International
China warns NATO of the “consequences” if it considers it a “hypothetical enemy”
China warned NATO this Friday that it will “suffer the consequences” if it considers it a “hypothetical enemy,” in a harsh response to the recent statements of the secretary general of the defense agency, Jens Stoltenberg.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian described Stoltenberg’s words as “irresponsible and provocative,” loaded with “Id War mentality” and “ideological bias.”
The NATO secretary had called the Asian giant a “systemic challenge” to global security during the Alliance summit held this Thursday in Washington.
Lin accused NATO of attacking “the Chinese system” and interfering in its “internal affairs,” in addition to “maliciously distorting” China’s national and international policies and “diverting the blame” on the issue of Ukraine.
Therefore, he expressed China’s “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to NATO’s statements and reiterated China’s position on Ukraine and the summit of the defense organization.
The diplomat also accused the NATO Secretary General of “ignoring the facts” and using “various occasions to defame and attack China,” “exaggerating the theory of the Chinese threat” and “inciting anti-China feelings.”
“If China is considered a ‘hypothetical enemy’, NATO will only suffer the bitter consequences in the end,” warned Lin, who urged some “Western politicians who are on the verge of political death” not to “try to leave some ‘legacy’ by force by stoking the flames, causing problems and blaming others.”
China, the spokesman said, will follow “a path of peaceful development” and will bring “more stability and positive energy to world peace and stability through its own development and foreign cooperation,” while firmly defending its “sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Stoltenberg said on behalf of the Alliance leaders, meeting in Washington, that “China cannot facilitate the biggest conflict in Europe in recent history without that negatively affecting its interests and reputation.”
Since the beginning of the conflict, China has taken an ambiguous position regarding the war in Ukraine, from which it has asked for respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine, and respect for the “legitimate security concerns” of all parties, in reference to Russia.
China’s position reflects the growing tensions between the Asian country and NATO, which have increased in recent years due to factors such as China’s military expansion, its growing economic influence and its relationship with Russia.
Last May, during his stop in Serbia on the occasion of his tour of Europe, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised “never forget” the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade at the hands of NATO in 1999.
International
Pope Francis meets former Gaza hostages
Pope Francis met on Thursday at the Vatican with 16 Israelis who had been held hostage in Gaza for months by the Islamist group Hamas, according to the official Vatican news website.
The group consisted of ten women, four men, and two children, as reported by the same source. Several of the former hostages showed the Argentine pontiff banners or photos of their loved ones who remain in captivity.
Francis had previously met with the families of hostages in April this year and November 2023, but this was the first time he had met with individuals who had personally endured captivity.
Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began, the pope has repeatedly called for the immediate release of Israeli hostages, while also condemning the suffering of the Palestinian population.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Islamist militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,206 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures that include hostages who died in captivity.
Of the kidnapped, 97 are still being held in Gaza, but the Israeli military estimates that 34 of them have died.
The military offensive launched by Israel in response has killed at least 43,736 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-governed territory.
International
Israeli airstrikes on Damascus kill 15 and injure 16, including women and children
Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on residential buildings in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and its surroundings on Thursday, resulting in at least 15 deaths and 16 injuries, according to Syria’s Ministry of Defense and state television.
The ministry stated that around 3:20 p.m. local time (12:20 GMT), the Israeli military launched an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, targeting several residential buildings in the Mazzeh neighborhood in western Damascus and the Qudsaya suburb to the northwest of the capital.
The airstrikes “resulted in the death of 15 people and injuries to 16 others, including women and children,” based on initial estimates, in addition to significant damage to private property and civilian buildings, the ministry added.
Meanwhile, state television reported Israeli airstrikes on three buildings in Mazzeh and another on a building in an educational complex located in a residential area of Qudsaya.
Following the strikes, loud explosions were heard throughout the city, and thick plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the targeted locations. Ambulances and emergency services rushed to the scene to attend to the victims.
International
Drug trafficker dies after boat collision with Guardia Civil Vessel in Sanlúca
Three people were on the boat that collided with a Guardia Civil vessel around midnight at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near the Andalusian city of Cádiz, a spokesperson for the Civil Guard reported.
Two officers sustained “contusions,” the spokesperson explained.
The drug traffickers managed to bring the boat to shore, where one of them was “abandoned” severely injured. The other two fled.
The Civil Guard officers attempted to resuscitate the victim before transporting him to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, but he ultimately died early in the morning.
The other two suspects took advantage of the officers’ absence while they were taking the victim and returned to set their boat on fire.
The collision occurred very close to the site of another accident on September 1, where a drug trafficker died following a Guardia Civil pursuit.
The suspects’ boat traveled “400 meters” before crashing head-on and “at full speed” into the riverbank, where a hundred bundles of hashish were found.
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