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☆ China's Foreign Ministry requests consulates in Hong Kong to give data of local staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FLIE PHOTO: The Chinese national flag is seen in front of the financial district Central on the Chinese National Day in Hong Kong, China October 1, 2022. In a letter seen by Reuters, The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry wrote that consulates must comply with the request by Oct 18th. The letter was sent to all consulates according to media outlets Hong Kong Free Press and local Ming Pao newspaper. China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong government did not immediately respond to request for comment. Additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Greg Torode in Hong Kong; writing by Farah Master; editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Liz Lee, Greg Torode, Farah, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Ministry, Reuters, China’s Foreign Ministry, British, Consular, European Union, Hong Kong Free Press, Ming Pao, Foreign Ministry, Hong, US, Thomson Locations: Central, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Vienna, British

WARSAW, Poland (AP) —Poland's President Andrzej Duda said Thursday he was awaiting the results of an investigation into allegations that Polish consulates sold temporary work visas to migrants for thousands of dollars, just weeks before the strongly anti-migration ruling party seeks re-election for a third term. Media reports allege Poland’s consular sections issued some 250,000 visas to migrants from Asia and Africa since 2021 in return for bribes. Prosecutors and the state Anti-Corruption Office said Thursday that seven people — none of them state officials — had been detained on suspicion of corruption in the process of issuing a few hundred temporary work visas. According to Onet.pl, a news website, Wawrzyk personally insisted that temporary work visas be issued to groups of people from India, who posed as crews working for the Indian movie industry, popularly known as Bollywood. The allegations could seriously hit the conservative ruling party ahead of next month's parliamentary elections.

Persons: —, Andrzej Duda, Duda, “, ”, Piotr Wawrzyk, Donald Tusk, Poland's, Wawrzyk, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Mateusz Morawiecki, Onet.pl Organizations: Media, Prosecutors, Law, Justice Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Asia, Africa, India, Belarus, East, Ukraine

☆ France calls for release of French official in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - France's foreign ministry on Tuesday called for the immediate release of a French official held by security forces in Niger. It said that an adviser to French nationals in Niger had been arrested by Niger security forces on September 8. The official is a "conseiller des Français de l’étranger" (adviser to French citizens abroad), who is an elected official who represents French expatriates and works closely with the country's embassies and consulates. According to the foreign ministry website, there are 442 such advisers worldwide. Their role is to help French expats with issues relating to work, schools, social security and other issues.

Persons: Tassilo Hummel, William Maclean Organizations: French, GV, Thomson Locations: Niger, France, Paris, Niamey, French

☆ Beijing claims a US citizen jailed for life in China was a decorated spy who worked undetected for decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

At the time, authorities provided no details about his case, except that he was detained by state security officers in April 2021. According to a court statement at the time he had been arrested by state security authorities in April 2021. Beijing and Washington have escalated espionage accusations against each other, after the controversy over an alleged Chinese spy balloon shot down by the US further inflamed tensions earlier this year. In its WeChat post, China’s spy agency claimed Leung’s patriotic Chinese persona was a means of gaining access to Chinese intelligence. The latest allegations against Leung from China come the same week an alleged Chinese spying scandal has rocked the heart of British politics.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, John Shing, Wan Leung, Leung, William Burns, “, ”, Tom Tugendhat, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of State Security, Authorities, CNN, US State Department, CIA, Conservative Party, Sunday, British Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Beijing, American, China, PRC, Beijing, Washington, Houston, London

☆ Family of Swede detained in Iran calls for international support
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

STOCKHOLM, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The family of a Swedish EU employee detained in Iran have urged the international community to help secure his release after over 500 days of incarceration for alleged spying, his family said on Sunday. "The family, friends, and supporters of Johan are calling for urgent international attention to secure his immediate release and safe return to Europe," the family wrote on a weabite dedicated to his release, on his 33rd birthday. They said that starting in February 2023 Floderus was restricted to making short phone calls once a month. For years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on espionage and security-related charges. He was sentenced to life in prison last year, prompting Iran to recall its envoy to Sweden in protest.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Johan Floderus, Johan, Floderus, Marie, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Revolutionary Guards, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Iran, Islamic Republic, Europe, Tehran, Stockholm, Sweden

☆ Fact Check-Travel alert for US citizens to depart Belarus active since February 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A travel advisory to U.S citizens in Belarus to leave the country was first issued in February 2022, at the time of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has remained active, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. A travel advisory also published in February 2022 by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs placed Belarus in the “Do Not Travel” advisory category. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately via commercial or private means” (here). A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters via email: “The Department has advised U.S. citizens to depart Belarus since February 2022.”VERDICTFalse. The U.S did not issue a first alert for its citizens to depart Belarus in August 2023.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Read Organizations: U.S . State Department, Facebook, U.S, Embassy, U.S . Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, Reuters Locations: Belarus, Ukraine, U.S, Minsk, COVID, Lithuania, Lithuanian, Latvian

☆ 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

☆ Wagner channels say Russian arrested in Finland is top fighter with neo-Nazi background
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HELSINKI, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Social media channels linked to Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries said on Friday a top fighter in one of the group's subunits had been detained in Finland at Ukraine's request. It is unclear how Petrovsky was able to enter Finland while under European Union sanctions. On Telegram, Rusich published part of what it said was the Ukrainian request for Petrovsky's arrest. Earlier on Friday, Russian state news agency RIA cited the Russian embassy in Helsinki as saying it was aware of the detention of a Russian citizen in Finland on Ukraine's request and was taking steps to offer consular assistance. Reporting by Felix Light in Tbilisi, Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv and Anne Kauranen in Helsinki; Editing by Mark TrevelyanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Russia's Wagner, Wagner, Yan Petrovsky, Petrovsky, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Rusich, Felix Light, Pavel Polityuk, Anne Kauranen, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: European Union, United, Nazi, European, Kremlin, Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, Finland, United States, Ukraine, Norway, Russia, Vantaa, Helsinki, Russian, Tbilisi, Kyiv

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☆ U.S. Ambassador Meets With Evan Gershkovich, Detained WSJ Reporter, in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Edward Wong | More About Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. ambassador to Russia met with Evan Gershkovich, the jailed American reporter for The Wall Street Journal, in Lefortovo Prison in Moscow on Monday, the State Department said hours after their talk. The visit by the ambassador, Lynne Tracey, marked the third time she had met with Mr. Gershkovich since he was detained by the Russian authorities in March. “Ambassador Tracy said that Evan continues to appear in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances,” the State Department said in a written statement. American officials have said that their Russian counterparts are blocking them from getting regular consular access to Mr. Gershkovich, the first American journalist arrested on an espionage charge in Russia since the end of the Cold War.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Lynne Tracey, Gershkovich, Tracy, Evan Organizations: Wall Street, State Department, “ Locations: Russia, American, Moscow

☆ Australian journalist held in China writes 'love letter' home
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Australian journalist Cheng Lei poses for a selfie at an unknown location in this undated handout photograph obtained by Reuters on August 11, 2023. Nicholas Coyle/Handout via REUTERSSYDNEY, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Australian journalist Cheng Lei, detained in China on national security charges, has described how standing in sunlight for just 10 hours a year feels in a "love letter" to her country. Her first public statement since her arrest came in what she called a "love letter to 25 million people" which was dictated to consular staff during a visit and released by her partner. The Australian government has repeatedly raised concerns about her detention, which came as China widened blocks on Australian exports amid a diplomatic dispute that is gradually easing. Albanese on Sunday said the barley decision was positive, but he wanted "other impediments to be removed ... included in that, the detention of the Australians, including Cheng Lei".

Persons: Cheng Lei, Nicholas Coyle, Handout, Cheng, I've, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Nick Coyle, Lei, Coyle, Penny Wong, Ms Cheng, Wong, Kirsty Needham, John Stonestreet, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS SYDNEY, Sunday, China - Australia Business Council, Thomson Locations: Australian, China, Beijing, Canberra, Australia

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

☆ Russian embassy in Moldova to suspend consular appointments
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CHISINAU, July 30 (Reuters) - Russia's embassy in Moldova has announced it will temporarily stop providing appointments for consular matters in what Moldovan officials say is a situation linked to the order by the country's authorities to reduce staff. A statement issued by the embassy late on Saturday said consular appointments would be suspended from Aug. 5 "for technical reasons." Moldovan officials say the order to reduce staff at the Russian embassy to 25 from the current level of more than 80, to take effect from Aug. 15, will establish parity with Moldova's embassy in Moscow. Much of the embassy's consular work concerns the pro-Russian separatist enclave of Transdniestria, which broke away from Moldova before the collapse of Soviet rule and where 200,000 Russian passport holders live. Embassy staff were previously able to travel to the enclave on the Ukrainian border to conduct consular affairs, but authorities in the separatist region say the reductions will make that arrangement much more difficult.

Persons: Maia Sandu, Igor Zakhahrov, Maria Zakharova, Ron Popeski, Chris Reese Organizations: Russian Foreign, Embassy, Thomson Locations: CHISINAU, Moldova, Soviet Moldova, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Transdniestria

☆ Canadian diplomats denied access to Kris Wu's appeal trial in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, July 27 (Reuters) - Canadian diplomats were denied access to the start of Canadian pop star Kris Wu's appeal trial in Beijing, the Canadian government said, following his sentencing in 2022 to more than a decade in prison for crimes including rape. The Canadian embassy in Beijing had been notified of the appeal trial in advance, which was not open to the public to protect the privacy of the victims, state-run Xinhua reported at the time when the trial began on Tuesday. "Consular officials in Beijing were notified of the hearing and requested to attend, but the request was denied by Chinese authorities," said Jeremie Berube, spokesperson at Global Affairs Canada, which manages the government's diplomatic and consular relations. Consular officials have been actively engaged on Wu's case and are providing consular assistance to him and his family, Berube said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday. Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kris Wu's, Jeremie Berube, Berube, Wu, Xander Cage, Ryan Woo, Michael Perry Organizations: Canadian, Xinhua, Global Affairs Canada, Reuters, Hollywood, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China

☆ Three killed, Chinese consulate damaged in Russian attack on Ukraine's port cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Viktoria Lakezina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Rescuers work at a site of an administrative building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine July 20, 2023. In Odesa, a security guard was killed and at least eight other people were hurt, including a child, Kiper said. A Russian attack on the port of Chornomorsk on Wednesday damaged grain export infrastructure as well as the agricultural products Zelenskiy said were meant for China. Ukrainian officials see the air strikes as an attack on global food security because Kyiv is a major grain exporter. Authorities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv said separately a 61-year-old man had been killed there by Russian shelling on Thursday.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleh Kiper, Zelenskiy, Kiper, Oleksandr Senkevych, Vitaliy Kim, Mykhailo Podolayk, Dan Peleschuk, Timothy Organizations: Press, State Emergency Service of, Companies, Regional, Fire, UN Security Council, Twitter, Authorities, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Odesa, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Handout, Ukrainian, Russia, MYKOLAIV, Black, Beijing, China, Moscow, Mykolaiv, Chornomorsk, Kyiv, Kharkiv

☆ Chinese consular building damaged in Russian attack on Ukraine's Odesa - governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, July 20 (Reuters) - A building at the Chinese consulate in Odesa was damaged in a Russian missile and drone attack on the southern Ukrainian port city, regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Thursday. Russia, which is an ally of China, attacked the port cities of Odesa and Mykolaiv overnight for the third successive night. "The aggressor is deliberately hitting the port infrastructure - administrative and residential buildings nearby were damaged, also the consulate of the People's Republic of China. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his daily late-night video address on Wednesday that 60,000 tons of agricultural products destroyed in a Russian air strike on Odesa port had been intended for shipment to China. Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka, Writing by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy HeritageOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oleh Kiper, Kiper, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Anna Pruchnicka, Olena Harmash, Timothy Organizations: Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Odesa, Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, China, Mykolaiv, People's Republic of China

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☆ China blasts US for forcing it to accept South China Sea ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Filipino activists gather outside the Chinese consular office to commemorate the anniversary of the Philippines' victory against China in the UN arbitral ruling on the South China Sea, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 12, 2023. The ruling, handed down by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague seven years ago, concluded that Beijing's claim to almost the entire South China Sea was groundless. China, whose actions in the South China Sea have been the subject of hundreds of diplomatic protests filed by the Philippines, also maintained that it does not accept any claim or action based on the ruling. "We firmly reject attempts to deliberately diminish or undermine the Award's definitive legal effects in international law," Philippines Foreign Ministry undersecretary Theresa Lazaro told a forum on the South China Sea. About $3 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass through the South China Sea every year.

Persons: Eloisa Lopez, Wang Wenbing, Matthew Miller, Theresa Lazaro, Karen Lema, Bernard Orr, Raissa Kasolowsky, Mark Porter Organizations: China, UN, REUTERS, Foreign Ministry, U.S . State Department, Wednesday, Beijing, Philippines Foreign, Thomson Locations: Philippines, China, Makati City, Metro Manila, Eloisa Lopez BEIJING, United States, South China, Washington, Beijing, The Hague, U.S, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Manila

☆ Chau Van Kham: Australian retiree accused of terrorism freed from prison in Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Acting Australian Prime Minister Richard Marles said Chau Van Kham was released on humanitarian grounds and “in the spirit of friendship” between Australia and Vietnam. The Vietnamese government declared the California-based Viet Tan, or Vietnam Reform Party, a terrorist organization in 2016, accusing it of recruiting and training armed operatives. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese traveled to Vietnam last month to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “We share the happy news that Mr Chau Van Kham is well and has returned to his family today,” the statement said, according to Amnesty. Pearson said Kham was one of more than 150 political prisoners detained in Vietnam for peaceful acts of free expression.

Persons: Australia CNN —, Richard Marles, ” Marles, Viet Tan, Tan, it’s, Anthony Albanese, Kham’s, Dan Nguyen, Chau, “, ” Elaine Pearson, Pearson, Kham, Pham Doan Trang, Mai Phan, Dang Dinh Bach, Hoang, Hong, ” Pearson Organizations: Australia CNN, Australian, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Vietnam Reform Party, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Human Rights Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Vietnam, California, United States, Asia

☆ Russia says there are 'certain contacts' with U.S. on detained U.S. reporter Gershkovich
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, July 4 (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday that there were "certain contacts" with the United States over the case of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, but that it did not want to make them public. As for the legal right to consular contacts, this right, of course, must be ensured on both sides," Peskov said. Russia accuses Gershkovich of espionage, something he denies. Russia has said there could be no exchange involving Gershkovich until a verdict is reached in his case. Washington has said it is committed to bringing home Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. marine who is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Lynne Tracy, Vladimir Dunaev, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Gershkovich, Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout, Washington, Paul Whelan, Lucy Papachristou, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Street, Kremlin, Gershkovich, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, United States, Moscow, Russian, Ohio, U.S, Washington

☆ U.S. ambassador visits detained journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russian prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Abigail Williams | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy saw American journalist Evan Gershkovich on Monday, the second visit by Biden administration officials since the Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested in March. U.S. consular officials, including Tracy, were last able to see Gershkovich on April 17, about two weeks after Russian government officials arrested him. A Moscow court ruled last month that Gershkovich must remain in prison until Aug. 30. "Ambassador Tracy reports that Mr. Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances," a State Department spokesperson said. "U.S. Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family, and we expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access."

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Lynne Tracy, Tracy, Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Mr, Whelan Organizations: Court, Biden, Street, State Department, Embassy, Federal Security Service Locations: Moscow, American, U.S, Russia, Moscow's

☆ The Kremlin is open to discussions over a potential prisoner swap for detained Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Kremlin has expressed openness to a potential prisoner swap that could involve Evan Gershkovich. Gershkovich, a WSJ reporter, was detained by Russian officials in March on suspicion of espionage. The Journal and the US government have vehemently denied the allegations against Gershkovich. Russia's internal security service at the time said that it had detained Gershkovich, accusing him of "espionage in the interests of the American government." The US has told the Kremlin that Gershkovich is not a spy and is not a government official.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, —, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Gershkovich, Joe Biden, Evan, Biden, Gershkovich's, …, Roger Carstens, We've, Carstens, They're, Paul Whelan — Organizations: Gershkovich, Service, Street, Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow —, White House, Kremlin, Aspen Ideas, US State Department, US Marine Locations: Russia, United States, Yekaterinburg —, Moscow, Russian, Colorado

The interior ministry said 719 people were arrested on Saturday night, fewer than the 1,311 the previous night and 875 on Thursday night. Their action ... made for a quieter night," the ministry said on Twitter. The biggest flashpoint overnight was Marseille, where police fired teargas and fought street battles with youths around the city centre late into the night. MAYOR'S HOME ATTACKEDIn Paris, police increased security overnight at the city's famous Champs Elysees avenue after a call on social media to gather there. Paris police said six public buildings were damaged and five officers wounded overnight.

Persons: Nahel, Emmanuel Macron, Laurent Nunez, teargas, Juan Medina, MAYOR'S, Elisabeth Borne, Bruno Le Maire, Yann Wernert, Jacques Delors, Elizabeth Pineau, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Alison Williams, Alex Richardson Organizations: Authorities, Twitter, France, REUTERS, China's Consular, MAYOR'S HOME, Finance, Thomson Locations: Paris, North, PARIS, France, Moroccan, Nanterre, Germany, Marseille, China, L'Hay, Nice, Strasbourg, tobacconists, tatters, Berlin

REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File PhotoWASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, July 2 (Reuters) - U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing a new U.S. refugee program for some non-Mexican asylum seekers waiting in Mexico, four sources said, part of President Joe Biden's attempts to create more legal avenues for migration. The program would likely be open to Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan refugees in Mexico, the sources said. Under another Biden program, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans can request to enter the U.S. by air if they have U.S. sponsors. The initiative under discussion would be a "Priority Two" refugee program, the sources said, similar to one opened for Afghans in 2021. If the program encourages more migrants to enter Mexico, it could tax the country's already-strained resources for dealing with migrants, the official said.

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Joe Biden's, Biden, Alicia Barcena, Ted Hesson, Dave Graham, Daina Beth Solomon, Kristina Cooke, Mica Rosenberg, Mary Milliken, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Haitian, Nicaraguan, U.S, Biden, BIDEN, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, WASHINGTON, MEXICO, U.S, Mexican, Cuban, Latin America, Caribbean, America, Washington, Mexico City, San Francisco

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