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Annan visits Syria as outrage grows over weekend massacre

Special envoy Kofi Annan will meet with President Bashar al-Assad and senior officials, though rebel leaders say Annan's peace plan is already "dead" following a gruesome massacre that killed 108 people in one town.

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(CNN) DAMASCUS - International envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Syria on Monday, even though rebel leaders say Annan's peace plan is already "dead" following a gruesome massacre that killed 108 people in one town.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary William Hague met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday in hopes that Russia would pressure the Syrian regime to abide by Annan's peace plan.

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China's Military Intentions Are Clear — And Arming Taiwan Is The Only Deterrence

China is spending more money on weapons and defense than ever. The reason is evident: Xi Jinping wants to take Taiwan. Europe should follow the U.S. and support Taipei militarily as the only way to deter Beijing from war.

Photo of Military drills in Taiwan amid rising China-U.S. Tensions

Taiwanese soldiers stand guard at a base during a military drill simulating defense operations against a possible Chinese PLA intrusion

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Gregor Schwung

-OpEd-

BERLIN — Fear is never the best advisor.

It is, however, an understandable emotion when China announces the biggest increase in its defense budget in memory. And when Beijing does so after siding with Russia in the Ukraine war with its supposed "peace plan" and justifying the increase with an alleged "escalating oppression" of China in the world.

The budget plan unveiled by outgoing Premier Li Keqiang calls for a 7.2% increase in defense spending. That's more than in previous years — and just the official figure.

Experts estimate the true spending is much higher, as Beijing finances its military through numerous shadow budgets.

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