Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key electionsGEORGE WASHINGTON 72, ILLINOIS STATE 64
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told the Associated Press on Friday. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season. The 29-year-old Watson has two years remaining on his contract with an average of $46 million a year. The move to restructure his deal will not preclude the Browns from adding talent at the quarterback position in 2025, the person said. Watson played in only seven games this season before suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. He’s 9-10 as a starter with Cleveland. The Browns (3-12) have been a major disappointment this season after making it to the playoffs a year ago behind Joe Flacco, who was signed as a free agent after Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Watson had surgery in October and is expected to make a full recovery. While the team hasn’t disclosed its plans at quarterback, it’s assumed Watson will be in the mix to be the starter next season. It’s also possible the Browns will draft a quarterback in the first round. The team hasn’t had a first-round pick the past three years after trading three to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson, who was once considered one of the league’s elite QBs.Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, wrapped up a weeklong trip to Europe Sunday after meeting European lawmakers in Brussels and overseeing efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation in developing drone technology between Taiwan and Lithuania. Analysts say the trip was part of Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to deepen engagement with European countries and reflected the current administration’s attempt to focus on facilitating practical and tangible cooperation with individual nations. “European countries and members of the European parliament have pushed for tangible cooperation that the EU and Taiwan can both agree on, so focusing on deepening bilateral ties is a more realistic approach for Taiwan as it can help tangible examples of economic cooperation to materialize,” Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, an expert on EU-Taiwan relations at National Dong Hwa University in Taiwan, told VOA. During his seven-day trip, Lin met with several members of the European Parliament in Brussels and visited the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre, which focuses on nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Lin has made economic and trade diplomacy his priority since becoming Taiwan’s top diplomat in May. Lin also led a delegation of representatives from 20 Taiwanese drone companies to Lithuania. They attended a forum on drone technologies and signed two agreements that will facilitate collaboration in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry. The signing of the agreements is part of Taiwan’s efforts to build a domestic drone manufacturing industry, which the government sees as an important part of enhancing the island’s overall defense capabilities in the face of increasing military pressure imposed by China. Beijing views Taiwan, a self-governing island, as an inalienable part of its territory that should one day reunite with the mainland, by force if necessary. In September, Taiwan gathered more than 50 domestic drone manufacturers and established the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance, which has been building drone development partnerships with other countries. On November 16, the alliance signed an agreement to promote drone development with the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Experts say Lin’s trip can help Taiwan broaden the scope of economic cooperation with central and eastern European countries beyond the semiconductor industry. By focusing on developing partnerships in drone development with Lithuanian companies, “the trip allows the conversation around economic engagements with Taiwan to move beyond the focus on semiconductors,” Marcin Jerzewski, the head of the Taiwan Office at the European Values Center for Security Policy, told VOA by phone. Other European analysts say since central and eastern European countries, especially Lithuania, play an important role in supplying drones to Ukraine in Kyiv's ongoing fight against Russia, Taiwan’s emphasis on deepening bilateral cooperation in this sector could resonate with these countries’ priorities. Since Taiwan is deepening cooperation over drone technology “with Lithuania and Poland, two front-line countries that have nuanced and realistic views of the threats coming from Russia, this development can help improve the defense capabilities in central and eastern Europe,” Matej Šimalčík, executive director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, or CEIAS, told VOA by phone. During a dinner ceremony marking the third anniversary of the establishment of Taiwan’s representative office in Lithuania on November 20, Lin said he expects Taiwan and Lithuania to expand the bilateral partnership and “work toward the common goal of promoting peace and prosperity.” Lithuania’s recalibration Despite Taiwan’s attempt to deepen engagement with Lithuania, Lin’s trip comes at a time when Lithuania’s potential new government is considering improving relations with China after Beijing downgraded diplomatic relations with the Baltic country in 2021 following the establishment of Taiwan’s representative office in the country. Gintautas Paluckas, the candidate that the Social Democratic Party wants to make prime minister after coming out on top in elections last month, expressed his desire to “normalize” relations with China. He spoke during an interview with Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT on October 31. “Having normal relations is certainly an aspiration because the EU – even though relations with China will not be rosy, they will argue about the economy, about tariffs, about protectionist measures [...] – but the EU is trying to maintain diplomatic relations. We cannot fall out of this context and call it leadership,” he said. Ferenczy said as Lithuania rethinks its engagement with China, Taiwan’s focus on deepening economic ties will be more “productive” to the sustainability of bilateral ties as it could avoid triggering potential retaliation from China. “It will help circumvent member states’ reluctance to engage with Taiwan and instead bring the kind of engagement that helps both sides,” she told VOA. Ferenczy adds that successful bilateral cooperation with European countries can help consolidate Taiwan’s engagement with the European Union as a whole. “Building up stronger bilateral relationships will help consolidate Taiwan’s cooperation with the EU, as countries that have substance to their partnerships with Taiwan may be more willing to embrace Taiwan at the European level,” she said. In response to questions about Lin’s trip to Europe, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing opposes any form of official interaction between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic ties with China. “The EU should abide by the one-China principle, stop any form of official interaction with the Taiwan authorities, and stop sending wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence separatist forces,’” he said during a press conference on November 20. Lin Chia-lung's trip marks the third time a high-level Taiwanese delegation has visited Europe since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te won elections in January. As Taipei continues to deepen engagement with European countries, Jerzewski said the Lai administration should consider establishing a coherent approach to manage its relations with Europe. “Taiwan still doesn’t have a concrete strategic document that allows European stakeholders to understand how Taiwan wants to engage with them, and in order to make Taiwan’s ties with Europe more sustainable, such a document is important,” he told VOA.New president in Georgia amid political turmoil between West and sovereignty
Talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt have stalled since the truce expired on December 1, with Israel escalating its actions and refusing to end its aggression. On November 23, 2023 , Qatar announced that a deal was reached between Israel and Hamas, following numerous rounds of negotiations brokered by Doha and Cairo. The deal, which took effect on November 24 last year, was originally set for four days but was extended twice, ultimately lasting a total of seven days. Throughout the deal’s phases, Hamas released 109 Israelis out of some 240 captured during the surprise October 7 attack—widely known as Al-Aqsa Flood. Under the same deal, Israel released 240 Palestinians from its prisons, predominantly women and children. Israel was quick to resume its genocide on the Gaza Strip the moment the truce expired on the morning of December 1, in what marked only the beginning of its intensified war and escalated regional tensions. By the time of the deal’s expiration, Israel had killed more than 15,000 Palestinians . A year on, the figure has nearly tripled with more than 44,000 killed by Israel—although it is believed to be an undercount with thousands more still missing or trapped under the rubble. State of released prisoners Israel has carried out violations against the Palestinians released under last year’s deal, ranging from targeted killings to re-arresting them. Data obtained by Doha News from Ramallah-based Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association reveal that Israel has re-arrested 27 of those released since the deal expired. A total of 19 out of those re-arrested remain in detention, including six women and 13 minors. Qassam Iyad Nasrallah, a minor, has also been under house arrest since April 8, with his next court session scheduled for April 9, 2025. Two Palestinians are still under trial despite their release, including Fadwa Hamada and 17-year-old Nufouz Hammad, Addameer told Doha News. Hammad was first detained in 2021 from her school in occupied East Jerusalem at the age of 14 after being accused of stabbing an Israeli settler. In August, Israeli forces killed three of the minors released, including Tareq Dawood, Wael Musha, and Jibreel Ghassan Jibreel. Prolonged stalemate and assassinations The talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt have witnessed a prolonged stalemate since the truce expired on December 1, with Israel only carrying out more escalatory moves as it refuses to end its aggression. Its backer and main ally, the United States, has also blocked four out of 14 ceasefire resolutions at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In an effort to revive negotiations, a meeting between the relevant parties took place in Poland in December, which saw a proposal for a “humanitarian pause” was discussed. This would involve the release of Israeli captives from Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. However, the talks ended without a breakthrough as Israel escalated its attacks on the Gaza Strip. The same month saw Egypt present a three-phased deal that had involved a month-long pause in exchange for the release of at least 40 captives and Palestinians from Israeli prisons. The proposal, which Israel rejected, also included the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and eventually an end to the war. In a major escalation on January 2 , Israel killed senior Hamas official Saleh Al-Arouri in a drone strike on Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh. This marked the first Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital since the 2006 war. Hopes for a deal resurfaced again between late January and early February following talks in Paris, after Doha and Washington confirmed receiving a response from Hamas on a deal. Hamas’s reply outlined a three-stage plan, each lasting 45 days: releasing all Israeli captives and the bodies of those who died in Gaza, lifting the Gaza blockade, and reconstructing the territory. Netanyahu rejected the proposal yet again as the U.S. used its veto power for a third time to block a UNSC ceasefire resolution on February 20 . In April, Israel killed the children and grandchildren of former Hamas leader Haniyeh, but he insisted on continuing negotiations until a ceasefire was reached. Days later , Hamas presented mediators with a new three-phase proposal, each lasting 42 days, to pave the way for a ceasefire. On May 6, Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposed by Qatar and Egypt, but Israel rejected it and proceeded with its invasion of the Rafah Crossing. In June, U.S. President Joe Biden proposed a new plan that included the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad expressed their willingness to negotiate for an agreement. Qatar suspends mediating role Talks have continued to stall until Israel obstructed all efforts by assassinating Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 , fueling escalations with Iran. The following month, Hamas then reiterated its demand that Israel commit to what was agreed upon in the July 2 proposal, which was based on a framework deal presented by Biden and supported by the UNSC. However, Israel further increased regional tensions by bombarding Lebanon’s capital and assassinating Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on September 27. This prompted Iran to retaliate by launching a barrage of missiles on lands occupied by Israel. Israel then killed Haniyeh’s successor, Yahya Sinwar, on October 16 in Rafah, southern Gaza. The talks resumed in Doha by October 27, but ended without breakthrough as Israel intensified its brutal aggression on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Weeks without progress, Qatar announced on November 10 that its mediation stalled until both sides show a willingness to negotiate. Hamas leaders are also not present in the Gulf state, which has hosted the movement since 2012 at Washington’s request for mediation purposes. However, Qatar noted that the office has not been permanently closed. 0 0
Friendly reminder |
The authenticity of this information has not been verified by this website and is for your reference only. Please do not reprint without permission. If authorized by this website, it should be used within the scope of authorization and marked with "Source: this website". |
Special attention |
Some articles on this website are reprinted from other media. The purpose of reprinting is to convey more industry information, which does not mean that this website agrees with their views and is responsible for their authenticity. Those who make comments on this website forum are responsible for their own content. This website has the right to reprint or quote on the website. The comments on the forum do not represent the views of this website. If you need to use the information provided by this website, please contact the original author. The copyright belongs to the original author. If you need to contact this website regarding copyright, please do so within 15 days. |