China’s President Xi, out of the COVID bubble, faces a changed world at the G-20
BEIJING (AP) — After a long absence from major international gatherings, the Chinese leader Xi Jinping leaves his country’s COVID-19 bubble and ventures abroad next week into a radically changed world marked by growing confrontation. Xi will attend the G-20 meeting of industrial and emerging countries in Indonesia follow-up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Thailand. He will meet individually with other leaders, including WE President Joe Biden on Monday during their first in-person discussions since Biden took office in January 2021. The Chinese leader mainly relied on video speeches to deliver China’s message during the UN.
UN Secretary-General: World has failed conflict-torn Myanmar
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that the world had failed Burmaand expressed the hope that Association of Southeast Asian Nations would be able to pressure the member state to comply with its peace plan over the next year. ASEAN leaders at the group’s ongoing summit at Phnom Penh agreed to a plan on Friday that largely puts the onus on Indonesia when he takes over the rotating presidency of the group in 2023 to develop measurable indicators and a timetable for Burma implement the so-called five-point consensus for peace. Indonesia was one of ASEAN countries most vocal about the need to do more to address the situation in Burma, and Guterres told reporters he believed “the Indonesian government will be able to move the agenda forward in a positive way.” The ASEAN decision announced on Friday includes the request to the UN.
US buys South Korean howitzer cartridges to send to Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — The WE will purchase 100,000 artillery shells from South Korean manufacturers to supply Ukrainea WE an official said Thursday, as part of a deal the two governments have been working on for some time. The deal comes as Ukraine’s leaders are asking for more weapons and help to take advantage of a counter-offensive that is pushing Russian forces out of some areas they captured earlier in the war. And that allays concerns within the WE military – especially the army and the Marine Corps – who fear that the persistent transfers of howitzer ammunition from the Pentagon to Ukraine eat in their stocks.
China confirms Xi to attend G-20, APEC meetings
BEIJING (AP) — China President confirmed on Friday Xi Jinping will attend both the Group of 20 industrialized nations meeting and the gathering of Asia-Pacific nations this month on its first major overseas trip since the COVID-19 pandemic began. foreign ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said Friday that Xi would meet WE President Joe Bidenfrench president Emmanuel Macron and other leaders on the sidelines of the twin summits, with the G-20 coming out on top Indonesia immediately followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Thailand. Xi has largely avoided overseas travel since the outbreak began as China adheres to its strict “zero-COVID” policy imposing lockdowns and quarantines.
Computer chip ban signals new era as Biden and Xi meet
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration’s decision to block exports of advanced computer chips to China signals a new phase in relations between the world’s two largest economies – one in which trade matters less than increasingly fierce competition to be the world’s leading technological and military power. The aggressive move, announced last month, will help set the tone for President Joe Biden’s upcoming meeting with the Chinese president. Xi Jinping Monday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Asia. This is proof of Biden’s determination to “manage” the WE competition with Chinawhose officials were quick to condemn the export ban.
Biden says climate efforts ‘more urgent than ever’ at summit
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — President Joe Bidenspeaking at an annual international climate change summit on Friday, urged world leaders to “double down” on their resolve to tackle global warming, saying Russia invasion of Ukraine reinforces the need to phase out fossil fuels. “We can no longer plead ignorance of the consequences of our actions, or continue to repeat our mistakes,” Biden said. The President’s brief presence at the The United Nations climate conference, known as the COP27was largely a victory lap as it emphasized new spending on clean energy initiatives that will “change the paradigm” for United States and the rest of the world.
China eases some quarantines for travelers even as cases rise
BEIJING (AP) — Travelers arriving in China will spend less time in quarantine due to sweeping virus checks changes announced on Friday to reduce disruption to the economy and society. The announcement came as a surge in COVID-19 cases prompted beijing closing parks and imposing other restrictions. The country has reported 10,729 new cases and more than 5 million people have been confined to their homes in the southern manufacturing hub of Canton and the western megalopolis of Chongqing. While the bulk of Beijing’s 21 million people undergo near-daily testing, an additional 118 new cases have been recorded in the sprawling city. Many schools in the city have moved to online classes, hospitals have restricted services and some shops and restaurants have been closed with their staff quarantined.
Japanese minister resigns over execution remark, PM delays trip
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delayed his departure for three upcoming summits in South East Asia Friday to sack and replace his justice minister, who was widely criticized for a remark he made on capital punishment. Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi told reporters he tendered his resignation to Kishida on Friday, two days after telling a party meeting that his low-key work only made the midday news when he had used his “hanko” stamp to endorse death sentences in the morning. . The remark quickly drew criticism from the opposition as well as within Kishida’s ruling party, which is already mired in controversy over its decades-long ties to the Unification Churcha South Korea-religious group based accused in Japan of abusive recruiting and brainwashing of adherents into making huge donations.
Seoul court approves extradition of New Zealand suspect
Seoul, South Korea (AP) – A South Korean court has approved the extradition of a 42-year-old woman accused of murder in New Zealand about his possible connection to the bodies of two long-dead children found abandoned in suitcases in August. Seoul High Court said on Friday that his decision came after the unidentified woman agreed in writing to be referred to New Zealand. The court had previously scheduled to review her case on Monday to determine whether she should be extradited and now says that session is no longer necessary. The court having approved his extradition, it is now in South Korea Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon to make the last call to find out if it is sent to New Zealand.
Australia blames Russians for health insurance data theft
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Moscow should he be held accountable for Russian cybercriminals accused of hacking into Australia’s largest health insurer and dumping customers’ personal medical records on the dark web, Australian officials said on Friday. Australian Federal Police has taken the unusual step of assigning responsibility for the unsolved cybercrime that resulted in the theft of the personal data of 9.7 million current and former Medibank customers. A group of “loosely affiliated cybercriminals” operating as a business in Russia were likely responsible for the Medibank attack as well as other major security breaches around the world, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said. “We think we know which people are responsible, but I won’t name them,” Kershaw told reporters.
