International
Russia and China veto the first resolution in which the US called for a ceasefire in Gaza
Russia and China vetoed this Friday the first UN Security Council resolution in which the United States called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, after almost six months of war that has cost the lives of 32,000 people.
The resolution was also rejected by Algeria, while Guyana abstained and the other eleven countries voted in favor.
Nine votes in favor are enough to approve a resolution, but the negative votes of two countries with the right to veto (in this case Russia and China) prevented its approval.
It is the fourth time that a Member State has vetoed a resolution in this regard. On the previous three occasions the United States did so, arguing in those cases that Israel’s right to defend itself was not included and they actually allowed the rearmament and reorganization of Hamas.
The resolution rejected today, which had been negotiated for a month and required at least six drafts, was rejected for its ambiguous vocabulary, because, in the words of the Russian ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, prior to the vote, he considered that it did not clearly call for a ceasefire, but was limited to considering “an immediate and sustained ceasefire imperative to protect the civilians of both sides.”
Nebenzia said that the resolution presented by the United States. The United States was “a hypocritical initiative designed to disorient the international community,” he regretted that Russian proposals to amend the text have been systematically rejected by Washginton and also considered that the text voted today “in fact assumes the green light for Israel to carry out a military operation in Rafah.”
As for Algeria’s ambassador, Amar Bendjama, he said that his rejection not only represented his country, but “the entire Arab world,” and stated that the text of the U.S. resolution. The United States on Gaza “does not convey a clear message of peace, but tacitly allows civilian victims to continue (falling) and lacks safeguards for a future escalation” of the conflict.
The Chinese ambassador, Zhang Jun, also considered the text voted today “ambiguous”, because “it does not clearly call for a ceasefire” and because it “deviates from the consensus of the members of the Council and is far from the expectations of the international community,” in addition to setting conditions for that ceasefire.
At this time, another resolution is being negotiated at the same time in the Security Council with a clearer language on the ceasefire, and while Russia and China have said that it will support that other resolution, it remains to be seen what the attitude of the United States will be, which could veto it.
At the same time, the United States sponsors other indirect negotiations in Doha (Qatar) between Hamas and Israel with a view to an exchange of prisoners between the two parties and an eventual truce.
Also yesterday, the European Union called for an “immediate humanitarian break” that “leads to a sustainable ceasefire,” the first common position in this regard in the European club, where Israel has solid allies such as Germany or the Netherlands.
All this political and diplomatic activity has intensified after a dramatic UN report was announced on Monday that assured that 1.1 million people in Gaza are about to enter “catastrophic food insecurity,” the most serious degree of famine.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
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