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☆ Accident or sabotage? American and European officials disagree as key undersea cables are cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Investigators are trying to crack the mystery of how two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were cut within hours of each other, with European officials saying they believe the disruption was an act of sabotage and US officials suggesting it was likely an accident. The two cables – the BCS East-West connecting Lithuanian and Sweden and the C-Lion1 linking Finland with Germany – were suddenly disrupted on Sunday and Monday. And the disruption to the cables came just weeks after the US warned that Moscow was likely to target critical undersea infrastructure. Instead, the two officials told CNN they believed it likely caused by an anchor drag from a passing vessel. The Chinese-flagged ship Yi Peng 3 was spotted in the area around the times the two cables were cut.

Persons: Germany –, Boris Pistorius, “, ”, Yi Peng, Lin Jian, China “ Organizations: CNN —, BCS, Germany’s, Europe, CNN, Wednesday, Swedish, Administration, Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, Danish Armed Forces Locations: Baltic, Lithuanian, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Moscow, particuar, Ust, Luga, Yi, China

☆ A Chinese ship was near both subsea internet cables that were mysteriously cut, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementA Chinese ship was seen near severed Baltic Sea internet cables, the FT reported. Sweden is investigating the sighting of a Chinese vessel near where two Baltic Sea internet cables were severed, the Financial Times reported. AdvertisementThe Danish defense ministry said it was "in the area near" the Chinese ship in a statement on X Wednesday, amid unconfirmed reports that Danish officials had boarded the vessel. The International Union of Marine Insurance estimates that repairing damaged cables usually costs between $7 and $12 million. AdvertisementIt comes amid tensions between the West and China over its support of Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Persons: Boris Pistorius, Yi Peng, Erin Murphy, Murphy Organizations: Financial Times, FT, Danish Navy, Strategic, International, Russia, Foreign, International Union of Marine Insurance, Ukraine, Sweden's Ministry, Foreign Affairs, Marine, China's Embassy, Business Locations: Sweden, China, Lithuania, Sweden's Gotland, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Britain, Egypt, Gulf of Finland, West

☆ Undersea cables cut in Baltic Sea; U.S. allies warn of hybrid warfare amid Russia clash
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. allies warned of "hybrid warfare" Tuesday after two undersea communication cables were severed in the Baltic Sea, raising suspicions that they may be the latest acts of sabotage targeting the West as it clashes with Russia. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday that "no one believes that these cables were cut accidentally" after a rupture in a 730-mile cable linking Germany and Finland was detected Monday. "We have to state, without knowing specifically who it came from, that it is a ‘hybrid’ action," he said. Western officials have accused the Kremlin of intensifying a campaign targeting Ukraine's allies while assaulting its neighbor in a war that reached 1,000 days on Tuesday. "European security is not only under threat from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors," the foreign ministers of Germany and Finland said in a joint statement.

Persons: Boris Pistorius, Arelion, NATO — Organizations: German, NBC, Swedish Armed Forces, NATO Locations: Baltic, Russia, Germany, Finland, Gotland, Ukraine

☆ Baltic Sea internet cables cut: European officials cry sabotage
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —European officials are looking toward Russia after two submarine internet cables in the Baltic Sea were suddenly disrupted in an apparent sabotage operation, just weeks after the United States warned that Moscow was likely to target critical undersea infrastructure. A cable between Lithuania and Sweden was cut on Sunday, according to Telia Lithuania, the telecommunications company that runs the link. Separately, the state-controlled Finnish telecoms company Cinia said one of its cables, which connects Finland and Germany, was disrupted on Monday. ”Nobody believes that these cables were accidentally severed,” he told reporters on Tuesday morning ahead of a ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium. The extent of the disruption, if any, caused by the damage to the cables is unclear.

Persons: Cinia, Boris Pistorius, ”, “, “ Pistorius, Telia, Andrius Šemeškevičius, – Organizations: CNN, Germany’s, Museum of Occupation, European Union, BCS Locations: Russia, Baltic, States, Moscow, Lithuania, Sweden, Finnish, Finland, Germany, Brussels, Belgium, Ukraine, Czech, Prague, Riga, Latvia, Ukrainian, London, Warsaw, Poland, Belarus, Helsinki, Rostock, Lithuanian

☆ North Korea boasts of ‘the world’s strongest’ missile, but experts say it’s too big to use in war
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The ICBM launched Thursday flew higher and for a longer duration than any other weapon North Korea has tested. As the transporter-erector launchers get bigger, their mobility decreases," Lee Sangmin, an expert at South Korea's Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said North Korea may have developed a larger missile to carry bigger and more destructive warheads or multi-warheads. If that's the case, Lee said North Korea could have used liquid fuels as they generate higher thrust than solid fuels. watch nowLee said North Korea may have placed a dummy, empty warhead on the Hwasong-19 to make it fly higher.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju, Kim Jae, Lee Sangmin, Chang Young, Chang, Lee Illwoo, Lee, they're Organizations: Yongsan, North, Getty, Korean Central News Agency, South Korea's Korea Institute for Defense, Seoul's Korea Research Institute, National, Korea Defense Network, Korea's Locations: Seoul, North Korea, Korea, North Korean, South, Korean, South Korea, U.S, Japan

Israel's parliament voted Monday to ban the operations of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main humanitarian aid agency operating in Gaza. "This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to #Palestine Refugees," Lazzarini wrote. UNRWA is a U.N. aid organization established in 1949 to provide aid and protection to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Some Israeli critics have said that the agency perpetuates a false narrative that Palestinians are refugees, which Lazzarini referenced in his statement. And U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was declared “persona non grata" by Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, and was banned from entering Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Philippe Lazzarini, Israel, Biden, Matthew Miller, Miller, Lazzarini, Netanyahu, Michael Martin, Boaz, Antonio Guterres, Israel Katz Organizations: United Nations, UNRWA, . State Department, State Department, Palestine Refugees, West, UN, Ireland, Agency, Assembly, Israel Defense Forces, . Interim Forces, U.N Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Israel, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, France, Germany, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, East, organization’s

☆ Israel has banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. That could be devastating for millions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Salma Arafa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Israel’s parliament has voted to ban a nearly eight-decade-old United Nations agency that provides essential services for Palestinian refugees, a move that could have devastating consequences for millions of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. The move is expected to severely restrict the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in territories Israel occupies. In the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by a devastating Israeli war for more than a year, UNRWA serves some 1.7 million Palestinian refugees. Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty ImagesThe agency provides a wide range of aid and services to Palestinian refugees and their descendants, including shelter, healthcare, food and education. It is unclear who would assume assistance for the millions of Palestinian refugees who rely on UNRWA, if it wasn’t able to.

Persons: CNN —, Boaz, Yuli Edelstein, Israel, Antony Blinken, ’, Asma, Omar Al, ”, ” Yulia Malinovsky, Ilia Yefimovich, “, António Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Guterres, Guterres, Aida Touma, Suleiman, ” Touma, United Kingdom –, Lloyd Austin, Biden Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UNRWA, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Likud, US State Department, UN, Hamas, Israel, West Bank, Getty, Commission, Refugees, UNRWA …, Palestinian, World Health Organization, WHO, UNHCR, US Locations: Israel, Israel …, Gaza, United States, ”, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Gaza City, AFP, New York, Geneva, Brussels, UNHCR, Jerusalem, El Far’a, Palestinian Territory, Crescent, Israeli, Arab, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom

☆ Israeli MP behind bill to expel key UN agency accuses US of interfering with process
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Dana Karni | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Israeli government has claimed that some of the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) staff are affiliated with Hamas. UNRWA has strongly denied the allegations, but several governments suspended funding for the agency earlier this year while the allegations were investigated. The MP, Yulia Malinovsky, told CNN that US Ambassador Jacob Lew has contacted several opposition leaders, including Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, in an effort to get the legislation stopped. The US State Department told CNN that as a matter of policy, it would not comment on private diplomatic conversations. Malinovsky told CNN that she is determined UNRWA should no longer receive “five-star treatment” in Israel.

Persons: Yulia Malinovsky, Jacob Lew, Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Daniel Hagari, Nukhba, Israel Katz, Antonio Guterres, “, ’, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Biden, Malinovsky, ” Malinovsky, UNRWA “, ” Organizations: CNN, UN, West Bank, UN Relief and Works Agency, UN Relief, Hamas, UNRWA, US State Department, West, Israel Defense Forces, US, Canada Locations: Gaza, Israel, West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, ”, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea

CNN —Britain’s King Charles has said the Commonwealth should acknowledge its “painful” history and urged the organization to “right inequalities that endure” as he opened a meeting of Commonwealth countries in Samoa on Friday. “I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. It is vital therefore that we understand our history, to guide us to make the right choices in the future,” Charles said in his first speech as head of the Commonwealth. Charles was addressing Commonwealth leaders, foreign ministers and dignitaries during the welcome ceremony on Friday. In recent years, the British monarchy has adopted a more conciliatory tone when addressing the past horrors of transatlantic slavery.

Persons: CNN — Britain’s King Charles, “, ” Charles, ”, Charles Organizations: CNN, Commonwealth, BBC Locations: Commonwealth, Samoa, British, Kenya

☆ China and India should manage their differences, Xi tells Modi in first formal talks in 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

India and China, two of the world’s biggest economies, have maintained strong trade ties despite the military and diplomatic tensions. India said the two leaders have directed their officials to take further steps to stabilize all aspects of bilateral ties. Modi put forward ideas for improving and developing bilateral relations, to which Xi agreed in principle, CCTV added without elaborating. Modi and Xi had not held formal bilateral talks since then, although both participated in multilateral events. Their last bilateral summit talks were held in October 2019 in the southern Indian town of Mamallapuram.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, Modi, Xi, ” Modi, Vikram Misri, ” Organizations: Indian, CCTV, Doordarshan, Mutual, New Locations: Russia, India, China, Kazan, New Delhi, Beijing, Ladakh, Mamallapuram, Bali, Johannesburg

☆ Independent journalist publishes Trump campaign document hacked by Iran despite election interference concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Kevin Collier | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The PDF document is a 271-page opposition research file on former President Donald Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio. But on Thursday, reporter Ken Klippenstein, who self-publishes on Substack after he left The Intercept this year, published one of the files. "If the document had been hacked by some 'anonymous' like hacker group, the news media would be all over it. Three U.S. agencies have publicly attributed the hack and the subsequent distribution of the files to Iran. As president, Trump authorized the assassination of military leader Qassem Soleimani.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Sen, JD Vance, Ken Klippenstein, I'm, Klippenstein, Vance, Hillary Clinton's, Trump, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Qassem Soleimani, Robert, Robert persona's, Elon Musk, Joe Biden's, Hunter, Substack Organizations: European Union, Austria International, Politico, Trump, Google, Microsoft, NBC, National Intelligence, Intelligence, NBC News, New York Post Locations: Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France, American, R, Ohio, U.S, Substack

☆ Things are looking up for the economy. So why are consumers still unhappy?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, the economy is heading in the right direction, but consumers aren't buying it . Things seem to be going really well for the economy, right? Consumers aren't feeling bullish about the economy these days. Last time around, pesky inflation was keeping things like groceries and housing costs high, even as the rest of the economy showed improvement. China's stimulus plan to boost its ailing economy sent emerging markets indexes to their highest level since April 2022 .

Persons: —, Rebecca Zisser, We've, Insider's Juliana Kaplan, Spencer Platt, Getty, Tyler Le, We'll, Morgan, Mike Wilson, Steven Blitz, China's, aren't, Chelsea Jia Feng, weren't, Natalie Ammari, that's, Ron Sherman, Gen, Mark Zuckerberg, Dan DeFrancesco, Jack Sommers, Jordan Parker Erb, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, Business, Federal Reserve, Conference Board, Fed, Chelsea, Spotify, Visa, US Justice Department, Prosecutors, Meta Locations: Austin , Texas, New York, London

☆ Israel and Hezbollah launch new attacks after deadly day in Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following Israeli strikes, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as pictured from Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, September 23, 2024. Israel struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Iran-backed group attacked military facilities in northern Israel on Tuesday, increasing fears of a full-blown conflict after Lebanon suffered its deadliest day in decades. Israel's military said it hit dozens of Hezbollah targets overnight, a day after carrying out airstrikes against the armed group which Lebanese authorities said killed nearly 500 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing for safety. Hezbollah said it targeted several Israeli military targets overnight including an explosives factory 60 km (37 miles) into Israel, which it attacked with Fadi rockets around 4 a.m. (0100 GMT). It said it also attacked the Megiddo airfield near the northern Israeli town of Afula three separate times overnight.

Persons: Israel, Najib Mikati's, Israel's, Yemen's Houthis Organizations: Fadi, United Nations General, UN, Assembly Locations: Lebanon, Marjayoun, Israel, Iran, Megiddo, Afula, Gaza, New York, U.S, Iraq, Beirut, fester

☆ Iran is ready for nuclear talks at UN 'if other parties are willing,' foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Then Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks over the Iran nuclear deal during a press conference in Tehran, Ian on August 9, 2015Iran is ready to start nuclear negotiations on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York if "other parties are willing," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday in a video published on his Telegram channel. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran to revive the deal have stalled. Iran is still formally part of the deal but has scaled back commitments to honour it due to U.S. sanctions reimposed on the Islamic Republic. We will focus our efforts on starting a new round of talks regarding the nuclear pact," Araqchi said. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has said the United States is not ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran.

Persons: Abbas Araqchi, Ian, Donald Trump, Araqchi, Antony Blinken, Trump, Joe Biden's Organizations: General Assembly, U.S, Hamas Locations: Iran, Tehran, New York, U.S, Washington, Islamic Republic, Switzerland, Iranian, Israel, Ukraine, United States

☆ China's worsening relationship with US businesses could put AI's chip supply on shaky ground
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In today's big story, China isn't proving to be the economic promised land US companies once hoped for . US-China relations have been on shaky ground for a while, to put it mildly. But despite the growing animosity, US corporations' push to sell things to Chinese consumers has been a middle ground everyone can agree on. AdvertisementTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company makes vital hardware components for most the world's chip companies, including industry giant Nvidia. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently said his company has a backup plan if things were to kick off in Taiwan .

Persons: —, Jamie Dimon, Tyler Le, Insider's Linette Lopez, It's, that's, Kiran Ridley, Stringer, Getty, Jensen Huang, Huang, Alyssa Powell, Trump, Harris, isn't, Howard Marks, Marks, Rebecca Noble, Vance, Tom Brady, Jeff Bezos, it's, Ryan Routh, Donald Trump, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Jack Sommers, Amanda Yen, Grace Lett, Milan Sehmbi Organizations: Service, Business, China Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Apple, Nike, Huawei, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Nvidia, Billionaire, Economic Forum Locations: Washington ,, China, China . US, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, USA, Florida, New York, London, Chicago

☆ Harris and Trump face off for the first time tonight, but some corners of the business world are already over it
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Business Insider's Brent D. Griffiths has a rundown on everything you need to know heading into tonight . A newly released Times/Siena poll shows Trump holding just a one-point advantage over Harris among likely voters. For Trump, the focus will likely be the economy, which is a high priority for voters and also a sore spot for Harris. The latest Times poll showed Trump (55%) held a big advantage over Harris (42%) regarding who would be better equipped to handle the economy. Trump will also likely target Harris' biggest vulnerabilities , which may include trying to define her shifting views as disingenuous flip-flops, Brent writes.

Persons: —, he'll, it's, Jose Luis Pelaez, Michael Ciaglo, Getty, Tom Williams, Tyler Le, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Insider's Brent D, Griffiths, Harris, BI's John L Dorman, Trump, Brent, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, BI's Bradley Saacks, It's, BI's Alice Tecotzky, Sébastien Thibault, Goldman Sachs, Torsten Sløk, Anson Chan, Brian Niccol, hasn't, Putin, Andrew Cuomo, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Milan Sehmbi, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, Elon, Business, Jose Luis Pelaez Inc, Trump, BI Bitcoin, Arab League Locations: Philadelphia, Siena, Silicon Valley, China, America, Russia, Ukraine, Cairo, Israel, Gaza, New York, London

☆ US imposes new sanctions on Iran’s main airline over Tehran supplying missiles to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The United States imposed new sanctions on Iran’s main airline as three key European allies announced they will move to do the same in response to Tehran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine,” Blinken said alongside his British counterpart, David Lammy. “It adds to their capacity, and it fuels the war,” Blinken said of the new Iranian missiles Russia now has. “Anyone who proves assistance to Russia … is perpetuating the war, is perpetuating the conflict,” he added. Lammy described it as the “first joint visit of this kind for well over a decade.”CNN previously reported that the shipment of the Iranian missiles had arrived in Russia.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ”, Blinken, ” “, Russia …, we’ve, ” Blinken, David Lammy, “, Lammy Organizations: CNN, Iran Air, Iran, Treasury Department, Ukraine, ” CNN Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Iran, Europe, Tehran, North Korea, China, Kyiv

☆ 'Spook the West': Turkey's bid for BRICS both a strategic and symbolic step, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends the BRICS+ session on a two-day BRICS foreign ministers summit held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia on June 11, 2024. BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is a group of emerging market countries that seek to deepen their economic ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their joint press conference on September 4, 2023, in Sochi, Russia. The fact that it's led by China makes some in the West wary, who see this as a potential win for Beijing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not seen) is welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of the 11th G20 Leaders' Summit in Hangzhou, China, on September 3, 2016.

Persons: Hakan Fidan, Sefa, It's, George Dyson, Dyson, Matthew Bryza, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Russia —, Arda Tunca, Tunca, it's, Xi Jinping, Mehmet Ali Ozcan Organizations: Turkish, Anadolu, Getty, AK Party, NATO, Control, CNBC, EU, White House, Senior State Department, United Arab, Russia, West, China, Beijing, Anadolu Agency Locations: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Western, Turkey, Europe, U.S, Ankara, Istanbul, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russian, Sochi, United States, BRICS, Turkish, Hangzhou

Beirut, Lebanon CNN —Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his group will respond to Israel “regardless of the consequences” to avenge the assassination of the group’s top commander a week ago, but keeping Israelis waiting is “part of the punishment.”“Their government, their army, their society, their settlements and their occupiers are all waiting,” Nasrallah said. Keeping Israel waiting is “part of the battle,” he added. The monthslong, cross-border exchange of fire intensified Tuesday morning after Hezbollah launched a “swarm” of drones towards what it said are military targets in northern Israeli cities. The Israeli military said the building was used by Hezbollah. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his Islamic Revolutionary Guard promised Israel a “painful” response for the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, ” “, ” Nasrallah, ”, Fuad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Ali Khamenei, Israel, Asad, Defense Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Haniyeh Organizations: Lebanon CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Al, Pentagon, Defense, Officials, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Nahariya, Iran, Shukr, Tehran, Haniyeh, Asad Airbase, Iraq, Jordanian, Jeddah

☆ What’s happening in Venezuela - protests, election uncertainty and an economic crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Venezuelans across the country took to the streets on Monday to protest a disputed election, clashing with police as uncertainty swirls around the results amid allegations of election fraud. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after the presidential election results were announced in Caracas on July 29, 2024. Though Maduro supporters celebrated his win in parts of Caracas, Monday was marked by wider protests by the opposition. Many regional and world leaders have cast doubt on the results, including the United States – though some of Venezuela’s partners have stood by Maduro. Once the fifth-largest economy in Latin America, Venezuela has experienced the worst economic collapse of a peacetime country in recent history.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Maduro, –, Juan Barreto, Hugo Chávez, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maria Corina Machado, Matias Delacroix, Gonzalez, Machado, António Guterres, Molotov, Samir Aponte, ”, “, Antony Blinken, Maduro’s Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Getty, AP, Officially, Electoral Council, CNE, The Carter, United Nations, Reuters, Police, Washington, Venezuela –, European Union Locations: Venezuelan, Caracas, AFP, Venezuela, Charallave, Chile, Spain, Puerto La Cruz, United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Latin America

☆ Quad foreign ministers meet in Tokyo for talks on maritime security, cyber
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) prepares to pose for a group photo with Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (2nd R), Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (2nd L) and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (L) at the start of their Quad Ministerial Meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on July 29, 2024. Foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan and the United States — a grouping known as the "Quad" — met in Tokyo on Monday for talks expected to focus on maritime security and initiatives to build up cyber defenses. The talks attended by Australia's Penny Wong, India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Yoko Kamikawa and Antony Blinken from the U.S., follow security discussions between Tokyo and Washington on Sunday where the allies labelled China the "greatest strategic challenge" facing the region. We all understand we face the most confronting circumstances in our region in decades," Wong said in opening remarks at the start of the Quad talks on Monday. In her opening remarks, Kamikawa highlighted the need to build up cybersecurity capability and provide training opportunities in maritime security to protect and develop prosperity in Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Penny Wong, Yoko Kamikawa, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australia's Penny Wong, India's Subrahmanyam, Japan's Yoko Kamikawa, Wong, Kamikawa Organizations: Australia's Foreign, Japan's, India's, United Locations: Tokyo, Australia, India, Japan, United States, U.S, Washington, China

☆ Blinken chides Beijing's 'escalating actions' at sea, concerned over Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Beijing's "escalating and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea at a summit on Saturday, while his Russian counterpart said Washington has stoked anxiety with its plan for a nuclear deterrence with ally Seoul for the Korean peninsula. Blinken singled out China over its coast guard's hostile actions against U.S. defense treaty ally the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Philippines' small troop presence on a grounded former U.S. navy ship at the Second Thomas Shoal has angered China for years. Blinken discussed Taiwan with Wang and concerns about Beijing's recent "provocative actions", included a simulated blockade during the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, a senior U.S. State Department official said. Wang told Blinken that although communications had been maintained between China and the United States, Washington had not stopped its containment and suppression of Beijing and had even intensified it.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Beijing's, Blinken, Thomas Shoal, Wang, Lai Ching Organizations: China's, 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Washington, Seoul, U.S, ASEAN Regional Forum, EU, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Foreign, Taiwan, U.S . State Department Locations: Vientiane, South, China, Philippines, South China, Manila, Russia, India, Australia, Japan, Gaza, Ukraine, North, U.S, Laos, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Washington

☆ Blinken meets China’s top diplomat in Laos as global giants keep communication lines open
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as China’s increasingly assertive moves in the South China Sea and threats toward Taiwan, have in recent years soured the Washington-Beijing relationship. In contrast, both Putin and Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov have been greeted in Beijing multiple times since the invasion. against a backdrop of increasingly violent clashes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea. “We are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today of the Second Thomas Shoal, which is the product of an agreement reached between the Philippines and China,” Blinken said. His running mate JD Vance has advocated halting military aid to Ukraine in favor of focusing on Taiwan’s defense.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden’s, China’s, Xi Jinping’s, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Wang, Dmytro Kuleba, Beijing “, ”, Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Kuleba, Lavrov, Russia …, “, ” Lavrov, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, Beijing’s, Shoal, Thomas, ” Blinken, Biden, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Kamala Harris Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, Foreign, ASEAN, Laos –, North American Aerospace Defense Command, NATO, Ukraine, European Union, Ukrainian Foreign, South China, Republican, Democratic Locations: Hong Kong, China, Laos, Asia, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia, Ukraine, South, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, Alaska, Russia, Moscow, Russia’s, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Manila, South China

☆ China says relations with Japan at 'critical stage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Relations between China and Japan are at a critical stage, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart on Friday as the pair discussed thorny issues including Japanese nationals detained in China, food import bans and semiconductor curbs. "China-Japan relations are currently at a critical point: advance or be left behind," Wang told Kamikawa, according to a readout of the talks issued by the Chinese foreign ministry. It is hoped that the Japanese side will establish an objective and correct perception of China and pursue a positive and rational policy towards China." In their first one-to-one talks in eight months, Kamikawa strongly urged the lifting of import restrictions Beijing imposed on Japan food products in the wake of the Fukushima water release. She also called for the early release of Japan detainees in China.

Persons: Wang Yi, Wang, Japan's Yoko Kamikawa, Kamikawa Organizations: Southeast, ASEAN, Saturday's East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, Japan, Astellas Pharma Locations: China, Japan, Laos, Saturday's, Beijing, Tokyo

☆ Hungary told it can't host EU gathering after the latest clash with Putin ally over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hungary has been stripped of the right to host a forthcoming gathering of European Union ministers due to its stance on the war in Ukraine. "We have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal, that being against the foreign policy of the European Union ... has to have some consequences," Borrell told reporters in Brussels on Monday. Borrell said he had made the decision to hold the next gathering in Brussels after almost every EU foreign minister meeting on Monday was critical of Hungary's stated position on Kyiv, Russia and the war in Ukraine. Orban, who's seen as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has since provoked fury in Brussels by describing EU policy on Ukraine as "pro-war." He nevertheless told reporters that the move was not a "boycotting" of Hungary and that the country would be present at the next gathering.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Borrell, Hungary's, Viktor Orban, Orban, who's, Vladimir Putin, Péter Szijjártó, it's Organizations: European Union, EU, Hungary's, Reuters Locations: Hungary, Ukraine, Brussels, Budapest, Kyiv, Russia, China

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