The China Mail - Politics

Stocks mostly retreat, pound drops

Equity markets mostly fell Thursday and the pound retreated once more against the dollar on lingering recession fears despite hopes that the US Federal Reserve will tame the pace of aggressive interest rate hikes.

Lebanon far from gas riches even if Israel deal agreed: analysts

Lebanon is grappling to strike a deal with Israel over contested maritime gas fields, but even with an agreement the cash-strapped country faces multiple hurdles before tapping potential hydrocarbon riches, analysts say.

West bracing for defeat against China at UN rights vote

Western countries trying to pass an unprecedented resolution at the UN's top rights body targeting China for widespread abuses were scrambling Thursday for votes and bracing for possible defeat.

Ukraine troops eye 'light at end of tunnel' on southern front

They lived for months in fox holes, pounded by Russian artillery, on a frontline frozen in stalemate. But with a counter-offensive reaping results in the south, Ukrainian soldiers were eyeing "light at the end of the tunnel".

'Bella Ciao', protest anthem the world loves to sing

From Ukraine to Chile, protesters worldwide have long rallied to the stirring Italian anthem "Bella Ciao", now being sung by demonstrators in solidarity with women in Iran.

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, blames US for 'escalation'

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Thursday and claimed its recent blitz of sanctions-busting tests were necessary countermeasures against joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.

Myanmar junta jails Japanese filmmaker for 10 years

Myanmar's junta has jailed a Japanese filmmaker for 10 years, more than two months after he was arrested while filming an anti-coup protest, a military spokesman said Thursday.

Iranian Kurd exiles in Iraq under fire as protests rage

As protests flare across Iran over the death of young Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, the Kurdistan region of neighbouring Iraq has paid a price, coming under bombardment from the Islamic republic's forces.

Zero-Covid in China key to Xi legacy as he eyes third term

For many in China, years of gruelling lockdowns and privacy invasions aimed at extinguishing Covid have caused misery.

'Watched the whole time': China's surveillance state grows under Xi

When Chen picked up his phone to vent his anger at getting a parking ticket, his message on WeChat was a drop in the ocean of daily posts on China's biggest social network.

Asian markets drift as global rally peters, focus now on US jobs

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as this week's global rally ran out of juice, with concerns about a huge oil output cut's impact on inflation tempering hopes that central banks could soon ease back on their rate hike campaigns.

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, blames US drills 'escalation'

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Thursday as it claimed its recent blitz of sanctions-busting tests were necessary countermeasures against joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.

European 'community' leaders meet in face of Russia's war

Leaders from Ukraine, Britain and Turkey join EU counterparts on Thursday for an inaugural summit of the "European Political Community" aimed at bringing the continent together in the face of Russia's aggression.

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, slams US carrier deployment

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Thursday as it justified its recent blitz of sanctions-busting tests as necessary countermeasures against joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.

Traore officially named Burkina Faso president after coup

Captain Ibrahim Traore was appointed as president of Burkina Faso on Wednesday, according to an official statement, after the West African country's second coup in less than nine months.

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, slams UN meet

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Thursday, Seoul's military said, as the UN Security Council met to discuss Pyongyang's earlier, highly provocative launch of a missile over Japan.

Brazil third-place candidate backs Lula in runoff

The candidate who finished third in Brazil's first-round presidential election gave her endorsement Wednesday to leftist veteran Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his runoff against far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.

Broad support in US for nuclear diplomacy with Iran: poll

The vast majority of Americans support diplomacy with Iran to constrain its nuclear program, a survey found Wednesday, amid a stalemate in negotiations to restore a 2015 deal.

US citizen, 85, flies out of Iran for medical care

An 85-year-old Iranian-American arrested in Tehran more than six years ago landed in Oman on Wednesday as he seeks urgent medical treatment, his lawyer said, as the United States presses for the release of three other citizens.

Ethiopian govt, Tigray rebels, say ready for peace talks after AU invite

Ethiopia's government and rebels from the country's Tigray region said Wednesday they were ready to attend peace talks after the African Union invited both parties to negotiations in South Africa.

Blinken hails 'shared approach' with Chile

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday hailed a "shared approach and shared priorities" with Chile under President Gabriel Boric, one of a string of leftist leaders recently elected in Latin America.

Awkward anniversary as French far-right marks 50 years

France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen said her anti-immigration party was "ready to govern" Wednesday as it marked 50 years since its founding, an awkward anniversary that has highlighted her troubled relationship with her father.

Biden tours Florida hurricane clean-up zone -- and opponent's territory

President Joe Biden made a politically charged visit Wednesday to inspect the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Ian in Florida while striking a united front with bitter Republican critic and potential 2024 opponent, Governor Ron DeSantis.

Putin says war to 'stabilise', Ukraine presses counterattack

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he expected the situation to "stabilise" in Ukrainian regions annexed by the Kremlin after Moscow suffered military setbacks and lost several key towns to Kyiv.

EU should give tanks to Ukraine: European Parliament chief

The European Union should deliver tanks to Ukraine and speed up the procedure of having the country join the bloc, European Parliament speaker Roberta Metsola told AFP Wednesday.

Oil prices climb as OPEC+ cuts output

Oil prices climbed Wednesday as OPEC and Russia-led allies announced a major cut in output, while a stocks rally ran out of gas.

After reforming World Cup host Qatar, union targets other Gulf states

The head of the international union that forced Qatar into groundbreaking labour reforms ahead of the upcoming football World Cup vowed Wednesday that other Gulf states will become the next target.

Under-fire UK PM Truss fails to calm markets with growth pledge

Prime Minister Liz Truss vowed to steer the UK "through the tempest" as she closed her party's tumultuous annual conference on Wednesday, making an unapologetic pitch for economic "growth, growth, growth".

Turkish Cypriots give UN peacekeepers ultimatum: report

The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has given peacekeepers on the island a deadline of one month to leave if the United Nations does not recognise its existence.

Putin says Ukraine fight to 'stabilise,' Kyiv presses counterattack