分类： politics

The Times of London, a prestigious British newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch, has retracted an article falsely attributed to former New York mayor Bill de Blasio, following revelations that the publication was deceived by an impersonator. The article, published on Tuesday, purported to feature de Blasio criticizing Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Democratic nominee and frontrunner in the New York mayoral election. The fabricated quotes included de Blasio allegedly questioning the feasibility of Mamdani’s policy proposals. The story gained traction when a spokesperson for Mamdani’s rival, Andrew Cuomo, shared it on social media. However, de Blasio swiftly denounced the article on X, stating it was ‘entirely false and fabricated.’ He emphasized that he had never spoken to the reporter or made such statements, calling the incident an ‘absolute violation of journalistic ethics.’ The Times issued an apology to de Blasio and removed the article, acknowledging that their reporter had been misled by an individual falsely claiming to be the former mayor. De Blasio reaffirmed his support for Mamdani, praising his vision as ‘necessary and achievable.’ Mamdani’s platform, which includes abolishing bus fares, freezing rent on rent-stabilized apartments, and providing universal childcare, has resonated with New Yorkers, giving him a significant lead over Cuomo in polls. Despite his popularity, Mamdani has faced criticism from US political figures and media outlets, including the Murdoch-owned New York Post, due to his stance on Israel. Mamdani has previously lauded de Blasio as the best mayor of his lifetime.

Yang Fasen, a former high-ranking official in Qinghai province, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes exceeding 147 million yuan ($20.7 million). The verdict was announced by the Hanzhong Intermediate People’s Court in Shaanxi province on Wednesday. In addition to the life sentence, Yang has been permanently stripped of his political rights, and all his personal assets have been confiscated. The court has also mandated that his illicit gains and related interests be transferred to the state treasury.

Between March 2005 and July 2024, Yang exploited his positions in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai to grant favors to individuals and businesses in exchange for bribes. The court emphasized that the scale of his corruption warranted severe punishment, describing the amount involved as ‘extremely large.’ However, the court noted that Yang’s voluntary surrender to anti-corruption authorities, his disclosure of previously unknown bribes, and the full restitution of his illicit gains were factors that led to some leniency in sentencing.

Yang, a 54-year-old native of Gansu province, began his career in 1990 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Qinghai Provincial Committee in 2023. His downfall began in October 2024 when an investigation was launched, culminating in his expulsion from the Party and removal from public office in March. He was formally charged with bribery in June, and his case was publicly heard in September.

In a significant development aimed at reducing hostilities, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a prominent ethnic rebel group in Myanmar, announced a ceasefire agreement with the country’s military government. The truce, mediated by China, was finalized during talks held in Kunming, a Chinese city near the Myanmar border, on Monday and Tuesday. This marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s northeastern region, which has been plagued by intense fighting for months.

Since September last year, U.S. lawmakers have made four unsuccessful attempts to close a significant loophole allowing China to bypass export bans on advanced AI chips by renting them through U.S. cloud services. Despite bipartisan efforts, these proposals have been thwarted by extensive lobbying from tech companies and their trade associations, with over 100 lobbyists actively opposing the measures. The issue has become a focal point as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a high-stakes meeting, with billions of dollars and technological dominance hanging in the balance. An Associated Press investigation reveals that, despite warnings about national security and human rights abuses, successive U.S. administrations have facilitated the sale of American technology to Chinese police, government agencies, and surveillance firms. For instance, in 2024, China purchased $20.7 billion worth of chipmaking equipment from U.S. companies, circumventing export controls. The tech industry’s immense lobbying power, coupled with political reluctance, has repeatedly undermined efforts to regulate these exports. Critics argue that this inaction has enabled China to strengthen its surveillance state, with American companies playing a pivotal role in its development. The AP’s findings highlight a complex interplay between economic interests, national security, and human rights concerns, raising questions about the U.S. government’s commitment to addressing these issues.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif issued a stark warning to Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Wednesday, vowing a severe response to any future “terrorist or suicide attack” on Pakistani soil. This comes hours after peace talks in Istanbul concluded without a resolution. The negotiations, mediated by Qatar and other nations, followed a brief ceasefire agreement on October 19 in Doha. However, the discussions failed to bridge the growing tensions between the two neighboring countries. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s military conducted strikes on alleged Pakistani Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan, claiming to have killed dozens of insurgents. Afghanistan countered by stating that civilians were killed and retaliated with attacks on Pakistani military posts, allegedly resulting in the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan acknowledged losing 23 soldiers in the border clashes. In a post on X, Asif accused the Taliban government of enabling militant activities and warned of dire consequences if attacks persisted. Afghanistan’s state broadcaster RTA reported that the talks collapsed due to what it termed “irrational demands” from Pakistan, including assurances that no attacks would originate from Afghan territory. The Taliban delegation maintained that the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, is an internal issue for Islamabad. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring militants, a claim Kabul denies. The recent surge in militant attacks in Pakistan, primarily claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, has heightened tensions. Despite the failed talks, the ceasefire remains intact, though major border crossings are closed, leaving hundreds of trucks and refugees stranded. At the Chaman border crossing in Balochistan, Afghan refugees and traders expressed frustration and fear over the uncertain future. “We are returning to Afghanistan, but it’s a scary situation,” said Ajab Khan, an Afghan refugee. “We don’t know how we will survive there.”