Taiwan VP vows to ‘resist annexation’ during US trip

NEW YORK—Taiwanese Vice President William Lai vowed on Sunday “to resist annexation” in a speech given during a weekend trip to the United States that China has opposed. Lai is the frontrunner in Taiwan’s presidential elections next year, and is making transit stops in the United States en route to and from Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of president-elect Santiago Pena. His trip has already roused anger from Beijing, which claims democratic Taiwan as part of China, and which particularly dislikes Lai, accusing him of espousing separatist views.

At a New York luncheon on Sunday (Monday in Manila), Lai reiterated he would continue to uphold the core tenets of the administration of President

Tsai Ing-wen—also hated by Beijing for refusing to accept that Taiwan is a part of China.

“I will continue... our commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty,” he said in a speech carried by Taiwanese channel TTV News.

China had said earlier on Sunday that it was closely monitoring “troublemaker” Lai’s visits, and vowed to take “resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty”.

In a video released by Taiwan’s presidential office, Lai also reiterated that they “must uphold the value of democracy and freedom”.

“At this critical moment, we promise again here and now that no matter how great the threat of authoritarian- ism is to Taiwan, we will never be afraid or back down,” Lai told an audience that included representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan —the de facto US embassy for the island.

Taiwan had sought to downplay Lai’s US trip as routine—he is expected to continue on to Paraguay, then stop in San Francisco on his way back to Taiwan.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office on Sunday accused him of “going to the US to betray Taiwan for his own selfish personal gain.”

“William Lai continues to stubbornly defend the idea of Taiwanese independence... in an attempt to wrangle votes,” said spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian. AFP

Niger generals vow to sue ousted president for ‘high treason’

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.

with international concern mounting over his conditions in detention.

A member of his entourage said he saw his doctor on Saturday.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 80 QUEZON CITY

IN THE MATTER OF DECLARATION OF ABSENCE SPOUSE CARLITO

A. VALENTON, SP. PROC. NO. R-QZN-23-04863-SP

AURORA LIM-VALENTON.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 106, QUEZON CITY rtc2qzn106@judiciary.gov.ph

LUISA UNO-GARIN Petitioner, -versus- CIVILCASE NO. R-QZN-18-08899-CV FOR: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage

TROY V. GARIN Respondent. x----------------------------------------------------x

WHEREFORE, on the basis of all the foregoing, the petition is GRANTED and the marriage between MARIA LUISA UNOGARIN and RAINIER TROY V. GARIN solemnized on January 10, 2004, is declared NULL AND VOID AB INITIO pursuant to Article 36 of the Family Code, as amended. The Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, is directed to indicate the nullification of the marriage, filed in its office, between the petitioner and the respondent. The decision shall become final upon the expiration of the fifteen-day period from notice to the parties and from the time the corresponding Entry of Final Judgment has been made if no motion for reconsideration or new trial, or appeal, is filed by any of the parties, the Public Prosecutor, or the Solicitor General.

Thereafter, the petitioner is directed to submit a certified true copy of this Decision and Entry of Judgment to the Civil Registrar of Quezon City, where their marriage was registered, and the Philippine Statistic Authority, after which the Court shall

The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Niger’s military leaders said they would prosecute Bazoum “for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger”, according to a statement read out by ColonelMajor Amadou Abdramane on national television.

Bazoum, 63, and his family have been held at the president’s official Niamey residence since the coup,

“After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family,” the military said.

They also said sanctions imposed on Niger had made it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity, and were “illegal, inhumane and humiliating.”

The comments came just hours after religious mediators met with coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani, who indicated his regime was open to a diplomatic breakthrough.

Tiani “said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter”, said Sheikh Bala Lau, a day after his Nigerian Muslim delegation held talks in the capital Niamey. AFP

The incident on Sunday outside northern Kachin’s Hpakant township -- near where hundreds of miners were entombed in a landslide in 2020 -- comes days after much of the country was swamped by torrential rain and floods.

The highly lucrative jade mining industry is mostly unregulated, with migrant workers enduring dangerous conditions and frequently deadly accidents.

“About 25 people went missing. We haven’t got a detailed list as it’s difficult to get here,” one rescue worker, who did not want to be named, told AFP from the scene.

He described how a massive pile of earth about 150-180 meters high left behind by mining excavations was loosened by the intense rains and collapsed.

Search and rescue missions were continuing, he said, but some workers had already returned to the scene in the hope of finding jade.

“We haven’t found any dead bodies yet,” he said.

Another rescue worker confirmed to AFP that attempts to recover people were ongoing despite fears of secondary landslides. “It is not safe for rescue workers to search it,” said the individual, who was with the emergency group Myanmar Rescue and also requested anonymity. AFP

Russian trial opens for Navalny ally

MOSCOW—An ally of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny went on trial in Siberia on Monday on charges of creating an “extremist organization,” a court spokeswoman told AFP, as authorities press ahead with a crackdown on dissent amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Ksenia Fadeyeva, 31, is a former municipal deputy in the Siberian city of Tomsk who was added to Russia’s “terrorist” list in January 2022.

She also headed Navalny’s political office in the city, where Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok when he visited in August 2020 to support local activists ahead of elections.

The next month, Fadeyeva was elected to the Tomsk city legislature along with other independent activists in Siberia, a move hailed as a victory for the Russian opposition against Vladimir Putin’s rule.

The local elections came a year ahead of parliamentary polls and were seen as a blow to the Kremlin, as the ruling party faced sinking popularity and simmering public anger over economic woes.

But in 2021, Navalny’s political offices were designated “extremist organisations”, putting employees, volunteers and supporters at risk of prosecution.

Many of his allies have left Russia, though Fadeyeva refused to flee and was detained in December 2021 on charges of organizing “an extremist” group. AFP

China’s defense minister to visit Russia, Belarus

BEIJING—Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus this week, his ministry said in an online statement on Monday.

Ties between Beijing and Moscow have remained warm in recent years, with China refusing to speak out against Russia’s widely condemned invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

“At the invitation of Russian Defense Minister (Sergei) Shoigu and Belarusian Defense Minister (Viktor) Khrenin, from August 14 to 19, State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu will go to Russia to attend the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security, and visit Belarus,” a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said.

Li’s visit to Russia will include a speech at the international security forum, as well as meetings with leaders of defense departments from Russia and other countries, the spokesperson added.

Last month an aide to Vladimir Putin said the Russian president was planning to visit China in October, and in March President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Moscow and declared relations between the two countries were entering a new era.

China and Russia are strategic allies, with both sides frequently touting their “no limits” partnership and cooperation in the economic and military spheres. Their ties became even closer after Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine in February last year and the western economic sanctions that ensued.

Beijing has pointedly declined to condemn Russia’s offensive. AFP