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Putin arrives in Beijing, to meet Xi as tensions rise with West over Ukraine

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Putin arrives in Beijing, to meet Xi as tensions rise with West over Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday arrived in Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympic Games and talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as the two leaders look to project themselves as a counterweight to the U.S. and its allies.

The Russian leader’s visit comes amid growing Chinese support for Moscow in its dispute with Ukraine that threatens to break out into armed conflict.

Putin’s presence makes him the highest-profile guest at the event following the decision by the U.S., Britain, and others not to send officials in protest over China’s human rights abuses and its treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Putin’s arrival from Moscow early Friday afternoon was confirmed by Russian state news agency RIA. The two leaders are due to hold talks then have a private lunch together.

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The discussions mark their first in-person meeting since 2019 and come as China and Russia increasingly align their foreign policies bilaterally and in world bodies such as the United Nations, in opposition to the United States-led bloc.

Leaders of the five ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, which have close ties with both Russia and China, all followed Putin’s lead and are attending, along with other states that have political and economic interests with Beijing.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Daren Tang were among other dignitaries who arrived Thursday.

The Putin-Xi talks are expected to focus on coordinating their countries’ foreign policies, with Putin writing in an article published Thursday by the Chinese news agency Xinhua that Moscow and Beijing play an “important stabilizing role” in global affairs and help make international affairs “more equitable and inclusive.”

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The Russian president criticized “attempts by some countries to politicize sports to the benefit of their ambitions,” an apparent reference to a U.S.-led diplomatic boycott, which does not affect the participation of athletes in the Games.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, said that Moscow and Beijing plan to issue a joint statement that will reflect their shared views on global security, as officials from the two countries are set to sign more than a dozen agreements on trade, energy, and other issues.

Ushakov noted that Moscow and Beijing have close or identical stands on most international issues. He said China supports Russia’s demands for security guarantees that have underpinned the standoff over Ukraine.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a call last week that Moscow’s security concerns need to be taken seriously and addressed, a statement that marked a notable policy shift for Beijing.

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A buildup of more than 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western fears that Moscow is poised to invade its neighbor. Russia has denied planning an offensive but urged the U.S. and its allies to provide a binding pledge that NATO won’t expand to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations or deploy weapons there, and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe — demands firmly rejected by the West.

Some observers suggested that Beijing is closely watching how the U.S. and its allies act in the standoff over Ukraine as it ponders further strategy on Taiwan, arguing that indecision by Washington could encourage China to grow more assertive.

Russia and China have held a series of joint war games, including naval drills and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. In August, Russian troops for the first time deployed to Chinese territory for joint maneuvers.

Putin has also has noted that Russia has been sharing highly sensitive military technologies with China that helped significantly bolster its defense capability.

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Complete News Source : Hindustan Times

Music

Korean soloist IU sues ex-classmate and 180 others over online harassment, deepfakes, and slander

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Korean soloist IU sues ex-classmate and 180 others over online harassment, deepfakes, and slander

IU’s agency, EDAM, reports ongoing court proceedings and additional charges as they address severe online threats against her.

Korean singer-songwriter IU, also known as Lee Ji Eun, has taken decisive legal action against over 180 individuals involved in cyberbullying. These legal proceedings, initiated in 2023, are ongoing, with some cases already reaching the formal court hearing stage, according to the recent update from the agency.

The accusations against these individuals range from severe harassment, including threats and defamation, to the creation and distribution of harmful deepfake content. IU’s agency has cited the gravity of these offenses, which they believe meet the criteria for criminal charges

Also read: Yellowstone season 5 Part 2: How to watch for free; time, TV, live streaming details, date, and more

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IU files legal lawsuit against 180 individuals over cyber bullying

K-pop idols and celebrities frequently face online harassment, often seen as the darker side of fandom culture. In some cases, cyberstalking escalates to the point where idols are subjected to physical threats. On November 11 (KST), EDAM issued a statement announcing they had filed complaints citing severe harassment cases.

“Our agency, in collaboration with a law firm, has filed complaints targeting those who have engaged in criminal acts, including threats, defamation, malicious false accusations of plagiarism, death threats, privacy violations, sexual harassment, distribution of obscene content, creation and distribution of illegal deepfake materials and other illegal activities,” EDAM ent said in an official statement according to the Korea Times.

IU sues ex-classmate for cyber bullying

According to insiders, in addition to the 180 lawsuits already filed, more charges are lined up. One individual accused in the case also involves the singer’s former classmate. “Among them, there is one individual who is presumed to be a middle school classmate of IU. Despite the ongoing case, it has been found that they continue to harass IU. So, we are responding,” EDAM said.

Also read: ‘Is Kate Middleton a smoker’: TV host Narinder Kaur blasted for spreading conspiracy, apologises, ‘an Indian woman..’

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The case which grabbed a lot of limelight back in 2023 resulted in a major controversy and has so far resulted in six fines, three cases with mandatory education, and one case with probation, according to the agency. Among these cases are accusations from April and May last year, where the singer was targeted with baseless claims of plagiarism.

EDAM also highlighted a particular case where IU faced serious online harassment, including false rumors, sexual harassment, and death threats. Prosecutors have requested a fine of 3 million won (about $2,240) for the person involved. The individual is reportedly appealing the sentence, with a formal trial yet to take place.

EDAM revealed that it has collaborated with “relevant” sources to track individuals using foreign IP addresses or living abroad in attempts to avoid legal trouble. In one case, a suspect accused IU of espionage, claiming she was a spy. However, progress has been delayed as the suspect has continually refused to appear for questioning. This case has now been handed over to the prosecution for further investigation.

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