DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

CNN —The Philippines on Sunday condemned the Chinese coast guard for installing what it called a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying that it prevented Filipino boats from entering and fishing in the area. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the floating barrier was discovered by Philippine vessels during a routine maritime patrol on Friday and measured around 300 meters (984 feet). Tarriela shared photos of the alleged floating barrier and claimed three Chinese coast guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat had installed the floating barrier following the arrival of a Philippine government vessel in the area. The Philippine coast guard shared footage earlier this week of vast patches of broken and bleached coral, prompting officials to accuse China of massive destruction in the area. The shoal, which China calls Huangyandao, is one of a number of disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which is home to various territorial disputes.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, ” Tarriela, ”, Mao Ning Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Twitter, of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Philippines, South China, Philippine, China, Bajo de Masinloc, Rozul, Masinloc, Scarborough, Luzon

Hong Kong CNN —China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday declined to address a report its former foreign minister Qin Gang was ousted from his position over an alleged extramarital affair. When asked about the report during a regular press briefing Tuesday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said she was “not aware” of the information. “As for the appointment and removal of the Chinese Foreign Minister, the Chinese side has released information before,” spokesperson Mao Ning said in an apparent reference to the July announcement of his replacement. Qin served as Chinese Ambassador to the US from July 2021 until early 2023 when he assumed his short-lived role as foreign minister. According to a biographical information page on China’s Foreign Ministry website, Qin is married with a son.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Qin Gang, Qin, Xi Jinping, Li Shangfu, “, Mao Ning, Wang Yi, –, Xi, Antony Blinken Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — China’s, Wall Street Journal, Communist Party, Rocket Force, China’s Defense, Foreign Ministry, Communist, Wall Street, CNN, China’s, Information Office, China’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Locations: Hong Kong, Washington, Beijing, China’s, China, United States

CNN —The Taliban has welcomed Zhao Sheng as China’s new ambassador to Afghanistan during a lavish ceremony held at the presidential palace in Kabul on Wednesday. China is among a handful of countries, including Pakistan, Iran and Russia that have maintained a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021. In the palace ceremony, Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund shook hands with Zhao and “accepted the credentials of the new Chinese Ambassador,” the prime minister’s office said on X, formerly known as Twitter. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the appointment was the “normal rotation of China’s ambassador to Afghanistan” and was “intended to continue advancing dialogue and cooperation” between the two countries, according to Reuters. The ministry said, “China’s policy toward Afghanistan is clear and consistent.”CNN has reached out to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Persons: Zhao Sheng, Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Zhao, “, Mr Zhao Sheng, Zabiullah Mujahid, ”, Mujahid, Afghanistan ”, Qin Gang Organizations: CNN, Taliban, Honorable, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Pakistan Economic Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Wednesday, China, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, China’s, Islamabad, Xinjiang

☆ Putin lauds ‘excellent’ economic ties with China. Here’s how they’ve grown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Relations between Russia and China in the sphere of economic cooperation have reached a very high level,” Vladimir Putin said, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, according to Russian state-owned news agency TASS. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said in May that he expected trade with China would top $200 billion this year. As many Western banks have reduced their presence in Russia, China’s lenders swooped in to offer banking services. Between February 2022 and March this year, the assets of Chinese banks in the country more than quadrupled to $9.7 billion, according to data collected by KSE Institute at the Kyiv School of Economics. Of China’s four biggest banks, Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China saw the biggest increases in their Russian assets.

Persons: ” Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Mishustin, Putin, ”, Laura He, Josh Pennington, Alex Stambaugh, Mitch McCluskey, Anna Chernova Organizations: London CNN, “, Eastern Economic, Moscow, Russian, Organization of, Petroleum, International Energy Agency, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, KSE Institute, Kyiv School of Economics, Bank of China, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, European Central Bank Locations: Moscow, Beijing, Russia, China, Vladivostok, Ukraine, United States, Saudi Arabia, India, wean

How relevant is this ad to you? Video player was slow to load content Video content never loaded Ad froze or did not finish loading Video content did not start after ad Audio on ad was too loud Other issues

CNN —The death toll from a fire in a five-story building in central Johannesburg has risen to 63, according to the city’s emergency services. The fire has now been extinguished, rescue officials said, and emergency services are conducting recovery operations. The building in central Johannesburg as seen on the morning of August 31, 2023. Johannesburg’s emergency services confirmed that the fire had been reported at around 1:30 a.m. local time Thursday. “Officials from City of Johannesburg Disaster Management have been activated to start facilitating relief for affected families,” it added.

Persons: Robert Mulaudzi, Mulaudzi, Michele Spatari Organizations: CNN, City of, City of Johannesburg Disaster Management Locations: Johannesburg, AFP, City, City of Johannesburg

CNN —A group of military officers claiming to represent “defense and security forces” in Gabon announced on Wednesday they had seized power in the African nation, according to a televised address circulating on social media. In the broadcast, the military officer said the election results would be voided and the country’s borders would be closed until further notice. Bongo’s long ruleEarlier on Wednesday, Gabon’s election body said Bongo had won the presidential election with 64.27% of the vote, after a delay-plagued general election that the opposition denounced as fraudulent. The elder Bongo came into power in 1967, seven years after the country’s independence from France. Ahead of the election, the non-profit Reporters Without Borders condemned the Gabonese government for obstructing foreign press coverage of the event.

Persons: ”, Ali Bongo, “, Bongo, Albert Ondo Ossa, Omar Bongo, Ondo, Bongo’s Organizations: CNN, Gabon24, Twitter, Senate, National Assembly, Constitutional, Economic, Social, Environmental Council, Reuters, Union, Borders, United Nations, Gabonese Locations: Gabon, Gabonese, Libreville, West, Central Africa, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Ondo, France

☆ US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urges American businesses to keep investing in China (Analysis)
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urged American businesses to keep investing in China on Wednesday, even after saying some US firms had called the world’s second biggest economy “uninvestable.”Speaking at an American Chamber of Commerce event in Shanghai, the secretary encouraged companies to continue expanding in the country. “The message is to continue to do what you’re doing,” Raimondo told executives. Eric Zheng, president of AmCham Shanghai, told CNN after Raimondo’s appearance that he had not been hearing the term “uninvestable” from businesses on the ground. “In order to be globally competitive, they have to be in this market despite all the challenges.”Warm wordsRaimondo is the first US commerce secretary to visit China in five years. Andy Wong/APThe issue highlights the tightrope the commerce secretary is walking.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, ” Raimondo, Raimondo, Aly Song, ”, Wang Wenbin, Li Qiang, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, John Kerry, Eric Zheng, Andy Wong, Wang Wentao, Lifeng, Yellen, Foreign busineses, Chen Jining, Nazak Nikakhtar, Trump, Zheng, “, —, Jadyn Sham, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — US, American, of, Reuters, Shanghai, Biden, CNN, Covid, US Commerce Department, US Department of Commerce, Foreign, Department, Department of Commerce Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Beijing, United States, decouple, “

CNN —Rare new video has emerged showing detained American Paul Whelan, who has been held in Russia for more than four years, inside his prison camp. The video, released by Russian state-controlled news agency Russia Today (RT), shows Whelan wearing a Russian prison uniform in different parts of the prison, with shots of him using a sewing machine and eating in a cafeteria. The former United States Marine was sentenced to 16 years in prison on an espionage charge he vehemently denies. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Whelan, who the US government deems wrongfully detained, according to a source familiar with the call. The Biden administration has put forth proposals for Whelan’s release, but Russia has not responded in a substantive way, two administration officials told CNN.

Persons: Paul Whelan, Whelan, ” Whelan –, –, “, ”, I’m, David Whelan, David, Paul, ” David, Antony Blinken, Trevor Reed, Brittney Griner, Biden, Evan Gershkovich Organizations: CNN, Russia, United States Marine, ”, RT, Wall Street Locations: Russia, Russian, Irish, Moscow

☆ Jamshid Sharmahd: US envoy meets family of German-Iranian sentenced to death in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A US envoy for Iran met on Friday with the family of Iranian-German national Jamshid Sharmahd, who has been imprisoned and sentenced to death in Iran. He was sentenced to death last February for “corruption on Earth”, which sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups and Western governments. Iranian-German national and US resident Jamshid Sharmahd attends his trial at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on Feb. 6, 2022. Koosha Mahshid Falahi/Mizan News Agency/APIn a statement following the decision, the European Union said Iranian authorities denied consular access to Sharmahd, despite his German nationality. In response to Paley’s statement, Gazelle Sharmahd urged the US government to help free her father.

Persons: Jamshid Sharmahd, “, Jamshid Sharmahd’s, Abram Paley, Sharmahd’s, Shayan, Gazelle, ”, Koosha Mahshid, Vedant Patel, Gazelle Sharmahd Organizations: CNN, Amnesty International, Iranian, European Union, Revolutionary, Mizan News Agency, AP, US State Department, State, Biden Administration Locations: Iran, German, Shiraz, Western, United States, Tehran

☆ Luis Rubiales: Spain's football federation threatens legal action against Women's World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Aimee Lewis Alex Stambaugh Al Goodman Gerardo Lemos | Aimee Lewis | Alex Stambaugh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Spain’s football federation has threatened to take legal action against one of the country’s star players, Jennifer Hermoso, accusing her of lying about being kissed by federation president Luis Rubiales. The President has not lied,” the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said, alongside descriptions of photos attempting to support Rubiales’ claim. CNN has reached out to soccer’s world governing body FIFA and UEFA, European soccer’s governing body. Following Rubiales’ comments on Friday, the president of Spain’s High Council of Sport (CSD), Víctor Francos, said the council would look to suspend Rubiales as quickly as it could while following due process. While acknowledging on Friday he needed to apologize for his actions, Rubiales described calls for his resignation as a “witch hunt.”

Persons: CNN —, Jennifer Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Hermoso, “, ”, Rubiales, ” Luis Rubiales, Noe Llamas, ” Rubiales, Pedro Sánchez, Víctor Francos Organizations: CNN, CNN — Spain’s, Spain, Spain’s Association of Professional Soccer, Rubiales, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Futpro, FIFA, UEFA, England, Spain’s, Twitter, National, Spain’s High, of Sport, Spanish government’s Ministry of Culture Locations: ”, Futpro Union, European, Spanish

CNN —The US State Department said Friday it “strongly condemned” the Hong Kong authorities’ “ongoing harassment” of family members of pro-democracy activists living overseas. The US said it was “particularly concerned” about recent cases involving activists like Nathan Law, Joshua Wong and Elmer Yuen whose family members and acquaintances had been “detained and questioned by Hong Kong police.”“We call on the Hong Kong authorities to cease all harassment of the democracy activists’ family members,” said spokesperson Matthew Miller. In a statement provided to CNN, Hong Kong police said its national security department had taken away two men and a woman for investigation. The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied the national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, suppresses freedoms. Law and other activists have been accused of violating the national security law, with offenses ranging from collusion with foreign forces to subversion of state power.

Persons: “, ’, Nathan Law, Joshua Wong, Elmer Yuen, ”, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Law, Hong Kong – Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Hong, HK, RTHK, Basic, Sino Locations: Hong Kong, ” Hong Kong, Britain, Beijing, British

CNN —Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he warned Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin twice to watch out for threats to his life. “The first time was when I phoned him and negotiations (were taking) place while they were marching on Moscow,” Lukashenko told reporters in comments carried by Belarusian state news agency Belta on Friday. The Belarusian president said he suggested to Prigozhin that he could talk with Putin and “guarantee full security” in Belarus if he was concerned for his security, Belta reported. On Friday, the Kremlin said that examinations including genetic testing were underway to determine whether Prigozhin was killed in Wednesday’s plane crash. Russian authorities have yet to officially confirm Prigozhin’s death but have acknowledged the plane crash in public comments.

Persons: Alexander Lukashenko, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, “, ” Lukashenko, Belta, ‘ Yevgeny, ‘, Prigozhin, Dmitriy Utkin, Prigozhin’s, Putin, Vladimir, Utkin, ’ it’s Putin Lukashenko, Lukashenko, ” Organizations: CNN, Belarusian, Kremlin, Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Pentagon Locations: Moscow, Belarusian, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Prigozhin

CNN —Russia’s first moon mission in decades has ended in failure after the Luna-25 spacecraft collided with the Moon’s surface. The incident happened after communication with the spacecraft was interrupted, a blow to Russia’s space ambitions. Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, said it lost communication with Luna-25 on Saturday around 2:57pm Moscow time. The Luna-25 spacecraft launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Amur Oblast on August 10, setting the vehicle on a swift trip to the moon. Luna 25’s trajectory allowed it to surpass India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander, which launched in mid-July, on the way to the lunar surface.

Persons: CNN —, Luna, “, Roscosmos, ” Roscosmos, India’s Organizations: CNN, Vostochny Locations: Moscow, “, Russia’s Amur Oblast

CNN —Ukrainian forces have retaken the village of Urozhaine in the eastern Donetsk region, Kyiv said on Wednesday, after days of punishing battles as part of its counteroffensive against Russia. It lies near the village of Staromaiorske, which Ukrainian soldiers liberated earlier this month. Troops were seen in video released by Kyiv's forces raising the Ukrainian flag in Urozhaine after reclaiming the village. Russian forces inside Urozhaine had been in a precarious situation for some time. It is about saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, minimizing losses… And most importantly, it is about de-escalation,” he added.

Persons: Andrii Kovalov, ”, Hanna Maliar, Urozhaine, ” Kovalov, Russia “, Lyman, Mykhailo Podolyak, “, Podolyak Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Wednesday, Troops, Kyiv's, Marine Brigade, Brigades, Urozhaine, Ukrainian Armed Forces Locations: Urozhaine, Donetsk, Russia, Ukrainian, Russian, Staromaiorske, ”, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Marinka, Azov, Crimea

☆ Dagestan: Gas station explosion kills 35, injures dozens in Russian region
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Uliana Pavlova Duarte Mendonca Alex Stambaugh Aruzhan Zeinulla Ivana Kottasová | Uliana Pavlova | Duarte Mendonca | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a fire caused an explosion at a gas station in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan, local authorities said. Several children were among the dead, according to the head of the Dagestan republic, Sergey Melikov, and at least three bodies were recovered from the rubble, state media agency TASS reported. TASS reported that 80 people were wounded, citing a department of the Russian ministry of health, in an apparent revision of the injury toll that Melikov earlier put at 102. The emergency ministry said it sent a special aircraft to evacuate casualties from the blast to hospitals in Moscow. The Dagestan government declared Tuesday a day of mourning, TASS reported.

Persons: Sergey Melikov, Vladimir Putin “, ”, Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov Organizations: CNN, TASS, Federal Center for Disaster Medicine, Ministry of Health, Russia’s, RIA Novosti, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Dagestan, Dagestan’s, Makhachkal, Moscow, Makhachkala

☆ Man arrested after Malaysian Airlines plane from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur forced to turn around mid-flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | Jake Kwon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A 45-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly disrupted a Malaysian Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, which was forced to turn around mid-flight and land back in Sydney International Airport on Monday. “The man is expected to be charged later tonight,” according to a spokesman for the Australian Federal Police. “Malaysia Airlines flight MH122 on 14 August 2023 returned to Sydney International Airport due to a disruptive passenger on board. Sydney International Airport said in a statement to CNN that 32 domestic flights, including 16 inbound and 16 outbound, were canceled with other domestic flights experiencing delays of up to 90 minutes. “Currently there are no international flight cancellations,” the airport said.

Persons: “ Organizations: CNN, Malaysian Airlines, Sydney International Airport, Australian Federal Police, Police, Twitter, “ Malaysia Airlines, Sydney International Locations: Sydney, Kuala Lumpur

CNN —China’s foreign ministry on Sunday condemned the transit of Taiwan’s vice president and presidential candidate William Lai through the United States, calling him a “troublemaker through and through.”Lai arrived in New York on Saturday en route to Paraguay where he will attend the inauguration of Paraguayan President Santiago Pena on August 15. Paraguay is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in South America. Shortly after Lai’s arrival, China’s foreign ministry said it “firmly opposes” any official interaction between the US and Taiwan and any “‘Taiwan independence’ separatists to the US.”“China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called ‘stopover,’” it said in a statement. “Lai clings stubbornly to the separatist position for ‘Taiwan independence’. Lai is due to transit through San Francisco on August 16 on his return to Taipei, Taiwan’s vice foreign minister Alexander Yui said during a media briefing earlier this month.

Persons: CNN —, William Lai, ” Lai, Santiago Pena, Lai, ”, ‘, China’s, “, “ Lai, China ”, Alexander Yui Organizations: CNN, Paraguayan, US, Communist Party, Taiwan, ’ Locations: United States, New York, Paraguay, South America, China, Taiwan, ”, Lai, San Francisco, Taipei

☆ Villavicencio assassination a ‘disturbing moment’ for Ecuador democracy, former running mate says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Rafael Romo Abel Alvarado Juan Carlos Paz Eyad Kourdi Marlon Sorto Alex Stambaugh Heather Chen | Rafael Romo | Abel Alvarado | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Quito, Ecuador CNN —The assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio marks a “disturbing moment” for the region and democracy, his successor and former running mate Andrea González Náder has told CNN in an exclusive interview. “This is a disturbing moment for the whole region and for the world’s democracy,” she said. Karen Toro/ReutersVillavicencio, 59, an anti-corruption campaigner and lawmaker, was outspoken about violence caused by drug trafficking in Ecuador. Karen Toro/ReutersVillavicencio’s assassination prompted an outpouring of condemnation from inside Ecuador and around the world. Macías as well as his gang members have not yet publicly commented on the assassination.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Andrea González Náder, “, ” Náder, CNN’s Rafael Romo, ”, Náder, “ Náder, Andrea Gonzalez, Karen Toro, Reuters Villavicencio, Veronica Sarauz, ” Sarauz, –, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, “ Fito ”, Villavicencio –, Guillermo Lasso, Macías Organizations: Ecuador CNN, CNN, Villavicencio’s Movimiento, Movimiento, Reuters, Ecuadorian Army Command, Ecuadorian, La Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Guayas, La Roca

CNN —Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei, who will have spent three years in detention in China as of Sunday, said in a rare message that she misses her family and life in Australia. Coyle told CNN the message had been dictated to diplomatic officers and shared with him. “I can’t believe I used to avoid the sun when I was living back in Australia,” Cheng’s message said. In her letter released Thursday, Cheng spoke fondly of her life in Australia, writing “I miss the Australian people.”“I remember camping for the first time with my family,” she writes. Coyle told CNN that he is only able to hear from Cheng after her consular visits, which happen once a month.

Persons: Cheng Lei, “, ”, Nick Coyle, FreeChengLei, Coyle, Cheng, ” Cheng, CGTN, ” Coyle Organizations: CNN, China’s Ministry of State Security, Australian Locations: China, Australia

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —The estranged second oldest son of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has made an unexpected visit to the country, his first in almost three decades, in a return that surprised many in the kingdom. “I am delighted to return to Thailand, I have been warmly welcomed. I have been away for a long time, 27 years,” Vacharaesorn told reporters at the Foundation for Slum Child Care. Vacharaesorn is the second of four sons of King Vajiralongkorn, 71, and his second wife, Yuvadhida Polpraserth, who he married in 1994 and later divorced. Vacharaesorn, his mother and siblings were estranged after the separation and he does not hold a formal royal title.

Persons: Thailand CNN —, Thailand’s, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, “, ” Vacharaesorn, King Vajiralongkorn, Yuvadhida Polpraserth, Vacharaesorn, Bajrakitiyabha, Athit Perawongmetha, Vajiralongkorn, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Srirasmi, Queen Suthida, –, Vacharaesorn’s, Sirivannavari, King Organizations: Thailand CNN, Foundation for Slum, Reuters, Yuvadhida, King’s Royal Guard Command, CNN Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, United States, tuk, Bangkok’s

☆ Former childcare charged with over 1,600 counts of abuse in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A former childcare worker has been charged with 1,623 child abuse offenses allegedly carried out against 91 children in Australia and elsewhere over 15 years, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement on Tuesday. The 45-year-old man from the Gold Coast has been in police custody since August 2022, when he was initially charged with making child exploitation material and using a carriage service to distribute it. “This is one of the most horrific cases of alleged child abuse our detectives have seen,” Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald with the New South Wales police said in a news conference. Other charges include hundreds of counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 years, counts of making child exploitation material and other charges related to possessing, producing, distributing or obtaining child exploitation material. The AFP said it is working with international authorities to help identify four children recorded in the alleged child abuse material overseas.

Persons: CNN —, Michael Fitzgerald, Col Briggs Organizations: CNN, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Police, New South, New South Wales police, Queensland Police, Court Locations: Australia, Brisbane, Sydney, New South Wales, AFP

CNN —Myanmar’s ruling military junta has pardoned Aung San Suu Kyi on five charges for which she was previously convicted, reducing the lengthy sentence of the deposed, democratically elected leader by 12 years. As of Tuesday, Suu Kyi still faces sentences for 14 other offenses of which she was convicted, the source said. The announcement comes as Myanmar’s Supreme Court is set to hear appeals by Suu Kyi against multiple convictions over the next two weeks. The United Nations Security Council last year called on the junta to release all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint. Suu Kyi, a democratically elected leader and symbol of opposition to decades of military rule, led Myanmar for five years before being forced from power in the 2021 coup.

Persons: CNN —, Aung, Suu Kyi, Aung Lin Dwe, Suu, Min Aung Hlaing, Win Myint Organizations: CNN, United Nations Security Locations: Suu, Myanmar

In September, Medvedev said strategic nuclear weapons could be used to defend territories incorporated into Russia from Ukraine. And in January, as NATO member states debated new weapons shipments to Ukraine, Medvedev said defeat for Russia in the war could lead to nuclear conflict. “The loss of a nuclear power in a conventional war can provoke the outbreak of a nuclear war,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram in January. Nuclear rhetoricThe United States has previously warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, both through private direct communications, as well as public channels, including at last year’s UN General Assembly. Russia has about 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, including around 1,900 tactical nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, ”, Medvedev, ” Medvedev, ” Medvedev’s, Putin, Matthew Miller, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko Organizations: CNN, NATO, Russia’s Security, Helsinki, Russia, “, Russia’s Defense, UN, Assembly, St ., Economic Forum, US Defense Intelligence Agency, US State Department, Federation of American Scientists Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, Western, Moscow, United States, Belarus, St, St . Petersburg

CNN —Ukraine has passed legislation moving its official Christmas holiday to December 25, further distancing itself from the traditions of the Putin-aligned Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates the holiday on January 7. A branch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine allowed its churches to celebrate Christmas on December 25 last year. Ukraine’s main Greek Catholic church said in February it was moving to a new calendar to celebrate Christmas on December 25 as well. In December, the Ukrainian government launched a poll asking citizens whether the date for Christmas should be moved to December 25. They added that they celebrated Christmas on December 25 last year and felt they would “quickly adapt.”“Ukraine should be a civilized European country,” Alla said.

Persons: Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine “, “, Kirill, Alla, Oksana, ” Alla, ” Vitalina, Pavlo, ” Pavlo, Tetyana Organizations: CNN, Church, ”, Orthodox, of, Catholic, Ukrainian Locations: Ukraine, ” Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Donbas, Moscow, Christianity, of Ukraine, Ukraine’s, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Kyiv, Europe

Search resuls for: "Alex Stambaugh"

25 mentions found