diplomacy
United Nations (AFP) - The UN General Assembly drew criticism Thursday for its tribute to the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash, with Washington boycotting the gathering. Following a minute's silence, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the victims of the May 19 incident, as well as to the Iranian people. "I wish to assure that the United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people and in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms," Guterres said. "For that, the United Nations will be guided ...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - China is to send giant pandas to Washington's National Zoo, US First Lady Jill Biden and officials said Wednesday, in a surprise announcement signaling a new era of panda diplomacy between the superpowers. Bao Li and Qing Bao will arrive in the United States before the end of the year under a decade-long breeding and research agreement, the zoo said in a statement celebrating the return of animals "beloved around the nation and the world." "We are excited for children near and far to once again enjoy the giant pandas' adorable and joyful adventures at our @NationalZoo," the ...
AFP
Chisinau (AFP) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday promised steadfast US support to Moldova in areas from energy independence to democracy promotion on a solidarity visit to the pro-Western nation as alarm grows over Russian pressure. The top US diplomat saluted the work of the country's president, Maia Sandu, who has charted a firm pro-European course in the face of what US officials fear is a coordinated Russian campaign as she seeks a new term. "We see you as a very valuable partner in the region and we have an enduring commitment to work together," Blinken told Sandu as the...
AFP
Singapore (AFP) - The US and Chinese defence chiefs are set to hold rare direct talks in Singapore this weekend, offering hopes of further military dialogue aimed at preventing flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control. The expected meeting between the United States' Lloyd Austin and China's Dong Jun at the Shangri-La Dialogue will be the first substantive face-to-face talks between their countries' defence chiefs in 18 months. The security forum is an annual gathering of defence chiefs from around the world that has in recent years become a barometer of US-China relations. This year's ...
AFP
Taipei (AFP) - A senior US lawmaker affirmed on Monday Washington's support for Taiwan against Chinese "aggression", on the first congressional visit to the self-ruled island since it swore in a new president. Sitting down Monday morning with President Lai Ching-te, Representative Michael McCaul -- who heads the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee -- said he and his colleagues stood in "strong support of this beautiful island". Three days after Lai was sworn in, Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan in drills that Beijing said were a test of its ability to seize the island...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart, the Pentagon announced Friday, after Beijing carried out war games around Taiwan in a sign to the US-backed democracy's new leader. The Pentagon said that Austin would meet Chinese Admiral Dong Jun when they attend the May 31-June 2 Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defense officials around the world. China this week encircled Taiwan with warships and fighter jets in a test of its ability to seize the island, which it claims. The drills followed the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who has ...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - A diplomatic upgrade and a surprise appearance by Barack Obama: US President Joe Biden pulled out the stops as he hosted Kenyan counterpart William Ruto for a lavish state visit aimed at competing with Russia and China for influence in Africa. At a gala dinner in a large pavilion set up on the White House lawn, Biden praised "the belief in freedom, democracy, dignity and equality" that he shared with Ruto, the first African leader to receive a Washington state visit in 15 years. Biden matched pomp with a string of deals on security, climate and debt -- and delivered an Irish...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Ukrainian opera singer Yurii Ivaskevych traded his tuxedo for military fatigues to fight the Russian invasion. When he lost his leg in a mine explosion last year, music called him again. Ivaskevych, 51, is a member of Cultural Forces, a recently created Ukrainian military unit that consists of professional musicians who perform for soldiers on the front lines to lift their spirits and relieve them, if only briefly, of the horrors of war. "With us, they can cast their mind back to their past lives even for an hour -- something good, some positive emotions," Ivaskevych, whose ...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday opened the first state visit to Washington by an African leader in more than 15 years as President Joe Biden seeks to counter geopolitical headwinds across the continent. Biden welcomed his Kenyan counterpart at the White House and then joined him meeting business leaders ahead of Thursday's formal portion of the visit, which will start with an honor guard and culminate in a lavish dinner. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, said the visit highlights the "important role in global peace and security" by Kenya, which has...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Lawmakers from President Joe Biden's Democratic Party on Friday accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of disrespecting Africa after he did not invite Kenyan President William Ruto to address Congress during an upcoming Washington visit. Biden has invited the key US regional ally next week for a state visit -- the most prestigious trip a foreign leader can pay to Washington, which includes a ceremonial welcome and formal dinner at the White House. Leaders on state visits often also address joint sessions of Congress, but Johnson, a Republican, brushed aside an appeal for an invi...
AFP
閲覧を続けるには、ノアドット株式会社が「プライバシーポリシー」に定める「アクセスデータ」を取得することを含む「nor.利用規約」に同意する必要があります。
「これは何?」という方はこちら