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Added on the 07/04/2021 19:26:09 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Tibetan protesters gather in New Delhi to protest against the Beijing Winter Olympics, which are due to open on Friday night. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will announce the Games are officially open, will be joined by leaders including his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia are among countries staging a diplomatic boycott over China's human rights record. IMAGES
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach reacts to a growing diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics in February, prompted by what the Western allies argue are widespread rights abuses by China. "The presence of government officials is a purely political decision for each government," he says, adding, "the principle of the political neutrality of the IOC applies." Britain on Wednesday joined Australia and the United States in announcing they will not send ministers to the Winter Games in the Chinese capital. SOUNDBITE
The US won't send diplomatic representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and "contribute to the fanfare of the Games", "given the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang", says White House press secretary Jen Psaki. SOUNDBITE
Last week, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said the US would reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 down to 2,500 by year's end. O'Brien added that the drawdown would take place, regardless of the conditions on the ground. But on Sunday, America's most senior general publicly pushed back at O'Brien's remarks, calling them 'speculation.' Robert O'Brien, or anyone else, can speculate as they see fit, I am not going to engage in speculation, I'm going to engage in the rigorous analysis of the situation based on the conditions and the plans that I'm aware of in my conversations with the President. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley The mixed messages from the Pentagon and the White House come as the Taliban launched a major military offensive against the Afghan government. The attack prompted US military aircraft to carry out a series of airstrikes against Taliban fighters in recent days.
A South Korean burger joint owner was baffled when world famous US Olympic snowboarder Shaun White came into his restaurant to try the $920 'Flying Tomato Burger,' named after Shaun's nickname. Although the burger was intended as a joke, Shaun White came and ordered it, taking pictures with the owners and enjoying his meal. He went on to win an Olympic Gold medal on Wednesday