Briefly

SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia, Colombia expel each other's envoys

Bolivia and Colombia expelled each other's ambassadors on Wednesday in a spat over civil unrest. Bolivia requested that Colombian Ambassador Elizabeth Garcia conclude her diplomatic mission following remarks by Colombian President Gustavo Petro on demonstrations choking La Paz and other cities, which Bolivia described as interference in its domestic affairs. Later on Wednesday, Colombia's Foreign Ministry said it has expelled Ariel Percy Molina Pimentel, charge d'affaires of the Bolivian embassy. In response to weeks of nationwide protests, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz said on Wednesday that he would reshuffle his cabinet and create an economic and social council.

JAPAN

US missile system to be deployed again

The United States military will redeploy its Typhon midrange missile launcher and HIMARS rocket launcher to southwestern Japan next month for joint exercises, Kyodo News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The Typhon system was temporarily deployed in Japan for the first time in September during joint drills in western Japan, which sparked residents' criticism after the system remained there far longer than initially explained. A local civic group submitted a request to the Defense Ministry demanding the system's immediate removal, expressing concern that such deployments under the name of joint exercises could become routine.

ITALY

EU sanctions sought on Israeli minister

Italy asked the European Union on Thursday to sanction an Israeli minister who posted a video showing detained activists from a Gazabound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that he had made a formal request to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, on account of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir "for the unacceptable acts committed against the flotilla, seizing the activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, in violation of the most basic human rights".

Xinhua - Agencies