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WORLD NEWS Monday 19 august 2024
Blinken, on ninth Mideast trip since Gaza war began, seeks

ceasefire momentum as talks to resume

By MATTHEW LEE in the region comes at a with multiple previous efforts
Associated Press “critical time” in the cease- to end the 10-month-old
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. fire talks and the secretary war. U.S. President Joe Biden
Secretary of State Antony would will press all parties has seemed optimistic that
Blinken will use his ninth on the importance of con- a deal could be at hand,
diplomatic mission to the cluding it quickly to end ci- saying Friday “we are closer
Middle East since the start vilian suffering in Gaza and than we’ve ever been.”
of the Israel-Hamas war to prevent the conflict from The renewed push to con-
press for the quick conclu- engulfing the region. The clude a ceasefire comes
sion of an elusive ceasefire official spoke on condition as the Palestinian death toll
agreement. of anonymity to preview in Gaza has climbed past
Blinken arrived in Israel on Blinken’s travels. 40,000 since the war began,
Sunday before what me- Shortly before Blinken ar- according to the Palestinian
diators have billed as a last rived in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime health ministry, which does
push to reach a deal that Minister Benjamin Netan- not distinguish between ci-
will take place in Cairo later yahu told a Cabinet meet- Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards his plane vilian and militant deaths.
to depart Yokota Air Base in Fussa, on the outskirts of Tokyo, July
this week. He will meet with ing there are areas where 29, 2024. Israel went in to Gaza after
top Israeli officials on Mon- Israel can be flexible and Associated Press the Hamas surprise attacks
day before traveling to unspecified areas where it days of talks in Doha, with Palestinians. In exchange, Is- inside Israel on Oct. 7, killing
Egypt on Tuesday. won’t be. “We are conduct- American and Israeli of- rael would withdraw its forc- about 1,200 people, mostly
Late last week, the three ing negotiations and not a ficials expressing cautious es from Gaza and release civilians.
countries mediating the scenario in which we just optimism. But Hamas has Palestinian prisoners. Since then, fears for a rapid
proposed ceasefire report- give and give,” he said. signaled resistance to what Officials said the U.S. has and dangerous escalation
ed progress on a deal un- In addition to Netanyahu, it called new demands by presented proposals to to other parts of the region
der which Israel would halt Blinken will meet Israeli De- Israel. bridge all the gaps remain- have ebbed and flowed.
most military operations in fense Minister Yoav Gallant The evolving proposal calls ing between the Israeli and Those fears are once again
Gaza and release a num- and President Isaac Herzog for a three-phase process in Hamas positions. Formal re- elevated as Iran and its
ber of Palestinian prisoners on Monday. which Hamas would release sponses to the U.S. outline proxies threaten retaliation
in exchange for the release On Friday, the U.S. and fel- all hostages abducted dur- are expected this week and for the killings in Lebanon of
of hostages held by Hamas. low mediators Egypt and ing its Oct. 7 attack, which could lead to a ceasefire senior Hezbollah command-
A senior official traveling Qatar said they were clos- triggered the deadliest war declaration unless the talks ers and in Iran of the head
with Blinken said his arrival ing in on a deal after two fought between Israelis and collapse, as has happened of Hamas’ political wing.q

Visit by Vietnam’s new leader to China reflects key relationship,

even as it builds ties with U.S.

By KEN MORITSUGU same designation.
Associated Press The United States and its
BEIJING (AP) — Vietnam’s ally Japan have been de-
new leader To Lam is mak- veloping closer ties with
ing China the destination Vietnam’s communist gov-
for his first overseas visit, ernment — America’s for-
signaling the continuing mer foe in the Vietnam War
importance the Southeast — as they seek partners in
Asian country places on a growing economic and
its giant neighbor even as strategic rivalry with China.
it strengthens ties with the When Xi visited Vietnam
United States and others. in December, the two
Lam stepped off a Vietnam countries announced they
Airlines plane on an over- would build “a shared fu-
cast Sunday morning in ture that carries strategic
Guangzhou, a major man- significance.”
ufacturing and export hub In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Vietnamese President To Lam, center left, waves The agreement, which Chi-
near Hong Kong, China’s as he arrives in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, as he starts his three-day official nese state media has de-
state media reported. visit to China, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. scribed as an elevation of
He later flew to Beijing, Associated Press ties, was seen as a conces-
where he will meet Chinese Lam also has held the zhou University, wrote Satur- the country is not by any sion by Vietnam, which had
leader Xi Jinping. largely ceremonial title of day in the state-run Global means going to give the resisted using that wording
His three-day visit comes the nation’s president since Times newspaper. U.S. the cold shoulder.” in the past.
about two weeks after May. “The fact that Lam chose Vietnam upgraded its ties Russian President Vladimir
Lam was confirmed as The new leader is expected China as his first overseas with the United States and Putin met Lam in Vietnam in
general secretary of Viet- to continue his predeces- visit destination since taking Japan last year to a com- June after visiting North Ko-
nam’s Communist Party, sor’s strategy of balancing office is a sign that Vietnam prehensive strategic part- rea on a rare overseas trip
the country’s top political ties with China, the United attaches great importance nership, the country’s high- for the Russian leader, who
position. States, Russia and others, to its relations with China,” est designation for a dip- has been ostracized by
He succeeded Nguyen Phu Yu Xiangdong, the director Yu said in an opinion piece. lomatic relationship. Rela- many countries because of
Trong, who died last month of the Institute for Vietnam “But at the same time, tions with China and India the 2022 invasion and still-
after 13 years as leader. Studies at China’s Zheng- judging from experience, also have been given the ongoing war in Ukraine.q