washington — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington late Monday, the day after President Joe Biden announced he is withdrawing from the U.S. presidential race – a decision that adds another layer of uncertainty to U.S.-Israel relations at a crucial moment in the Gaza war. Without a cease-fire agreement in place, many had questioned the timing of Netanyahu’s visit when it was announced in June. …
UN envoy warns terrorism threat `resurging’ with attacks by Islamic State extremists
UNITED NATIONS — The top U.N. envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday that the threat of terrorism is “resurging” with attacks by Islamic State extremists set to double this year, endangering civilians already facing a “protracted state of displacement and dire humanitarian conditions.” U.N. Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said Syria is “riddled with armed actors, listed terrorist groups, foreign armies and front-lines” 13 …
US supports non-political representation by Myanmar at ASEAN
State Department — A top State Department official says the United States supports non-political representation by Myanmar, also known as Burma, at this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ foreign ministers’ meetings in Vientiane, Laos. This Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to Asia to hold talks with ASEAN officials, including discussions on the ongoing crisis in Burma. Officials say Washington also …
Family of American who died in Syria files lawsuit against Assad regime
WASHINGTON — The family of an American doctor who died while being held in Syria filed a lawsuit Monday against the Syrian government, accusing it of wrongful death and false imprisonment. Majd Kamalmaz, a Syrian-born American psychotherapist, was treating refugees from war-torn Syria during the time of his abduction. U.S. officials said he was last seen in 2017 at a checkpoint manned by forces loyal to …
Families of Thailand’s ‘Tak Bai Massacre’ seek 11th hour trial
Bangkok — Relatives of 85 people who died 20 years ago at a protest in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south are in a race against time to take former military and police officers to trial before the statute of limitations for their alleged crimes runs out. A court in southern Thailand is holding hearings that continue this week to decide whether to indict nine former officers for the …
Israel orders evacuation of part of Gaza humanitarian zone
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military on Monday ordered the evacuation of part of an area in the Gaza Strip it has designated a humanitarian zone. The military said it is planning to begin an operation against Hamas militants who have embedded themselves in the area and used it to launch rockets toward Israel. The area includes the eastern part of the Muwasi humanitarian …
Trial starts for Vietnam tycoon in $146 million graft case
Hanoi, Vietnam — A former Vietnamese property and aviation tycoon charged with $146 million in fraud and stock market manipulation went on trial in Hanoi on Monday, the latest corruption case targeting the communist country’s business elite. Trinh Van Quyet, who owned the FLC empire of luxury resorts, golf courses, and the budget Bamboo Airways, had nearly $2 billion in stock market wealth before his arrest, …
Philippines ‘to assert our rights’ after China sea deal
Manila, Philippines — Manila insisted Monday it will continue to “assert our rights” over a hotspot South China Sea reef, after reaching a deal with Beijing for resupplying Filipino troops stationed on a grounded warship. The Philippine foreign ministry also rejected suggestions by China that the “provisional arrangement” announced Sunday required Manila to give Beijing “prior notification” and verification of deliveries to the BRP Sierra Madre …
Sudan, Iran trade ambassadors after 8-year rupture
Port Sudan, Sudan — Sudan’s de facto leader, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received an Iranian ambassador Sunday and sent his own to Tehran, the government said, cementing a rapprochement after an eight-year rupture. Sudan and Iran agreed last October to resume diplomatic relations, as the army-aligned government scrambled for allies during its war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese government, loyal to …
South Korea boosts propaganda broadcasts after North Korea flies more trash balloons
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea said Sunday it was bolstering its anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts across the tense border with rival North Korea, after the North launched more trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea. The Cold War-style psychological battle between the two Koreas is adding to already-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with the rivals threatening stronger steps against each other and warning of devastating consequences. South …
China, Philippines reach deal to stop clashes at fiercely disputed shoal
MANILA — China and the Philippines reached a deal they hope will end confrontations at the most fiercely disputed shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippine government said Sunday. The Philippines occupies Second Thomas Shoal but China also claims it, and increasingly hostile clashes at sea have sparked fears of larger conflicts that could involve the United States. The crucial deal was reached Sunday, after …
Australia warns of ‘malicious websites’ after cyber outage
sydney — Australia’s cyber intelligence agency said on Saturday that “malicious websites and unofficial code” were being released online claiming to aid recovery from Friday’s global digital outage, which hit media, retailers, banks and airlines. Australia was one of many countries affected by the outage that caused havoc worldwide after a botched software update from CrowdStrike. On Saturday, the Australian Signals Directorate — the country’s cyber intelligence agency — said “a number …
Vietnam to hold state funeral for communist party leader Trong next week
hanoi, vietnam — Vietnam will hold a state funeral next week for Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of its ruling Communist Party who died Friday, the government said on Saturday. There will be two days of national mourning July 25-26, a government statement said, with the state funeral the second day. During the mourning period there will be no public entertainment and flags at offices and …
Experts see rival military exercises as sign of increasing conflict risks in Indo-Pacific
helsinki, finland — Experts see rival air and naval exercises this month across the Indo-Pacific region, involving Western-oriented allies on the one hand and Russia and China on the other, as evidence of mounting strategic competition and the risk of conflict in the region. The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, led by the United States and involving 29 countries, will enter its second phase on …
Houthis damage cargo ship in Gulf of Aden
CAIRO / LOS ANGELES — Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit and damaged a Singapore-flagged container ship with two missiles on Friday as they escalate attacks on global shipping over Israel’s war in Gaza. The overnight assault on the Lobivia cargo ship came as the Iran-aligned Houthis also claimed responsibility for a fiery, long-range aerial drone strike in the center of Tel Aviv that killed one man …
China’s direct investment in Kenya drops sharply
Nairobi, Kenya — A report by Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics shows a significant drop in direct investment from China. The report says Beijing’s investments in Kenya fell by more than a third over the last three years. Analysts say China is increasingly focused on exporting products rather than investing. Jimmy Yimming, a Chinese manufacturer who makes human hair products, showcased wigs at a Kenyan mall. …
UN cites anarchy in Gaza Strip as obstacle to humanitarian aid
GENEVA — U.N. officials warn the Gaza Strip has descended into a state of anarchy, which is obstructing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of Palestinians in desperate straits. “Our office has documented alleged unlawful killings of local police and humanitarian workers, and the strangulation of supplies indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. Anarchy is spreading,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. …