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☆ Israel's Netanyahu rules out civil war as mass protests divide country over judicial reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A woman holds a placard with a photo of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as the right wing holds a rally to support the government's judicial overhaul on July 23, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of civil war in his country, which has recently been rattled by protracted mass protests over judicial reforms. Raising the stakes of the judicial changes, Israel lacks a formalized written constitution and instead depends on a set of basic laws. The prime minister dismissed criticism that the legislation was potentially rushed in, saying he continues to seek compromise. "I think it's unfortunate that you've had reservists being lined up for something that involves a political debate," Netanyahu commented.

Persons: Binyamin Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, you've, Karine Jean, Pierre, I've, I'm, United Arab Emirates —, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al, Saud, Antony Blinken, Abraham Organizations: NBC, Tel, Reuters, House Press, Saudi, United, United Arab Emirates, kindle, Israel, Saudi Foreign, U.S, NBC News, Abraham Accords Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Israeli, Israel's, Jerusalem, U.S, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Iran, Tehran, Saudi, United Arab

[1/2] President of the Central Bank of Paraguay Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos speaks during an interview with Reuters in Asuncion, Paraguay July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno/File photoASUNCION, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Paraguay is seeking more Taiwanese investment to diversify its farm-driven economy focused on exporting raw materials to China, incoming Finance Minister Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos said in an interview. Paraguay remains the only South American nation with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. A Taiwan delegation including business leaders will travel to Paraguay in August for the inauguration of conservative President-elect Santiago Pena, he added. China, as a buyer of raw materials from Paraguay with no added value, "is probably convenient for some sectors," Fernandez said.

Persons: Central Bank of Paraguay Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos, Jorge Adorno, Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos, Fernandez, Santiago Pena, Pena, Jair Antonio de Lima, Lima, Lucinda Elliott, Daniela Desantis, Richard Chang Organizations: Central Bank of, Reuters, REUTERS, Gross, Thomson Locations: Central Bank of Paraguay, Asuncion, Paraguay, ASUNCION, China, Taiwan, CHINA, PARAGUAY Paraguayan, Beijing, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguayan, United States, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine

☆ Biden Presses Ahead With Effort to Broker Israeli-Saudi Rapprochement
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Peter Baker | More About Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia, like Israel, worries about Iranian hostility. The Saudis also want access to sophisticated American weapons, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense antiballistic missile defense system, known as THAAD. And they want Israel to take steps to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution to resolve the long-running conflict with the Palestinians. It was not entirely clear what conditions to which Israel would have to agree, but Mr. Friedman floated ideas like a permanent commitment not to annex the West Bank and limits on future settlements. The negotiations come at a time of friction between the United States and Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes through legislation to curb judicial authority in defiance of Mr. Biden and hundreds of thousands of protesters in the streets.

Persons: Thomas L, Friedman, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Organizations: New York Times, NATO, Defense, West Bank Locations: United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Yemen, China, Iran

☆ What Qin Gang's disappearance means for U.S.-China relations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. officials greet Qin Gang, then China's foreign minister, ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) in Beijing on June 18, 2023. Leah Millis | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The flurry over Qin Gang's disappearance and removal from the position of foreign minister has little impact on U.S.-China relations, analysts said. China officially announced his dismissal from the foreign minister role on Tuesday. China's foreign ministry has declined to shared why Qin had to leave his position. watch nowWhile Wang's return to the foreign minister role is unusual, his promotion to top diplomat had also come contrary to expectations of retirement.

Persons: Qin Gang, Antony Blinken, Leah Millis, Qin Gang's, Qin, China's, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Nick Marro, Xi, Wang, Jeremy Chan, Anna Ashton, Biden Organizations: U.S, Afp, Getty, Communist Party, Economist Intelligence Unit, Eurasia Group Locations: Beijing, BEIJING, China, Eurasia, Northeast Asia, U.S

☆ China replaces Qin Gang as foreign minister after one-month absence and weeks of speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Qin Gang, China's foreign minister, speaks while holding a copy of the constitution during a news conference in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. China removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from his post on Tuesday after a one-month absence from public duties, replacing him with his predecessor Wang Yi, state media said, after weeks of speculation about what had happened to him. Wang, 69, who filled in for Qin during his absence, retakes the role he held between 2018 and 2022. China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment about reasons behind the switch. It comes amid a flurry of international engagements and frayed ties with rival superpower the United States, which Beijing has described as at its lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Persons: Qin, Qin Gang, Wang Yi, Wang Organizations: Foreign Locations: Beijing, China, United States, Indonesia, Ukraine, Moscow, Taiwan

☆ China replaces foreign minister Qin after brief stint and weeks of speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang looks on during his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, Egypt, January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File PhotoBEIJING, July 25 (Reuters) - China removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from his post on Tuesday after a one-month absence from public duties, replacing him with his predecessor Wang Yi, state media said, after weeks of speculation about what had happened to him. Qin, 57, who only took up the job in December after a brief stint as envoy to the United States, had not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing. Wang, 69, who filled in for Qin during his absence, retakes the role he held between 2018 and 2022. China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment about reasons behind the switch.

Persons: Qin Gang, Sameh Shoukry, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Wang Yi, Qin, Wang, Andrew Heavens, Nick Macfie Organizations: Foreign, REUTERS, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, BEIJING, China, United States, Beijing, Indonesia, Ukraine, Moscow, Taiwan

☆ Powerful right-wing radicals are testing democratic checks and balance in both Israel and the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —White House criticism of Israel after its right-wing coalition embarked on a plan to target judicial power is bringing a new kind of turbulence to one of America’s oldest friendships. It shows that Israel, like the United States, is experiencing an era of right-wing politicians seeking to aggressively flex power and test enshrined democratic constraints. The drama is likely to further worsen the long-standing but increasingly brittle relationship between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu. Yet there is deep concern in the White House about the implications of any successful attempt to subvert checks and balances in Israel. And Netanyahu appeared to align himself politically with Trump while he was in the White House.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Biden’s, ”, shockwaves, Jordan, –, Martin Indyk, “, ” Indyk, Lynda Kinkade, hasn’t, Thomas Friedman, ” Biden’s, Karine Jean, Pierre, Isaac Herzog, ” Aaron David Miller, Isa Soares, don’t, Mitch McConnell, “ Mr, Obama, Trump, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Ron DeSantis, “ Biden, Pramila Jayapal, didn’t Organizations: CNN, –, White House, Trump, Republicans, Democratic, House, West Bank, Biden, CNN International, “, New York Times, Republican, Israel, -, Republican Party, Netanyahu’s Likud Party, Florida Gov, Congressional, Democrat Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, Washington, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Florida

☆ Highest-level Chinese delegation to visit North Korea since Covid restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A high-level Chinese government delegation is headed to North Korea this week, believed to be the highest-level representatives from Beijing to visit Pyongyang since the isolated country closed its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic. Li’s visit comes after an invitation from North Korea, the statement said. On Tuesday, North Korean state media said a Russian military delegation would also be visiting this week. North Korea silent on US soldierRelations have been further complicated by the decision of a US soldier to cross the border between North and South Korea last week in the demilitarized zone separating the two nations. King has not been publicly seen or heard from since he crossed into North Korea last Tuesday, and North Korea has also not said anything about the status or condition of the missing soldier.

Persons: Li Hongzhong, Hu Zhaoming, Li’s, “, ”, Leif, Eric Easley, Easley, Jang, Kang Sun Nam, Travis King, Andrew Harrison, Matt Miller, Miller, “ I’m, ” Miller, King, Travis King’s, Kim, ” Easley Organizations: South Korea CNN, Communist Party, International, Department of, Central Committee, Ewha Womans University, United Nations Command, Beijing, Aid, Jeju Naval, South, South Korean Defence Ministry New, United Nations, South Korea’s, Chiefs of Staff, US Navy, Naval Base, South Korean Defence, Jeju Naval Base, South Korean, North Korean Defense, UNC, King, CNN, US State Department, King , State, North Korean, State Department, Womans University Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, Beijing, Pyongyang, Seoul . North Korea, China, United States, Aid Korea, North Korean, Russian, Soviet Union, Korea, Annapolis, South Korean, South, Jeju, Kentucky, Busan, ” an Ohio, DPRK, North, Washington, King ,

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A “conversation has commenced” with North Korea over US Army Pvt. Travis King, who crossed the border between North and South Korea last week in the demilitarized zone separating the two nations, the deputy commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) said Monday. It controls the South Korean side of the JSA, the one place where the North and South can meet for talks. King has not been publicly seen or heard from since he crossed into North Korea last Tuesday. North Korea has also not said anything about the status or condition of the missing soldier.

Persons: Travis King, King, Andrew Harrison, “, ”, ” Harrison, – Organizations: South Korea CNN, US Army, United Nations Command, UNC, Joint Security, Korean People’s Army, Seoul Foreign Correspondents, UN Command, CNN, American Airlines, Incheon International Airport, Incheon, Security Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, North, Korean, United States, Korea, Bliss, Texas

King, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier serving in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two Koreas. Washington is fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang about him, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Thursday, but North Korea had yet to respond. At that time, U.S. officials had just concluded an initial nuclear agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il. Warmbier was eventually returned to the United States in a coma in 2017, but died days later. "Here's the response we got: one missile launch after another," referring to repeated North Korean missile tests.

Persons: Travis King, Christine Wormuth, Joe Biden, Trump, It's, Thomas Hubbard, Bobby Hall, Kim Jong Un's, Kim Jong Il, Hubbard, King, Mickey Bergman, Bill Richardson, Bergman, Jenny Town, Charles Robert Jenkins, ‘, Tae Yong, Otto Warmbier, Warmbier, Otto’s, Fred, He’s, Antony Blinken, Biden, Blinken, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, Stephen Coates Organizations: Army, U.S . Army, U.S, North, Koreans, United Nations Command, Richardson, . Army, Reuters, Aspen Security, Korean, Thomson Locations: United States, North Korea, South Korea, . Washington, Pyongyang, U.S, Washington, North, Korea, Koreans, Sweden, New York, Jenny, Korean, Korea's

☆ Travis King disappeared into a North Korea more isolated than ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SEOUL, July 21 (Reuters) - When U.S. soldier Travis King sprinted across the border into North Korea from the South this week, he disappeared into a North Korea where lingering COVID-19 concerns and restrictions have made the already secretive country more isolated than ever. Officials in Washington said North Korea had yet to give any response through a number of channels, including at the United Nations. North Korean border guards fatally shot and burned the body of a South Korean fisheries official near their disputed maritime border in 2020. North Korean guards at the site still shelter inside buildings, apparently to avoid the risk of catching COVID. But North Korea often seeks meetings with high-level American officials before any releases, and that could be complicated by their worries over COVID, he added.

Persons: Travis King, King, Andrei Lankov, Lankov, Isaac Taylor, Kim Jong Un, Steve Tharp, COVID, Tharp, Bobby Hall, Josh Smith, Lincoln Organizations: Korea Risk, U.S, United Nations Command, United Nations, Security, U.S . Army, North, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Korea, Pyongyang, Seoul, U.S, United States, Washington, North Korean, Korean, South . Sweden, North

[1/2] U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua before a meeting in Beijing, China July 17, 2023. REUTERS/Valerie Volcovici/File PhotoBEIJING/SINGAPORE, July 20 (Reuters) - Climate talks this week between China and the United States were buoyed by goodwill, but the world's two biggest carbon polluters achieved more on righting their diplomatic relationship than battling climate change. Kerry said China agreed that a target to keep global temperatures rises within 1.5 Celsius of pre-industrial levels should remain "alive". Kerry and Xie focussed on progress headed toward COP28, the annual U.N. climate summit in November. Questions remain about the longer term, should political winds shift in the United States or the two diplomats leave their posts.

Persons: John Kerry, Xie Zhenhua, Valerie Volcovici, Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Li Shuo, Li, Xie, Ma Jun, Ma, Premier Li Qiang, Wang Yi, David Stanway, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic, GOOD AS IT, China, Greenpeace, Institute of Environment, Public Affairs, Communist Party, Daily, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, SINGAPORE, United States, Washington, U.S, Taiwan, Kerry, Paris, COP28, America, Premier, Dubai

Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday and set fire to parts of it ahead of a demonstration outside the Iraqi Embassy in Sweden, where recent Quran burnings have inflamed anger in the Muslim world. At the latest demonstration in Sweden on Thursday, Mr. Momika and another protester kicked around copies of the Quran and stomped on a replica of the Iraqi flag. In response, Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, expelled the Swedish ambassador and directed Iraq’s chargé d’affairs to withdraw from the Iraqi embassy in Sweden, a government spokesman said. The severing of diplomatic relations came “in response to the repeated permission of the Swedish government to burn the Noble Qur’an, insult Islamic sanctities and burn the Iraqi flag,” Mr. al-Sudani said in a tweet. The Iraqi government also suspended the operating license in the country of the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson.

Persons: Salwan, Eid, Momika, Mohammed Shia, Iraq’s, d’affairs, Mr, Sudani Organizations: Iraqi Embassy, Ericsson Locations: Swedish, Baghdad, Iraqi, Sweden, Stockholm

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said staff at the Swedish embassy in Baghdad were safe but Iraqi authorities had failed in their responsibility to protect the embassy. Thursday's demonstration was called by supporters of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to protest at the second planned Koran burning in Sweden in weeks, according to posts in a Telegram group linked to the influential cleric and other pro-Sadr media. He stood by the embassy storming on Thursday, telling a press conference the U.S. "has no right to condemn the burning of the Swedish embassy but should have condemned the burning of the Koran". "Yes, yes to the Koran," protesters chanted. Sweden has seen several Koran burnings in recent years, mostly by far-right and anti-Muslim activists.

Persons: Tobias Billstrom, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Mohammed Shia Al, Billstrom, Muqtada al, Moqtada al, Read, Tayyip Erdogan, Ulf Kristersson, Timour Azhari, Anna Ringstrom, Supantha Mukherjee, Johan Ahlander, Marie, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Ahmed Rasheed, Tom Hogue, Tom Perry, Lincoln, Bernadette Baum, William Maclean, Alison Williams, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: NATO, Sweden's Ericsson, State Department, Telegram, Turkish, Sweden's, Islam, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: Iraq, BAGHDAD, STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Stockholm, Baghdad, Iraqi, Sweden, Tehran, Turkey, Washington, Sadr, Copenhagen

☆ What do we know about the US solider in North Korea?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —For the first time in decades a US soldier is believed to be in North Korean custody. The US Army has identified the soldier who crossed the demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday as Pvt. The last American known to be held by North Korea was Bruce Byron Lowrance, who, according to North Korean state-run media, crossed from China into North Korea. While in North Korea, he appeared in propaganda films, taught North Korean spies English and spent up to eight hours a day studying the writings of North Korean leaders. He was allowed to leave North Korea in 2004, two years after his wife, a Japanese national who was kidnapped from her home in Japan in 1978, was allowed to leave North Korea under a deal between Pyongyang and Tokyo.

Persons: Travis King, King “, ”, “, Isaac Taylor, King, Bryce Dubee, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, Trump, Bruce Byron Lowrance, Lowrance, Otto Warmbier, Warmbier, Charles Jenkins, Jenkins Organizations: South Korea CNN —, US Army, Joint Security, Democratic, Korean People’s Army, ” US Forces, 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat, Armored Division, Joint Security Area, US Navy, Swedish Embassy, Pyongyang, United Nations Command, Central Intelligence Agency, US, North Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North, United States, Korea, Pyongyang, North Korea, Korean, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, ” US Forces Korea, Fort Bliss , Texas, South, Washington, Busan, Japan, Swedish, China, American, Tokyo

☆ U.S. national being held in North Korea after crossing border, UN says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. national may be in North Korean custody after crossing the inter-Korean border without authorization, the U.N. Command said on Twitter Tuesday. The person was touring the Joint Security Area — a site at Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone used by North and South Korea for diplomatic engagements and negotiations. The U.S. and North Korea do not currently have formal diplomatic relations. An U.S. travel advisory note urges U.S. nationals not to travel to North Korea "due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention." The incident takes place on the same day as a U.S. nuclear submarine visited South Korea for the first time since the 1980s, arriving at the port of Busan, according to the U.S. forces in South Korea.

Organizations: U.S, Command, Twitter, National, Democratic People's, U.S ., NBC News, White Locations: North, Panmunjeom, South Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, U.S, North Korea, An U.S, Busan

[1/5] U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi shake hands before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/PoolBEIJING, July 18 (Reuters) - China and the United States could use climate cooperation to redefine their troubled diplomatic relationship and lead the way in tackling global warming, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry told China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday. Kerry told Wang at Beijing's Great Hall of the People that talks could provide a fresh start for the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, which have been mired in disputes over Taiwan and trade. Kerry's third visit to China as U.S. climate envoy marks the formal resumption in top-level climate diplomacy between the two countries. The former Secretary of State is the third top U.S. official to visit Beijing in the past month.

Persons: John Kerry, Wang Yi, Florence Lo, China's, Kerry, Wang, Xie Zhenhua, Xie, Valerie Volcovici, Ryan Woo, David Stanway, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: of, People, REUTERS, . State, State, U.S, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, United States, U.S, Taiwan, Iran

☆ Kremlin says it won't cut ties with West, dialogue channels still needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"In the most acute moments, we need channels for dialogue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We know very well how deep the coordination is between the Kyiv regime, Washington, a number of European capitals and NATO," Peskov said. "We know perfectly well how much information comes from NATO and Washington to Kyiv on a permanent basis. But a reporter's question about the possibility of cutting diplomatic relations with the West was "not quite correct" because of the need to keep dialogue channels open, he said. Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Maria Zakharova, Hugh Lawson Organizations: NATO, Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States, Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Britain, Washington, Kyiv

CNN —Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-Te is expected to transit the US next month en route to Paraguay, the island’s presidential office announced at a news conference Monday. The Biden administration expects the transit to occur “without incident,” a senior administration official said Sunday. The transit comes as the Biden administration is working to regularize the pace of diplomacy with Beijing, with three top administration officials visiting China in the last month. “These transits of senior officials are unofficial in keeping with our US One China policy,” the official said, calling the transits fairly common. Candidates from other political parties may also visit the US later this year, but the senior administration official did not provide detail about future possible trips.

Persons: CNN —, Lai Ching, Biden, ”, Lai, We’ve, hasn’t, China’s, Mao Ning, ’, ” Mao, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, John Kerry, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, US, ”, Democratic Progressive Party, Communist Party, Foreign Ministry, Biden, Presidential Locations: Paraguay, Beijing, China, Taiwan, Lai, Washington, California, Ukraine

[1/2] A participant applies rainbow coloured facepaint before a 5.17 km run to mark International Day Against Homophobia in a park in Beijing, China, May 17, 2018. Thirteen diplomats from nine Western and Asian delegations said that the challenges they face when arranging events about gender equality and LGBT issues, or broader cultural activities, showed how China's red lines have shifted. Some recent Chinese actions around foreign missions drew widespread attention, including a warning from authorities aimed at embassies displaying Ukraine flags. Three diplomats told Reuters the incident had made them more careful about meeting with civil society figures. "A case could be made that the intentional disruption of embassy activities violates one or the other of these provisions, if not both," he said.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Xi, Guy Saint, Jacques, Peter Stano, Yaqiu Wang, Wang, Yu Wensheng, Xu Yan, Joseph Klingler, Foley Hoag, Laurie Chen, Yew Lun Tian, Brenda Goh, Engen Tham, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, China's Foreign Ministry, Vienna Convention, Diplomatic Relations, of Public Security, Europe, UNESCO, United Nations, Coordinator's, Beijing LGBT Center, Human Rights Watch, Police, European Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, SHANGHAI, Canada, Vienna, Ukraine, Western, Joseph Klingler , Washington, Shanghai

☆ Cuba: A Russian navy ship docks in Havana as tough times bring the old friends together
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Patrick Oppmann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Havana, Cuba CNN —As a series of welcoming cannon blasts rang out from a nearby colonial fort, the Russian navy’s training class ship Perekop sailed into Havana on Tuesday. “We are condemning, we are rejecting, the expansion of NATO towards Russia’s borders,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel told Russian-controlled network, RT, in a rare interview in May. He also blasted US economic sanctions on Russia, while heralding Russian “projects of cooperation and collaboration” under development in Cuba. But following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba lost its main trading partner and entered a deep economic depression. Despite the high cost of the war in Ukraine and economic sanctions, Russian officials say they are committed to Cuba.

Persons: Perekop, “, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Patrick Oppmann, Jorge R, –, Russia –, Yamil Lage, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Ric Herrero, ” Herrero, “ There’s, ” Benjamin Ziff, Chargé d’Affaires, Sergey Shoigu, Alvaro Lopez Miera, ” Shoigu Organizations: Cuba CNN, Prensa Latina, Cuban, Soviet, NATO, CNN, University of Texas, Austin Energy Institute, Russian, Getty, Trump, Cuba Study, US Naval, Russian Defense Locations: Havana, Cuba, Russian, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Cuban, Moscow, Russia’s, Russia, USSR, AFP, Trump, Spanish, Guantánamo, East, West, “ Cuba

☆ 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

☆ Paraguay president-elect to visit 'great friend' Taiwan's Tsai
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] President-Elect Santiago Pena, a 44-year-old economist who won 43% of the vote on Sunday in the Presidential election, speaks during a news conference in Asuncion, Paraguay May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo/File PhotoTAIPEI, July 9 (Reuters) - Paraguay's president-elect, Santiago Pena, will visit Taiwan this week and meet "great friend" President Tsai Ing-wen, he said on Sunday, shoring up a relationship at a time China is working to entice the island's dwindling allies. Pena said on his Twitter account he would visit Abu Dhabi, then go to Taiwan to meet Tsai, who he described as a "great friend". He will be in Taiwan for the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Wednesday, the ministry said. Diplomatic sources have told Reuters that Lai might attend as Taiwan's representative, likely transiting the United States to meet U.S. officials.

Persons: Santiago Pena, Cesar Olmedo, Tsai Ing, shoring, Pena, Tsai, William Lai, Wang Mei, Lai, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic Progressive, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asuncion , Paraguay, TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Paraguay, American, Honduras, Beijing, Central America, Caribbean, U.S, America, Washington, Abu Dhabi, United States

☆ Honduras probes Chinese interest in investing in $20 billion rail line
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Honduras and China have been negotiating a first-ever free trade pact linking their economies. Fredy Cerrato, the Honduran economic development minister, told reporters officials from both countries also discussed infrastructure projects relating to dams and power generation. "We presented (Chinese officials) with the projects that Honduras is interested in getting financed, that are vital for the development of our country," said Cerrato. He added that officials in China, the world's second largest economy, have shown interest in projects developed using both public and private funds. The minister added that proposed train line could be ready in about 15 years.

Persons: Commerce Wang Shouwen, Melvin Redondo, Cerrato, Gustavo Palencia, Kylie Madry, Isabel Woodford, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Commerce, Economic, Palmerola, Foreign Ministry, Central, Thomson Locations: Honduras, Comayagua, TEGUCIGALPA, Honduran, Pacific, China, Central American, Taiwan

☆ World Beach Games 2023 canceled after Indonesia pulls out of hosting, ANOC says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The 2023 World Beach Games, scheduled to take place in Bali next month, have been canceled after hosts Indonesia suddenly withdrew from the tournament. “It is with great surprise and extreme disappointment that ANOC has learnt that the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) has withdrawn from its commitment to host the ANOC World Beach Games and the ANOC General Assembly in August 2023,” ANOC said in a statement Tuesday. Indonesia’s withdrawal from the World Beach Games at such a late hour caught the organizing body off guard. “The situation is felt to be getting more difficult because several sponsors of the 2nd ANOC World Beach Games Bali 2023 have also announced their withdrawal,” Raja Sapta said. CNN has reached out to ANOC and the KOI for further comment on Indonesia’s withdrawal from the tournament.

Persons: ANOC, ” ANOC, Wayan Koster, Koster, Israel, “ ANOC, Dito Ariotedjo, Raja Sapta Oktohari, ” Raja Sapta Organizations: CNN, Games, FIFA, Israel, Association of National Olympic Committees, Indonesian Olympic, Assembly, CNN Indonesia, Football Association of Indonesia, World, Reuters, Indonesia National Olympic Locations: Bali, Indonesia, Israel, Jakarta

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