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☆ China hates the new president of Taiwan — but its 'real nightmare scenario' is a Trump-Taiwan combo: analyst
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump winning the White House in 2024 would create a "nightmare" for China, especially with president-elect William Lai Ching-te at Taiwan's helm, an analyst on China said. Advertisement"Beijing's real nightmare scenario is not necessarily watching Lai Ching-te winning the presidency of Taiwan, but it's the combination of Lai Ching-te and perhaps Donald Trump coming back into the White House," Daniels said. "He was a transactional president," Rosen said. Trump followed up by suggesting that the US may one day abandon its agreement to the "one China policy," Beijing's red-line stance that Taiwan is part of China. Cross-strait tensions soared, but just two months later, Trump called Xi and agreed that the US would uphold the "one China policy."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, William Lai Ching, Lai, it's Trump, Rorry Daniels, Lai Ching, Daniels, Trump, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Xi Jinping's, Stanley Rosen, It's, Rosen, Tsai Ing, Wen, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley Organizations: Service, White House, Business, Democratic Progressive Party, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lai's, Asia Society, Center for, Nikkei, Taiwan, University of Southern, China Institute, Xi, GOP, Iowa Republican Locations: China, Taiwan's, Beijing, Taiwan, Center for China, Nikkei Asia, University of Southern California's US, Hong Kong, Taipei, Iowa

☆ Why China hates the new president of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Lai Ching-te clings stubbornly to the separatist position for 'Taiwan independence.' A matter of Taiwan's independenceIn 2017, while he was premier, Lai referred to himself as a "pragmatic worker for 'Taiwan independence.'" AdvertisementLai has pledged to maintain status quo and stability in Taiwan, but China isn't backing down on its stance either. "I think China hates him, really hates him," Wu Xinbo, an international relations professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, told Reuters, referring to Lai. "It is because if he is elected as the leader of Taiwan, he may come to advance his goal of Taiwan independence, which will provoke a crisis across the Taiwan Strait," added Wu.

Persons: William Lai Ching, Taiwan's, Lai, —, Wiliam Lai Ching, Lai Ching, Xi Jinping, Wu Xinbo, Wu, Wang Yi, Jeremy Mark, William Lai, Chong Ja Ian, Chong, Tsai Ing Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Service, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chinese Communist Party, Shanghai's Fudan University, Reuters, Analysts, Lai's, Atlantic Council, Eurasia Group, KMT, National University of Singapore, Carnegie China, Channel News Asia Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, South America, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's

Here’s what else you should know about the ICJ and South Africa’s case against Israel. For the case brought by South Africa, the panel will also be expanded to include one judge from South Africa and one from Israel. Does South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel Matter? How Is Israel Responding to the Genocide Charges by South Africa? Israeli officials have denied the allegations in the strongest possible terms, and even vigorously attacked South Africa for bringing the charges.

Persons: –, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, what’s, France –, Joan Donoghue, “, Sarang Shidore, Al Jazeera, Eylon Levy, Netanyahu, it’s, Biden, Antony Blinken, Israel – Hamas, Iran –, William Schabas, Malcolm Shaw, Long Organizations: International Court of Justice, United, Israel, United Nations, Court, International Justice, General Assembly, Security, ICC, Criminal Court, Central American, Nicaraguan, Security Council, Fisheries, Embassy, South, Biden Administration, Global, Quincy Institute, Middlesex University, New York Times Locations: Israel – South Africa, Israel, Gaza, Africa, United Nations, The Hague, Netherlands, U.S, Russia, China, France, Slovakia, Lebanon, Brazil, Somalia, South Africa, Nicaragua, Nicaragua’s, Norway, Iran, Canada, Syria, Washington, United States, United, Ukraine, The State, Hague, ” U.S, Ireland, Guatemala, Hungary, British

☆ U.S. slams 'meritless' Israel genocide suit, reigniting tensions with South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The International Court of Justice, the U.N.'s highest legal body, will this week hear a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinian people during the assault on the Gaza Strip. Ambassador Reuben Brigety accused South Africa of running guns for Russia via a mystery merchant ship, a South African inquiry found no evidence of the alleged arms shipment, but ties between the two historical allies remained taut. "Over the past two years a succession of frustrations, including South Africa feeling it is being pushed on Russia-Ukraine, the U.S. Ambassador's statements on South African domestic security and on its relationship with Russia, and U.S. policy on China in Africa, have all contributed to the worsening of this relationship," Vandome said. 'Solidarity against apartheid oppression' South Africa's close relationship with Russia is based on a multitude of factors past and present.

Persons: John Kirby, Kevin Lamarque, Israel, Reuben Brigety, Cyril Ramaphosa, Chris Vandome, Vandome, Sergey Lavrov, Naledi Pandor Organizations: White, Reuters, U.S, Court of Justice, Palestinian, . National Security, Chatham, CNBC, South, Russian, African Foreign, Pretoria Ihsaan Haffejee, Anadolu Agency, Getty, United States Trade, Solidarity, Congress, ANC, Party Locations: Washington , U.S, South Africa, Gaza, Israel, Washington, Pretoria, Russia, China, African, Ukraine, Africa, U.S, Palestine, PRETORIA, Pretoria Ihsaan

☆ Indonesians head to the polls in February. Here are key issues dominating the elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Randy Mulyanto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Indonesia is preparing to hold general elections for president and vice president for the 2024-2029 period in February 2024. The world's third-largest democracy will open its polls to over 204 million eligible voters casting their ballots, according to its General Elections Commission. While having greater opposition representation in Indonesia's parliament could raise the bar for passing such laws, Titi said there's still a very high barrier to entry for the candidacy process. According to Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2023 report, Indonesia ranked "partly free," scoring 58 out of 100. But for some Indonesians, the cozier relationship has also sparked debt-trap fears and concerns about an influx of Chinese workers.

Persons: Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar, Aditya Irawan, Joko, Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo, Gibran, Anies, Titi Anggraini, Titi, there's, Indonesia's, Singapore's ISEAS — Yusof, Lina Alexandra Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, JAKARTA —, Commission, Solo, National Awakening Party, Central Java, Politik, Nusantara, Association for Elections, Democracy, CNBC, Constitutional, House's, Institute, Indonesia's, of Economic, Law Studies, Initiative, Strategic, International Studies, Hamas, Lowy Institute Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, JAKARTA — Indonesia, Central, Politik Indonesia, Nusantara, Borneo, China, Beijing, Southeast Asia, Southeast, Israel, Australian

☆ A decade after Mandela's death, his pro-Palestinian legacy lives on
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Former South African president Nelson Mandela (R) and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (L) address the media after holding talks on the crisis in the Middle East May 3, 2001. It was a gesture as controversial then as South Africa's support for the Palestinian cause is today, but Mandela brushed off criticism. Last month, the ruling ANC backed a motion in South Africa's parliament to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel until it agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has disputed the comparison with apartheid as a lie motivated by antisemitism, but many South Africans follow Mandela's lead. Some in South Africa's Jewish community criticise the ANC's stance, pointing out that Mandela himself eventually tried to build bridges with Israel.

Persons: Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Mandela, Arafat, S.Africa, Carien du Plessis, Mandla Mandela, Obed Bapela, Lebogang Mashile, David Saks, Ehud Barak, Ezer Weisman, Saks, Shafiek, Tim Cocks, Alex Richardson Organizations: South, Arafat ANC, ANC, Palestine Liberation Organisation, Hamas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Shafiek, JOHANNESBURG, Palestine, Johannesburg, South Africa's, South Africa, South

Travelers are looking to cruises in 2024 because they are still cheaper than land-based alternatives. With occupancy levels approaching pre-pandemic levels, operators plan to hike prices in coming months. "Overall the market is extremely strong, especially the top end of the market in terms of the most high-end luxury cruises," said Bob Levinstein, CEO of cruise marketplace Cruise Compete. Even as travelers have canceled or postponed planned vacations to the Middle East, cruise bookings will still hit record levels in 2024, said Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes. Prior to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, industry-wide bookings for 2024 were about 25% higher than in 2019 for bookings in 2020.

Persons: Queen Mary, Andrew Kelly, Bob Levinstein, Patrick Scholes, Scholes, Jason Liberty, Josh Weinstein, Atle, Kari Dillon, Dillon, InteleTravel, Dave Spinelli, Ben Harrell, Granth, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Cunard Line, Carnival Corporation & plc, Brooklyn Cruise, REUTERS, Travelers, Truist Securities, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean, Liberty ., Holdings, Cruisers, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn, Brooklyn , New York City, U.S, BENGALURU, Israel, Caribbean, Oslo, North Carolina, Florida, InteleTravel, Delray Beach , Florida, Royal Caribbean, Bengaluru, Doyinsola, New York

"Many people have taken sides,” says Sandrine, who didn't feel comfortable providing her last name given the sensitivity of the topic. Immediately following the Oct. 7 attacks, Macron condemned Hamas and supported Israel’s right to defend itself. “The explicit prohibition of Palestinian demonstrations is something very recent and, in my opinion, a massive political mistake,” Lazar says. The RN, which denounces mass immigration to France from largely Muslim countries, also views Israel as a beacon of democracy in the Arab world. "He needs to defend what [Hamas does] without saying he supports them directly" as part of the Palestinian cause, says Lazar.

Persons: ”, Sandrine, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Marc Lazar, ” Lazar, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel, Marc Hecker, “ That's, Hecker, David, Goliath, Joe Biden, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Marie Le Pen’s, “, Le, Le Pen, ‘, ’ ”, Yves Camus, Luc Mélenchon, –, Lazar, Mélenchon, they’re Organizations: Hamas, Montaigne Institute, Sciences Po, West Bank, Center for Security Studies, French Institute of International Relations, French Institute of Public, Palestinian Authority, U.S, National, La France, National Assembly, National Front, Israel, FN, Marine, Rassemblement, Institute of International Relations, Strategic Studies, European Jewish Congress, ” Locations: Paris, Israel, France, Gaza, Western Europe, Egypt, Jordan, Syria

☆ DeSantis and Newsom Debate Fact-Check: A Spirited Discussion, Different Sets of Facts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Shawn Hubler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

DeSantis and Newsom Debate Fact-Check: A Spirited Discussion, Different Sets of Facts The governors of Florida and California squared off on Fox News and brought their statistics and attacks. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California debated on the differences between their state’s policies on Thursday night. Billed as a “Red State-Blue State debate,” the two governors onstage, Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gavin Newsom of California, are not running against each other for anything. One is a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and the other, a chief surrogate for President Biden.

Persons: DeSantis, Newsom, Angelo Fichera, Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, Biden, Sean Hannity, — Organizations: Fox News, Gov, Fox, Republican Locations: Florida, California, Blue

Until the embittered end, Henry Kissinger was one of the trusted few of a distrusting Richard Nixon. Political Cartoons View All 1273 Images“No doubt my vanity was piqued,” Kissinger later wrote of his expanding influence during Watergate. Two years later, Saigon fell to the communists, leaving a bitter taste among former U.S. allies who blamed Nixon, Kissinger and Congress for abandoning them. “The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy,” Kissinger tells Nixon. And so they did — the Quaker-born Nixon, the Jewish-born Kissinger, on the floor, Nixon in tears about the unfairness of his fate.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, Kissinger, Nixon, Gerald Ford, ” Kissinger, ” Ford, “, ”, Donald Trump’s, Trump, ” —, —, — Kissinger, Robert Dallek, Walter Isaacson, David Frost, Isaacson, scrawled, Susan Mary Alsop, Stanley Kutler, “ Henry Kissinger, Jeffrey Kimball, starlets, Kissinger squired, Jill St, John, Shirley MacLaine, Marlo Thomas, Candice Bergen, Liv Ullmann, ” Nixon, H.R, Haldeman, Henry, It’s, Nancy Maginnes, Nelson Rockefeller, Gallup, Le Duc Tho, Tho, Walter, ” Walter, “ Kissinger, Ford, you’ve, ” “, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Kissinger demurred, Chile’s, Eisenhower, Augusto Pinochet, Pinochet, ” Peter Kornbluh, ” Heinz Alfred Kissinger, Heinz, Joe DiMaggio ”, Kennedy, Johnson, he’d “, William Rogers, Melvin Laird, Townsend Hoopes, deflating, ” Isaacson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan’s, diplomat’s Kissinger, George W, Bush, Long, didn’t, Bush “, Anneliese Fleischer, Elizabeth, David, extol Nixon, ” ___, Barry Schweid Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Democratic, “ PBS, ”, National Security Council, State Department, Vietnam, Nixon, Hollywood, Playboy, Newsweek, America, Columbia University, Senate Armed Services Committee, White, Washington Post, New York Times, Yankee, Army, Harvard, Weapons, Rogers, Defense, Manhattan, New York Giants, Lincoln, diplomat’s Kissinger Associates, GOP Locations: U.S, Vietnam, China, Nazi Germany, Southeast Asia, Latin America, United States, Saigon, Soviet Union, White, Cambodia, South Vietnam, Khmer Rouge, Soviet, America, Chile, London, Pinochet, Bavarian, Fuerth, Manhattan, Germany, Pakistan, Beijing, Iraq, Afghanistan, American

☆ Reaction to the death of US diplomat Henry Kissinger
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger addresses the House Committee on International Relations in a hearing about the Middle East peace process on Capitol Hill, Washington, U.S. on February 10, 2005. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - Here are reactions to the death of Henry Kissinger, a controversial Nobel Peace Prize winner who left an indelible mark on U.S. foreign policy:WINSTON LORD, FORMER U.S. DIPLOMAT AND WIFE OF LATE SEN JOHN MCCAIN:"Henry Kissinger was ever present in my late husband’s life. FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:"America has lost one of the most dependable and distinctive voices on foreign affairs with the passing of Henry Kissinger. And we will always be thankful for the contributions of Henry Kissinger."

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Jonathan Ernst, WINSTON, Henry, CINDY MCCAIN, SEN JOHN MCCAIN, John, McCain, MARTIN INDYK, HENRY KISSINGER, Kissinger, GEORGE W, Laura, XIE FENG, Kissinger's, centenarian, Edwina Gibbs, Tom Hogue, Clarence Fernandez, Sonali Paul Organizations: U.S, Committee, International Relations, REUTERS, AMBASSADOR, SPECIAL, Nazis, United States Army, UNITED STATES, Reuters bureaux, Thomson Locations: Hill, Washington , U.S, U.S, CHINA, European, Nancy, China

☆ Australia walks a tight rope on trade with China as security concerns mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2023. While trade compulsions have forced the Asia-Pacific nation to reach out to China, security concerns over Beijing's South China Sea claims have prevented a reset in ties. Trade talksPart of Beijing's calculus is rooted in Australia economic dependence on China. According to the Australian government, China is its largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of the country's total trade with the world. Australia is already closely watching potential flashpoints in the South China Sea, and in regard to Taiwan," Economist Intelligence Unit analysts said in a note.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Ding Haitao, coronavirus, Darren Lim, Lee McLean, McLean, we've, Albanese, We've Organizations: Australian, of, People, Getty Images, Xinhua, Agency, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Australian National University, Labor, Australia, U.S ., China Hub . Trade, CNBC, Sky News Australia, Economist Intelligence, U.S Locations: Beijing, China, Xinhua, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Canberra, U.S, South China, Taiwan, The Hague, Philippines

☆ NATO navies are worried about Russia using its unique weapons to pick a fight on territory nobody controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Recent damage to undersea pipelines and cables in Europe has raised concern among NATO members. AdvertisementThe emphasis on defending underwater infrastructure is visible in the alliance's operations. The annual Dynamic Messenger exercise includes a focus on protecting critical underwater infrastructure and involves information exchanges between alliance militaries and private-sector actors. OLE BERG-RUSTEN/NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesProtecting underwater infrastructure is no simple task, however. AdvertisementThe situation becomes more complicated because underwater infrastructure often passes through international waters, muddling the legal framework around its protection and making a response harder.

Persons: —, David Cattler, Shawn Coover, Adm, Ben Key, Jens Köhler, JEF, Andrey Luzik, Key, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: NATO, Service, Finnish Border Guard, REUTERS, Steam, US Marine Corps, Staff, British Royal Navy's, Royal Navy, Getty, Joint Expeditionary Force, Norwegian Coast Guard, OLE BERG, Russia Ministry of Defense, Directorate, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Europe, Russia, NATO's, Estonia, Finland, Baltic, Norway, Norwegian, Germany, Ukraine, Hiddensee, Nordic, AFP, Severomorsk

Workers at state-owned postal company PostNord joined the strike on Nov. 20 and stopped distributing the license plates to Tesla. The state-run transport agency turned down Tesla's request to pick up the license plates itself and also declined to send them via distribution channels other than PostNord. Tesla sued both PostNord and the transport agency in two separate lawsuits, first reported by Swedish business daily Dagens Industri. It said the refusal to deliver license plates could affect "a large number of consumers who ordered a new car from Tesla". The transport agency confirmed to Reuters on Monday that Tesla had filed a lawsuit, believing the agency had not kept its obligations to deliver Tesla's license plates.

Persons: Yves Herman, PostNord, Tesla, Metall, carmaker, Seko, Marie Mannes, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Swedish Transport Agency, U.S, Workers, Dagens, IF Metall, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Drogenbos, Belgium, Swedish, Sweden, U.S

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announced a plan to endorse a national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that it's essential to prevent a Western monopoly. Speaking at an AI conference in Moscow, Putin noted that “it’s imperative to use Russian solutions in the field of creating reliable and transparent artificial intelligence systems that are also safe for humans.”“Monopolistic dominance of such foreign technology in Russia is unacceptable, dangerous and inadmissible,” Putin said. Political Cartoons View All 1265 ImagesPutin warned that algorithms developed by Western platforms could lead to a digital “cancellation” of Russia and its culture. “An artificial intelligence created in line with Western standards and patterns could be xenophobic,” Putin said. “We are talking about expanding fundamental and applied research in the field of generative artificial intelligence and large language models,” Putin said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” Putin, ”, “ Organizations: MOSCOW, Friday, Putin Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

Defence Minister Yasar Guler said last week that Turkey was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Eurofighter Typhoon jets, though Germany objected to the idea. Guler was holding talks on the issue with his British counterpart Grant Shapps in Ankara on Thursday, the source said. Turkey wants to buy the most advanced, newly built version of the Eurofighter, he added. NATO member Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighters and 79 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes. The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus (AIR.PA), BAE Systems (BAES.L) and Leonardo (LDOF.MI).

Persons: Yasar Guler, Guler, Grant Shapps, Joe Biden's, Leonardo, Tayfun Ozberk, Serhat, Huseyin Hayatsever, Jonathan Spicer, William Maclean Organizations: Eurofighter, . Defence, Eurofighter Typhoon, British, NATO, Turkey, Lockheed Martin Corp, U.S . Congress, Airbus, BAE Systems, Biden Administration, Eurofighter Typhoons, Kadir Has University, Turkish Air Force, Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, United States, Turkish, Britain, Spain, Germany, Ankara, Italy

The deal to acquire investment firm Carlyle's (CG.O) 28% holding in the burger chain's China business, which also includes its stores in Hong Kong and Macau, will see McDonald's stake rise to 48%. Since 2017, the number of McDonald's stores in China has doubled to 5,500 and the country has become its second-largest market. McDonald's made an unsolicited offer for Carlyle's stake in the China operations in recent weeks and the deal was struck quickly, said the sources. Reuters reported in August that Trustar Capital was planning to raise a continuation fund that would allow the Chinese private equity firm to sell down its stake in McDonald's China. In contrast to McDonald's, U.S. meat and processed food maker Tyson Foods (TSN.N) plans to sell its China poultry business, sources have said.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Chris Kempczinski, McDonald's, Carlyle, Trustar, Jim Sanderson, Reckitt, Kane Wu, Granth, Deborah Sophia, Roxanne Liu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, CITIC, Trustar, Northcoast Research, Reuters, Tyson Foods, Primavera Capital, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, China, Hong Kong, Macau, CITIC, U.S, McDonald's China, British, Bengaluru, Beijing

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden promised to visit Africa this year, but 2023 is drawing to a close with no trip in sight yet. “I’m eager to visit your continent,” Biden said at the summit almost a year ago. “We’re hoping that President Biden will also be here to restore that trajectory,” he said. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan told Harris that her country was excited for a Biden visit. “Tanzanians are now anxiously waiting for President Joe Biden’s visit in Tanzania,” she said to the U.S. vice president.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “ I’m, ” Biden, “, ”, Jideofor Adibe, John Kirby, Xi Jinping, ramping, Daniel Russel, Inger Andersen, “ Joe Biden, Mohamed Adow, Kamala Harris, Jill Biden, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Lloyd Austin, Harris, Nana Akufo, Donald Trump —, —, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, Bill Clinton, “ We’re, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Joe Biden’s, Seth Borenstein, Chinedu Asadu, Asadu Organizations: WASHINGTON, Africa, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Nigeria’s Nasarawa State University, White House, Administration, Associated Press, Pacific, Hollywood, Asia Society Policy Institute, U.S ., Republican, Biden Locations: Africa, Dubai . U.S, Israel, Vietnam, Ukraine, Washington, U.S, California, Glasgow, Scotland, Egypt, China, Dubai, United States, Ghana, Tanzania, ”, Abuja, Nigeria

The McDonald's company logo stands on a sign outside a restaurant in Bretigny-sur-Orge, near Paris, France, July 30, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - McDonald's (MCD.N) said on Monday it would acquire investment firm Carlyle's (CG.O) 28% stake in a partnership that manages its business in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, as the burger chain looks to simplify its structure in the region. Reuters reported in April that Carlyle was discussing various options with financial advisers for its stake in McDonald's China, including setting up a continuation fund for the asset. There was "no better time to simplify our structure" given the benefits of China's long-term potential, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said. Reuters reported in August that Trustar Capital, formerly known as CITIC Capital, was also planning to raise a continuation fund that would allow the Chinese private equity firm to sell down its stake in McDonald's China.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Carlyle, Chris Kempczinski, Jim Sanderson, Granth, Deborah Sophia, Anil D'Silva, Shounak Dasgupta, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: REUTERS, CITIC, HK, Reuters, CITIC Ltd, Northcoast, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, China, Hong Kong, Macau, McDonald's China, Bengaluru

☆ Kremlin's Peskov Hopes Putin Runs for Another Term as President - TASS
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview published on Friday that he hoped President Vladimir Putin would run in the March election for another term as Russian president, a move that would keep the Kremlin chief in power until at least 2030. Asked by the student television channel of Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO) what the next president after Putin should be like, Peskov said: "The same." "Or different but the same," Peskov added with a smile. I have no doubt that he will continue to be president." Reuters reported earlier this month that Putin has decided to run in the March election, as the Kremlin chief feels he must steer Russia through the most perilous period in decades.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Boris Yeltsin, Josef Stalin, Leonid Brezhnev's, Peskov, Guy Faulconbridge, Dmitry Antonov, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Kremlin, Moscow State Institute for International Relations, Reuters Locations: MOSCOW, Russia

☆ Five countries ask International Criminal Court to investigate the situation in Palestinian territories
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Karim Khan says his office has received a referral from five countries to investigate whether crimes have been committed in the Palestinian territories as part of Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. He noted that his office was already conducting an investigation on the situation in the Palestinian territories over possible crimes committed since June 2014 in Gaza and the West Bank. A UN report said last month said it was collecting evidence of war crimes in the wake of the Hamas attack. Earlier this month, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called the October 7 attacks “atrocities”, saying they – and the holding of hostages – were war crimes. That has not stopped the court from investigating its actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Persons: Karim Khan, Khan, ” Khan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Volker Türk, –, Israel, “ We’re, ”, Bensouda, … Organizations: CNN, Criminal, West Bank, State Party, Palestinian Ministry of Health, United Nations, UN, Israeli, Human Rights, South Africa’s Department of International Relations, Cooperation, Humanitarian, Geneva Conventions, NBC, ICC Locations: South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, Djibouti, Rome, Palestinian, Gaza, States, Israel, Ramallah, East Jerusalem, Geneva

☆ Analysis: Xi signals shift in tone for China on US – but can it last?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This reversal comes as China grapples with a troubled economy and is keen to highlight Xi as a powerful and capable world leader. Xi’s opticsOn Chinese state media and across social media platforms, where the hashtag #Planet-Earth-Is-Big-Enough-For-Both-China-And-The-US was trending, the broad perception appeared to be of a job well done. The positive coverage of the event was a break from the typical rhetoric critical of the US that often plays across Chinese state and social media. US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping walk together during their bilateral meeting. “China will eventually achieve reunification, and will inevitably achieve reunification,” Xi was quoted as saying — another line that was also trending on Chinese social media following the meeting.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Antony Blinken, Mao Ning, It’s, Xi, “, Xi’s, Alfred Wu, Lee, Wang Yi, Wang, ” Wang, ” Xi, Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Brendan Smialowski, Liu Dongshu, Biden’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Foreign Ministry, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, China’s, Economic Cooperation, Apple, Tesla, Getty, Communist Party, Beijing, City University of Hong Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, Washington, Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, Taiwan, Singapore, California, America, Asia, AFP, City University of Hong Kong

The walkout comes on the coffee chain's Red Cup Day event, during which Starbucks hands out free red-colored, reusable, holiday-themed cups to customers on their coffee purchases. About a dozen workers picketed outside Starbucks' Astor Place outlet at the New York University's campus chanting "no contract, no coffee" and other rhymes. Red Cup day has typically been a major driver of store traffic, with Placer.ai data showing that visits to U.S. Starbucks stores on the day last year jumped 94% over the daily average for the full year. Mary Boca, 22, Astor Place, New York barista, said she wants to see higher pay and more staff at Starbucks. Last year, workers at more than 100 U.S. company-owned Starbucks locations had held a one-day strike on Red Cup day.

Persons: Lindsay DeDario, Mary Boca, , New York barista, Boca, Edwin Palma Solis, Granth, Shinjini Organizations: Mobile, REUTERS, Starbucks, Workers United, NYU, Workers, U.S ., Red, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Buffalo , New York, U.S, United States, Astor, York, , New York, Bengaluru, Arriana, New York City

While key issues like U.S. sanctions on chip exports remain unresolved, Chinese state media is now striking a different tone, focusing on Xi's smile during past trips to Iowa, fireside chats with its residents, and sharing chocolates with Biden. With official ties still strained, Chinese state media has focused on relations between the people and emphasised the potential for cooperation and importance of the summit for the Asia-Pacific region. Gary Dvorchak, an Iowan considered by Xi an old friend of China, said Xi's fondness for Iowa was genuine but that the Chinese leader also used his ties to the state for propaganda value. “It humanises him and it gives him an ability to show a connection to the American people and bypass the American media,” said Dvorchak. On the Weibo Chinese microblogging site, the most popular hashtag on Thursday still harked back to tension over Taiwan: "China must be and will be reunified."

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Li Mingjiang, Iowans, Gary Dvorchak, ”, Dvorchak, Albee Zhang, Michael Martina, Greg Torode, Robert Birsel Organizations: National Committee, China Relations, China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Xinhua, Weibo, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights BEIJING, California, Iowa, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Pacific, Xinhua, Beijing, Washington, Hong Kong

☆ U.S. and China vie for dominance in new 'a la carte' world order, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pluralities of global citizens believe the West is in demise — with U.S. democracy and the European Union at risk of collapse within the next 20 years. They also find that increased economic ties with China are growing more appealing, according to polling of adults across 11 European countries and 10 non-European ones. For many, the conflict is considered a "proxy war" between the U.S. and Russia, with majorities in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey saying the two Cold War powers are "already at war." Almost half of respondents in the country say they feel pessimistic about the future of the U.S. This compares with majorities of nationals in India, Indonesia, China and Russia, who are optimistic about their countries.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Saul Loeb, Xi, thinktank, Mark Leonard Organizations: Economic Cooperation, Afp, Getty, U.S, European Council, Foreign Relations, Oxford University, European Union Locations: Asia, San Francisco, China, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Indonesia

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