NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Nov 14 (Reuters) – Chinese chief Xi Jinping will arrive on the Indonesian island of Bali on Monday for a long-awaited assembly with U.S. President Joe Biden, ahead of a Group of 20 (G20) summit set to be fraught with pressure over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The two leaders are anticipated to focus on Taiwan, Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, points that may also loom over the G20 that opens on Tuesday with out Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance.

Billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and Twitter Inc, addressed a enterprise discussion board that’s half of the summit and mentioned he had “too much work” on his plate.

Speaking by videolink, he appeared lit by candles, carrying a batik shirt despatched by the organisers. He mentioned he was talking from a spot that had simply misplaced energy.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will characterize the Russian president on the G20 summit – the primary since Russia invaded Ukraine in February – after the Kremlin mentioned Putin was too busy to attend.

On the eve of Monday’s assembly with Xi, Biden instructed Asian leaders in Cambodia that U.S. communication strains with China would keep open to stop battle, with powerful talks nearly sure within the days ahead.

The United States would “compete vigorously” with China whereas “ensuring competition does not veer into conflict”, mentioned Biden, stressing the significance of peace within the Taiwan Strait throughout an handle to the East Asia Summit in Cambodia. He arrived in Bali on Sunday night time.

Relations between the superpowers have sunk to their lowest in a long time, marred by rising tensions lately over a bunch of points starting from Hong Kong and Taiwan to the South China Sea, commerce practices and U.S. restrictions on Chinese expertise.

But U.S. officers mentioned there have been quiet efforts by each Beijing and Washington over the previous two months to restore ties.

“These meetings do not take place in isolation, they are part of a very sustained process,” mentioned one Biden administration official. “We have engaged in severe, sustained – dozens and dozens of hours – of quiet diplomacy behind the scenes.

“I feel we’re happy with the seriousness that each side have introduced to that course of.”

Biden and Xi, who’ve held 5 telephone or video calls since Biden grew to become president in January 2021, final met in individual throughout the Obama administration when Biden was vice chairman.

Monday’s face-to-face meeting will be at The Mulia, a luxury beachside hotel on Nusa Dua bay in Bali. It is unlikely to produce a joint statement, the White House has said, but it could help stabilise the bilateral relationship.

Both leaders will attend the opening of the G20 summit on Tuesday.

‘SOME DISCOMFORT’

One of the primary matters on the G20 can be Russia’s warfare in Ukraine and Biden can be “unapologetic” in his defence of the European nation, U.S. officials said last week.

Xi and Putin have grown increasingly close in recent years, bound by their shared distrust of the West, and reaffirmed their partnership just days before Russia invaded Ukraine. But China has been careful not to provide any direct material support that could trigger Western sanctions against it.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang emphasised the “irresponsibility” of nuclear threats throughout the summit in Cambodia, suggesting China was uncomfortable with strategic associate Russia’s nuclear rhetoric, the Biden administration official mentioned.

The West has accused Russia of making irresponsible statements on the doable use of nuclear weapons since its February invasion of Ukraine. Russia has in flip accused the West of “provocative” nuclear rhetoric.

“There have been areas the place China and Russia have labored collectively to deepen and broaden their relationship economically,” said the U.S. official. “But on some of these large points, I feel there may be undeniably some discomfort in Beijing about what we have seen in phrases of reckless rhetoric and exercise on the half of Russia.”

Russia’s Lavrov mentioned on Sunday the West was “militarising” Southeast Asia in a bid to comprise Russian and Chinese pursuits, setting the stage for extra confrontation with Western leaders on the G20.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has mentioned he’ll handle the G20 gathering by videolink on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is predicted to meet Lavrov on the summit, a Downing Street spokesperson mentioned in an announcement. He can also be possible to maintain a bilateral assembly with Biden.

The G20 bloc, which features a broad array of international locations starting from Brazil to India and Germany, accounts for greater than 80% of the world’s gross home product (GDP) and 60% of its inhabitants.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to be a part of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to handle the parallel B20 enterprise discussion board happening on Monday ahead of the G20 summit.

Reporting by Nandita Bose, Fransiska Nangoy, Leika Kihara and Simon Lewis in Nusa Dua; Writing by Kay Johnson and Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Ed Davies and Robert Birsel

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Sept 24 (Reuters) – Powerful storm Fiona slammed into jap Canada on Saturday with hurricane-force winds, forcing evacuations, blowing over bushes and powerlines, and leaving tons of of 1000’s of properties and companies with out electrical energy.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated the middle of the storm, downgraded to Post-Tropical Cyclone Fiona, was now within the Gulf of St. Lawrence after racing by Nova Scotia.

After taking its toll on Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the storm battered Newfoundland, however is now prone to weaken, the NHC stated.

Port aux Basques on the southwest tip of Newfoundland declared a state of emergency and is evacuating elements of the city that suffered flooding and street washouts, based on Mayor Brian Button and police.

“First responders are dealing with multiple electrical fires, residential flooding and washouts. Residents are asked to obey evacuation orders and to find a safe place to weather the storm,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland stated on Twitter.

“This is hitting us really, really hard right now,” Button stated in a Saturday morning video posted on Facebook by which he urged residents to remain indoors or, if requested, to evacuate. “We have a fair bit of destruction in town… We do not need anyone else injured or hurt in during this.”

Homes alongside the shoreline had been destroyed by the storm surge, CBC reported, displaying photos of particles and intensive harm within the city.

Fiona, which practically per week in the past battered Puerto Rico and different elements of the Caribbean, made landfall between Canso and Guysborough, Nova Scotia, the place the Canadian Hurricane Centre stated it recorded what could have been the bottom barometric strain of any storm to hit land within the nation’s historical past.

Ian Hubbard, meteorologist for the Canadian Hurricane Centre, informed Reuters it seems Fiona lived as much as expectations that it will be a “historical” storm.

“It did look like it had the potential to break the all-time record in Canada, and it looks like it did,” he stated. “We’re still not out of this yet.”

Storms usually are not unusual within the area and usually cross over quickly, however Fiona is anticipated to impression a really giant space.

Hubbard stated Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island nonetheless have many hours of robust winds, rain and storm surge to go, and the west coast of Newfoundland could be pounded all through the day.

While scientists haven’t but decided whether or not local weather change influenced Fiona’s energy or habits, there may be robust proof that these devastating storms are getting worse.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER

Some 79% of shoppers, or 414,000, had been with out energy in Nova Scotia, and 95%, or 82,000, had misplaced energy on Prince Edward Island, utility firms stated. The area was additionally experiencing spotty cell phone service. Police throughout the area reported a number of street closures.

“She was a wild ride last night, sounded like the whole roof was going to blow off,” stated Gary Hatcher, a retiree who lives in Sydney, Nova Scotia, close to the place the storm made landfall. A maple tree was toppled in his again yard however didn’t harm his home.

Sydney recorded wind gusts of 141 kph (88 mph), Hubbard stated.

The storm weakened considerably because it traveled north. As of 11 a.m. (1500 GMT), it was over the Gulf of St. Lawrence about 100 miles (160 km) west-north-west of Port aux Basques, carrying most winds of 80 miles per hour (130 kph) and barreling north at round 25 mph (41 kph), the NHC stated.

Fiona is anticipated to take care of hurricane-force winds till Saturday afternoon, the NHC stated.

As a strong hurricane when it lashed Caribbean islands earlier within the week, Fiona killed a minimum of eight and knocked out energy for nearly all of Puerto Rico’s 3.3 million folks throughout a sweltering warmth wave. Nearly 1,000,000 folks remained with out energy 5 days later.

No casualties have but been reported in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delayed Saturday’s departure for Japan, the place he was to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to obtain briefings and assist the federal government’s emergency response, Press Secretary Cecely Roy stated on Twitter.

Canadian authorities despatched emergency alerts in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, warning of extreme flooding alongside shorelines and very harmful waves. People in coastal areas had been suggested to evacuate.

Reporting Eric Martyn in Halifax and John Morris in Stephenville; Additional reporting by Ivelisse Rivera in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Writing by Steve Scherer; Editing by Frances Kerry and Bill Berkrot

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LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) – King Charles was greeted by cheering crowds outdoors Buckingham Palace on Friday as he returned to London ahead of a televised address to a nation mourning the loss of life of his mom Queen Elizabeth after seven a long time on the throne.

Charles, who raced to be by the facet of the queen at her Scottish house on Thursday, headed again to London along with his spouse Camilla, now Queen Consort, earlier than a gathering with the prime minister and making a televised assertion at 1700 GMT.

The loss of life of the queen, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a towering presence on the world stage for 70 years, has introduced messages of condolences from around the globe.

Outside Buckingham Palace in central London, Britain’s new monarch was met with cheers, applause and a crowd singing “God Save The King” as he made his first public look since ascending the throne. learn extra

“I said thank you for coming and I’m so sorry, and he said thank you to me,” mentioned Denise Berriman, one of these the brand new king spoke to throughout his impromptu 10-minute walkabout after stopping his automotive outdoors the palace gates.

“Then I told Camilla to look after Charles, and she said ‘I’ll try’. I was amongst the first people to shake the hand of the King of England. I was two-and-a-half when Elizabeth became queen, and we will never have someone like her again, and I’m 73 now watching her son become king.”

Charles and Camilla then briefly inspected the mass of flowers left outdoors the well-known black railings, earlier than heading into the palace the place the flag of the British sovereign was flown overhead.

Britain had woken up to its first day with no lady as soon as described by her grandson Harry as “the nation’s grandmother”. Billboards throughout town displayed messages of condolence and newspapers ran front-page photograph tributes to the queen.

Buckingham Palace mentioned there can be a interval of mourning to be noticed by members of the household and the royal family till per week after the funeral, the date of which has not but been confirmed however is predicted in about 10 days time.

American broadcaster NBC reported that U.S. President Joe Biden would attend.

Charles will formally be proclaimed king on Saturday at a gathering of the Accession Council held at St James’s Palace adopted by proclamations throughout the nation. learn extra

NATIONAL MOURNING

The authorities has declared a interval of nationwide mourning which might proceed till the state funeral, and a web based book of condolence was opened.

Some individuals shed tears as they laid flowers outdoors royal palaces the place 1000’s turned up throughout the day to pay their respects.

“She was amazing. She was like everyone’s granny,” mentioned Kay McClement, 55, who got here with a pal to depart flowers at Balmoral Castle.

Railway employee Liam Fitzjohn, 27, mentioned he introduced his daughter for a second of historical past. “She’s all we ever knew,” he mentioned.

The authorities mentioned it anticipated giant crowds to mass at royal residences and warned of doable delays on some public transport.

Elizabeth was head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 different realms together with Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Charles, who mechanically succeeded her as king, mentioned the loss of life was a second of nice unhappiness for himself and his household.

“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world,” the 73-year-old mentioned in a press release.

He will meet Prime Minister Liz Truss earlier than later addressing the nation.

There have been gun salutes at London’s Hyde Park and on the Tower of London, and the bells at Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s in addition to the Sebastopol Bell at Windsor Castle, captured throughout the nineteenth Century Crimean War, tolled.

Regular enterprise in parliament was changed with a particular session for lawmakers to pay tribute to the queen. Parliament may also convene on Saturday, one thing it hardly ever does, to approve a message of condolence to the king.

“Since last night’s shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of her late majesty, the queen,” Truss advised lawmakers, who held a minute’s silence initially of proceedings.

“Her late majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. She was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” mentioned Truss, who Elizabeth solely appointed on Tuesday in her final public responsibility – the fifteenth premier of her lengthy reign.

Bereft of its image of continuity and resilience, Britain begins its new period with a brand new king and new prime minister in grave financial disaster and following years of political division.

Long-running industrial motion sparked by surging inflation was cancelled throughout the interval of mourning.

The Bank of England mentioned it could delay its month-to-month assembly to set rates of interest by one week due to the loss of life.

MACRON’S MESSAGE

News that the queen’s well being was deteriorating emerged shortly after noon on Thursday when a palace assertion mentioned she had been put underneath medical supervision, prompting her household to rush to Scotland.

The queen had been affected by what Buckingham Palace had referred to as “episodic mobility problems” for the reason that finish of final yr, forcing her to withdraw from practically all her public engagements. Her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, died in April final yr.

Condolences poured in from leaders around the globe. From the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the European Commission in Brussels flags have been flown at half-mast. Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines and French President Emmanuel Macron have been amongst these to signal books of condolence. learn extra

“To you, she was your queen. To us, she was the queen. To us all she (will) be with us forever,” Macron mentioned in a heartfelt message to the British individuals.

Elizabeth, who was additionally the world’s oldest and longest-serving head of state, got here to the throne following the loss of life of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was simply 25 and oversaw a seismic change within the social, political and financial construction of her nation.

She gained reward for guiding the monarchy into the twenty first Century and modernising it within the course of, regardless of intense media scrutiny and the customarily extremely public travails of her household. Charles, who polls point out is much less widespread than his mom, now has the duty of securing the establishment’s future.

“His Majesty, King Charles III, bears an awesome responsibility that he now carries for all of us,” Truss advised parliament. “He has already made a profound contribution through his work on conservation, education, and his tireless diplomacy. We owe him our loyalty and devotion.”

Reporting by Michael Holden, William James, Kate Holton, Humza Jilani, Farouq Suleiman, Muvija M, and Alistair Smout in London and Andrew MacAskill and Gerhard Mey in Balmoral; Editing by Kate Holton and Janet Lawrence

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BALMORAL, Scotland, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Britain’s royal family rushed to be with Queen Elizabeth after medical doctors mentioned they had been involved concerning the well being of the 96-year-old monarch on Thursday and mentioned she ought to stay below medical supervision.

The queen, Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign and the world’s oldest monarch, has been affected by what Buckingham Palace has known as “episodic mobility problems” because the finish of final 12 months.

“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the palace mentioned in an announcement.

“The queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

Her eldest son and inheritor Prince Charles and his spouse Camilla travelled to her Scottish residence, Balmoral Castle, the place she is staying, alongside together with his eldest son Prince William, officers mentioned. Her different youngsters – Anne, Andrew and Edward – had been additionally on the fort.

A spokesperson mentioned Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan, in Britain for a quantity of occasions, would additionally journey to Scotland.

Such a family gathering, outdoors of vacation occasions comparable to Christmas or Easter or main public occasions, is extraordinarily uncommon.

The BBC interrupted its regular schedule to change to fixed protection of the queen.

“My prayers, and the prayers of people across the @churchofengland and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today,” Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, mentioned on Twitter. learn extra

Last October, Elizabeth spent an evening in hospital and he or she has been compelled to in the reduction of on public engagements since then. On Wednesday she cancelled a digital assembly with senior ministers after being suggested to relaxation by her medical doctors.

The earlier day she had been pictured appointing Liz Truss because the nation’s new prime minister at Balmoral, the fifteenth premier of her record-breaking reign.

A palace supply performed down hypothesis that the monarch had suffered a fall.

RECORD-BREAKING REIGN

Elizabeth has been queen of Britain and greater than a dozen different nations since 1952, together with Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and earlier this 12 months marked her seventieth 12 months on the throne with 4 days of nationwide celebrations in June.

“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come,” she mentioned on the time.

Elizabeth got here to the throne after the loss of life of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was simply 25.

She was topped in June the next 12 months. The first televised coronation was a foretaste of a brand new world by which the lives of the royals had been to turn into more and more scrutinised by the media.

She turned monarch at a time when Britain retained a lot of its empire. It was rising from the ravages of World War Two, with meals rationing nonetheless in pressure and sophistication and privilege nonetheless dominant in society.

Winston Churchill was the primary prime minister who served throughout her reign, Joseph Stalin was chief of the Soviet Union, the Korean War was raging.

The prime minister mentioned: “My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”

Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons, interrupted an power debate in parliament to say he despatched his greatest needs to the monarch.

“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” opposition Labour chief Keir Starmer mentioned.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon mentioned on Twitter: “All of us are feeling profoundly concerned at reports of Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and wishes are with the Queen and all of the Royal Family at this time.”

Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Janet Lawrence

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JAMES SMITH CREE NATION, Saskatchewan, Sept 5 (Reuters) – Canadian police on Monday found one among the suspects in a mass stabbing spree lifeless whereas the different suspect, his brother, was still on the run and could also be injured, officers mentioned.

The brothers Damien and Myles Sanderson are suspected of murdering 10 individuals and wounding 18 in a stabbing rampage that devastated an indigenous group in Saskatchewan on Sunday, in a rustic unaccustomed to outbreaks of mass violence.

The assaults have been amongst the deadliest in Canada’s fashionable historical past. learn extra Police mentioned a few of the victims appeared to have been focused, whereas others have been apparently random. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/3cKaBP0)

The victims included a mom of two, a 77-year-old widower and a primary responder. learn extra

In a manhunt involving tons of of cops, Damien Sanderson, 31, was found lifeless in a grassy space on the James Smith Cree Nation, probably killed by his brother, who had been beforehand needed for violent crimes.

The brother still at massive, Myles Sanderson, 30, “may have sustained injuries” and may very well be searching for medical consideration, mentioned Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police, at a information convention.

With the loss of life of 1 Sanderson brother and the harm to the different, the casualty depend now stood at 11 lifeless and 19 injured, Blackmore mentioned.

“We can confirm he has visible injuries. These injuries are not believed to be self-inflicted at this point,” Blackmore mentioned with out specifying what prompted the accidents.

Asked if Myles Sanderson was suspected of additionally killing his brother, Blackmore mentioned, “It is an investigative avenue that we are following up on but we can’t say that definitively.”

She additionally warned that police still thought of Myles Sanderson a hazard to the public, even when he have been injured.

“Myles has a lengthy criminal record involving both persons and property crimes. … We consider him armed and dangerous. Do not approach him,” Blackmore mentioned.

Police in the Saskatchewan metropolis of Saskatoon had been trying to find Myles Sanderson since May, when he stopped assembly his parole officer after serving a sentence for assault, theft, mischief and uttering threats, CBC News reported.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL BLAMED

Ivor Wayne Burns of James Smith Cree Nation mentioned three of the victims – his sister Gloria Lydia Burns, a lady and a 14-year-old boy – died at a single location.

However police informed a press convention on Monday that the youngest sufferer was born in 1999.

Gloria Burns, a member of the group’s disaster response crew, was killed when she attended an emergency name.

“This tragedy that happened here on our land, it’s all because of drugs and alcohol,” mentioned Burns, including that the involvement of medicine in the killings was mentioned at a group assembly on Monday.

“The drug problem we have here is rampant. It’s gone out of control,” Burns mentioned.

His feedback echoed these on Sunday of Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, who related the killings with medication.

Although police haven’t recognized medication or alcohol as an element, Burns mentioned the males answerable for the killings are band members and have been excessive at the time of the crimes. Band is a time period used to seek advice from sure First Nations communities in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau known as the assaults “shocking and heartbreaking” and mentioned he had spoken with the management of the James Smith Cree Nation and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to pledge his authorities’s assist.

“The federal government will be there with the resources necessary right now in this time of crisis but also we’ll continue to work as partners in the weeks, months and years to come through grieving and healing,” Trudeau mentioned at the Ottawa airport, earlier than flying to Vancouver for a gathering of Liberal ministers.

In an unrelated incident that has additional rattled the province, police in Saskatchewan mentioned on Monday they have been investigating experiences of a capturing on Witchekan Lake First Nation and warned the public that a number of armed suspects have been on the free. learn extra

Reporting by David Stobbe in James Smith Cree Nation, Saskatchewan, Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ismail Shakil in Ottawa, and Kanishka Singh in Washington;
Writing by Rami Ayyub and Daniel Trotta;
Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Alistair Bell

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