04-04-a-World Top Wires

Venezuela’s Highest Court Upholds Nicolas Maduro’s Reelection, Does Not Publish Full Vote Count. – The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer– news.google.com

Venezuela’s Highest Court Upholds Nicolas Maduro’s Reelection, Does Not Publish Full Vote Count. – The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer– news.google.com

pgnewser August 27, 2024

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Excerpt from St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

Venezuela’s Highest Court Upholds Nicolas Maduro’s Reelection, Does Not Publish Full Vote Count

Venezuela’s highest court has ratified the controversial re-election of Nicolás Maduro as president in spite of allegations of widespread voter fraud in July’s poll, however the full vote count has not been published.

The decision by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice comes as  United Nations voting experts warned that the court lacked independence and impartiality.

The court said it had reviewed material from the country’s election authority, which said Mr Maduro had won just over half of the vote, and agreed he had been victorious. However the materials reviewed have not been made public.

The US State Department has said: “The National Electoral Council’s rapid declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential election came with no supporting evidence.  The CNE still has not published disaggregated data or any of the vote tally sheets, despite repeated calls from Venezuelans and the international community to do so.”

China’s Submarine Force Can Track (And Sink) U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers – The National Interest Online

China’s Submarine Force Can Track (And Sink) U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers – The National Interest Online

pgnewser August 22, 2024

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Excerpt from news.google.com

Summary and Top Points You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy maintains carrier superiority over China, but Beijing has demonstrated its ability to track American carriers, raising concerns. In 2015, a Chinese Kilo-class submarine shadowed the USS Ronald Reagan for over 12 hours near Japan, highlighting China’s growing submarine capabilities.

The U.S. Navy maintains carrier superiority over China, but Beijing has demonstrated its ability to track American carriers, raising concerns. In 2015, a Chinese Kilo-class submarine shadowed the USS Ronald Reagan for over 12 hours near Japan, highlighting China’s growing submarine capabilities.

Despite these advancements, U.S. submarines and multi-layered defense systems remain superior, making it unlikely that a Chinese submarine could successfully attack or sink a U.S. carrier.-While China’s naval modernization is significant, the defensive architecture of U.S. carriers ensures robust protection against potential threats in the Western Pacific.

Iran signals promised strike on Israel may not be imminent – The Washington Post

Iran signals promised strike on Israel may not be imminent – The Washington Post

pgnewser August 22, 2024

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Excerpt from Washington Post

Iran signals promised strike on Israel may not be imminent

Iranian officials are signaling this week that an attack against Israel may not be imminent, tamping down some of the more urgent rhetoric around threats to avenge Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed last month in a blast at his guesthouse in Tehran.

Iran had warned early on of a “devastating” reprisal to “punish” Israel for the assassination — but it later adjusted its language, and, in a statement Wednesday, the Iranian mission to the United Nations reinforced the government’s position that any response “must be carefully calibrated” to avoid affecting a potential cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

China’s Xi backs Fijian PM’s Pacific plan ahead of regional meeting– www.channelnewsasia.com

China’s Xi backs Fijian PM’s Pacific plan ahead of regional meeting– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser August 21, 2024

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Excerpt from www.channelnewsasia.com

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka he backed his “Ocean of Peace” plan during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday (Aug 20), Chinese state media reported, days ahead of a summit for Pacific Island leaders in Tonga.

China also pledged to step up its trade ties with the archipelagic state, which wants to upgrade its ports and ship building, roads, and sewage infrastructure, but can only do so through securing better terms for its agricultural and fisheries exporters owing to deep debts.

“China appreciates Prime Minister Rabuka’s vision for an Ocean of Peace and is committed to working with Fiji to contribute to international peace and security,” Xi said, according to a readout released late Tuesday night.

Rabuka will visit Tonga next week for a meeting of the heads of 18 Pacific island countries and territories that will consider a regional policing proposal backed by Australia.

Venezuela’s Maduro Dismisses Power Sharing, New Election Proposals – Venezuelanalysis.com– news.google.com

Venezuela’s Maduro Dismisses Power Sharing, New Election Proposals – Venezuelanalysis.com– news.google.com

pgnewser August 21, 2024

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Excerpt from news.google.com

Venezuela’s Maduro Dismisses Power Sharing, New Election Proposals

Mexico City, Mexico, August 19, 2024 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro rejected proposals for a power-sharing agreement with the opposition and the possibility of holding new presidential elections, calling instead for respect for the country’s institutions and for the ongoing review by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ).

The suggestions came from neighboring presidents, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, respectively. Together with Mexico, the countries have self-appointed themselves as mediators in the ongoing post-electoral dispute in Venezuela, with US backing.

Maduro outright brushed off the suggestions, viewing them as an affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty, repeating his assertion on Monday.

“Venezuela is not an intervened country, nor do we have guardians. We do not interfere in anyone’s internal affairs,” said the Venezuelan president in a televised broadcast.

On Thursday, Petro suggested in a social media post that Colombia’s experience with the National Front governments, which saw the Liberal and Conservative parties agree to a power-sharing agreement between 1958 and 1974, could provide a model for Venezuela amidst opposition claims of fraud in the July 28 election.

 

 

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Excerpt from Voice of America

Venezuela opposition candidate asks Maduro to ‘step aside’

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who has claimed he defeated Nicolas Maduro in last month’s election, said Monday he was ready to negotiate a transition — and asked the incumbent to “step aside.”

“Mr. Nicolas Maduro, respect what all Venezuelans have decided… You and your government should step aside… I am ready for dialogue,” Gonzalez Urrutia, a retired diplomat, said in a video message posted on social media.

“Every day that you hinder the democratic transition, Venezuelans suffer from a country in crisis, and without freedom. Clinging to power only makes the suffering of our people worse. Our time has come.”

Since the contested election, Gonzalez Urrutia and fellow opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was barred from running herself, have been in hiding as prosecutors have opened an investigation against both of them.

Gonzalez Urrutia has not been seen publicly in weeks, while Machado appeared at an opposition rally in Caracas on Saturday.

China Advised to Pick Friends More Wisely in Myanmar After Schmoozing With Junta – The Irrawaddy

China Advised to Pick Friends More Wisely in Myanmar After Schmoozing With Junta – The Irrawaddy

pgnewser August 21, 2024

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Excerpt from The Irrawaddy

China Advised to Pick Friends More Wisely in Myanmar After Schmoozing With Junta

China will be unable to solve the crisis in Myanmar by holding talks with “untrustworthy” military dictators, U Kyaw Zaw, the spokesman of the President’s Office of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) told The Irrawaddy.

He made the comment following the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Myanmar last week.

Wang visited Naypyitaw on August 14, holding talks with junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, the junta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Than Swe as well as former military dictator Than Shwe.

During the meeting with the coup leader, Wang said China opposes chaos or conflict in Myanmar as well as any remarks that attempt to sow discord in China-Myanmar relations.

China hopes “Myanmar finds a path to long-term peace and stability,” he said.

His visit coincided with a string of humiliating defeats of Myanmar’s military in northern Shan State, Mandalay Region and Rakhine State.

Breakthrough in Gaza War as Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu accepts framework of ceasefire deal to save hostages– www.thesun.co.uk

Breakthrough in Gaza War as Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu accepts framework of ceasefire deal to save hostages– www.thesun.co.uk

pgnewser August 20, 2024

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Excerpt from www.thesun.co.uk

ISRAEL’S PM Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the framework of a ceasefire deal to stop the Gaza war, it was announced last night.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the breakthrough followed three hours of talks.

But terror group Hamas — whose October 7 massacre and taking of Israeli hostages triggered the conflict — has yet to accept the deal after branding peace moves “an illusion.”

Mr Blinken, who will now lead further talks in Cairo, said he had a “very constructive meeting” with Mr Netanyahu.

The deal had been held up by Hamas demands that Israeli troops must leave the 25-mile coastal strip where it claims 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by the military bombardment in the past ten months.