The China Mail - Politics

Jihadists, allies enter Syria's second city in lightning assault

Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached Syria's second city of Aleppo Friday, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government.

Traumatised Spain marks one month since catastrophic floods

Angry residents called for fresh protests in Spain on Friday as the country marked one month since its worst floods in a generation killed 230 people.

Syria jihadists, allies shell major city Aleppo in shock offensive

Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies shelled Syria's second city Aleppo on Friday, in a major offensive against government troops that has sparked some of the deadliest fighting the country has seen in years.

WTO chief reappointed as Trump threat looms

World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was reappointed Friday for a second term, in the shadow of the coming return of Donald Trump and his disdain for international trade rules.

US landmine offer to Ukraine throws treaty into 'crisis': campaign group

A US offer to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines to help battle Russia's invasion has thrown a landmark global anti-landmine treaty into "crisis", campaigners said Friday, urging Kyiv to snub the proposal.

Syria jihadists, allies shell Aleppo in shock offensive

Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies shelled Syria's second city Aleppo on Friday, in a major offensive against government troops that has sparked some of the deadliest fighting the country has seen in years.

Japan government approves $92 bn extra budget

Japan's unpopular minority government approved on Friday an extra budget to help pay for a massive stimulus package after the ruling coalition's worst election result in 15 years.

Toll in Syria jihadist-army fighting rises to 242: monitor

More than 240 people, mostly combatants, were killed as intense fighting approached Syria's northern Aleppo city after jihadists launched a major offensive on government-held areas this week, a monitor said Friday.

UK transport secretary quits in setback for Starmer

Louise Haigh resigned as Britain's transport secretary on Friday after revelations that she pleaded guilty to a criminal offence before becoming a member of parliament.

Taiwan detects 41 Chinese military aircraft, ships ahead of Lai US stopover

Taiwan said Friday it detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and ships around the island ahead of a Hawaii stopover by President Lai Ching-te, part of a Pacific tour that has sparked fury in Beijing.

Israel PM again warns Iran after top diplomat talks of revising nuclear doctrine

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would do "everything" to stop Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon after Iran's top diplomat warned it could end its ban on developing one if Western sanctions are reimposed.

US landmine offer to Ukraine throws global treaty into 'crisis': campaign group

A US offer to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines to help battle Russia's invasion has thrown a landmark global anti-landmine treaty into "crisis", campaigners said Friday, urging Kyiv to snub the proposal.

Ireland votes in closely fought general election

Ireland goes to the polls on Friday with the incumbent coalition parties neck-and-neck with opposition party Sinn Fein after a campaign marked by rancour over housing and cost-of-living crises.

British MPs to debate contentious assisted dying law

UK lawmakers will Friday debate and likely vote on whether to advance divisive and emotive legislation to allow assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales.

Saudi Arabia hosts UN talks on drought, desertification

Saudi Arabia will host the COP16 UN conference on land degradation and desertification next week as the top oil exporter pitches itself as an environmental defender despite criticism of its role at climate talks.

Police fire rubber bullets, tear gas at Georgia protesters after PM delays EU bid

Georgian riot police on Friday deployed tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay pursuing European Union accession, AFP reporters witnessed.

Police fire tear gas at Georgia protesters after PM delays EU bid

Georgian riot police on Friday deployed tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay asking for European Union accession, AFP reporters witnessed.

Netanyahu threatens 'intensive war' if Hezbollah breaches fragile truce

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hezbollah Thursday with an "intensive war" if it breaches a fragile Lebanon ceasefire, which on its second day is straining under pressure from both sides.

Syria jihadists, allies cut key highway as escalating violence kills around 200

Jihadist fighters cut the Damascus to Aleppo highway on Thursday during an offensive that a monitor says killed around 200, including civilians hit by Russian air force strikes.

In Lebanon's Tyre returning residents find no water, little power

Families from south Lebanon's Tyre are returning to their homes after an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, but Israeli strikes have turned parts of the city into an uninhabitable disaster zone without water or electricity.

Protests in Georgia after PM delays EU bid to 2028

Protests erupted in Georgia on Thursday after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the country would not pursue European Union accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of "blackmail."

Biden slams Trump tariff threats as 'counterproductive'

President Joe Biden on Thursday warned against damaging relations with Canada and Mexico, after Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on both US neighbors when he takes office in January.

UK's Starmer vows to slash net migration

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged an overhaul of Britain's immigration system on Thursday after revised figures showed net migration hit a record high of 906,000 in 2023 compared with a year earlier.

Recount order, TikTok claims throw Romania election into chaos

Romania's presidential election was thrown into chaos Thursday as a court ordered a recount of first-round results and security officials alleged that interference via TikTok had boosted a little-known far-right candidate.

Putin threatens Kyiv with new hypersonic missile

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday threatened to strike "decision-making centres" in Kyiv with Russia's new hypersonic missile, hours after Moscow pummelled Ukraine's energy grid in an attack that left a million people without power.

Georgia delays EU bid until 2028 amid post-election crisis

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that while Tbilisi remains committed to its goal of European Union membership, it will not pursue accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of "blackmail".

Israel conducts first strike on Lebanon since ceasefire

Israel said it conducted an air strike on a Hezbollah weapons facility on Thursday, the first since a ceasefire in the war in Lebanon took effect.

French cognac workers protest China bottling plan amid tariff threat

Hundreds of employees of French cognac maker Hennessy on Thursday staged a protest over potential measures to circumvent Chinese tariffs imposed in a spat with the European Union.

Australia passes landmark social media ban for under 16s

Australian lawmakers passed landmark rules to ban under 16s from social media on Thursday, approving one of the world's toughest crackdowns on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram and X.

Putin says barrage 'response' to West-supplied missiles

A massive aerial bombardment of Ukraine's energy facilities was in response to Kyiv striking Russian territory with Western-supplied missiles, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

Lebanon MPs seek end to leadership vacuum with January presidency vote

Lebanon's parliament will meet on January 9 to elect a new president, seeking to end more than two years without a head of state, official media reported Thursday, a day after an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire began.

Eurozone stocks lift as French political stand-off eases

Eurozone stock markets rebounded Thursday as France's political stand-off showed signs of easing, while Chinese equities fell despite reports the United States may be less stringent than feared with its curb on tech equipment to China.

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