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An Israeli researcher missing for months in Iraq is being held by a Shiite militia, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She holds both Israeli and Russian passports and entered the country using her Russian passport, according to the Israeli government. Israel and Iraq do not have diplomatic relations, so she would not have been allowed to enter with an Israeli passport. Ms. Tsurkov went to Iraq in January to do academic research. As well as studying at Princeton, she is a fellow at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a Washington-based research group.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Elizabeth Tsurkov, Tsurkov Organizations: Princeton University, Hezbollah, Princeton, New Lines Institute, Strategy Locations: Iraq, Iran, Baghdad, Israel, Washington

Egypt expelled Turkey's ambassador and accused Ankara of backing organisations bent on undermining the country. Amr Elhamamy will become Egypt's ambassador in Ankara while Turkey nominated Salih Mutlu Sen to become its ambassador in Cairo, the foreign ministries said in a joint statement. The appointments marked an important milestone in the normalisation of relations, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said following the announcement. After a series of further steps towards rapprochement, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Turkey to show solidarity after the massive earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria in February. Turkey's foreign minister made a return visit to Egypt the following month.

Persons: Egypt's, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi, Tayyip Erdogan, Amr Elhamamy, Salih Mutlu Sen, Hakan Fidan, Fidan, Erdogan, Sameh Shoukry, Nadine Awadalla, Huseyin Hayatsever, Frank Jack Daniel, Christina Fincher, Emma Rumney Organizations: Turkey's, Turkish, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Turkey, ANKARA, CAIRO, Egypt, Ankara, Cairo, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Syria, Libya

☆ Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees in protest of the Pentagon's abortion policy is disrupting the succession of top military leadership as the US confronts multiple threats abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees is rippling throughout the Pentagon. But Tuberville continues to stand by his position, a protest against the Pentagon's new abortion policy. If the senator's hold on nominees stands in the coming weeks, though, the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps — along with the chairman — won't have respective successors installed. The hold on nominees also comes as the US continues to navigate its diplomatic relationship with China. Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general and former staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Politico that Tuberville is "taking the military nominees as political hostages."

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville's, Staff Mark Milley, Tuberville, —, GOP Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Roe, Wade, Biden, Arnold Punaro Organizations: Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Service, GOP, of Defense, Chiefs, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Senate Armed Services Committee, Politico Locations: Alabama, Ukraine, Russian, China

☆ Burning of Quran in Stockholm Sparks Outrage in Muslim World
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Alissa J. Rubin | Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The burning of a Quran outside a mosque in Sweden on one of the holiest days in Islam sparked outrage Wednesday in many Muslim countries and widespread condemnations of the Swedish authorities. The crowd became increasingly angry, scaling the wall surrounding the compound and pushing through an external gate. There was no sign that Iraqi diplomatic police forces attempted to stop them. The protesters did not enter the embassy itself, which was closed for the Islamic holiday, and eventually left. Iraq’s foreign ministry also condemned Sweden “for allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the holy Quran.”

Persons: Muqtada, Sadr, ” Locations: Sweden, Iraq, Swedish, Baghdad, Muqtada al, Sadr, Islam

☆ Czechs call Russia a threat, China a systemic challenge in new security strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Russia acts deliberately against Czechia's political, economic and social stability," the strategy document said. "Russia and China share the interest to weaken the influence and unity of democratic countries. The country's previous security strategy, the core for policymaking, from 2015 had not mentioned Russia or China by name. The strategy said Russia was using hybrid actions to weaken democratic institutions and destabilise society. "Unless there is a fundamental and deep political and societal change in Russia, Russia will remain a threat to the European space regardless of the result of the war in Ukraine," the document said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Savostyanov, Milos Zeman, Jan Lopatka, Howard Goller Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS, NATO, EU, Czech, Thomson Locations: Kala, Derbent, Dagestan, Russia, REUTERS PRAGUE, Czech, China, Europe, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Moscow, Taiwan

☆ The US's biggest arms buyers are looking elsewhere for a next-generation fighter jet, but it won't be easy to find
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But Washington has proved to be wary of selling those countries US-made stealth fighter jets. That leaves the Gulf states with various non-US options, which don't look all that promising — at least not any time soon. A prototype of Russia's Su-75 fighter jet at the MAKS-2021 air show outside Moscow in July 2021. AP Photo/Alexander ZemlianichenkoIn 2021, shortly after unveiling its Su-75 fighter, Russia offered to co-produce the jet, which is still in development, with the UAE. While China may eventually offer its FC-31/J-35 stealth fighter for export, it must first demonstrate the jet's effectiveness to attract serious buyers.

Persons: —, Sebastien Roblin, Chris Thornbury, Abraham, Abu Dhabi, FCAS, Roblin, Russia's Su, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Abu Dhabi's, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, Hawthorne, isn't, JOHANNES EISELE, Paul Iddon Organizations: Qatar —, Service, United Arab, —, US Air Force, Al Dhafra, Base, Staff, Abraham Accords, Reuters, AP, East, Korea's KF, Yonhap, Cooperation Council, KF, FC, Getty Locations: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Washington, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Chris Thornbury But Washington, Israel, Riyadh, British, France, Germany, Turkey, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Abu Dhabi, Russian, North Africa, Sacheon, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, Zhuhai, AFP, China

☆ Australian prime minister's visit to China to be locked in at 'appropriate time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 25 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that he would set the date for a China visit at an "appropriate time" as he stressed the importance of bilateral trade and expressed concerns about an Australian journalist detained in Beijing. Talks are under way about a visit by Albanese to China as Australia's centre-left Labor government pushes to end unofficial Chinese bans and tariffs placed on some Australian products in 2020 during a lowpoint in diplomatic relations. Australia continued to advocate for the removal of any impediments to trade between the "two great nations", Albanese added. China in May said it was set to resume imports of Australian timber days after Trade Minister Don Farrell returned from a trip to Beijing. A visit by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in December was followed weeks later by the resumption of coal shipments.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Cheng Lei, it's, Don Farrell, Penny Wong, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian, Labor, NATO, Vilnius, Sky News, Trade, Foreign, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Lithuanian, Australia

☆ 'Things will just have to be accepted as tense': Saudi-Iran relations have a long way to go despite rapprochement efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister made a high-profile visit to Tehran over the weekend, drawing coverage and praise about the improvement in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two longtime foes. His Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian praised the re-establishment of diplomatic ties, saying it would improve security for the region. The meeting was the result of Iran and Saudi Arabia agreeing to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in each other's countries after China-led negotiations in Beijing in March. The Iranian hosts complied with the minister's request for a change of venue in order to avert a diplomatic incident, regional outlets reported. What exists is a fragile agreement that can only be made stronger with time, consistency and trust building."

Persons: Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Qasem Soleimani, Sanam Vakil Organizations: Mutual, United Nations, Saudi, Chatham House Locations: Saudi, Tehran, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Beijing, East, North Africa

☆ Blinken says he failed to revive military-to-military talks with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Aly Song | ReutersBEIJING — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday he failed to revive military-to-military talks with China, despite earlier hopes of reopening that communication channel. China's Defense Ministry declined a call with its U.S. counterpart in early February after the discovery of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over U.S. airspace. Blinken told NBC News on Monday that the spy balloon "chapter should be closed." "I think it's absolutely vital that we have these kinds of communications, military to military," Blinken said. The U.S. shot down the alleged Chinese spy balloon in February.

Persons: Biden, —, Aly Song, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Blinken Organizations: Reuters, Reuters BEIJING —, China's Defense, U.S, Communist, Central Foreign Affairs Office, NBC, Pacific Command Locations: Beijing, China, Reuters BEIJING, Reuters BEIJING — U.S, Singapore, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan

☆ Qatar and UAE embassies resume work on Monday, Qatar's foreign ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on July 14, 2017. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates' respective embassies reopened on Monday to resume work after the two Gulf states agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said. The restoration of ties comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation and more than two years after Arab states ended a boycott of Doha that had shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc. The Qatari ministry said in a statement that the two foreign ministers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, had held a phone call as the two embassies reopened on Monday. Reuters reported in April that the two Gulf states were in the process of restoring diplomatic relations.

Persons: Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Organizations: Turkish Foreign, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Doha Locations: Qatar, Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al, Thani, Doha, Arab, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Riyadh, Cairo, Saudi, Yemen

☆ Qatar and UAE embassies resume work on Monday -Qatar foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, June 19 (Reuters) - Qatar and the United Arab Emirates' respective embassies reopened on Monday to resume work after the two Gulf states agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said. The restoration of ties comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation and more than two years after Arab states ended a boycott of Doha that had shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc. The Qatari ministry said in a statement that the two foreign ministers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, had held a phone call as the two embassies reopened on Monday. Reuters reported in April that the two Gulf states were in the process of restoring diplomatic relations. Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Andrew Mills, writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by David Goodman and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Nayera Abdallah, Andrew Mills, Aziz El Yaakoubi, David Goodman, Gareth Jones Organizations: DOHA, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Doha, Thomson Locations: Qatar, Doha, Arab, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Riyadh, Cairo, Saudi, Yemen

☆ China 'deplores' UK security minister's meeting with Taiwanese minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat addresses a press conference, with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki, during his visit, in Nairobi, Kenya May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File PhotoLONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - The Chinese embassy in London on Sunday condemned a meeting last week between Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Taiwan's digital minister, saying it violated international relations. "This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the basic norms of international relations," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement. Although junior British ministers hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, the convention was that senior British ministers do not meet with Taiwanese officials. "We want to make it clear to the UK side that any actions that undermine China's interests will be met with resolute responses," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said.

Persons: Tom Tugendhat, National Administration Kithure Kindiki, Monicah, Tugendhat, Audrey Tang, Michael Holden, Sharon Singleton Organizations: British, State, Ministry of Interior, National Administration, REUTERS, Reuters, Taiwanese Digital Affairs, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, London, Britain, China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Xinjiang

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) walks with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (R) ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to cool U.S.-China tensions that have overshadowed geopolitics in recent months. The trip by Blinken makes him the highest-level American official to visit China since Joe Biden became U.S. president and the first U.S. secretary of state to make the trip in nearly five years. Blinken's original travel plans for February were disrupted by news of an alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. airspace. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, with no right to conduct diplomatic relations on its own.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Qin Gang, Wang Yi, Blinken, Joe Biden, Qin, previosuly, Xi Jinping, Matthew Miller, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: China's Foreign, Sunday, Foreign, U.S, U.S ., U.S . House Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, U.S, State, Singapore, Taiwan

Shortly after his plane took off earlier this month from Riyadh, where he had held a lengthy meeting with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken called a different Middle East leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Over 40 minutes, Mr. Blinken gave the Israeli leader a briefing about the significant demands the young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was making for his nation to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. Mr. Netanyahu had an update on his own demands. The White House, which for more than two years has largely been content to sit out the poker game of Middle East diplomacy, has decided to make a bet and push some of its chips in. And they simply do not much like or trust each other.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed bin Salman, Mr, Netanyahu, — Organizations: Saudi, Israel, Biden, Iran Locations: Riyadh, Israel, Saudi Arabia, East, The United States

☆ Blinken to fly to Beijing for high-stakes diplomacy after spy balloon saga
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane for travel to Berlin at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 22, 2021. Andrew Harnik | Pool | ReutersBEIJING — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Beijing this weekend in his first trip to China under the Biden administration. watch now"And so I think that the administration's goals are, at this point unrealistic because of the way Beijing has framed its interest in its strategy." Its appearance had forced Blinken to indefinitely postpone his Beijing trip at the time. The U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole government of China but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, a democratically self-governed island.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Andrew Harnik, Biden, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Scott Kennedy, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Drew Thompson, Lee, Thompson, they're, there's, TikTok, Kennedy, Jia Qingguo, Jia Organizations: Joint Base Andrews, Reuters, Reuters BEIJING —, U.S, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNBC, U.S . Department of State, People's, U.S ., China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S . Defense Department, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, Congress, chipmaker Micron, Washington , D.C, Pacific Command, Peking University, Asia Vision Locations: Berlin, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, Reuters BEIJING, Reuters BEIJING — U.S, Beijing, China, People's Republic of China, U.S, Singapore, Washington ,, Taiwan, South China, Taiwan Strait, Asia, Russian, Ukraine

☆ China's VCs look to the Middle East for a U.S. dollar lifeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

China's ties with the Middle East have warmed since Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations earlier this year — through discussions brokered by Beijing. Those tensions and increased regulatory scrutiny in both countries prompted many U.S.-based investors to hold off on investments in Chinese venture capital funds. Middle East capital is looking to step in, especially as countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar look to diversify from dependence on fossil fuels. However, many potential investments in Chinese funds are still in discussion, the venture capital funds said. Preqin data showed the share of Middle East sovereign wealth funds' investment in alternative assets worldwide roughly doubled between 2021 and the first half of 2022.

Persons: Faisal bin Farhan al, Saud, Hu Chunhua, Fayez Nureldine, Morgan Stanley, Khalid Al, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Falih, PIF, Massimo, Aysar Tayeb, Prosperity7, Tayeb, Abu Organizations: Saudi, Political Consultative, China Business Conference, Afp, Getty, BEIJING — Venture, U.S ., CNBC, Public Investment Fund, Investment, Conference, Prosperity7 Ventures, Business, of, Local Locations: Riyadh, BEIJING, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Beijing, U.S, Qatar, Middle East, Asia, East, Saudi, Al, Aramco, Hyperview, Shanghai, UAE, of Dubai, Abu Dhabi

☆ Abu Dhabi's G42 and Israeli firm Viola partner up in new tech venture
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi's artificial intelligence firm G42 and Israeli technology investment company Viola Group, which manages $5 billion in assets, on Thursday announced Global Valley, a joint venture to set up a new platform to meet demand for high-skilled tech talent. Based in the UAE capital, Global Valley will employ specialised tech-focused workers from around the world providing a variety of services, as well as help develop Abu Dhabi's local tech sector, a statement from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, which provided support for the project, said. No figure for the value of the investments by any of the involved parties was provided in the statement. ADIO is a government vehicle tasked with expanding private sector investment into the emirate and helping diversify its economy. We are looking to diversify Abu Dhabi's economy, we want and are developing further platforms for growth.

Persons: Abu, Abdulla Abdul Aziz AlShamsi, Shamsi, Abraham, Rachna, Jason Neely Organizations: Viola Group, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Tech, Reuters, Trade, UAE, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, UAE, Global, Abu Dhabi, Abu, Israel

☆ As China's intelligence capabilities grow, spying becomes an increasing flashpoint in ties with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

They underscore how intelligence gathering – an activity meant to go on without detection, out of the public eye – is becoming an increasingly prominent flashpoint in the US-China relationship. That pushes intelligence gathering itself to become “another factor that is complicating US-China relations,” he said. That’s especially the case, experts say, as China continues to expand its own intelligence gathering capabilities – catching up in an area where the US has traditionally had an edge. Other arms of the Communist Party apparatus also play a role in activities beyond conventional intelligence gathering, experts say. Heightened concern and awareness about Chinese intelligence gathering – or the potential for it – has exploded in the US in recent years.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Bill Burns, ”, Lyle Morris, Christopher Johnson, “, there’s, they’ve, Johnson, Xi Jinping, That’s, Xuezhi Guo, Guo, Xi, Hector Retamal, –, TikTok –, Edward Snowden, ’, Shou Zi Chew, Jabin, John Delury, John T, Downey, Delury Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, White House, CIA, CNN, Asia Society, Center for, Central Intelligence Agency, China, Group, U.S . Navy, AP, Guilford College, People’s Liberation Army, Ministry of State Security, Communist Party, Federal Bureau of Intelligence, The New York Times, Huawei, TikTok, Tiktok, US Justice Department, China Initiative, Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security Agency, US Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, China ”, Energy, Commerce, Capitol, Washington Post, Subversion Locations: Hong Kong, United States, China, Beijing, American, Cuba, US, Center for China, South, Russia, AFP, Washington, USA, South China, Washington , DC

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks with The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt (TSFE) about the deal, said two sources with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named. The fund is considering acquiring a stake of up to 30% in the hotels, the sources said, without naming them. Relations between Egypt and Qatar soured in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia has led efforts to rebuild ties with Qatar and, along with Egypt, re-established diplomatic relations in 2021. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Baghdad in August 2021 for the first time since ending the dispute.

Persons: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, St Regis Saadiyat, Egypt's TSFE, Agatha Christie's, Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Hadeel El, Andrew Mills, Patrick Werr, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi Executive Council, St Regis, United, United Arab Emirates, Read, Qatar Investment Authority, Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt, Regional, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Qatar, United Arab, DUBAI, Harrods, London, Aswan, Saudi Arabia, Thani, Baghdad, Ukraine, Hadeel El Sayegh, Dubai, Doha, Cairo

[1/6] China's President Xi Jinping and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China June 14, 2023. JADE GAO/Pool via REUTERSBEIJING, June 14 (Reuters) - China is willing to play a positive role to help the Palestinians achieve internal reconciliation and promote peace talks with Israel, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Palestinian counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday. "The fundamental solution to the Palestinian issue lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," Xi said, according to Chinese state media. Abbas heads the Palestinian Authority that exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank and negotiated with Israel. On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang offered to contribute "Chinese wisdom" to the "Palestinian issue" in a separate meeting with Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Mahmud Abbas, JADE, Xi, Israel, Abbas, Antony Blinken, Qin Gang, Riyad al, Joe Cash, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: of, People, JADE GAO, REUTERS, West, West Bank, U.S, United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian Authority, United Nations, United, Security, Foreign, Palestinian, Maliki, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, REUTERS BEIJING, Israel, East Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, United States, People . China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, New York, Wuhan, Ramallah

☆ Taiwan minister meets Czech Senate speaker on trip that has angered China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PRAGUE, June 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu met the head of the upper house of the Czech parliament on Tuesday as part of a European trip that has angered China. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future. Taiwan has no formal diplomatic ties with any European country except the Vatican. China's Foreign Ministry urged Europe on Friday not to have any official exchanges with Taiwan or support "independence forces" ahead of the trip.

Persons: Joseph Wu, Wu, Milos Vystrcil, Petr Pavel, Marketa, Pavel, Jan Lopatka, Nick Macfie Organizations: Taiwan Foreign, NATO, European Union, China's Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: PRAGUE, Czech, China, Taiwan, Central, Eastern, Ukraine, Prague, Brussels, Czech Republic, Beijing, Taipei

☆ China's Xi says willing to begin free trade talks with Honduras
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Honduran President Xiomara Castro and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect Chinese honor guards during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 12, 2023. Wang Zhao/Pool via REUTERSBEIJING, June 12 (Reuters) - China is willing to begin talks on a free trade agreement with Honduras "as soon as possible", Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday, during the first visit by the Central American country's president since forming diplomatic ties in March. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro is on a six-day official visit to China. Xi said China will unswervingly develop the friendly relations between the two nations and firmly support Honduras' economic and social development. "One-China principle is the primary premise and political foundation for the establishment of loyal diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations," Xi said.

Persons: Xiomara Castro, Xi Jinping, Wang Zhao, Xi, China's, Ella Cao, Liz Lee, Robert Birsel, Sharon Singleton Organizations: of, People, REUTERS, Central American, Central, Thomson Locations: Beijing, REUTERS BEIJING, China, Honduras, Taiwan, Honduran, Taipei, People's Republic of China, United States

☆ Honduras opens embassy in China after cutting ties to Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Lintao Zhang/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoBEIJING, June 11 (Reuters) - Honduras opened an embassy in China on Sunday, Chinese state media reported, after the Central American nation cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan earlier this year. The embassy in Beijing was opened by foreign ministers from the two countries, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Tegucigalpa in March ended its decades-long relationship with Taipei and established diplomatic ties with Beijing. China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state relations, a position Taipei strongly rejects. Taiwan now has formal diplomatic relations with only 13 countries, mostly poor and developing countries in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Persons: Qin Gang, Eduardo Enrique Reina, Lintao Zhang, Xiomara Castro, Xi, Ellen Zhang, Martin Quin Pollard, William Mallard Organizations: Foreign, Honduras Foreign, Central, CCTV, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Honduras, Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, BEIJING, Central American, Taiwan, Tegucigalpa, Taipei, Central America, Caribbean

☆ U.S. gives Havana embassy a facelift after years of neglect
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Dave Sherwood | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

HAVANA, June 10 (Reuters) - When the U.S. embassy in Havana reopened last May to Cubans seeking visas after a nearly five-year hiatus, the once proud 1950s vintage building was in shambles. The State Department imported high-grade stainless steel for its fencing, and granite from a quarry in Vermont for the building's new facade. A view of the U.S. Embassy beside the Anti-Imperialist stage in Havana, Cuba, May 24, 2023. CASTRO THREATENED TO SEIZE BUILDINGUnder former leader Fidel Castro, the jabs and antagonism often went both ways between Cuba and the embassy. U.S. intelligence investigations have since determined it "very unlikely" a foreign adversary was responsible for the illness, and a more robust staff and agenda have returned to Havana, Ziff said.

Persons: Hurricane Irma, Benjamin Ziff, Ziff, Alexandre Meneghini, Alexander Garcia, CASTRO, Fidel Castro, Castro, George W, Bush, Harrison & Abramovitz, Jane Loeffler, Barack Obama, Dave Sherwood, Mario Fuentes, Anett Rios, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, State Department, Reuters, Cuban, The State Department, Ziff, Embassy, REUTERS, Harrison &, United Nations, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, U.S, Havana, Hurricane, of Mexico, Cuba, China, United States, Cuban, Vermont, Florida, New York, Washington, America

The business conference will draw about 2,000 attendees from Greater China, in what will be one of the region's biggest-yet business delegation to Saudi Arabia, according to one person with direct knowledge of the matter. "From the perspective of both capital and new market, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia are really good new choices for Chinese companies and investors," said Henry Zhang, president of Hong Kong-based private equity firm Hermitage Capital. "Since late last year, a large number of Chinese funds have rushed to the Middle East looking for new investors. For the upcoming conference, Chinese entrepreneurs in attendance represent a range of industries -- from renewable energy and artificial intelligence to biotech, finance and tourism. "Previously, I had to actively pitch Chinese companies to consider Saudi Arabia as their destination of outbound investment and overseas expansion.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, Antony Blinken, Henry Zhang, Zhang, Robert Mogielnicki, Edison Gao, I've, Gao, Julie Zhu, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Sumeet Chatterjee, Michael Perry Organizations: China Business Conference, Hermitage Capital, Gulf States Institute, Ajlan, Brothers, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, RIYADH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Arab, Gulf, Beijing, Washington, U.S, Greater China, East, Hong Kong, Hermitage, China, Saudi, Rachna, Dubai

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