◆ SpookStack

:, Shin} reports as North Korean “congress on Tuesday, ne * every sector.’” Kim said, “The previous fiv e-year plat short of goa is on almost every sector.” "g (1/5, 3.57M} reports Kim said the party would explore @ “new pati ” for makir ng @ “big leap forward.” The New York Times (1/5, 28.6M)} says Kim’‘s cornments corre “amid deepening economic ‘trouble caused by the one-two ounch of international sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.” Similarly, the &P (1/5, KIM} says the congress “could be crucial, tom ing as it does amid what some experts sce as the most fi raught moment of Kim’s nine-year ruje.” leader Kim Jang-un opened the ruling Warker’s Party said his five-year economic plan had faded to meet its goal‘on eimost 'Pro-Democracy Figures Arrested In Hong Kong. The ABP CUS, Sco} Cites local media reports which say “about 50 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures “were arrested by police on Wednesday under a national sec rity law, following their involvernent in an unofficial primary election last year held to increase their chances of controling the fegisiature.” The | \ {3/5, 20.6M) says the arrests “merked the largest roundup yet under the security law, which the central Chinese government imposed on Hong Kong in June to ‘quash dissent after months of flerce anti-Beljing protests. The move on Wednesday suggested that the suthorities were casting a wide net for anyone who had played @ prominent role in opposing of 2 st (4/5, Yu, 10.52M) reports, “Several arrested and charged under the law | have been denied bali, meaning the pro-dernocracy activists arrested Wednesday could be held indefinitely until formal hearings, which could take weeks.” Fi Former Chief Of Major Chinese State Bank Sentenced Toe Death. © (2/5, Stevenson, 20.6} reports that La: Xigomin, “the former chief of a bid mers der, was sentenced to death on Tuesday for bribery, corruption and rigamy, mS ‘rare and dramatic example of Bening’s use of capital punishment for economic crimes.” Lal “was found guilty by @ Court in the coastal city of Tianin of receiving sorme $277 millon in Gribes,” and “Was arn he highest-profie figures to rom grace amid a sweeping crackdown on corruption by Xi Jinping, China’s top leader.” The Tires adds that “the unusualy harsh sentence could send a signal that Mr. Xiis not ready fo ease his enticorruption campaign, which he began hortiy after he took contro] of the Communist Party in late 2032.” : i (3/5, 3.57M) reports that “capital punishment is unusual for corruption in Chine,” : the move underscores the eng | Cammiunist Party's increasingly tough stance an “corru pti ion among government cadres and corporate executives, which has seen more than 1.5 sn government officals punished.” | Saudis End Three-Year Rift With Qatar At Urging Of Trump Administration. AP Batrawy, DeBre, Nabi} reports that on Tuesday, “Gulf Arab leaders signed a _deciaration...to ease a rift with Qatar, following Saudi Arabia's decision ta end a 3 (naan frayed sociat thes across the Arabian sula." In addition, Saud: Arabia “said it was restoring full ‘diplomatic relations with Qatar, although it was not clear how scon the step would be followed by the United Arab € Emirates, Bahrain and Ecypt, which had joined the kingdorn in isolating the country over its regional policies.” According te the AP, “The diplomatic breakthrough followed a final push by the Qutqaing Trump administration,” and “also carne as Saudi Arabia seexs to unify Arab ranks ahead of the inca! ming administration. .which is expected to take a firmer stand toward the kingdorn and re-engage with Iran.” : (1/5, Specia, 20.6M)} says “few details were ¢ immediately avaiable” abot “tthe deal, which was “signed af a regional summit meeting in Ai Ula, Saud: Arabia, by ‘representatives frorm that kingdorn end the five other Gulf ¢ Cooperati jon C guna countries.” According to the Times, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, : during the meeting, said the agreament emphasized ‘solidarity and stability : ‘ers -Yaakoubi} reports that the deal “followed mediation efforts by the “Uni ted States and Kuwait, BMG 2 FBI(2 1cv558)-60