During a new round of meetings, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, will discuss China-U.S. relations, including the Taiwan issue, and exchange views on international and regional issues of common interest with the U.S. side. In a different part of the world, in Mexico, mothers of the missing are utilizing drones to search for unmarked graves. Mothers like Maria Aguilar, who has been searching for her son for over a decade, have been scouring vast areas of barren land in the hope of finding their loved ones’ remains. The use of drones mounted with thermosensitive cameras offers new technological support in detecting distortions in the soil that could indicate unmarked graves. These updates come amidst other global news developments.
A recent survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) revealed that a mosque in Varanasi, one of Hinduism’s holiest cities, was built after destroying a Hindu temple that had existed there. This finding has ignited tensions in an ongoing legal case between Hindu and Muslim petitioners, with Hindu lawyers supporting the survey’s findings and Muslim lawyers disputing them.
Another news item highlights the emotional impact of recent events on Haim Raanan, a Holocaust survivor. Raanan, who survived the Holocaust as a child in a Jewish ghetto in Hungary, states that the recent Oct. 7 attack by Hamas hit harder than many other tragic events he has experienced. This attack occurred in southern Israel, where Raanan now resides, and he found himself hiding in a safe room alongside his grandson, who was around the same age as Raanan during the Nazi persecution.
Meanwhile, in Britain, King Charles has been admitted to a London hospital for planned prostate treatment. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the king entered the hospital, joining his daughter-in-law Kate, who is currently recovering from abdominal surgery. Both the king and the Princess of Wales are receiving treatment at the private London Clinic in west London.
Moving on to international relations, Chinese officials have reportedly urged their Iranian counterparts to help prevent Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, warning that failure to do so could harm China’s business relations with Iran. This discussion took place during meetings in both Beijing and Tehran, where trade between the two countries was also addressed.
In Israel, concerns have been raised regarding the strategic risk posed by the Chinese-run terminal at the northern port of Haifa during the Gaza war. The chairman of the southern Israeli port of Ashdod expressed worry about the actions of countries designated by the West as an axis of evil, with China included in that category.
In another international context, South Africa’s genocide case against Israel has positioned the country as a champion of the downtrodden Global South, although the case has strained relationships with important Western trading partners. However, South Africa’s stance is expected to pay off due to increased competition for Africa’s minerals and U.N. votes among the West, China, and Russia, particularly in light of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Additionally, the World Court in The Hague is expected to make a ruling on whether to order Israel to suspend its military campaign in Gaza while they hear a genocide case. Meanwhile, Israel’s military is engaged in intensive battles in the city of Khan Younis, striking numerous Hamas fighters and infrastructure from the air and ground.
Elsewhere, Turkey is preparing to send the final instrument of ratification for Sweden’s NATO membership to Washington, following President Tayyip Erdogan’s sign-off. Once completed, this step is expected to facilitate Turkey’s purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets.
Lastly, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will discuss U.S.-China ties and Taiwan in a meeting in Bangkok. This discussion aims to further deepen dialogue between the leaders of the two largest economies in the world.
These global news stories highlight a range of significant events and developments occurring in various countries, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest international affairs.
