ITALY RECONSIDERS PARTICIPATION IN CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AMID G20 SUMMIT

Italy is undergoing a reassessment of its stance on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during the G20 Summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping's absence at the summit has been seen as a setback for the BRI. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed Rome's intention to withdraw from the infrastructure initiative. This shift marks a change in Italy's position as the only G7 member that had previously joined the BRI. Italy is now cautious about aligning with China's plans. To mitigate any potential fallout from Beijing, Italy is looking to rejuvenate a strategic partnership agreement with China, which was originally established in 2004 to promote economic cooperation. The decision was communicated to Premier Li, who made a final attempt to persuade Italy to reconsider. Italy, as the upcoming G7 presidency holder, is taking steps to realign its relationship with Beijing, which would align more closely with its Western allies. Meloni and Li engaged in discussions during the summit.

BIDEN: CHINA'S ECONOMIC WOES UNLIKELY TO TRIGGER TAIWAN INVASION

US President Biden held significant talks with top Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, at the G20 summit in New Delhi, marking the highest-level meeting between the two nations in almost ten months. Biden emphasized that despite Beijing's economic challenges, he believed China had no intentions of invading Taiwan. He described the discussions as focused on stability and the Southern Hemisphere, stressing they were not confrontational.

During a press conference in Vietnam, Biden characterized China's economic situation as a "crisis," pointing to issues in the real estate sector and high youth unemployment. He did not elaborate on specific policies but suggested that a fundamental aspect of President Xi's economic plan was currently ineffective.

Biden expressed confidence that China's economic difficulties would not prompt an invasion of Taiwan. In fact, he argued that China's capacity for such actions had diminished. He reaffirmed the United States' commitment as a Pacific power and emphasized there were no plans to withdraw from the region.

MOROCCO QUAKE TOLL TOPS 2,100+ AS AID POURS IN: AFTERSHOCK RATTLES REGION

Morocco is reeling from its strongest earthquake in over a century, with an aftershock adding to the devastation as the death toll surpasses 2,100 and is expected to rise. The United Nations estimates that around 300,000 people have been affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake that struck on Friday night, but some Moroccans are frustrated with the government's response, calling for more outside assistance. International aid teams are ready to deploy, pending an official request from the government.

Many are sleeping outside due to fears of aftershocks, including in the historic city of Marrakech and mountain towns like Moulay Brahim, which were among the hardest hit. Small rural communities, difficult to access due to blocked roads, have suffered the worst destruction. On Sunday, a magnitude 3.9 aftershock added to the challenges, although its impact remains unclear.

The interior ministry reports 2,122 confirmed deaths and at least 2,421 injuries, with 1,404 classified as critical. The majority of casualties occurred in the Al Haouz district in the High Atlas Mountains. One of the casualties of the quake is the historic Tinmel Mosque, an earth-and-stone mosque from the 12th century, which partially collapsed due to the tremor.

Countries worldwide have offered help and financial support, including Spain, Qatar, France, and the United States, which stands ready to provide significant assistance. Even Morocco's national football team has stepped up, with players donating blood and encouraging others to do the same to aid the injured.

EYE ON CHINA, US AND VIETNAM UPGRADE TIES

US President Joe Biden has strengthened ties with Vietnam, elevating the nation to Washington's highest diplomatic status alongside China and Russia. The move aims to bolster global supply chains and reduce risks associated with China.

During his visit, Biden highlighted the 50-year journey of progress between the two nations, from conflict to normalization and now to an elevated partnership. The US sees Vietnam as a crucial player in its Indo-Pacific strategy and emphasized its commitment to the region.

Vietnam, known for its tech and textile exports, is strategically positioning itself amid frosty US-China relations. While seeking to maintain good relations with both superpowers, Vietnam is also open to diversifying away from Russian military supplies.

This diplomatic milestone comes at a time when bilateral trade and investment are increasing, and tensions in the South China Sea, where Vietnam and China have territorial disputes, continue to simmer.

US DENIES COLD WAR WITH CHINA IN HISTORIC VIETNAM VISIT

US President Joe Biden visited Hanoi to sign a historic Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with Vietnam, marking a significant upgrade in relations. The move aims to strengthen ties with Vietnam to counterbalance China's influence in the region, but President Biden denies it's about containment or isolation.

While some see the deal as symbolic rather than substantial, it represents the highest level of diplomatic ties extended by Vietnam to any nation. Beijing has expressed concerns over improved US-Vietnam relations, labeling them as evidence of America's "cold-war mentality." President Biden emphasizes the importance of adhering to international rules and encourages China's economic success within those guidelines.

VIETNAM'S SECRET RUSSIAN ARMS DEAL CHALLENGES US RELATIONS

Despite improving relations with the US, Vietnam has been secretly planning to purchase weapons from Russia, as revealed in a leaked government document. The document outlines Vietnam's intention to modernize its military through covert defense purchases funded by a joint Vietnamese-Russian oil venture in Siberia. While Vietnam seeks to bolster its military capabilities amid concerns over Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea, its secret dealings with Russia undermine its outreach to the US. This situation highlights the challenges posed by US foreign policy that forces countries into a binary "us or them" choice.

SUNAK CHIDES CHINA FOR ‘SPYING’ AT U.K. PARLIAMENT

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chastised China’s Premier on Sunday for “unacceptable” interference in British democracy, after a newspaper reported that a researcher in Parliament was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing. Mr. Sunak raised the issue with Chinese Premier Li Qiang when the two met at the G-20 summit in India.

The two men met after the Metropolitan Police force confirmed that a man in his 20s and a man in his 30s were arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act. The Sunday Times reported that the younger man was a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior lawmakers.

AUSTRALIA, INDONESIA FORCES DEPLOY BATTLE TANKS IN U.S.-LED DRILLS

BANYUWANGI: Thousands of soldiers from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia and other allied forces demonstrated their armour capabilities on Sunday in combat drills on the Indonesian island of Java at a time of increased Chinese aggression in the region. The two-week combat exercises in Banyuwangi in East Java province began on September 1.

SEEKING CHINA HELP TO JOIN BRICS: MADURO

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua on Saturday, said he aimed to secure “the entry of Venezuela into Brics, with the support of China, with the support of all countries”, as he makes a state visit to China. The Brics bloc agreed at their annual summit last month to admit six new full members. Beijing, Maduro said, could help to achieve the accession of “a country with the largest oil reserves”. “The enlarged Brics could be defined as the great engine for the acceleration of the birth of a new world, a world of cooperation where the global south has the leading voice,” Maduro said. China is Venezuela’s main creditor.

MALDIVES PRESIDENT IBRAHIM SOLIH SEEKS ALLIES IN RUN-OFF ELECTION

MALE: Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said he was seeking allies in his bid for re-election in a run-off vote, a day after finishing second in initial polls. The Elections Commission said the run-off will be on September 30. His bid for a second term has been turned into a referendum on his pursuit of renewed ties with India.

RANIL TO APPOINT PANEL TO PROBE 2019 BOMBINGS AFTER MEDIA REPORT

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday that he will appoint a committee chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate allegations made in a British television report that the South Asian country’s intelligence was complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people.

RUSSIA HOLDS LOCAL POLLS IN OCCUPIED UKRAINE

Moscow : Russian authorities reported multiple attempts to disrupt local elections held in 79 regions of Russia, including occupied areas of Ukraine. These elections, which cover various positions, including governors and municipal councils, also extend to the four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Moscow and the annexed Crimean peninsula. Kyiv and Western nations have condemned these elections as illegitimate and a breach of international law.

In the occupied Ukrainian regions, reports of sabotage emerged, including a drone strike destroying a polling station in Zaporizhzhia province and the discovery of a live grenade near a polling station in Kherson region. Local residents accused Russian poll workers of accompanying armed soldiers on house visits to coerce votes from residents.

Furthermore, Romania, a NATO member, summoned the Russian embassy's chargé d'affaires after discovering drone fragments similar to those used by the Russian army near its border with Ukraine.

The local elections in these areas remain mired in controversy and disputes.

YORGOS LANTHIMOS AND EMMA STONE’S POOR THINGS WINS TOP PRIZE AT VENICE

The Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival was awarded to "Poor Things," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, a hilarious and explicit reimagining of Frankenstein starring Emma Stone as a reanimated corpse. The film was described as an "instant classic" by critics. Stone's character, Bella, is brought back to life with an infant's brain by a mad scientist played by Willem Dafoe.

Cailee Spaeny received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her portrayal of Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley's wife. Peter Sarsgaard won Best Actor for his role in "Memory," where he supported the Hollywood strike and cautioned about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

While the Hollywood strike affected the presence of stars at the festival, independent films like "Memory" and "Ferrari" received exemptions, allowing their stars to attend. However, director David Fincher, associated with Netflix, sparked controversy by acknowledging both sides of the strike issue.

The winners were selected by a jury led by director Damien Chazelle of "La La Land" fame.