The China Mail - Boulevard

Doner diplomacy: German president takes kebab chef on Turkey trip

Accompanied by a Berlin kebab chef, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier kicked off a delicate visit to Turkey Monday, hailing strong ties between Germans and Turks despite Berlin's difficult relationship with his Turkish counterpart.

Prosecution lays out 'criminal conspiracy' in historic Trump trial

Prosecutors accused Donald Trump of engaging in "criminal conspiracy and a coverup" as opening arguments began Monday in the first ever criminal trial of a former US president.

Gaza health system 'completely obliterated': UN expert

Israel's war in Gaza has from the start been a "war on the right to health" and has "obliterated" the Palestinian territory's health system, a UN expert said on Monday.

Trump in NY court for opening statements at criminal trial

Former president Donald Trump arrived in court Monday for opening statements in his criminal trial and condemned the high-stakes case as a "witch hunt" designed to derail his White House bid.

Trump arrives at NY court for opening statements in criminal trial

Donald Trump arrived at a Manhattan courthouse Monday for opening statements in his high-stakes criminal trial, the first ever of a former president, with proceedings set to run in parallel with his attempt to retake the White House.

Southern China storms kill four, force mass evacuations

Four people are dead and 10 others missing following storms that battered southern China, state media said Monday, with tens of thousands evacuated from areas hit by torrential downpours.

'Tomb Raider' owner Embracer splits into three companies

Sweden's Embracer, owner of the "Tomb Raider" franchise, announced Monday it would split into three separate companies in a major reset for one of Europe's biggest video game groups.

Indian prodigy, 17, makes chess history

A 17-year-old from India will become the youngest player to challenge for the World Chess Championship crown after winning a major tournament in Canada.

Ecuador leader hails apparent approval of extradition, anti-gang measures

An early exit poll on Sunday showed overwhelming Ecuadoran voter support for the extradition of mafia bosses to US prisons and other tough anti-gang measures, with President Daniel Noboa hailing the result as giving him "more tools to fight crime."

French basilica displays rediscovered Raphael painting

Visitors queued up at a southern French basilica Sunday to see a rediscovered painting by Italian renaissance painter Raphael.

'War against women': Iran ramps up crackdown as regional tensions rage

Executions of convicts, arrests of dissidents and a resurgence in patrols enforcing the obligatory wearing of hijabs: Iran is stepping up repression at home as tensions flare with its arch-foe Israel, activists say.

Trump postpones first rally since trial began, due to bad weather

Donald Trump called off a rally on Saturday, the Republican candidate's first campaign event since his criminal trial in New York began this week, due to bad weather threatening the outdoor gathering.

Kenya pays military homage to army chief killed in copter crash

With a 19-gun cannon salute and a religious ceremony Kenya on Saturday paid a military tribute to its army chief who died in a helicopter accident this week.

Elon Musk's X fights Australian watchdog over church stabbing posts

Elon Musk's X said Saturday it will fight an Australian watchdog's order to take down content related to the brutal stabbing of a priest during a live-streamed Sydney church service.

'Early-stage' AI begins to make waves at China sex toy expo

Among the rows of vibrators, rubber torsos and leather harnesses at a Chinese sex toys exhibition in Shanghai this weekend, the beginnings of an AI-driven shift in the industry quietly pulsed.

Glowering, threats and Al Capone: what faces the Trump jury

Terrorists, mafia bosses -- and Donald Trump. The common thread? When they go on trial, the jurors have such a tough task that they have to be kept anonymous for their own safety.

Trump jury set for opening statements

Donald Trump's unprecedented criminal trial is set for opening statements next week after final jury selection ended Friday, leaving the Republican presidential candidate facing weeks of hostile testimony that will overshadow his White House campaign.

Haiti sees surge of deaths amid instability crisis: UN report

A soaring wave of gang violence in Haiti left 1,660 people dead and some 850 injured in the first three months of 2024, a UN report said Friday.

Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police

The mayor of a mining town in violence-riddled Ecuador was shot dead Friday, the second such killing in days ahead of a weekend referendum on tougher measures against organized crime, police said.

Man self-immolates outside Trump trial as jury selected

A man set himself on fire Friday outside the courthouse where at almost the same moment, full jury selection was completed in the unprecedented criminal trial of Donald Trump.

French police detain intruder at Iranian consulate in Paris

French authorities Friday detained a man suspected of entering the Iranian consulate in Paris and falsely claiming to be armed with an explosive vest, police and prosecutors said.

Situation 'unstable' at Copenhagen landmark after blaze

Three days after a fire which ravaged Copenhagen's historic former stock exchange broke out, emergency services said Friday that the situation was "unstable" due to equipment issues and a strong breeze.

Kyrgyzstan's TikTok block builds censorship fears

In her photography studio in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aku Sharsheeva, tried unsuccessfully to connect to TikTok this week.

Court aims to wrap Trump jury selection ahead of opening arguments

The judge in Donald Trump's criminal trial hoped to wrap up jury selection Friday before opening arguments start next week in the historic case against the former president and 2024 Republican White House contender.

Migrant rescuers vindicated after Italy court drops trafficking charges

An Italian court threw out charges Friday against crew members of migrant rescue ships, ending a controversial case seven years after the government accused them of colluding with traffickers.

Remote Indonesia volcano erupts again after thousands evacuated

A remote Indonesian volcano sent a tower of ash spewing into the sky Friday, after nearly half a dozen eruptions earlier this week forced thousands to evacuate when molten rocks rained down on their villages.

Indonesia on alert for more eruptions from remote volcano

Indonesian authorities were on alert Friday for more eruptions from a remote island volcano that forced thousands to evacuate this week, as nearby residents began clearing debris after molten rocks rained down on their villages.

Three Filipinos dead in UAE floods: officials

Three workers from the Philippines have died in heavy flooding in the United Arab Emirates, Filipino officials announced, as the desert country struggled on Friday to recover from record rains.

Kenya mourns defence chief killed in helicopter crash

Kenya began three days of mourning on Friday after its defence chief and nine other senior military officers were killed in a helicopter crash, the latest accident to blight the nation's military.

Indonesia on alert for more eruptions at remote volcano