China Seeks Greater Global Cooperation on Drug Control

Debris left by drug users lies next to a tattered US flag, in the Bronx borough of New York City, US, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Debris left by drug users lies next to a tattered US flag, in the Bronx borough of New York City, US, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
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China Seeks Greater Global Cooperation on Drug Control

Debris left by drug users lies next to a tattered US flag, in the Bronx borough of New York City, US, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Debris left by drug users lies next to a tattered US flag, in the Bronx borough of New York City, US, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

China's public security minister vowed on Tuesday to deepen international cooperation in the area of drug control, state media Xinhua reported.

Wang Xiaohong, who is also the director of the national narcotics control committee, called for "eradicating the soil that breeds and spreads the drug problem" in a meeting, according to Xinhua, Reuters reported.

The United States has been pressuring China to help reduce US fentanyl deaths.

China says it has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, and that the US needs to curb narcotics demand at home.



Italy Says No US Extradition Request for Detained Iranian Businessman So Far

A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)
A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)
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Italy Says No US Extradition Request for Detained Iranian Businessman So Far

A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)
A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)

The United States has not submitted any formal request of extradition for an Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini detained in Milan, Italy's justice minister said in an interview published on Thursday.
"The matter of Abedini is purely legal ... regardless of the (freeing of Italian journalist) Cecilia Sala. It is premature to talk of extradition, also because no formal request has been sent to our ministry so far," Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told daily La Stampa.
Abedini is wanted by the United States on suspicion of involvement in a drone strike against US forces in Jordan. Iran has denied involvement and said last week the detention of the Iranian national amounted to hostage-taking.
His arrest has been linked to the detention three days later of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was seized in Tehran on Dec. 19 while working under a regular journalistic visa and freed on Jan. 8.