Xi and Putin to discuss Ukraine war at meeting - Kremlin
China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin will discuss the war in Ukraine and other "international and regional topics" at their meeting later this week, the Kremlin says, BBC reported.
The two will meet in Uzbekistan at a summit that will show an "alternative" to the Western world, the Kremlin said.
Mr Xi is making his first trip overseas since the beginning of the pandemic.
He is seeking a historic third term while Mr Putin's relations with the West are at rock bottom over Ukraine.
Mr Xi is beginning his three-day trip in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. He will then meet Mr Putin on Thursday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, which will run from 15-16 September.
Mr Putin will also meet other leaders including those of India, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran - but his meeting with China's leader "is of particular importance," said Kremlin foreign policy spokesman Yuri Ushakov.
China and Russia have long sought to position the SCO, founded in 2001 with four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, as an alternative to Western multilateral groups.
Mr Xi last left China in January 2020 to visit Myanmar - just days before the first lockdown came into effect in Wuhan. He has remained in China since then, leaving the mainland only once in July this year to visit Hong Kong.
Mr Putin is also making a rare foray abroad. His meeting with Turkish and Iranian leaders in Tehran in July was only his second foreign trip since Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
This is the two leaders' second meeting this year - they last met at Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.
China is not part of the international sanctions against Russia and trade between the two countries has continued to grow. Indian and Chinese imports of Russian oil have soared since the Ukraine invasion.
China too has seen its relations with the West and especially the US sour in recent months following tensions over self-ruled Taiwan. China claims the island as part of its territory.
Last month, Beijing staged a five-day military blockade around the island in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit.
China watchers say Mr Xi's decision to leave China after more than two years, despite significant domestic challenges - crippling lockdowns and a faltering economy - show his confidence in his leadership, BBC reported.
Analysts expect him to be re-elected for an unprecedented third term at the upcoming Chinese Communist Party Congress in October.
Ukraine war: Accounts of Russian torture emerge in liberated areas
In north-eastern Ukraine, a counter-offensive has seen the nation's forces recapture swathes of territory, and drive out Russian troops, BBC reported.
But in the newly-liberated areas, relief and sorrow are intertwined - as accounts emerge of torture and killings during the long months of Russian occupation.
Artem, who lives in the city of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region told the BBC he was held by Russians for more than 40 days, and was tortured with electrocution.
Balakliya was liberated on 8 September after being occupied for more than six months. The epicentre of the brutality was the city's police station, which Russian forces used as their headquarters.
Artem said he could hear screams of pain and terror coming from other cells.
The occupiers made sure the cries could be heard, he said, by turning off the building's noisy ventilation system.
"They made me hold two wires," he said.
"There was an electric generator. The faster it went, the higher the voltage. They said, 'if you let it go, you are finished'. Then they started asking questions. They said I was lying, and they started spinning it even more and the voltage increased."
Artem told us he was detained because the Russians found a picture of his brother, a soldier, in uniform. Another man from Balakliya was held for 25 days because he had the Ukrainian flag, Artem said.
A school principal called Tatiana told us she was held in the police station for three days and also heard screams from other cells, according to BBC.
Ukrainian police officers say as many as eight men were held in cells intended for two people. They say locals were scared to even pass the station when the Russians were in charge, in case they were grabbed by Russian soldiers.
In Balakliya's city centre, where the Ukrainian flag flies again, crowds gathered around a small truck carrying food supplies. Many in the queue were elderly and looked exhausted, but there were happy reunions too as friends embraced each other for the first time since the Russians were driven out.
Just a short walk away at the end of a lonely laneway, some of their victims lie hastily buried by their neighbours. A crude wooden cross marked the makeshift grave of a taxi driver called Petro Shepel. His passenger - whose identity is still unknown - lies next to him.
The stench of death filled the air as the police exhumed their remains, and zipped them into body bags.
The authorities say the two men were shot near a Russian checkpoint on the last day of the occupation.
"I want to ask Putin, why did he shoot and kill my son?" she cried.
"What for? Who asked him to come here with such threatening weapons? Not only did he kill our children, but he killed us, their mothers.
"These days I am a dead woman. And I want to address all mothers of the world: rebel against that assassin."
On the road to Balakliya, we saw military vehicles marked with the pro-war "Z" symbol - apparently abandoned by the Russians as they fled, BBC reported.
In a nearby village, we were shown the extensive damage to the school. Local authorities said this was one of the last acts of destruction before the Russians were driven out.
Standing in the ruins, the regional head of Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov, said the critical task now was to restore water and electricity supplies, but there are concerns the power lines could be mined.
Asked by the BBC if he thought the Russians could return he replied: "We are in war, there is always danger".
Nepali envoy to Bangladesh Bhandari calls on Foreign Minister Momen
Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen at the latter’s office in Dhaka on Tuesday. During the meeting, views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest, including the promotion of economic linkages forfurther strengthening Nepal-Bangladesh relations, the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka said. On the occasion, Foreign Minister Momen recalled the contribution of Nepali political and civil society leaders during the liberation war of Bangladesh. He expressed happiness on the increasing momentum of bilateral engagements and underlined the need to enhance economic cooperation in the days ahead. While noting the state of excellent bilateral relations, both at the political and people-to-people levels, ambassador Bhandari also highlighted the positive trends of ongoing engagements between the two countries. He expressed his commitment to work towards consolidating ties in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy, education, and tourism among others, the Embassy said. Earlier today, Ambassador Bhandari also had a meeting with Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. They reviewed diverse areas of cooperation and exchanged views on ways and means to further strengthen Nepal-Bangladesh relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries, according to the Embassy. Ambassador Bhandari was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Kumar Rai and Second Secretary Ranjan Yadav during the meetings.
Visiting Chinese leader pays courtesy call on PM Deuba
Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the Republic of China, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at Singha Durbar on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two dignitaries discussed wide-ranging matters of mutual interest between the two countries including bilateral trade, investment, connectivity, return of Nepali students to China, resumption of passenger flights, and reopening of border ports, among others, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese side appreciated Nepal for its stand on One China policy and its commitment not to allow the Nepali territory to be used against the core interests of China. On the occasion, the Prime Minister appreciated China for its continued support to Nepal’s development endeavours over the years. Li assured the Prime Minister that China will reopen the border ports shortly after controlling Covid-19 cases in Tibet while facilitating the passage of containers carrying goods and supplies for upcoming festivities in Nepal, the statement read. The Chinese delegation informed that it will step up efforts to implement Chinese-assisted projects in Nepal. In response to Nepal’s request, the Chinese side agreed to take proactive efforts to support Nepal’s smooth and sustainable graduation from the LDC status. Earlier this morning, Chinese leader Li held a meeting with Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament of Nepal. During the meeting, various matters of Nepal-China relations including the inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation were discussed. In the afternoon, Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with Li. The two sides exchanged views on various aspects of Nepal-China relations during the meeting.
