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China has removed the country's outspoken foreign minister, Qin Gang, from office and replaced him with his predecessor, Wang Yi BEIJING -- China removed outspoken Foreign Minister Qin Gang from office on Tuesday and replaced him with his predecessor, Wang Yi, in a move that has already fueled rumors over the personal lives and political rivalries of China's Communist Party elite. In its announcement on the national evening news, state broadcaster CCTV gave no reason for Qin’s removal. He had dropped out of sight almost a month ago and the Foreign Ministry has provided no information about his status. That is in keeping with the ruling Communist Party’s standard approach to personnel matters within a highly opaque political system where the media and free speech are severely restricted. The ministry made no comment at its daily briefing on Tuesday. The move comes amid a foreign backlash against China's increasingly aggressive foreign policy, of which Qin was a chief pr...

Britain’s top diplomat James Cleverly is set to visit China on Wednesday in the first trip by a U.K. foreign secretary to the country in more than five years TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Britain’s top diplomat, James Cleverly, is set to visit China on Wednesday, as the two countries attempt to shore up frayed ties. It will be the first trip by a U.K. foreign secretary to China in more than five years. Both countries confirmed the long-awaited trip on Tuesday. “The two sides will have in-depth communication on Sino-British relations and international and regional issues of common concern,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. “We hope the British side will work with us to uphold the spirit of mutual respect, deepen exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and promote the stable development of Sino-British relations.” Cleverly’s visit is an attempt to stabilize China-Britain ties, which have sunk to their lowest level in decades. The countries disagree over issues such as Beijin...

Russian authorities have declared newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov to be a foreign agent, continuing the country’s moves to suppress critics and independent reporting MOSCOW -- Russian authorities on Friday declared newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, to be a foreign agent , continuing the country's moves to suppress critics and independent reporting. Russian law allows for individuals and organizations receiving funding from abroad to be declared foreign agents, a pejorative term that potentially undermines their credibility with the Russian public. The status also requires designees to mark any publications with a disclaimer stating they are foreign agents. Muratov was chief editor of Novaya Gazeta, which was widely respected abroad for its investigative reporting and was frequently critical of the Kremlin. Muratov was a co-laureate of the 2021 Nobel prize; he later put up his Nobel medal for auction, receiving $103.5 million which he said would ...

Kenya’s foreign affairs minister has been moved to the tourism post as part of a Cabinet reshuffle just days after he said the country’s police in the Kenya-led Haiti peacekeeping mission would be deployed “within a short time.” NAIROBI, Kenya -- Kenya’s foreign affairs minister was moved to the tourism post Wednesday as part of a Cabinet reshuffle just days after the official said the country’s police in the Kenya-led Haiti peacekeeping mission would be deployed “within a short time.” Alfred Mutua’s statement came shortly after the U.N Security Council approved the force Monday and was issued before President William Ruto’s statement. The president did not mention when the deployment would take place. Kenya has committed to leading a multinational force to combat gang violence in Haiti, a plan that has been controversial locally and internationally. As foreign minister, Mutua was vocal about the Haiti mission, giving prospective deployment times and preparations that are underway. His...

A journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been detained in Russia and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent, the news outlet said on Wednesday. LONDON -- A journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been detained in Russia and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent, the news outlet said on Wednesday. Alsu Kurmasheva, who serves as an editor for the outlet 's Tatar-Bashkir Service, is a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, RFE/RL said. "Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children," the outlet's acting President Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin said in a statement. "She needs to be released so she can return to her family immediately." In this handout frame released by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, editor Alsu Kurmasheva poses for a photo during a work break at the outlet's headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, March 6, 2013. Claire Bigg/AP Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague, traveled ...

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has hailed deepening relations between Russia and North Korea and during his two-day diplomatic trip to Pyongyang. LONDON -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has hailed deepening relations between Russia and North Korea during his two-day diplomatic trip to Pyongyang in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday, flying from Beijing where he had been participating in the Belt and Road Initiative forum alongside President Vladimir Putin and other heads of state from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Footage from Russian state television showed crowds greeting Lavrov in the rain upon his arrival in Pyongyang, alongside a welcoming party waving pompoms. In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via their telegram channel, Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey...

A former Austrian foreign minister who had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to her wedding and danced a waltz with him at the 2018 reception says she has moved to St. Petersburg to set up a think tank there LONDON -- A former Austrian foreign minister who had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to her wedding and danced a waltz with him at the 2018 reception said she has moved to St. Pet ersburg to set up a think tank there. Karin Kneissl, 58, announced on messaging app Telegram on Wednesday that her ponies, which she has been keeping in Syria, were taken to Russia on a Russian military plane. Kneissl, from the right-wing Freedom Party, served as foreign minister from 2017 to 2019. She was repeatedly criticized in Austrian and German media during that time for her pro-Russia views. Her dance with Putin came just months after Russia was accused of poising former spy Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia, with nerve agent Novichok in the United Kingdom. Kneissl said in...

Two taxi drivers have been arrested in the Mexican city of Cancun for assaulting a van carrying foreign tourists MEXICO CITY -- Two taxi drivers have been arrested in the Mexican city of Cancun for assaulting a van carrying foreign tourists, prosecutors said Friday. The events in the Caribbean coast resort on Thursday were the latest in a months-long string of assaults on vehicles that medallion-cab drivers suspect of being operated by ride-hailing apps such as Uber. Prosecutors in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo said such behavior will not be tolerated. “Strong action will be taken to ensure that the state is a safe destination for local inhabitants and visitors,” the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. Local residents posted video on social media showing at least two uniformed cab drivers bashing a Chevy Suburban with poles and other objects. The van driver attempts to escape with the vehicle's tailgate open, according to the footage, and the tourists ’...