Honduras has severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established them with China, a move that signals growing Chinese influence in Latin America and deals a blow to Taiwan's struggle for recognition. The decision is the latest example of China's increasing assertiveness towards Taiwan and its influence in Latin America, a region traditionally seen as within the US sphere of influence. It remains to be seen how the move will affect diplomatic relations between China, the US, and other countries in the region.
Posts published in “World”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a deal with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a move that is likely to further escalate tensions between Russia and the United States. The European Union has expressed opposition to the move, calling on Russia to adhere to its international commitments and refrain from any actions that could destabilize the region. Putin has said the agreement will see Russia construct a special storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by the beginning of July.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency in all counties affected by the severe storms that hit the state on Friday night, resulting in 24 deaths, dozens of injuries, and four missing people. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has also tweeted that his department will provide support to the affected communities, and the state is now assessing the damage and providing assistance to those affected.
A powerful tornado swept through the Deep South on Friday night, leaving at least 23 dead and dozens of buildings destroyed in Mississippi. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado touched down about 60 miles northeast of Jackson, causing catastrophic damage to communities across the state. In Rolling Fork, a rural town about 60 miles northwest from the state capital, Mayor Robert Smith declared, “My city is gone.” Search and rescue teams have been deployed to help victims impacted by the tornado, which was traveling northeast at 70 mph.
Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, a Russian intelligence officer, has been charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for acting as an illegal agent of a Russian intelligence service. He had been living in the US under the alias Victor Muller Ferreira since 2018, and was gathering information on U.S. foreign policy before his cover was blown. The Justice Department has warned that foreign intelligence services are increasingly targeting the U.S. and its allies.
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held bilateral meetings in Ottawa, Canada, to mark the President's first trip to the country. The two leaders discussed topics such as China, Haiti, and NORAD vulnerabilities, and announced a plan to turn away asylum-seekers who cross U.S. and Canadian borders without authorization. The visit is seen as a sign of the strong relationship between the two countries, and a commitment to working together to address global issues.
Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda”, has had his 25-year sentence commuted by the Rwandan government. The commutation was welcomed by many, and was facilitated by the US and Qatar governments. The conviction still stands, but it is hoped that the clemency will bring closure to this long-running saga.
EU leaders have responded to a sharp drop in bank shares on Friday, triggered by fears of weaknesses in the global financial system, by reassuring markets that the EU banking sector is resilient and well-regulated. This follows a hastily arranged marriage between two banks on Sunday and a government-backed takeover of Swiss lender Credit Suisse by its rival UBS. EU leaders are continuing to monitor the situation and reassure markets that the banking sector is stable.