchange for either Mr. Gershkovich or Mr. Whelan, or both.

Persons: Biden, Gershkovich’s, “, Marc Fogel, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Mr, Antony J, Blinken, Roger D, Carstens, Biden’s, Gershkovich, Soviet, Brittney, Viktor Bout, Whelan, Griner’s, ”, — Organizations: American, Kremlin Locations: U.S, Russia, Russian, American, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, United States

☆ South Korean leader criticises China envoy over "inappropriate" remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, June 13 (Reuters) - South Korea's president stepped up criticism of China's ambassador on Tuesday, saying the envoy had been disrespectful in suggesting South Korea had made the wrong choice by siding with the United States against China. South Korea's foreign ministry summoned Xing on Friday to issue a protest and express "strong regret" over comments that the ministry said were "provocative" and a possible interference in internal affairs. South Korea has been a staunch U.S. ally for decades and is host to nearly some 28,000 U.S. troops but it has developed extensive economic ties with China in recent years. Its foreign ministry called in South Korea's ambassador on Saturday to express its "serious concern and dissatisfaction" over Seoul's "improper reaction" to Xing's comment. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said challenges in relations with South Korea were "not caused by China".

Persons: Xing Haiming, Xing, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Kim Seok, Park Jin, Xing's, Park, Hyonhee Shin, hyang Choi, Ed Davies, Robert Birsel Organizations: South, Foreign, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, United States, China, U.S, South, North Korea, Korea, South Korea's, Vienna

CNN —Romania is recalling its ambassador to Kenya back to Bucharest and has apologized after its envoy in Nairobi allegedly compared a monkey to African diplomats. Documents obtained by CNN showed African diplomats formally condemning Dragos Tigau’s comments during a meeting of eastern European envoys held in April at the UN’s office in the Kenyan capital. “The African Group has joined us,” Ambassador Tigau allegedly said when a monkey appeared at a window in the conference room, according to the letter which demanded an apology. “The African Group would like to condemn in strongest terms possible the insulting, racist and degrading utterances,” wrote Chol Ajong’o, South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya who leads African diplomats in Nairobi. CNN obtained two apology letters sent by Tigau to African diplomats four days apart.

Persons: Dragos Tigau’s, Tigau, “, ” Organizations: CNN —, CNN, Kenyan, African Group, ” Locations: CNN — Romania, Kenya, Bucharest, Nairobi, “, South, Romanian

☆ China envoy in South Korea warns of 'wrong bets' over Sino-U.S. rivalry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, June 9 (Reuters) - South Korea might be making "wrong bets" in the Sino-U.S. rivalry, the Chinese ambassador in Seoul said, urging Seoul to stop "decoupling" from China and restore economic and diplomatic ties. Xing blamed Seoul for creating "difficulties" for bilateral ties by failing to respect Beijing's core interests, including Taiwan, while being influenced by the United States. Frankly, the blame does not lie with China," he said, according to a statement released by the embassy. Xing warned against making the "wrong judgment" on China because of the "interference of external factors" such as U.S. pressure. "In a situation where the United States is pressuring China with all its might, some are betting that the United States will win and China will lose.

Persons: Xing Haiming, Lee Jae, myung, Yoon Suk, Xing, Yoon, Hyonhee Shin, Gerry Doyle Organizations: China, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, U.S, Seoul, China, Taiwan, United States, Beijing

☆ The ‘blue’ economy is severely underfunded: UN ocean envoy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe ‘blue’ economy is severely underfunded: UN ocean envoyPeter Thomson, the United Nations secretary-general's special envoy for the ocean, talks to CNBC's Tania Bryer about World Oceans Day and about the investment opportunities he sees in the "blue" economy.

Persons: Peter Thomson, CNBC's Tania Bryer Organizations: UN, United Nations

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, June 8 (Reuters) - The United States and Iran on Thursday both denied a report that they were nearing an interim deal under which Tehran would curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. U.S. and European officials have been searching for ways to curb Tehran's nuclear program since the breakdown of indirect U.S.-Iranian talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. That accord, aimed at keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, required Tehran to accept restrictions on its nuclear program and more extensive U.N. inspections in exchange for an end to U.N., U.S. and EU sanctions. One possible solution has been an interim deal under which Iran would accept fewer limits on its nuclear program in return for more modest sanctions relief than under the 2015 pact. The 2015 deal, which capped Iran's uranium enrichment at 3.67%, was abandoned in 2018 by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, who reimposed U.S. sanctions to choke Iran's oil exports.

Persons: Iran Rob Malley, Amir Saeid Iravani, Malley, Irvani, Donald Trump, Trevor Hunnicutt, Parisa, Arshad Mohammed, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: White House National Security Council, United Nations, White House, U.S, State Department, Reuters, Iranian, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, DUBAI, United States, Iran, Tehran, London, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, U.N, Washington, Dubai

The warnings came as U.S. and EU envoys concluded visits to Kosovo and Serbia to calm tensions that flared into violence last week, wounding dozens of NATO peace-keeping soldiers and Serb protesters in northern Kosovo. He and the EU's Miroslav Lajcak did not elaborate on what other consequences Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's ethnic Albanian-dominated government might face if it did not accede to their demands. "I don't think that these things are resolved with pressure and by mentioning consequences and even sanctions," Kurti told reporters on Wednesday. "We have challenges with EU and U.S. envoys but our bilateral relations with the EU and U.S. are excellent." Lajcak said on Monday that the envoys presented proposals to Kurti to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo, adding they had a "long, honest, difficult discussion".

Persons: Balkans Gabriel Escobar, Escobar, Miroslav Lajcak, Albin Kurti's, Kurti, Lajcak, Vjosa Osmani, Peter Stano, Lajacak, Josep Borrell, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Kosovo’s, Kosovo PM, European Union, Kosovo, NATO, U.S, EU, United, Reuters, Washington, Europe, Thomson Locations: PRISTINA, BRUSSELS, United States, Kosovo, Serbia, Balkans, Belgrade, U.S, EU

☆ Israeli army mounts rare raid into Palestinian city of Ramallah, clashes ensue
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Ali Sawafta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A Palestinians throws stones as the Israeli army raids Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed TorokmanRAMALLAH, West Bank, June 8 (Reuters) - Clashes erupted after Israeli forces mounted a rare raid into the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early on Thursday, in what the military said was an operation to demolish the house of an assailant. Some Palestinian youth hurled stones at the Israeli forces, who fired live bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at the crowd, the witness said. Violence in the West Bank, among territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has risen during the past year. Israel's foreign ministry said 20 Israelis and two foreign nationals have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the same period.

Persons: Mohammed Torokman, Abdel Fattah Dola, Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah, Hady Amr, Hussein Al, Ali Sawafta, Henriette Chacar, Grant McCool Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Reuters, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, Mohammed Torokman RAMALLAH, West, Palestinian, Jerusalem, Israel, U.S

☆ Mother of slain Palestinian child calls for justice
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Mohamad Torokman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/ Mohammed TorokmanNABI SALEH, West Bank, June 6 (Reuters) - The mother of a Palestinian toddler who died of his wounds after being shot by Israeli soldiers last week called for justice on Tuesday as she attended his funeral in the occupied West Bank. "I want justice for my son, and for every person who shot at my husband and son to be held accountable," she said. "When I went to check on my son, I told (the soldiers) that my son was killed. "Without accountability, Israel's crimes against our people/children will continue unabated," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. The U.S. Office for Palestinian Affairs urged Israel "to evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties".

Persons: Mohammad al, Tamimi, Mohammed Torokman NABI SALEH, Marwa, Mohammad, Haitham, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Israel, Henriette Chacar, James Mackenzie, Christina Fincher Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Reuters, Defense, Children International, Palestinian, U.S, Office, Palestinian Affairs, EU, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, West, Gaza, Israel

☆ Sudanese warring factions to resume indirect talks as clashes intensify
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya said the two sides had agreed to indirect talks without providing details. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said on Sunday he had spoken with Farhan and expressed his support for the Jeddah platform. Artillery and air strikes continued overnight, with residents in southern and eastern Khartoum and northern Bahri reporting sounds of artillery and gun clashes on Tuesday morning. Looters, some of whom Khartoum residents and neighbourhood committees said belong to the RSF, have pillaged neighbourhoods, stealing cars, breaking open safes, and occupying homes. Aid groups have struggled to provide extensive assistance to Khartoum residents, who face electricity and water shortages as well as dwindling supplies in shops and pharmacies.

Persons: Al Arabiya, RSF, General Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Faisal bin Farhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Farhan, Jawahir Mohamed, El Obeid, Dafallah al, Haj, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Adam Makary, Christina Fincher, Grant McCool Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Sovereign, Artillery, army's Engineers Corps, Engineers ' Corps, Emergency Lawyers, Nafisa, Thomson Locations: KHARTOUM, United States, Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya, Khartoum, Saudi, Jeddah, Bahri, OMDURMAN, Omdurman, Darfur, Egypt, Sudan, Dubai, Cairo

☆ US calls Roger Waters performance in Berlin 'deeply offensive to Jewish people'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters performs during his This Is Not a Drill tour at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 27, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Tuesday weighed in on a controversy over a performance by Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, denouncing the show in Berlin as "deeply offensive to Jewish people" and accusing Waters of having a record of using antisemitic tropes. Berlin police said they were investigating Waters on suspicion of "incitement of the people." loadingIn comments sent by email and not attributed to a named official, the State Department stood by Lipstadt's comment, and said Waters' Berlin concert "contained imagery that is deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust." "The artist in question has a long track record of using antisemitic tropes to denigrate Jewish people," the department added.

Persons: Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Mario Anzuoni, Waters, Deborah Lipstadt, Lipstadt's, Pink Floyd's, Simon Lewis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Pink, Crypto.com Arena, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . State Department, State Department, Twitter, UN Security Council, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Berlin, European, Israel

The Vatican announced his visit, which many observers see as an uphill effort, in a short statement. It said the main purpose was "to listen carefully to Ukrainian authorities on the possible ways to reach a just peace and support humanitarian gestures that may help ease tensions". At the meeting in May, Zelenskiy asked the pope to back Kyiv's peace plan, which Zelenskiy has repeatedly said is not open to negotiation. "There can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor," Zelenskiy said after his May 13 meeting with the pope. Zuppi hails from the Sant' Egidio Community, a Rome-based peace and justice group which has been instrumental in several peace negotiations, particularly in Africa.

Persons: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Zuppi, Sant, Philip Pullella, Nick Macfie Organizations: CITY, Vatican, Italian Bishops Conference, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Bologna, Russia, Zuppi, Crimea, Rome, Africa, Mozambique

☆ Libya political leaders to meet on electoral laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However 61 HoR members and some HSC members have already objected to the way their leaders have been negotiating their agreement, and have said they will oppose its ratification. The HoR was elected as a national parliament in 2014 to a four-year term. The HSC was created as part of a political agreement in 2015 from members of an earlier interim parliament elected in 2012. However, under a 2015 political agreement, the international community requires both bodies to approve any new constitutional rules allowing an election, or a change in government. Many Libyans have voiced scepticism that their political leaders are negotiating in good faith, believing them to be unwilling to bring forward elections that might remove them from their positions of power.

Persons: finalise, Aguila Saleh, Khaled, Mishri, Adoulaye Bathily, HoR, Muammar, Abdulhamid, Dbeibah, Saleh, Angus McDowall, Andrew Heavens Organizations: High State, Morocco, NATO, of National Unity, Meshri, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TRIPOLI, Morocco, Muammar Gaddafi, Libya, Tripoli, Reuters Libya

BEIJING, June 2 (Reuters) - The Chinese envoy who toured European capitals last month seeking to promote Ukraine peace talks said on Friday that Beijing is considering another mission, after acknowledging that his trip may not produce immediate results. "China is willing to actively consider sending another delegation to relevant countries to engage in dialogue on resolving the Ukraine crisis," said Li, without elaborating on which countries. "As long as it's conducive to easing the situation, China is willing to do anything," he said. Earlier this year, China published a 12-point peace plan, calling for the protection of civilians and the sovereignty of all countries be respected. "I don't think we expect China to be a mediator, but it can use its influence on Russia and can help make it understand."

Persons: Li Hui, Li, Laurie Chen, Liz Lee, Ethan Wang, John Irish, Alexander Ratz, Robert Birsel, David Holmes Organizations: Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Ukraine, Beijing, Russia, Moscow, China, Kyiv, Warsaw, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, United States, Europe

☆ UAE oil chief is ‘the perfect person’ to lead UN climate talks, COP28 director general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The UAE will host the COP28 climate summit from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 12. The director general of COP28 on Thursday defended the appointment of oil executive Sultan al-Jaber, describing the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company CEO as the "perfect person" to lead the climate talks. The UAE, the third-largest oil-producing member of the OPEC alliance, will host the COP28 climate summit from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 12. Asked by CNBC's Dan Murphy to respond to the calls to remove al-Jaber as president-designate of the summit, COP28 Director General Majid al-Suwaidi said: "This is a discussion that we've seen a lot in the media. "As the UAE we've been really focused on how do we deliver the results we need for COP28 and I know that Dr. Sultan is the perfect person to do that.

Persons: Sultan al, Jaber, COP28, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Majid al, Suwaidi, we've, —, they're, Sultan Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, European, United, U.S, UAE we've Locations: UAE, COP28, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

☆ Russia accuses Washington of encouraging Ukraine in its attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Putin on Tuesday cast the assault, which brought the 15-month war in Ukraine to the heart of Russia, as a terrorist act. Ukraine also accuses Russia of terrorism for its bombing of Ukrainian civilians, allegations Moscow denies. Russia has long accused what it calls the "collective West" of staging a proxy war against Moscow by supporting Ukraine with military and financial aid. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, devastating cities, forcing millions of people to flee their homes and costing thousands of lives. Moscow calls the war a "special military operation" to "denazify" Ukraine and protect Russian speakers.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Anatoly Antonov, Lidia Kelly, Christian Schmollinger, Stephen Coates Organizations: Telegram, Kyiv, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Washington, Moscow, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine peace plan is only way to end Russia's war, says Zelenskiy aide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

He pushed back on a flurry of peace initiatives from China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa in recent months. "There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine," Zhovkva said in an interview late on Friday. Zelenskiy made a major push to court the Global South this month in response to peace moves from some of its members. Moscow has bolstered ties with Global South powers during the war in Ukraine, including by selling more of its energy to India and China. 'PEACE SUMMIT'Zhovkva said the reaction to Ukraine's 10-point peace plan had been extremely positive at the G7 summit.

☆ Analysis: China says it wants peace in Ukraine, but is it only on Russia's terms?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But Li’s trip has also laid bare the divisions between China and Europe when it comes to how peace can be reached — and served to underline Beijing’s close alignment with Moscow. As such, that’s “not on the table for China,” Tsang said. That stance has horrified much of Europe, and Li’s tour comes as China has been attempting to repair relations there. “No one will do anything against us behind Ukraine’s back, because we have built trusting relationships with all our key partners,” he added. “The crucial question is what message from Europe — Kyiv, Warsaw, Berlin, Paris, and Brussels — Li will deliver in Moscow and Beijing,” he said.

☆ China says it will make efforts for political solution to Ukraine crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 27 (Reuters) - China will make concrete efforts for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese foreign ministry quoted special envoy Li Hui as saying on Saturday. China has always adhered to an objective and fair position on Ukraine, argued for peace and promoted talks, Li was quoted as telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Li's visit to Russia was the final stop in a multi-country tour that Beijing said was aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis. Li said China will strengthen exchanges and dialogues with all parties, including Russia, according to the readout from the foreign ministry. Reporting by Ella Cao and Bernard Orr; Editing by Kim Coghill and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

CNN —After spending more than 300 days in Russian custody last year, Brittney Griner made an emotional return to her WNBA home court in the Phoenix Mercury’s 75-69 defeat by the Chicago Sky. The crowd went crazy in applause as she ran onto the court while giving her teammates high fives. “There might have been a little dust in my eye, a little dusty,” Griner told reporters after the game. Carstens joined Griner at the podium after the game, alongside Representative Shelia Jackson Lee, and said it was “emotional” for them both seeing Griner on the court. BG’s family in the crowd and BG back on the court, doing what BG does best which is playing basketball.

☆ Russia and China hit back at a G7 that saw them as a threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Moscow and Beijing lashed out against the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, where leaders of major democracies pledged new measures targeting Russia and spoke in one voice on their growing concerns over China. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday slammed the G7 for indulging in their “own greatness” with an agenda that aimed to “deter” Russia and China. G7 member countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Concern about such incidents was reflected in the G7 statement on ensuring economic security and countering economic coercion, which did not explicitly mention China. “The bottom line is that the G7 has shown it will increasingly focus on China and will try to maintain a coordinated policy approach.

☆ US to sign strategic pacts with two Pacific states, hopes for third in weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The United States will sign new strategic pacts with the Pacific island states of Palau and Micronesia early next week and hopes to do so with the Marshall islands in coming weeks, the U.S. presidential envoy negotiating the deals said. As anticipated, he was unable to conclude the deal with the Marshall Islands. "We have made progress over my three-day visit to Marshall Islands and we hope to sign an agreement with the Marshall Islands in the coming weeks," he said. Chinese diplomats have been courting the region and China's construction and mining companies have expanded their business in many Pacific island nations. Yun said last month "topline" agreements would provide the three COFA states with a total of about $6.5 billion over 20 years.

☆ UN official criticised after meeting Russian sought by ICC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rights groups and the top U.S. official for global justice denounced the meeting. As a senior official, Gamba should avoid contact with persons subject to ICC warrants and that "Lvova-Belova belongs only in one place – in the dock at the ICC," Jarrah said. Ambassador for Global Justice Beth van Schaack, said on social media Friday night that such a meeting would be "deeply concerning." The United States, Britain, Albania and Malta walked out on her address. Britain and the United States had also blocked the meeting from being webcast.

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