The China Mail - Politics

North Korea silent after missile explodes over Pyongyang

North Korea's state media was silent Thursday after a suspected missile test ended in what Seoul said was total failure, exploding mid-air in the skies above the capital Pyongyang almost immediately after launch.

Asian markets rally again as Hong Kong extends surge

Asian markets rallied again Thursday with another blistering surge in tech firms helping Hong Kong extend its recovery from the recent rout, while traders also cheered soothing comments on the US economy by the Federal Reserve after it lifted interest rates.

Yemen war turns nature reserve back into waste dump

Yemen's Al-Heswa nature reserve was once hailed as a beacon of conservation efforts by the United Nations, but civil war has turned it into a rubbish-strewn wasteland reeking of sewage.

Two British Iranians arrive in UK after Tehran release

Two British-Iranians landed back in the United Kingdom in the early hours of Thursday morning after being freed from years of detention in Iran.

'My life's at risk': Mexican journalists fear death every day

Each time Maria Martinez leaves home, she fears it will be the last. Only her bodyguards prevent her from joining the eight journalists murdered already this year in Mexico, she believes.

Canadian leaves a life behind to go help Ukraine

Vartan Davtian bought a ticket to Ukraine, on Wednesday leaving behind a job and a safe, quiet life in Canada to go defend the country in which he grew up.

Biden slams 'war criminal' Putin as Ukraine civilian horror grows

US President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" Wednesday as the Russian leader's onslaught in Ukraine claimed more civilian lives, and a theatre where "hundreds" were sheltering was destroyed by bombing.

Global stocks rally as Fed hikes interest rates

Global stocks rallied Wednesday, bolstered by China's pledge to help stabilize markets and another pullback in oil prices as the US Federal Reserve announced its first interest rate hike since 2018.

Iran nuclear deal 'close', Tehran frees captives as obstacles narrow

Washington said Wednesday it was "close" to a deal with Iran on reviving a 2015 pact that saw Western powers provide sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme, the latest sign of advancement following prolonged deadlock.

Zelensky urges US help against Russia -- and gets $1 bn more weaponry

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky made a desperate appeal for help against Russia to the US Congress on Wednesday, and within hours of the speech, President Joe Biden responded by promising $1 billion in new weapons to fight "war criminal" Vladimir Putin's invading army.

Zelensky urges US help against Russia -- and gets $1 bln more weaponry

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky invoked September 11 and Pearl Harbor in an impassioned address to the US Congress on Wednesday pleading for weapons to fight Russia -- and earning a promise from President Joe Biden just hours later for $1 billion in new arms.

'Lost everything': Ukrainians sail to new lives in Sweden

"We didn't even have time to get our things," says Ukrainian refugee Ludmila Nikiforova, one of hundreds fleeing the brutal conflict to Sweden on ferries from Poland every day.

TV comedy that launched Zelensky to presidency back on Netflix

The comedy satire in which Volodymyr Zelensky unexpectedly becomes Ukraine's president -- his now war-time job in real life -- will be aired again on Netflix, the streaming platform announced Wednesday.

Russia exits Council of Europe over Ukraine invasion

Russia on Wednesday ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe after over a quarter of a century of membership in the pan-European rights body, the council said in a statement.

Battleground Ukraine: Day 21 of Russia's invasion

On the 21st day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday, Russian forces remained in place around major cities including Kyiv but showed little sign of real progress in taking them.

Two British Iranians fly back to UK after Tehran release

Two British-Iranians flew home on Wednesday after being released from years of detention in Iran, as the UK government confirmed it had paid a longstanding debt over a cancelled defence contract.

Ukraine president invokes 9/11 as Putin says invasion on course

Ukraine's leader on Wednesday issued an emotive appeal to US lawmakers for greater Western intervention against Russia, which insisted its invasion was going "successfully" despite the West rallying to Kyiv's side via arms and sanctions.

IEA fears global oil supply 'shock' over Russia sanctions

The world could face its biggest oil supply "shock" in decades as major crude exporter Russia is hit by sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency warned Wednesday.

'Protect our sky,' pleads Ukraine leader in gut-punch US address

Ukraine's besieged leader invoked September 11 and Pearl Harbor in an impassioned address Wednesday to the US Congress, imploring Washington to step up military aid and impose a no-fly zone to counter the Russian invasion closing in on Kyiv.

Ukraine slams Russian proposals and appeals to US Congress

Ukraine's leader on Wednesday issued an emotive appeal to US lawmakers for greater Western intervention against Russia, which insisted its invasion was going "successfully" despite the West rallying to Kyiv's side via arms and sanctions.

Ukraine president urges US Congress to reconsider 'no-fly zone'

Ukraine's besieged leader urged the United States Wednesday to reconsider his plea for a no-fly zone, invoking the terror of the September 11 attacks as he ratcheted up pressure on the White House to move aggressively against the Russian invasion closing in on Kyiv.

Ukraine shoots down Russian neutrality idea as US steps up aid

Ukraine on Wednesday dismissed Russian neutrality proposals, refused to surrender and vowed prosecution of "war crimes" three weeks into an invasion that is drawing ever-increasing Western support against Moscow.

Two UK-Iranian nationals released from detention

Two dual UK-Iranian nationals have been released from custody, the authorities in Tehran said on Wednesday, ending a lengthy ordeal after years of diplomatic wrangling between the two countries over a cancelled defence deal.

Chernobyl workers held 'hostage' amid fears for reactor safety

A hundred technicians are working under armed guard to maintain the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant in northern Ukraine, held hostage for three weeks by Russian forces who seized the compound in the first hours of the invasion.

'Born-free' Belarusian goes to war alongside Ukraine troops

For teenager Gleb Gunko, war-torn Ukraine will be his first time in combat. But the cause is nothing new. As a Belarusian, he knows what it means to fight for freedom.

Stocks rally, oil steadies on China action, Ukraine hopes

Stocks rallied Wednesday, helped by Ukraine peace hopes and China's pledge to help stabilise markets after recent routs, ahead of a keenly-awaited US interest rate decision.

Far from Kyiv, Africa feels economic fallout from Ukraine crisis

From airlines in Nigeria to shoppers in Malawi, Africans are feeling the impact of the Ukraine crisis in wrenching increases in the price of fuel, grain and fertiliser.

UK-Iranian woman held since 2016 'on way home': MP

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been held in Iran since 2016, was on Wednesday handed over to the UK authorities in Tehran, with her local MP in London saying she was on her way home.

Ukraine rejects Russian neutrality idea as US steps up aid

Ukraine on Wednesday dismissed Russian proposals to turn it into a neutral state, as the United States readied a huge package of military aid ahead of a historic address to Congress by Kyiv's defiant leader.

Russia faces debt payment amid default fears

Russia is due to make an interest payment on its foreign debt Wednesday as sanctions over the Ukraine conflict have raised concerns that Moscow could default.

Somalia delays election process again as deadline lapses

Somalia has again pushed back the deadline for completing lower house elections, delaying until March 31 a process that is already more than a year overdue and has resulted in political sanctions.

Russian pianist calls for power to be cut to Kyiv

Famed Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky has shocked the classical world after calling for pressure to be increased on Ukraine by cutting power to the capital Kyiv.

The China Mail - Politics (English)

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