Daily World Briefing, July 12

Canada Standard

2 days ago

Chinese FM calls for joint efforts in finding right way for China, U.S. to get along
China and the United States should work together to find the right way to get along with each other in the new era, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed his hope that the U.S. side would view China with an objective, rational and pragmatic attitude.
Wang made the remarks during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Malaysian capital on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings.
China's Xixia Imperial Tombs inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday during UNESCO's 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France.
With this addition, the total number of World Heritage sites in China has reached 60.
Xixia Imperial Tombs is a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (Western Xia, 1038-1227), founded by the Tangut people in northwestern China during the 11th to 13th centuries.
Covering an area of nearly 40 square km, the site comprises four types of architectural remains: 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex covering 0.05 square km, and 32 flood control works.
Trump says U.S. to impose 35 pct tariffs on Canada starting Aug. 1
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a 35 percent tariff on imports from Canada starting Aug. 1.
Trump posted a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his social media platform Truth Social, criticizing Canada for retaliating against previous U.S. tariffs.
He pointed out that the new tariff is in part caused by the flow of fentanyl from Canada, as well as allegedly unfair trade practices, and that he would "consider an adjustment" to the tariffs if Canada cooperated with the United States to stop the flow of fentanyl.
Canada continues trade talks with U.S. towards revised deadline of Aug. 1
Canada will continue the trade talks with the United States towards the revised deadline of Aug. 1, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday.
Carney said on his social media that throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended the workers and businesses.
"We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1," he said.
Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America, he said, affirming Canada's commitment to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both countries.
Lebanese president says normalization with Israel not on agenda
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed on Friday that normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel is currently not under consideration, emphasizing that Lebanon's current focus is on maintaining peace, not entering formal ties.
"Peace means a state of non-war, and that is what matters to Lebanon right now," he said, according to a statement released by Lebanon's presidency.
Aoun's remarks came during a meeting with a delegation from the Arab and International Relations Council.
During the meeting, Aoun stressed that the unity of the Lebanese people is crucial to overcoming the country's ongoing challenges.
U.S. State Department starts laying off at least 1,300 staffers
The U.S. Department of State has begun firing more than 1,300 people as part of a dramatic overhaul of the agency, U.S. media reported on Friday.
"The firings will affect 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service officers," reported CNN after reviewing an internal notice. "It comes as the State Department implements a drastic reorganization as part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to shrink the federal government."
Hundreds of offices and bureaus are being eliminated or altered as a result of the changes being implemented on Friday, it added.
Nearly 800 killed while trying to access aid in Gaza
Nearly 800 people have been killed while trying to access humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that as of July 7, the OHCHR had documented 798 killings in aid distribution areas in Gaza. "Including 615 in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites and 183, presumably on the routes of aid convoys," she said.
She also noted that most of the casualties resulted from gunshot injuries.
Shamdasani said that such a situation is unacceptable, yet it continues.