The China Mail - Politics

Trump eyes summit with Xi-Putin, shaking up world order

Donald Trump unveiled an extraordinary vision of a shake-up to the world order Thursday, eyeing a three-way summit with the Russian and Chinese leaders just a day after saying he had agreed with Vladimir Putin to start Ukraine peace talks.

International community vows support for Syria transition

Western nations joined key players in the Middle East on Thursday in a pledge of support for war-torn Syria's delicate transition after the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad.

Trump unveils 'reciprocal tariffs' plan targeting friends and foes

US President Donald Trump inked plans Thursday for sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" that could hit both allies and competitors, in a dramatic escalation of an international trade war that economists warn could fuel inflation at home.

Zelensky says Putin 'peace' comments not to be trusted

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday warned against trusting Vladimir Putin, as US President Donald Trump insisted he believed the Russian leader "wants peace".

Ecuador's wild west shows limits of Noboa's 'iron fist'

On Ecuador's lawless southwest coast, drug gangs operate with impunity and terrified residents ask if their president's "iron fist" security policies are just words.

WWF legal challenge against Norway deep-sea mining fails

An Oslo court on Thursday rejected a legal challenge by the WWF environmental group against Norway's bid to mine its seabed for minerals crucial to the green energy transition.

Former Olympic champion Grospiron to take top 2030 Games post

Former Olympic champion Edgar Grospiron will be named next week as president of the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, an official said Thursday.

Lebanon says refuses Israeli demand to stay in five southern locations

Lebanon's parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said on Thursday that Beirut rejected Israel's demand to remain in five southern locations after a February 18 deadline for fully implementing a ceasefire deal.

Conflict puts question mark over Rwanda's world cycling championships

Rwanda is set to stage cycling's world championships in September, but fears over an escalation in the conflict with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo have led to concerns that the showpiece may be shifted to Europe.

France's Macron urges 'representative' governance in Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged Syria's new leaders to ensure "governance that is representative and respectful of all" at a Paris conference on the transition in the war-torn country after Bashar al-Assad's fall.

Mexico threatens to sue Google over 'Gulf of America' name change

Mexico on Thursday threatened to sue Google over its changing the Gulf of Mexico's name to "Gulf of America" for Maps users in the United States to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order.

Vaccine critic RFK Jr. confirmed as health secretary

The Republican-controlled US Senate approved Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary Thursday, disregarding alarm from the medical community over his history of promoting vaccine misinformation and denying scientific facts.

France says EU working toward 'rapid' easing of Syria sanctions

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Thursday that the European Union was working toward swiftly easing Syria sanctions as Paris hosted a conference on the transition in the war-torn country after president Bashar al-Assad's fall.

'Patience paid off': Putin out of shadow after Trump call

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been largely shunned by the West since his troops attacked Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Zelensky wants plan to 'stop Putin' before US-Russia talks

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday the United States should agree on a joint plan to stop Russia before talks with Moscow, as European leaders warned Washington not to hatch a deal behind their backs.

India's Modi seeks to boost Trump bromance on key visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will try to rekindle his bromance with Donald Trump -- and avoid the US president's wrath on tariffs and immigration -- when they meet on Thursday at the White House.

Israel says Hamas must free three living hostages this weekend

Israel warned Thursday that Hamas must release three living hostages this weekend or face a resumption of the war in Gaza, after the Palestinian militant group said it was committed to the truce agreement.

Trump's hand to Putin sparks fear, mistrust in frontline Ukraine

In eastern Ukraine, the battleground of ferocious fighting against Russian troops, the spectre of US President Donald Trump forcing a halt to the war has injected new worries among exhausted and outgunned Ukrainian servicemen.

President Trump says US 'reciprocal tariffs' to be announced Thursday

US President Donald Trump said that he would announce "reciprocal tariffs" on trading partners Thursday, opening new fronts in a trade war economists warn could fuel inflation at home.

Hamas says committed to truce, Israeli hostage release timeline

Hamas said Thursday it was committed to honouring a truce with Israel that has come under severe strain in recent days, adding that it planned to proceed with the next hostage-prisoner swap this weekend as planned.

Europe warns Trump against Ukraine deal 'behind our backs'

Blindsided Europeans warned Thursday that a "dirty deal" between US President Donald Trump and Moscow on ending the Ukraine war was doomed to fail -- insisting they and Kyiv must have a seat at the negotiating table.

UK and China revive stalled talks during FM meeting

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in London on Thursday, in the latest sign of improving ties between the two countries.

In NATO, the closer to Russia, the more spent on defence

While NATO countries living near the Russian border pay well over two percent of their GDP on defence, those further away pay less.

India's Modi seeks to avoid Trump's wrath

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will try to rekindle his bromance with Donald Trump -- and avoid the US president's wrath on tariffs and immigration -- when they meet on Thursday at the White House.

Pesticides causing widespread harm to animals and plants: study

Pesticides are significantly harming wildlife across the planet, stunting growth, damaging reproduction and even causing behavioural changes in animals not meant to be targeted, according to a large-scale study published on Thursday.

US denies Trump peace push a 'betrayal' of Ukraine

Donald Trump's defence chief denied Thursday the US president was betraying Ukraine by opening talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin, as blindsided European powers insisted they and Kyiv must have a seat at the table.

'I carry my cross': sub-Saharan migrants despair in Tunisia

Jonas spent more than a year trying to reach Tunisia after escaping ethnic violence in his native Nigeria, but rising anti-migrant sentiment and a government crackdown in the North African country have left him without help.

Hamas says committed to truce as mediators push for Israeli hostage release

Hamas said Thursday it was committed to honouring a truce with Israel that is facing its worst crisis since it took effect, and added that mediators were pushing for hostages to be released this weekend as planned.

'Progress' in push to salvage Israel-Hamas truce: Palestinian sources

Palestinian sources reported progress on Thursday in efforts to salvage the ceasefire in Gaza from its worst crisis yet, with a view to ensuring that Hamas releases Israeli hostages this weekend as planned.

US Senate to OK vaccine critic Kennedy as health secretary

The Republican-controlled US Senate was expected Thursday to approve vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, despite major concerns from both political parties and many in the medical and scientific communities.

Ireland support for Palestinians has country's Jews on edge

Ireland's tiny Jewish community fears that growing anti-Israel hostility since the start of the Gaza war is leading to increased anti-Semitism, raising questions about their future in the EU country.

North Korea destroys family reunion centre in 'inhumane act', Seoul says

North Korea is demolishing a venue that for decades hosted tearful reunions of families separated by the Korean War and the division of the country, Seoul said Thursday, decrying the "inhumane" move.

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