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☆ North Korea to expel U.S. soldier Travis King over illegal border crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sarah Leslie/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 27 (Reuters) - North Korea has decided to expel American soldier Travis King who it said has admitted to illegal intrusion into the country and was "disillusioned about unequal U.S. society," state media KCNA said on Wednesday. The decision was contained in the final results of an investigation into King's July border crossing published by KCNA. Last month it reported interim findings that he wanted refuge in North Korea or elsewhere because of maltreatment and racial discrimination within the army. There have been several attempts by U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea to desert or defect to North Korea, but King's expulsion came relatively quickly compared to others who have spent years before being released from the reclusive country. King, who joined the U.S. army in January 2021, faced two allegations of assault in South Korea.

Persons: Travis T, Sarah Leslie, Handout, Travis King, KCNA, King, Jonathan Franks, King's, Myron Gates, Hyonhee Shin, Susan Heavey, Brendan O'Brien, Toby Chopra, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Security Area, REUTERS, Rights, ., Democratic People's, Authorities, U.S . State Department, U.S . Forces, United Nations Command, Joint Security Area, ABC News, U.S, South Korean, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, U.S . Forces Korea, United States, U.S

☆ Philippines urges fishermen to keep up presence at China-held shoal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The coastguard of the Philippines urged the country's fishermen on Wednesday to keep operating at the disputed Scarborough Shoal and other sites in the South China Sea, pledging to step up patrols there despite an imposing Chinese presence. Philippine vessels were unable to maintain a constant presence but were committed to protecting the rights of fishermen inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), coastguard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said. China's response has been measured, with its foreign ministry advising Manila on Tuesday to avoid provocations and not cause trouble. Close to shipping lanes that transport an estimated $3.4 trillion of annual commerce, control of the shoal is strategic for Beijing, which claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. "The Scarborough Shoal is closer to the Philippines," said fisherman Pepito Fabros who had come ashore in the province of Zambales between trips to sea.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Gilbert Teodoro, Tarriela, Pepito Fabros, Neil Jerome Morales, Adrian Portugal, Enrico dela Cruz, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: coastguard, Beijing's, China's coastguard, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Scarborough, South China, Bajo de Masinloc, Philippine, China, Beijing, Manila, Hainan, United States, Zambales

☆ Unfamiliar Indian conditions not a worry for Pakistan, says Babar
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAHORE, Pakistan, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Pakistan captain Babar Azam does not think lack of familiarity with Indian conditions would hurt their bid for a second 50-overs World Cup title as they embark on a rare tour of the neighbouring country on Tuesday. Bilateral cricket remains suspended between the neighbours, thanks to their soured political relations, and the last time Pakistan toured India was for the T20 World Cup in 2016. It's a big honour for me and our effort would be to perform well and bring home the World Cup." The difficulty in securing visa for India tour means Pakistan would not get much support from the stands either but Babar was not perturbed. Pakistan will play two warmup matches in Hyderabad before beginning their World Cup campaign with an Oct. 6 match against the Netherlands.

Persons: Babar Azam, Babar, Amlan Chakraborty, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Bilateral, Indian Premier League, Thomson Locations: LAHORE, Pakistan, India, Dubai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Netherlands, New Delhi

Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which are not used, are seen in the harbour of Mukran, Germany, on September 30, 2022. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline had accounted for 15% of Europe's gas imports in 2021, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. A second Nord Stream 2 link was planned but never operated. "Our biggest risk was that Russia can manipulate our energy markets," EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told Reuters. Across the EU, gas storage caverns are now 95% full, Gas Infrastructure Europe data show.

Persons: Pipes, Fabian Bimmer, Kadri Simson, SEB, Ole Hvalbye, Tom Marzec, Wood Mackenzie, Gergely Molnar, Jacob Mandel, Kate Abnett, Julia Payne, Nora Buli, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Reuters Graphics, EU Energy, Reuters, EU, SEB Commodities, Gas Infrastructure, International Energy Agency, Aurora Energy Research, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Mukran, Germany, Russia, BRUSSELS, OSLO, Europe, Ukraine, RUSSIA, Norway, United States, Russian, Greece, Poland, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Reuters Graphics Germany, Belgium, Britain, Portugal, Spain, Paris, Brussels, Oslo

☆ Pakistan's warm-up match in India to be played behind closed doors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A policeman walks past a logo of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during a governing council meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai April 26, 2010. REUTERS/Arko Datta/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Pakistan's first warm-up match ahead of the World Cup will be played behind closed doors in Hyderabad for security reasons, India's cricket board (BCCI) said. "The match in Hyderabad coincides with festivals on the day and large gatherings are expected around the city. Pakistan will play another warm-up match against Australia on Oct. 3 and launch their bid for a second 50-overs World Cup title against the Netherlands three days later. The 1992 champions, who received their visas on Monday after some delay, will leave for India via Dubai on Wednesday.

Persons: Arko Datta, Babar Azam, Amlan Chakraborty, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Control, Cricket, BCCI, Indian Premier League, REUTERS, Australia, Thomson Locations: India, Mumbai, DELHI, Hyderabad, Zealand, Pakistan, Netherlands, Dubai, New Delhi

☆ Algeria withdraw bid to host Cup of Nations finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

“The FAF will now focus its efforts on the reorganisation and revitalisation of football in Algeria, as it reiterates its unwavering commitment to the development of African football. Algeria built new stadiums and upgraded other infrastructure to host the African Nations Championship at the start of the year. Algeria, Morocco, Zambia and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria were in the running for the 2025 finals. Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Senegal and a joint candidacy from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda submitted bids to host the 2027 tournament. In 2014 Guinea were award the right to host the 2023 finals, along with Cameroon (2019) and Ivory Coast (2021).

Persons: Thaier, Ivory Coast, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Soccer Football, Africa, of Nations, Olembe, Nations, REUTERS, Algerian Football Federation, “, African Nations, CAF, Guinea, South, Thomson Locations: Senegal, Egypt, Yaounde, Cameroon, Algeria, Cairo, Morocco, Guinea, Zambia, Benin, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Libya, Ivory Coast, Ivory, West Africa

☆ South Korea Hosts Japan, China as US Allies Try to Reassure Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

A senior South Korean government official said China has been proactive in seeking trilateral cooperation and arranging meetings since relations soured between Seoul and Beijing in 2017 over the deployment of a U.S. THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. Japan and South Korea have an interest in avoiding conflicts and maintaining a stable security relationship with China, and Beijing's assistance in slowing down, if not halting, North Korea's extensive nuclear development program, he added. Tuesday's meeting involve South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won, Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi, and Nong Rong, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a briefing on Monday that China, Japan and South Korea are close neighbours and important cooperative partners, and strengthening trilateral cooperation serves their common interests. The trilateral summits have traditionally involved China's prime minister, but South Korea is also pushing for a separate visit by President Xi Jinping.

Persons: Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Chung Byung, Takehiro Funakoshi, Nong Rong, Wang Wenbin, Xi Jinping, Hyonhee, Liz Lee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South Korean, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace Locations: Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, South Korea, China, Japan, Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Korea, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ Thirty-four years after fleeing Azerbaijan, a Karabakh Armenian is on the move again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Hasmik Khachatryan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGORIS, Armenia, Sept 25 (Reuters) - For the second time in his life, Samvel Alaverdyan is fleeing Azerbaijan. Now he has escaped from Karabakh itself, where Azerbaijan mounted a lightning offensive last week to end three decades of de facto independence for the 120,000 ethnic Armenians who lived there. The 45-year-old ex-policeman, who said he had been working as a civilian on a Karabakh Armenian military base, is one of the first Armenians to escape the Karabakh capital of Stepanakert, which the Azeris call Khankendi. Samvel has previous military experience with Karabakh forces and his son Hayk was serving in the Karabakh Armenian army until last week. Russia will work on ensuring that the rights of ethnic Armenians in Karabakh are respected, Peskov added.

Persons: Hasmik, Samvel Alaverdyan, Alaverdyan, Monika, Hayk, Samvel, “, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Felix Light, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Karabakh, Nissan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Stepanakert, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Baku, Armenian, Goris, Yerevan, Soviet, Sumgait, I'm, Charentsavan, Azerbaijani, Russia, Moscow, Azeri, Turkish

Those talks were suspended amid legal, diplomatic, and trade disputes between Seoul and Tokyo over issues dating to Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea. A senior South Korean government official said China has been proactive in seeking trilateral cooperation and arranging meetings since relations soured between Seoul and Beijing in 2017 over the deployment of a U.S. THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. Tuesday's meeting involve South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won, Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi, and Nong Rong, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a briefing on Monday that China, Japan and South Korea are close neighbours and important cooperative partners, and strengthening trilateral cooperation serves their common interests. The trilateral summits have traditionally involved China's prime minister, but South Korea is also pushing for a separate visit by President Xi Jinping.

Persons: Park Jin, Japan Takehiro Funakoshi, Foreign Affairs of China Nong Rong, Jung Byung, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Chung Byung, Takehiro Funakoshi, Nong Rong, Wang Wenbin, Xi Jinping, Josh Smith, Hyonhee, Liz Lee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South Korean Foreign, Foreign Affairs, Japan, Foreign Affairs of, Political Affairs, South Korean, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Foreign Affairs of China Nong, SEOUL, South Korea, China, Japan, Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Korea, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ Visas issued for Pakistan team for World Cup in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Amlan Chakraborty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Visas have been issued for the Pakistan team for their participation in the 50-overs World Cup in India, the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday, following complaints of a delay in the process. "Visas have been issued to the Pakistan team," an ICC spokesperson told Reuters without elaborating further. "There has been an extraordinary delay in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for ICC World Cup," Farooq said in the statement. "It's a matter of disappointment that Pakistan team has to go through the uncertainty ahead of the major tournament." Pakistan will play two warm-up matches before beginning their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Oct. 6.

Persons: Umar Farooq, Farooq, Amlan Chakraborty, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Pakistan, International Cricket Council, ICC, Pakistan Cricket Board, Reuters, Asia, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Islamabad, Pakistan, Netherlands, Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka, New Delhi

☆ Exclusive-U.S. Exploring Potential Space Force Hotline With China, U.S. Commander Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sakura Murakami and Nobuhiro KuboTOKYO (Reuters) - The United States Space Force has had internal discussions about setting up a hotline with China to prevent crises in space, U.S. commander General Chance Saltzman told Reuters on Monday. The chief of space operations said a direct line of communication between the Space Force and its Chinese counterpart would be valuable in de-escalating tensions but that the U.S. had not yet engaged with China to establish one. The comments come as the U.S. Space Force looks into establishing a branch in Japan, as China's military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific unnverve its neighbours and the war in Ukraine spotlights the importance of space capabilities in warfare. Saltzman, who held talks with top Japanese defence officials in Tokyo on Monday, confirmed that the space force was exploring the potential establishment of a local headquarters in Japan. The U.S. Space Force, founded in 2019, also does not have a direct line of communication with its Russian counterpart.

Persons: Sakura Murakami, Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO, Chance Saltzman, Saltzman, Joe Biden, Nobuhiro Kubo, Philippa Fletcher, Toby Chopra Organizations: United States Space Force, Space Force, State Department, U.S . Space Force Locations: China, U.S, Japan, Ukraine, Taiwan, Tokyo, South Korea

U.S. Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Nobuhiro Kubo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The United States Space Force has had internal discussions about setting up a hotline with China to prevent crises in space, U.S. commander General Chance Saltzman told Reuters on Monday. The chief of space operations said a direct line of communication between the Space Force and its Chinese counterpart would be valuable in de-escalating tensions but that the U.S. had not yet engaged with China to establish one. Saltzman, who held talks with top Japanese defence officials in Tokyo on Monday, confirmed that the space force was exploring the potential establishment of a local headquarters in Japan. The U.S. Space Force, founded in 2019, also does not have a direct line of communication with its Russian counterpart.

Persons: Chance Saltzman, Nobuhiro Kubo, Saltzman, Joe Biden, Sakura Murakami, Philippa Fletcher, Toby Chopra Organizations: Chief, Space, Reuters, REUTERS, Nobuhiro, Rights, United States Space Force, Space Force, State Department, U.S . Space Force, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, U.S, Ukraine, Taiwan, South Korea

"OCA is looking into it, definitely," as well as organisers and the government, Singh told a press conference in the eastern Chinese host city, Hangzhou. The three wushu fighters from the state of Arunachal Pradesh were issued stapled visas instead of stamped ones, India's foreign ministry said. Wei Jizhong, chairman of the OCA's ethics committee, told reporters last week that China did not refuse entry to the athletes. New Delhi vociferously rejects the claim, saying Arunachal Pradesh has always been part of India. At the Asian Games, delayed by a year due to COVID-19, some 12,400 athletes from 45 nations are competing for 481 gold medals across a huge programme of 40 sports.

Persons: Stanley Cheah, Raja Randhir Singh, Singh, Wei Jizhong, Tibet . New Delhi vociferously, Ian Ransom, Martin Quin Pollard, William Mallard Organizations: Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, Olympic Council of Asia, Singapore, Reuters, Rights, Asian Games, OCA, Thomson Locations: Hangzhou, China, Rights HANGZHOU, Arunachal Pradesh, India, Beijing, Tibet . New Delhi, New Delhi

☆ North Korea says cooperation with Russia 'natural' for neighbours
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Sept 25 (Reuters) - North Korea on Monday slammed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for criticising its cooperation with Moscow following leader Kim Jong Un's Russia visit, saying it is "natural" and "normal" for neighbours to keep close relations. Yoon, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly last week, said that if Russia helped North Korea enhance its weapons programmes in return for assistance for its war in Ukraine, it would be "a direct provocation." In a piece carried by KCNA news agency, the North denounced Yoon for "malignantly" slandering its friendly cooperation with Russia, and said Yoon was serving as a "loudspeaker" for the United States. "It is quite natural and normal for neighbouring countries to keep close relations with each other, and there is no reason to call such practice to account," it said. Any activities assisting North Korea's weapons programmes are banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Kim Jong, Yoon, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Soo, hyang Choi, Chizu Organizations: Monday, South, ., Democratic People's, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Pyongyang, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy Stops Over in Poland to Award Two Volunteers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW (Reuters) - Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded two Polish volunteers state awards during a stopover on Saturday, but did not meet any officials as relations between the two countries are strained over grain imports. Poland decided last week to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports, shaking Kyiv's relationship with a neighbour that has been one of its staunchest allies since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Poland's prime minister told Zelenskiy on Friday not to "insult" Poles, maintaining harsh rhetoric towards Kyiv ahead of elections on October 15. Zelenskiy thanked all Poles who "from the first days opened their families, their homes, opened themselves up and helped". One of the award recipients, Duda, told Reuters that Zelenskiy was very informal at the meeting like an old friend.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Bianka, Damian Duda, Duda, Marcin Przydacz, Onet.pl, Zelenskiy's, Anna Wlodarczak, Lewis Macdonald, Elaine Monaghan, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Justice, United Nations General Assembly, Kyiv, Reuters, Polish Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, New York, Moscow, Warsaw, Gdansk, Washington

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy stops over in Poland to award two volunteers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks, as he attends a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (not pictured) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded two Polish volunteers state awards during a stopover on Saturday, but did not meet any officials as relations between the two countries are strained over grain imports. Poland decided last week to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports, shaking Kyiv's relationship with a neighbour that has been one of its staunchest allies since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Poland's prime minister told Zelenskiy on Friday not to "insult" Poles, maintaining harsh rhetoric towards Kyiv ahead of elections on October 15. One of the award recipients, Duda, told Reuters that Zelenskiy was very informal at the meeting like an old friend.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Justin Trudeau, Blair Gable, Zelenskiy, Bianka, Damian Duda, Duda, Marcin Przydacz, Onet.pl, Zelenskiy's, Anna Wlodarczak, Lewis Macdonald, Elaine Monaghan, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Canadian, REUTERS, Rights, Justice, United Nations General Assembly, Kyiv, Reuters, Polish, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, New York, Moscow, Warsaw, Gdansk, Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in eastern Hangzhou city, in this handout picture released by Sana on September 22, 2023, Syria. China, the world's second-largest economy, will also support Syria's reconstruction, Chinese state media reported Xi as saying. In Chinese diplomacy, a "strategic partnership" implies closer coordination on regional and international affairs, including in the military sphere. But analysts said there was likely to be a limit to how far Beijing would help Damascus beyond recovering its regional status. "That is not part of China's role identity in the Middle East, which is to try and have a role without taking sides."

Persons: Xi Jinping, Bashar al, Sana, Handout, Syria's Assad, Assad, Xi, Caesar, Matteo Legrenzi, Joe Cash, Ella Cao, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Saudi, Initiative, University of Venice, Thomson Locations: Assad, Hangzhou, Syria, Beijing, China, BEIJING, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Damascus, Ca'Foscari

☆ Sudan's Army Chief Says He Favours Negotiated Settlement to War
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

War between the army and the RSF broke out in mid-April over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army, four years after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a popular uprising. Burhan has made a series of foreign visits in recent weeks after remaining in Sudan for the first months of the war. The RSF has denied it is behind the violence in Darfur, and will hold its men accountable for abuses. Burhan said that army deployment in El Geneina, which suffered the worst mass killings in Darfur, has been limited, hindering their ability to respond. Burhan said he told the governor to seek protection at a military camp, but the governor had rejected that.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Khalid Abdelaziz NEW, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Omar al, Bashir, RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalid Abdelaziz, Aidan Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: Khalid Abdelaziz NEW YORK, Reuters, Rapid Support Forces, United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Locations: CAIRO, New York, Saudi Arabia, United States, Jeddah, Sudan, Darfur, El Geneina, West Darfur, Cairoa

☆ Russia Says It Sees Growing Friction Between Ukraine and Poland, West
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia sees tension between Poland and Ukraine growing in the future after a spat over grain exports, and expects further rifts to develop between Kyiv and its Western allies, the Kremlin said on Friday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was commenting on Poland's announcement this week that it would not send new arms deliveries to Ukraine. That would suit Moscow, which casts the conflict as a proxy war in which the West is using Ukraine to try to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia. Poland said this week it would not deliver new arms to Ukraine, beyond existing agreements, because it needed to prioritise its own defence. Peskov said Poland's posture was a problem for its neighbour Belarus, which is a close ally of Russia.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Peter Graff Organizations: Kremlin, Ukraine, Reuters Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Kyiv, Warsaw, Moscow, Slovakia, United States, Belarus

War between the army and the RSF broke out in mid-April over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army, four years after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a popular uprising. Burhan has made a series of foreign visits in recent weeks after remaining in Sudan for the first months of the war. The purpose was to seek solutions, not military support, though he had asked other states to block external backing that he asserts the RSF is receiving, he said. The RSF has denied it is behind the violence in Darfur, and will hold its men accountable for abuses. Burhan said he told the governor to seek protection at a military camp, but the governor had rejected that.

Persons: Abdel, Fattah Al, Burhan Abdelrahman Al, Burhan, Eduardo Munoz, Abdel Fattah al, Omar al, Bashir, RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Daphne Psaledakis, Khalid Abdelaziz, Aidan Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: Transitional Sovereign, General Assembly, REUTERS, NEW YORK, Reuters, Rapid Support Forces, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, West Darfur, CAIRO, New York, Saudi Arabia, United States, Jeddah, Sudan, Darfur, El Geneina, Cairoa

☆ Polish PM tells Ukraine's Zelenskiy 'never to insult Poles again'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Alan Charlish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Polish President Andrzej Duda commemorate victims of World War II at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lutsk, Ukraine July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Poland's prime minister told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday not to "insult" Poles, maintaining harsh rhetoric towards Kyiv after the Polish president had sought to defuse a simmering row over grain imports. "I... want to tell President Zelenskiy never to insult Poles again, as he did recently during his speech at the U.N.," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told an election rally. Slovakia, Poland and Hungary imposed national restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports after the European Union executive decided not to extend its ban on imports into those countries and fellow EU members Bulgaria and Romania. "In defence of the Polish farmer I will never hesitate to take such a decision."

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Andrzej Duda, Saint Peter, Paul Cathedral, Alina Smutko, Zelenskiy, Mateusz Morawiecki, PiS, Duda, Zbigniew Rau, Rau, Morawiecki, Alan Charlish, Pawel, Alex Richardson, Jonathan Oatis, Gareth Jones Organizations: Saint, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations General Assembly, Kyiv, Law and Justice, Analysts, Politico, NATO, European Union, EU, Warsaw, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Lutsk, Poland, Russia, New York, Moscow, Kyiv, Polish, Ukrainian, UKRAINE, Warsaw, EU, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania

[1/5] Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma are welcomed upon their arrival at Hangzhou airport, China in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on September 21, 2023. Assad will meet Xi on Friday, a day before the Syrian president attends the opening of the games, said a source from the Syrian delegation, which is scheduled to hold other meetings in Beijing on Sunday and Monday. It was the first visit by a Syrian head of state since diplomatic ties were established in 1956. China, like Syria's main allies, Russia and Iran, maintained those ties even as other countries isolated Assad over his brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations that erupted in 2011. While Syria is a relatively small oil producer, its revenue is pivotal to the Assad regime.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Asma, Xi Jinping, Xi, Hu Jintao, CNPC, Sinochem, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Makieh, Aizhu Chen, Clarence Fernandez, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Reuters Acquire, Rights, Asian, Syrian, Sunday, Initiative, Arab League, United Nations Security Council, League, Sinopec Corp, Investments, Tanganyika Oil, Emerald Energy, Gulfsands Petroleum, State, Thomson Locations: Hangzhou, China, Syrian, Rights BEIJING, China's, Air China, Beijing, Russia, Iran, Syria, Australia, Canada, Europe, Switzerland, United States, Damascus, Iraq, Turkey, Asia, Jordan, Tanganyika, London, Colombia, Singapore

[1/2] A model of a new fighter jet of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) led by Britain, Japan, and Italy, is seen at the DSEI defence event in London, Britain, September 12, 2023. Reuters/Sarah Young/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Japan, Britain and Italy plan to choose Britain as the headquarters for their next-generation fighter program, four sources in Japan said, putting London at the forefront of a partnership that could expand to include other nations. "Discussion about the headquarters is ongoing and we are unable to comment on the location," Japan's defence procurement agency said in an email. "No final decisions have been made on the locations and we will not comment on speculation," a spokesperson at Britain's defence ministry said. Officials at the Italian defence ministry were unavailable for comment.

Persons: Sarah Young, Leonardo, LDOF.MI, Richard Berthon, Britain's, Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo, Paul Sandle, Angelo Amante, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Global Combat Air, Reuters, Rights, London, United, United Arab Emirates, Combat, Britain's Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems PLC, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Royce PLC, Japan's IHI Corp, Thomson Locations: Britain, Japan, Italy, London, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, GCAP, European

Karabakh Armenian authorities accused Azerbaijan of violating a ceasefire agreed on Wednesday after a lightning Azerbaijani offensive forced the separatists to agree to disarm. When asked about giving up weapons, Babayan said his people could not be left to die, so would security guarantees first. Talks took place on Thursday in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh between Azerbaijan and representatives of the Republic of Artsakh, as the Karabakh Armenians call themselves. He said the region's ethnic Armenians would enjoy full educational, cultural and religious rights. An aide to Aliyev said Baku had given Yerevan a new draft peace agreement, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Persons: Pashinyan, GORIS, David Babayan, Samvel Shahramanyan, Babayan, Ilham Aliyev, Melkumyan, Stringer, Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Khankendi, Gayane Sargsyan, Felix Light, Guy Faulconbridge, Nailia Bagirova, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Azerbaijan reclaims, Protesters, Reuters, National Assembly of, REUTERS, Karabakh, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan, Karabakh, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh's, Azerbaijani, Yevlakh, Republic of Artsakh, Artsakh, Soviet Union, AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, Caucasus, Baku, Yerevan, Russia, Moscow, Stepanakert, Goris

☆ Israeli-Palestinian violence surges ahead of Netanyahu-Biden meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Gunmen hold weapons during the funeral of Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli raid, in Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 20,2023. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta Acquire Licensing RightsJENIN, West Bank, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed a 19-year-old Palestinian during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, medics and residents said, as violence surged ahead of a first meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden. The Palestinian killed near the town of Jericho was shot as troops faced off with stone-throwers, according to residents, though his family said he had not taken part. He was the sixth Palestinian killed in confrontations with Israel since Tuesday. Israel's U.S. ally is troubled by his judicial overhaul plans and Jewish settlement of the West Bank.

Persons: Raneen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, Dan Williams, Ali, Gareth Jones Organizations: West, REUTERS, West Bank, U.S, Security, General, Thomson Locations: Jenin, JENIN, West, Palestinian, Jericho, Israel, U.S

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