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South Africa’s genocide case has put the spotlight on a deeper fault line in global geopolitics. Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty ImagesReactions from the Global North to the ICJ case have been mixed. “This war is a war that is not only between Israel and Hamas,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog told MSNBC in December. “It’s a war that is intended – really, truly – to save Western civilization, to save the values of Western civilization.”So far, no Western countries have supported South Africa’s case against Israel. Traditionally, the West has wielded significant influence in international affairs, but South Africa’s move signals a growing assertiveness among Global South nations that threatens the status quo, says Adekoya.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, ”, Nesrine Malik, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Biden, ” Remi Adekoya, Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, ” Hugh Lovatt, Garry Andrew Lotulung, ” Lovatt, Lovatt, Israel –, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Alaister Russell, Isaac Herzog, Hage Geingob, Berlin’s, Namibians, ” Adekoya Organizations: CNN, Israel, International Court of Justice, Guardian, Hamas, West Bank, Getty, US, UN, University of York, Palestine Liberation Organization, North Africa, European Council, Foreign Relations, Global, Arab League, ICJ, West, ”, International, MSNBC, ZDF, Dhaka Tribune, Germany Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, Israel, The Hague, Gaza, South, Africa, Sudanese, United States, Europe, Ramallah, West, AFP, England, PLO, East, Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Anadolu, China, Soviet, Ekurhuleni, Germany, German, Germany’s, Namibia, Namibian, Bangladesh, Pakistan

☆ US Navy says it will trial using AI to track Chinese submarines in the Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US, Australia, and the UK will use AI to counter China's growing military assertiveness in the Pacific. AdvertisementThe US, UK, and Australia have unveiled new plans to trial the use of AI to track Chinese submarines in the Pacific. Data processed by AI will enable the three countries to track Chinese submarines with more speed and accuracy. The P-8A poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft will be equipped with AI-powered tools to help tackle rising Chinese aggression. "Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner," he added.

Persons: —, MLADEN ANTONOV, Richard Marles, Marles Organizations: US, Service, Australian Defence Force, Power Locations: Australia, Pacific, China, Mountain View , California

The U.S. military said the mishap occurred during a routine training mission off the shores of Yakushima Island, about 1,040 km (650 miles) southwest of the capital Tokyo. Another Osprey thought to have been travelling with the crashed aircraft landed safely at the island's airport on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the local government said. Japan, which also operates Osprey aircraft, said on Wednesday it had asked the U.S. military to investigate the crash. The deployment of the hybrid aircraft in Japan has been controversial, with critics saying it is prone to accidents. In August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia while transporting troops during a routine military exercise, killing three U.S. Marines.

Persons: Kiyoshi Takenaka, Tim Kelly, Kantaro, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, John Geddie, David Dolan, Gerry Doyle, Nick Macfie, Deepa Babington Organizations: Japan Coast Guard, Yakushima Fisheries Cooperative, . Air Force Special, Command, United, ., Boeing, Bell Helicopter, U.S . Air Force, Marines, Navy, Japan Self - Defense Forces, Osprey, U.S, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, U.S, Yakushima, Tokyo, Japan's, United States, Taiwan, Okinawa, Australia

“President Biden this coming week will be doing a lot more than just meeting with President Xi,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in Washington on Monday. White House officials say they are cognizant that fellow APEC nations want to see better dialogue between the U.S. and China because it reduces the risk of regional conflict. Biden on Monday welcomed Indonesian President Joko Widodo, a fellow APEC leader, to the White House for talks before both travel to San Francisco. Israel's retaliatory operations in Gaza have killed more than 11,000, sparking outrage from a slew of world leaders. The stopgap measure excludes the roughly $106 billion funding requested by Biden for Israel, Ukraine and the U.S. border with Mexico.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi, what's, Biden, Russia's, “, Jake Sullivan, Donald Trump, Obama, ”, Neils Graham, Joshua Kurlantzick, TPP, Trump, Joko Widodo, “ We’re, Matt Murray, Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk Yeol, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Mike Johnson, Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ___ Long, Josh Boak, Chris Megerian, Darlene Superville, Zeke Miller Organizations: FRANCISCO, Economic Cooperation, U.S, Republican, House, White, APEC, Economic Forum, Pacific Partnership, Atlantic Council GeoEconomics, Southeast, Council, Foreign Relations, Biden, Administration, Indonesian, The, Office, Georgetown University, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: Asia, Pacific, United States, San Francisco, China, Israel, Washington, Beijing, U.S, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Gaza, Indonesian, Ukraine, Japanese, South, Philippine, Philippines, South China, Mexico

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The United States and South Korea on Monday updated a bilateral security agreement with the aim of more effectively countering North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Seoul for annual security talks with South Korean military officials, including Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, which were focused on boosting nuclear deterrence against North Korea. They agreed to start as planned a real-time information sharing arrangement on North Korean missile launches in December. They also agreed to set up multiyear plans in coming weeks to enhance their trilateral military exercises, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said. U.S. and South Korean officials have accused North Korea of providing munitions and military equipment to Russia to help boost its war in Ukraine.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Shin Won, Austin, Shin, ” Austin, Yoon Suk, Minoru Kihara, Yoon, ”, Moon Jae, Kim Jong Un, Antony Blinken, Kim Organizations: Korean, U.S . Defense, South Korean, Defense, Austin, ROK, South, Japanese, Korea’s Defense Ministry, Shin, U.S, United Nations Command, Foreign Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Seoul, Japan, North Korea, Ukraine, Korean, Republic of Korea, U.S, South Korean, Washington, Hamas, Korea, Israel, Russia, South, Pyongyang, Moscow . U.S, Austin

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is hosting the annual APEC summit of world leaders this week for the first time since 2011. But the main summit event will actually be on the sidelines: A face-to-face meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The annual leaders' conference brings together heads of nations and other top economic and diplomatic leaders. That decision was regarded as a snub by some APEC leaders. Since then, the APEC leaders have posed together in batik shirts (Malaysia, 1998), Chinese jackets (Shanghai, 2001), flowing ponchos (Chile, 2004) and "ao dai” tunics (Vietnam, 2006.)

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Gina Raimondo, isn't, Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, that's, Morris Chang, Paul Chan, John Lee, It's, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Obama Organizations: WASHINGTON, APEC, Economic Cooperation, Biden, Pacific, Thai, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Financial, Moody’s Investors Service Locations: United States, Asia, San Francisco, China, U.S, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Pacific, Bangkok, Chile, Thailand, China . Hong Kong, Seattle, American, Malaysia, Shanghai, ponchos, Vietnam, Philippines, Hawaii

"David Cameron was a disastrous PM. Britain's former Prime Minister and newly appointed Foreign Secretary David Cameron walks outside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain November 13, 2023. "David Cameron was at the heart of the biggest lobbying scandal of recent times," said the Liberal Democrat party's foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran. "I understand there's a lot of baggage that comes with David Cameron," Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood told Times Radio. Theresa May, who replaced Cameron as prime minister before being ousted herself amid a party rebellion over Brexit three years later, said his experience would be invaluable.

Persons: David Cameron, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Cameron, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang, David Lammy, Suzanne Plunkett, Layla Moran, Akshata Murthy, Tobias Ellwood, Dehenna Davidson, Theresa May, Martin Pollard, Alex Richardson Organizations: Downing, European Union, Conservative Party, China Institute, SOAS University of London, Reuters, Labour Party, REUTERS, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Eton College, Times Radio, Thomson Locations: European, Britain, China, Beijing, London, Downing

☆ U.S. and India recognize that China's 'assertiveness' threatens both their interests: Think tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailU.S. and India recognize that China's 'assertiveness' threatens both their interests: Think tankAshley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discusses the important role the country plays in the United States' Indo-Pacific strategy.

Persons: Ashley Tellis Organizations: U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace Locations: India, United States

Blinken described all of these as “a work in progress” and acknowledged deep divisions over the pause concept. There has also been resistance to discussing Gaza's future, with the Arab states insisting that the immediate humanitarian crisis must be addressed first. Securing agreement from G7 members, none of which border or are directly involved in the conflict, may be a slightly less daunting challenge for Blinken. Despite some fraying around the edges, the group has preserved a unified front in condemning and opposing Russia’s war. Yet the Gaza crisis has inflamed international public opinion and democracies are not immune from intense passions that have manifested themselves in massive pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations in G7 capitals and elsewhere.

Persons: Antony Blinken, we’re, ” Blinken, Jordan, Turkey — Blinken, we’ve, ”, Blinken Organizations: TOKYO, West Bank Locations: East, U.S, Israel, Asia, Japan, Gaza, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Ankara, Turkey, Tokyo, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Iraq, United States, Korea, China

☆ Here's the 6 personality traits you need to found a successful startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Researchers used AI to determine the personality traits of 21,000 startup founders. They found that the success of a startup is linked to the personality traits of its founder. Here are the six personality traits you need to be a successful founder. AdvertisementAdvertisementA startup founder's personality traits may have a major impact on their company's success, a study published in Nature suggests. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe researchers found that these core personality traits were dramatically different to the wider population, the report says.

Persons: —, Paul X, McCarthy, It's, " McCarthy, Melanie Perkins, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Horacio Villalobos Organizations: Service, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, University of Technology Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of New Locations: Nature, University of New South Wales, Sydney

☆ US aid to Israel and Ukraine: Here’s what’s in the $105 billion national security package Biden requested
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration on Friday laid out the details of a $105 billion national security package that includes military and humanitarian assistance for the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. House Republicans are still struggling to unite behind a speaker to lead their conference, and until one is elected, the national security package will remain in limbo. The Biden administration’s prior request for $24 billion in Ukraine aid was not included in a stopgap government funding measure Congress approved in late September. Here’s what’s in the package, according to the White House:$61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine$30 billion for the Defense Department for equipment for Ukraine and the replenishment of US stocks. $10 billion for humanitarian assistance$9.15 billion for aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other humanitarian needs.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Here’s Organizations: CNN, House Republicans, Ukraine, White, Defense Department, National Nuclear Security Administration, Israel, Iron, State Department, West Bank, Treasury Department, World Bank Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Mexico, Taiwan, Congress, Europe, assertiveness, China

In that case, Britain accused Russia of an assassination attempt on its soil and expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country. For its part, the U.S. expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closure of Russia's consulate in Seattle in solidarity with its British ally. If asked by Canada to expel a large number of Indian diplomats, these officials said, the U.S. would have little choice but to comply. This week, India told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, ramping up the confrontation. Trudeau and other Canadian officials, including Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, have hinted that Canada won't take reciprocal measures.

Persons: —, Biden, Justin Trudeau's, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Sergei Skripal, Trudeau, “ I’m, we're, ”, Danny Russel, Barack Obama’s, Modi, Melanie Joly Organizations: WASHINGTON, Publicly, Canadian, U.S, NATO, Asia Society Policy Locations: Canada, India, U.S, Vancouver, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Pacific, United States, Ukraine, China, Australia, Japan, Salisbury, England, Britain, Seattle, St . Petersburg, Indian, British, New York, New Zealand, New Delhi, Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that he could potentially meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. “There has been no such meeting set up, but it is a possibility," Biden told reporters when asked about the prospects of a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese leader. Biden and Xi have not spoken since their meeting last November of the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. Political Cartoons View All 1202 ImagesThe Biden administration shot down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental U.S. earlier this year. Beijing has stayed on the sidelines since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Gina Raimondo, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Raimondo, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Economic Cooperation Locations: Asia, San Francisco, Bali , Indonesia, White, U.S, China, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Russia, Moscow, Malta

☆ Curtain comes up on new term for conservative US Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2023. The conservative justices have shown assertiveness in major rulings in the past two years. The court has ended its recognition of a constitutional right to abortion, expanded gun rights, restricted federal agency powers, rejected affirmative action in college admissions and broadened religious rights. The justices are opening their annual term on the first Monday of October, in keeping with tradition. The term debuts with some justices under ethics scrutiny after revelations this year of their ties to wealthy conservative benefactors.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden's, Mark Pulsifer, Donald Trump, Pulsifer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump, Amy Coney Barrett, Ginsburg, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Purdue, Republican, resentencing, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S . Postal, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Iowa, Texas, Florida

☆ Exclusive: Timor president says China military cooperation 'never discussed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The agreement also provided scope for funding from China including government and commercial loans to East Timor, he said. Some Australian politicians expressed concern after China's state media reported on Saturday that Beijing's agreement with East Timor, around 700km (450 miles) north-west of Australia, also covered military exchanges. "It was never discussed in terms of military cooperation, never discussed, and the Chinese side also never raised this issue," Ramos-Horta said. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, aims to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN by 2025 as it seeks to reduce high poverty rates. Australia has appointed an envoy to speed up negotiations between East Timor and Woodside; Gusmao's government wants gas to be piped to East Timor and not Australia.

Persons: Jose Ramos, Caitlin Ochs, Horta, Xanana Gusmao, Xi Jinping, heightening, Ramos, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, 私 Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, East, Reuters, Southeast, ASEAN, Canberra, Woodside Energy, Greater Sunrise, Greater, Australia, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, Pacific Locations: Horta, Timor, New York City , New York, U.S, East Timor, China, Australia, Indonesia, Canberra, Solomon Islands, 2,000km, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor's, Dili, Greater Sunrise, Southeast Asia, Woodside, United States, New York

☆ Exclusive: East Timor president says China military cooperation was 'never discussed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The agreement also provided scope for funding from China including government and commercial loans to East Timor, he said. "It was never discussed in terms of military cooperation, never discussed, and the Chinese side also never raised this issue," Ramos-Horta said. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, aims to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN by 2025 as it seeks to reduce high poverty rates. Australia has appointed an envoy to speed up negotiations between East Timor and Woodside; Gusmao's government wants gas to be piped to East Timor and not Australia. Australia's relationship with East Timor is "stronger than at any time in the last decade", Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Persons: Jose Ramos, Caitlin Ochs, Horta, Xanana Gusmao, Xi Jinping, heightening, Ramos, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, East, Reuters, Southeast, ASEAN, Canberra, Woodside Energy, Greater Sunrise, Greater, Australia, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, Pacific, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: Horta, Timor, New York City , New York, U.S, East Timor, China, Australia, Indonesia, Canberra, Solomon Islands, 2,000km, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor's, Dili, Greater Sunrise, Southeast Asia, Woodside, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — This probably wasn't how President Joe Biden envisioned his big foreign policy week ending. Biden on Thursday hosted Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. "There’s no alternative.”Biden has stepped up his attacks on Trump's foreign policy record, casting the former president and his close Republican allies as lackeys for Russian President Vladimir Putin. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday said the U.S. has had and will continue to have “high-level” contact with New Delhi on the matter. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment Friday on the indictment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, ”, Ross Baker, “, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, ” Biden, Vladimir Putin, Putin, I’ve, Hardeep Singh, Justin Trudeau, Jake Sullivan, Narendra Modi, Richard Rossow, Karine Jean, Pierre, hasn't, Nicolás Maduro's, Barack, Trump, John Feeley, Feeley, Joshua Goodman Organizations: WASHINGTON, General Assembly, Republican, Ukraine, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Democratic, Rutgers University, White, Capitol, Republican Party, Trump, United States Congress, Vancouver . Canadian, Nijjar, House, Indian, U.S ., Center for Strategic, Independent Studies, Biden, Associated Press Locations: Canada, India, Ukraine, Russian, New Jersey, U.S, United States, Russia, New York City, Vancouver, Ottawa, New Delhi, China, Washington, Caracas, Iran, America, Havana, Nicaragua, Panama, Miami

But none have stepped up to condemn India for its alleged involvement in the June slaying on Canadian soil of a Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. All that makes it hard for Canada's main allies — which are also some of India's main partners — to loudly speak out. The government’s allegations are particularly awkward now for the U.K., which is seeking a free trade deal with India. In 2018, for example, China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor. Now the stakes are higher, and it's unclear — at least publicly — who Canada can count on for full-throated support.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, —, They’ve, Hardeep Singh, Janice Stein, Sushant Singh, ”, Trudeau, India ramped, — Trudeau, Rishi Sunak’s, Max Blain, ” Trudeau, Sunak, Joe Biden, Mélanie Joly, John Kirby, “, Kirby, Biden, Robert Bothwell, Narendra Modi's, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Nijjar, Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Meng Wanzhou, Meng, Donald Trump, Trump, Bothwell Organizations: TORONTO, Canadian, Munk School of Global Affairs, Policy Research, Canada, Canada’s The Globe, Mail, British, Canadian Foreign, White House, University of Toronto, Indian, Nijjar, White, Huawei, U.S, “ Locations: India, U.S, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Germany, Toronto, New Delhi, West, Vancouver, Canada, Indian, Canadian, Canada’s The, South Asia, Pacific, Ottawa, Washington, Russia, Surrey, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, “, British

☆ Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar and what just happened between Canada and India?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Blair Gable/ReutersIndia responded hours later by rejecting Trudeau’s allegations, accusing Canada of harboring terrorists and claiming its inaction against extremists had been a “long-standing” concern. Nijjar’s death in June shocked the Sikh community in Canada, one of the largest outside India with more than 770,000 members. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun told CNN that Nijjar was asked to be careful and avoid giving “big talks” or he would be targeted. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with the youngest son of Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while attending a ceremonial reception at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi on February 23, 2018. When Trudeau visited India in 2018, his calendar, which was light on diplomatic meetings, was seen by many as a “snub” from New Delhi.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Canada wasn’t, ”, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, cratering, Nijjar, Melanie Joly, Blair Gable, –, “, Hardeep Singh, India’s UAPA, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Pannun, Harsh Pant, Modi, Narendra Modi, Canada's, PRAKASH SINGH, ” Pant, Michael Kugelman, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Australia’s Anthony Albanese, Adrienne Watson, Penny Wong, I’m, ” Kugelman, would’ve “, Kugelman, Canada would’ve Organizations: CNN, Canadian, Canada, Reuters, Canada –, British Columbia Gurdwaras, India’s, Indian National Investigation Agency, Khalistan, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Justice, Observer Research Foundation, India's, AFP, Getty, Indian Army, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, British, National Security, Australian Foreign Locations: India, New Delhi, United States, Canada, Ottawa, Indian, Reuters India, Canadian, British, Ontario, India’s Punjab, New York, AFP, Toronto, China, Australia, Britain, New Zealand

☆ New Zealand should use diplomacy to avert any conflict in Taiwan Strait -PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, January 21, 2023. REUTERS/Lucy Craymer//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand should use its diplomatic clout to try and avert a situation of armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday during a first debate with his main challenger ahead of a general election. "Armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait is not going to be good for the world and New Zealand should use all of its diplomatic might – whatever that might be – to try and avoid that situation," Hipkins said. In recent months, however, Hipkins' Labour government has become more vocal, raising concerns about the impact China’s assertiveness is having on the Pacific region. Luxon agreed with Hipkins that talk of hypothetical scenarios such as China and Taiwan was not helpful, however.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Lucy Craymer, Hipkins, Christopher Luxon, Luxon, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Labour Party, REUTERS, Rights, Labour, Party, Thomson Locations: New Zealand's, Wellington , New Zealand, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, Wellington, Australia, Britain, Canada, United States

Workers are seen at the production line of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 28, 2018. "This will skyrocket our demand for lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells and electrolysers, which is expected to multiply between 10 and 30 times in the coming years," the paper, prepared by the Spanish presidency of the EU, said. While the EU has a strong position in the intermediate and assembly phases of making electrolysers, with a more than 50% global market share, it relies heavily on China for fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries crucial for electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells were not the only area of EU vulnerability, the Spanish presidency paper said. "The EU has a relatively strong position in the latter, but it shows significant weaknesses in the other areas," it said.

Persons: Stringer, Jan Strupczewski, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European, EU, Reuters, European Commission, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China, Rights MADRID, Russia, Ukraine, Granada, Spain, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Spanish

☆ A Meeting of World Leaders, With Two Major Absences
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden arrived today in New Delhi for the Group of 20 summit, where the world leaders not in the room at the meeting this weekend may be as important as those who are there. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia both decided to skip this year’s event, leaving a hole that the U.S. is seeking to fill. At the summit, Biden plans to use the absences of Xi and Putin as an opportunity to present his case to the large group of important leaders that they should align with the U.S. on major issues including condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine and curbing China’s assertiveness. Still, Biden will try to shore up his relationship with the summit’s host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. My colleague Katie Rogers, who is covering the summit, said Biden saw Modi as “politically stable.” But, she added, “it remains to be seen how much of a partner he could be in forcefully countering China’s rise.”

Persons: Biden, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Xi, Putin, Narendra Modi, Katie Rogers, Modi, ” Organizations: Group, U.S, India Locations: New Delhi, Russia, Ukraine, China

President Biden is set to arrive in New Delhi on Friday for a global summit meeting where he will present the United States as an economic and strategic counterweight to China and Russia, taking advantage of the absence of leaders from those two countries, who are skipping the gathering. Mr. Biden is bringing with him the promise of up to $200 billion in new development funds for climate change, food security, public health and other infrastructure needs in less developed countries through revamped international financing institutions like the World Bank, leveraged by a relatively small investment by the United States. Mr. Biden’s plan would match only a fraction of the Chinese investments in recent years but offers an alternative to Beijing’s presence as an omnipresent and often unforgiving creditor. The president will have an important opportunity at the Group of 20 meeting thanks to the decisions by President Xi Jinping of China and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to not attend. Mr. Biden will have room to present a case to a large group of important world leaders that they should align with the United States on matters that include condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine and curbing China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Xi Jinping, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: World Bank, Group Locations: New Delhi, United States, China, Russia, American, Ukraine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this year’s host, has pledged not to let Ukraine overshadow the needs of the mostly developing nations in the so-called “ Global South,” but many of those issues are closely affected by the war. Russia's attack on Ukraine and China's growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region have added friction, pitting some of the most powerful G20 countries directly against each other diplomatically, Lesser said. About half of the G20 countries are found in the Global South — depending on how one defines it — and Modi hopes to add the African Union as a bloc member. In preparation, he held a virtual “Voice of the Global South” summit in January and in working groups has targeted issues critical to developing nations, including alternative fuels like hydrogen, resource efficiency, developing a common framework for digital public infrastructure and food security. “While a yearlong presidency cannot solve all the problems of the Global South, India has managed to set the ball rolling on some of these issues, and individual G20 countries can carry forward the work,” she said.

Persons: — It’s, Narendra Modi, ”, Nazia Hussain, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi, Joe Biden's, Justin Trudeau, Zelenskyy, “ I’m, Ian Lesser, Lesser, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Xi, —, ” Hussain, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Biden, Putin, Hussain Organizations: DELHI, Group, Indian, Global, Singapore's, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, European Union, White, German Marshall Fund, United Arab, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Union, . National, World Bank, International Monetary Fund Locations: Ukraine, “ New Delhi, Russia, China, Bali, India, Brussels, U.S, Canada, Britain, Japan, Germany, Asia, Pacific, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Beijing, BRICS, Moscow

On Wednesday, China's Li warned against starting a "new Cold War" and warned countries against taking sides in any conflict. Harris, attending the meetings instead of President Joe Biden, reiterated a U.S. commitment to the region. "The United States has an enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and more broadly to the Indo-Pacific," she said. A White House official said earlier the U.S. shared interests with ASEAN in "upholding the rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea, in the face of China's unlawful maritime claims and provocative actions". The Chinese premier and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met briefly on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday and discussed Japan's release into the sea of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Fumio, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joko, Kamala Harris, Li Qiang, Sergei Lavrov, China's Li, Harris, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, Japan's, ASEAN, Russian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, White, U.S, Japanese, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Fumio Kishida, South, JAKARTA, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, South China, Myanmar, Korea, Russia, United States, Southeast Asia, China, Laos

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