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☆ Iran faces USA in winner-takes-all match to progress to World Cup knockout stages
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The knockout stage has already arrived for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) at the World Cup – nothing less than a win on Tuesday will suffice when it takes on Iran in a winner-takes-all match. In the build-up to the game, Iran state media called for the US to be kicked out of the 2022 World Cup after US Soccer changed Iran’s flag on its social media accounts to show support for the protestors in Iran. In the other Group B match, England looks to seal its almost certain place in the knockout stages against Wales. If England defeats Wales, the USMNT would qualify in second place in the group providing it beats Iran; while if England loses, the USMNT would finish first. Tuesday’s fixturesNetherlands vs Qatar: 10pm ETEcuador vs Senegal: 10pm ETWales vs England: 2pm ETIran vs USA: 2pm ETHow to watchUS: Fox SportsUK: BBC or ITVAustralia: SBSBrazil: SportTVGermany: ARD, ZDF, Deutsche TelekomCanada: Bell MediaSouth Africa: SABC

☆ Diplomatic foes Iran and U.S. clash in winner-takes-all contest
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ties have been strained in recent years when then-President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of an Iran nuclear deal. The United States killed a top Iranian general in 2020 and Tehran responded with missile strikes at U.S. forces based in Iraq. The eagerly awaited meeting is a rematch of the 1998 World Cup group stage contest, dubbed the "mother of all games", which Iran won 2-1. Overshadowing Iran's World Cup build-up this year has been civil unrest at home over the September death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for flouting the country's strict Islamic dress code. They sang quietly on Friday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, where boos and jeers were heard from Iran supporters.

☆ U.S., China defence ministers meet for second time this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In June, a Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May, Australia's defence department said. Tuesday's meeting of the defence ministers took place on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia. read moreAfter Pelosi's visit, China announced it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders. Pelosi's Taiwan trip infuriated China, which saw it as a U.S. attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

☆ Pentagon chief raises concern about Beijing's 'dangerous' behavior with Chinese counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/PoolPHNOM PENH, Nov 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday emphasized the need to improve crisis communications during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart while raising concern about "increasingly dangerous" behavior by Chinese military aircraft. In June, a Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May, Australia's defence department said. Tuesday's meeting of the defence ministers took place on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia. read moreAfter Pelosi's visit, China announced it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders. The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

☆ USMNT vs. Wales: Can the golden generation shine on the world stage?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —When the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) walks onto the pitch in Qatar on Monday, it will be appearing at a men’s World Cup for the first time since 2014. Gregg Berhalter was part of the US team that reached the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup. Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesJust one player, defender DeAndre Yedlin, has prior World Cup experience. Carl Recine/ReutersThe USMNT will face Wales first, playing in its first World Cup since 1958. The USMNT drew 1-1 with England in the 2010 World Cup.

☆ Former U.K. Ambassador Among Thousands to Be Freed From Myanmar Prison
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Feliz Solomon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Vicky Bowman was arrested along with her husband in August on allegations that she violated immigration law. SINGAPORE—Myanmar’s military junta said it will free thousands of prisoners in a mass amnesty, including several foreign nationals whose governments had lobbied for their release. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said on Thursday that the amnesty showed “respect for humanitarian and diplomatic relations” on the country’s National Victory Day, a holiday celebrating its independence from British colonial rule. Among those freed were former British Ambassador Vicky Bowman, Australian economist Sean Turnell , U.S. citizen Kyaw Htay Oo and Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, he said.

☆ Erdogan tells Netanyahu relations should be maintained with mutual respect
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers his messages to the journalists in G20 Summit's news conference in Media Center, BICC, Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia, November 16, 2022. ADITYA PRADANA PUTRA/G20 Media Center/Handout via REUTERSANKARA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Israel's former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who won an election this month, that it is important to maintain relations on a basis of respect for mutual interests, the Turkish presidency said on Thursday. In a phone call, Erdogan told Netanyahu he was saddened by "events two days ago in the West Bank". Netanyahu offered his condolences for those who died in a bomb attack in Istanbul on Sunday, the presidency said. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Ankara this year in the first visit to Turkey by an Israeli leader since 2008.

It was a rare, candid glimpse of the Chinese leader and a reminder of Beijing's testy relations with the West. Besides Biden, Trudeau and Australia's Anthony Albanese, Xi also met the leaders of South Korea, Italy, Argentina, Holland and France for bilateral talks in Bali. Xi was ferried around Bali in his own Hongqi (Red Flag) limousine - Mao Zedong used an earlier model - China's version of the U.S. presidential "Beast" limo. Returning to in-person diplomacy also gives Xi a platform to push Chinese initiatives that further cement its stature as leader of the emerging world. "I think in the coming years you'll see China indeed making a serious effort to implement its major power diplomacy," he said.

☆ Israel’s OurCrowd to Launch AI Business in U.A.E.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Dov Lieber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TEL AVIV—Israeli venture-capital firm OurCrowd is investing tens of millions of dollars to start an artificial-intelligence business in the United Arab Emirates, in the latest sign of deepening commercial ties between the two neighbors after they established diplomatic relations two years ago. OurCrowd said it is partnering with Abu Dhabi Investment Office, a government entity responsible for facilitating investment in the U.A.E. capital, to expand its operations in the country, which will see its team grow to 60 employees from four over the next four years.

☆ Saudi defense officials rented suites at Trump's DC hotel that cost $10,500 right before MBS visited White House
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Officials from six countries spent over $750k at Trump's DC hotel in 2017 and 2018, documents show. The officials stayed at Trump's hotel amid rocky periods in relations between their countries and the US. Saudi officials spent nearly $86k in March 2018. The Saudi officials spent nearly $86,000 from March 7 to March 18, including renting several $10,500 suites. Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, was explicitly implicated in Khashoggi's killing by the US government.

☆ For East Timor president, ASEAN membership a lifelong dream
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

At the time, East Timor was ruled by Portugal, although it was clear that Lisbon would soon relinquish its colony. East Timor was later annexed by Indonesia and gained full independence only in 2002. At a summit in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh this week, ASEAN said East Timor would be granted observer status at high-level meetings of the bloc as it formulates a "roadmap for full membership". He served as the country's first foreign minister, prime minister from 2006 to 2007, and president from 2007 to 2012, during which time he survived an assassination attempt by rebel soldiers. East Timor celebrated 20 years of independence this year, but the country of 1.3 million people is heavily dependent on dwindling reserves of oil and gas.

☆ Israelis, Palestinians can fly on same flights to World Cup in Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer fans from Israel and the Palestinian territories will be able to fly directly to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar from Tel Aviv for the first time, soccer’s global governing body announced Thursday. The development is a breakthrough agreement for Israel and Qatar — two countries without diplomatic relations. The charter flights to Doha from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv for the tournament starting Nov. 20 will be open to all Palestinians, FIFA said. Israel may still refuse to grant exit permits to residents of blockaded Gaza seeking to fly out of Tel Aviv to attend the World Cup. Israeli citizens cannot ordinarily fly directly to Doha or enter Qatar on their Israeli passports.

☆ Gulf Arab states can’t give up oil. But they can slash their emissions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Abu Dhabi CNN —As Western states try to wean themselves off their addiction to hydrocarbons, Gulf oil nations have been pushing back hard, warning that a hasty transition away from fossil fuels will be counterproductive. According to the World Bank, Qatar had the highest carbon emissions per capita as of 2019, followed by Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. So, investment in clean energy projects and renewables “makes very good business sense and PR sense for the Gulf,” he said. Gulf petro-states are warning against a quick transition away from hydrocarbons, with the UAE calling for a “mixed energy” approach that minimizes emissions without cutting hydrocarbons. Much of the hydrocarbons exported by Gulf states go to some of the world’s biggest consumers and polluters, including China and India.

☆ Thailand's deputy PM discusses the country's ties with Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | 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 EmailWe've resumed our diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia 'in full': Thai deputy prime ministerAnutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's deputy prime minister, discusses ties between the two countries ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's first official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

☆ The US is quietly extracting concessions from Saudi Arabia after Mohammed bin Salman humiliated Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Saudi Arabia has made moves to placate the US after a recent feud over oil. Diplomatic ties between the Biden White House and the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, are being tested as never before in a series of high-stakes diplomatic encounters. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Moscow in May 2017. Biden himself said there would be "consequences" for Saudi Arabia, though did not specify what they'd be. "These are mutual interests keeping the US and Saudi Arabia interested in the bilateral partnership.

☆ Fraying U.S.-China relations could have huge implications for Earth
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty ImagesSHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — Fraying diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and China are a big concern at the COP27 climate summit. However, many fear tensions between Washington and Beijing could make climate cooperation at COP27 extremely difficult. We say it is just on climate change, but we know that climate change is really at the center of everything in society." Biden is expected to join a 16-member delegation of senior officials at COP27 later this week to "advance the global climate fight." "And there is no solution to the problem of climate change without China, without Russia, without India, without … large economies being at the table," Kerry said.

CNN —FIFA announced on Thursday that shared flights have been organized to permit Israeli and Palestinian fans into Qatar to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The temporary direct charter flights between Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, represent the only official direct flights between the two nations. READ: Qatar World Cup ‘is a mistake,’ says former FIFA President Sepp BlatterThe Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alon Ushpiz, said: “Today’s announcement will allow Israeli citizens to freely travel to Qatar and attend matches at the World Cup. We have always said that anyone with a World Cup match ticket will be allowed to enter Qatar. Because of this agreement, Palestinians will now be able to enjoy the first World Cup in the Arab and Muslim world.”The 2022 FIFA World Cup runs from November 20 through December 18.

☆ Taiwan to invest 10 mln euros towards chip production in Lithuania
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VILNIUS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Taiwan, the world's biggest supplier of semiconductors, will invest more than 10 million euros ($9.98 million) towards chip production in Lithuania, the head of the Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius said on Monday. Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de-facto embassy in its country in November last year, angering China which views the democratically-governed island as its own territory. Earlier this year, Taiwan launched a 200-million-euro equity investment fund and a 1-billion-euro loan facility for Lithuania and other central and eastern European countries. The first equity investments totalling 10 million euros in Lithuanian would be completed by early next year, said Huang, adding that first loans amounting to 9 million euros should be dispersed by the end of this month. Lithuania formally launched its own representation in Taiwan on Monday.

☆ Biden's national security advisor held secret talks with Russia warning against using nukes in Ukraine: WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Biden's National Security Advisor held talks with Kremlin officials, per The Wall Street Journal. Jake Sullivan warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, its report said. Concerns are growing that Russia could use nuclear weapons as it struggles on the battlefield. The talks came amid concerns that Russia could resort to the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, following a series of setbacks on the battlefield. The New York Times reported last week that Russian military leaders had discussed using them.

TAIPEI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr will visit Taiwan this week, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan said on Wednesday, the latest senior official from the country to visit the island. Carr will meet with "Taiwan interlocutors" to discuss issues including telecommunications and cybersecurity from November 2-4, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a statement to Reuters. China has stepped up military activities near democratically governed Taiwan since August when it conducted blockade drills around the island following a visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Taiwan's government says the People's Republic of China has never ruled the island and so its sovereignty claims are void. Reporting By Sarah Wu and Yimou Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Israel election polls predict Netanyahu just shy of victory
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Netanyahu arrives at election day in good shape, but the battle has not been decided," wrote Haaretz newspaper's political analyst Yossi Verter. A deadlocked election could mean Israel would go to the polls again within months, with Prime Minister Yair Lapid remaining in office as caretaker. read moreThe campaign has largely centred around Netanyahu with security and diplomacy issues, including conflicts with the Palestinians and Iran, taking a back seat. The polls predicted the anti-Netanyahu bloc winning 56 seats and the Arab-led Hadash-Ta'al list, which has said it will not join a coalition, getting four seats. Reporting by Henriette Chacar; Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Vatican confirms renewal of contested accord with China on bishops' appointments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VATICAN CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Saturday said that it and China had renewed a secret and contested agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in the communist country. The deal was a bid to ease a longstanding divide across mainland China between an underground flock loyal to the pope and a state-backed official church. The Vatican-China deal centres on cooperation over the appointment of bishops, giving the pope the final and decisive say. They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities. Last month, the Vatican tried to arrange a meeting between Xi, 69, and the pope, 85, while both leaders were in Kazakhstan, but China declined.

☆ Mexican president hints at Venezuela-U.S. accord amid migration rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during a news conference, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico September 30, 2022. "Relations between the government of the United States and Venezuela need to be restored," Lopez Obrador told a news conference. Since the policy was enacted, several thousand Venezuelans who entered the United States illegally have been returned to Mexico. Lopez Obrador urged the United States to expand the Venezuela humanitarian access permits beyond 24,000 people. "They're not enough," Lopez Obrador said.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO VENEZUELANS IN TRANSIT TO THE UNITED STATES? Those in transit may attempt to reach the United States despite the near certainty that they will be sent back to Mexico. It is unclear where Venezuelans waiting in Mexico will stay, as Mexico's migrant shelter system is often overwhelmed. Then in 2014, Venezuela's economy buckled as global oil prices tumbled, and living conditions further deteriorated as stringent price controls created widespread shortages. Remittances to Venezuelans from relatives in the United States or elsewhere help but are insufficient for most.

☆ Premarket stocks: How to read big bank earnings
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Beyond disappointing headline figures, Wall Street analysts are focusing on three important factors: loan growth, capital adequacy, and the economic outlook. Loan growth: The rate at which businesses borrow money from big banks doesn’t just tell us about the health of a financial institution itself. But Wall Street estimates show that loan growth is expected to decelerate in Q4 and into next year. Growth of Individual loans will likely decline, showing that Americans are beginning to feel the pinch of rising interest rates. Capital adequacy: Expect banks to take questions about how much money they have on hand.

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