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Thursday

Wednesday

Japan and South Korea renew ties in first summit in 12 years

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands following a joint news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Thursday. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool photo via AP hide caption

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Kiyoshi Ota/Pool photo via AP

World

Japan and South Korea renew ties in first summit in 12 years

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are hoping to overcome historical feuds and domestic politics that have sent relations to their lowest point in decades.

Friday

Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restore ties, with China's help. Here's why it matters

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani (right) shakes hands with senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, as Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban looks on during an agreement signing ceremony between Iran and Saudi Arabia to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in Beijing, Friday. Nournews via AP hide caption

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Nournews via AP

Analysis

World

Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restore ties, with China's help. Here's why it matters

Saudi Arabia and Iran are restoring full diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China, a move that could reduce tensions in the region and that asserts China's growing influence in the Gulf.

Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restore ties, with China's help. Here's why it matters

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Wednesday

Germany moves toward restrictions on Huawei, as Europe sours on China

Signs promoting 5G wireless technology from Chinese technology firm Huawei are displayed at the PT Expo in Beijing in 2018. Germany is reviewing the presence of Huawei and ZTE components in its telecommunications. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption

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Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Analysis

World

Germany moves toward restrictions on Huawei, as Europe sours on China

Germany said Tuesday it is reviewing tech suppliers such as China's Huawei and ZTE, whose equipment is used in Germany's 5G networks. Europeans are starting to favor a tougher stance on China.

Thursday

U.S. and Russia's top diplomats meet for the first time since the Ukraine war began

Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks to a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Olivier Douliery/Pool/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Olivier Douliery/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

World

U.S. and Russia's top diplomats meet for the first time since the Ukraine war began

Relations between the two countries have collapsed over the Ukraine war, with the U.S. slapping thousands of sanctions on Russia, and militarily, economically and diplomatically supporting Ukraine.

Wednesday

Thursday

A 'wolf warrior' is sidelined, as China softens its approach on the world stage

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian speaks at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020. This week, Zhao was assigned a new job: deputy director of the ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs — a lateral move to an obscure post that takes Zhao out of the spotlight. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

World

A 'wolf warrior' is sidelined, as China softens its approach on the world stage

Zhao Lijian, a foreign ministry spokesman known for his combative approach, was reassigned. The change is mostly tactical, but analysts see a window of opportunity to improve China-U.S. relations.

A 'wolf warrior' is sidelined, as China softens its approach on the world stage

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Oil, human rights, security: Here's what's in store for U.S.-Gulf relations in 2023

In this photo made available by Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, center, talks with Gulf Arab leaders during the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December. Gulf Arab leaders and others in the Mideast met as part of a state visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. AP hide caption

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AP

World

Oil, human rights, security: Here's what's in store for U.S.-Gulf relations in 2023

Visiting Saudi Arabia last summer, President Biden tried to reassure Arab leaders of U.S. commitment to the region's security. But Gulf nations aren't necessarily rushing to side with Washington.

Friday

China's new foreign minister will be Qin Gang, the current ambassador to Washington

Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang visits the headquarters of Sany America, a Chinese excavator and construction-equipment manufacturer, in Peachtree City, GA on on May 12. Liu Guanguan/China News Service/Getty Images hide caption

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Liu Guanguan/China News Service/Getty Images

World

China's new foreign minister will be Qin Gang, the current ambassador to Washington

China's diplomacy will offer "Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength," Qin said in his first statement as foreign minister. He is seen as one of Xi Jinping's trusted aides.

Tuesday

The U.S. welcomes leaders from Africa, where China and Russia are making inroads

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (right) meet with Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit 2022 in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AP hide caption

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Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AP

Analysis

World

The U.S. welcomes leaders from Africa, where China and Russia are making inroads

African leaders are converging in Washington for a summit that's the centerpiece of President Biden's effort to reset and improve U.S. ties with African countries.

The U.S. welcomes leaders from Africa, where China and Russia are making inroads

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Monday

Friday

Putin turns down Biden talks and defends Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an event via video on Wednesday. The Kremlin is downplaying the prospect of Ukraine peace talks after President Biden said he would speak to Putin if "he's looking for a way to end the war." Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

Putin turns down Biden talks and defends Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid

The Kremlin dismissed the idea of talks with President Biden to end the war in Ukraine and said its assault on Ukrainian infrastructure was an "inevitable" response to Kyiv's attacks.

Thursday

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. One big reason? Oil

The José Antonio Anzoátegui industrial park for crude oil and petrochemicals in Anzoátegui state, Venezuela, on March 17. DPA / Picture Alliance / Getty Images hide caption

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DPA / Picture Alliance / Getty Images

World

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. One big reason? Oil

The Biden administration has extended olive branches to Venezuela. It might sway Caracas to stick with talks with the opposition, and eventually let Venezuelan oil back on the world market.

Monday

An intense global scramble is on to keep Ukraine grain deal alive, as Russia pulls out

Cargo ships loaded with grain in the anchorage area of the southern entrance to the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul on Monday. Ships left Ukrainian ports on Monday despite Russia's decision to pull out from a landmark deal designed to ease a global food crisis. Ozan Kose/AFP / Getty Images hide caption

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Ozan Kose/AFP / Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

An intense global scramble is on to keep Ukraine grain deal alive, as Russia pulls out

Countries are scrambling to salvage a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain, after Russia said it pulled out indefinitely, a decision that risks worsening global hunger.

An intense global scramble is on to keep Ukraine grain deal alive, as Russia pulls out

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Tuesday

What to expect at this week's U.N. General Assembly

The 77th session of U.N. General Assembly opened at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 13 in New York City. The session's high-level debate begins on Tuesday. Liao Pan/China News Service via Getty Images hide caption

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Liao Pan/China News Service via Getty Images

World

What to expect at this week's U.N. General Assembly

As leaders gather for the first all-in-person General Assembly since the pandemic, the war in Ukraine is a major focus. Secretary-General António Guterres has warned this is a time of "great peril."