The China Mail - Politics

Civilians killed as Ukraine, Russia trade strikes

Ukraine launched a wave of drones at Russia in the early hours of Saturday, setting a fuel depot ablaze, officials said, as both sides accused each other of deadly attacks on civilians.

Deadly blast at Iraq army base amid Israel-Iran tensions

One person was killed and eight wounded in an overnight explosion at an Iraqi military base housing a coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups, officials said Saturday.

Weekend job: Trump hits campaign trail on days off from trial

Donald Trump on Saturday will hold his first campaign rally since his criminal trial in New York began, with the North Carolina crowd likely to hear the ex-president reiterate fiery outrage at the unprecedented legal proceedings.

India pushes Maoist rebel strongholds on road to democracy

A narrow winding road through an untamed forest has proven a blow to a decades-old Maoist rebellion that is one of India's longest and deadliest insurgencies.

Russia quietly exits Karabakh, ceding its clout 'for good'

When Russian troops deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh four years ago, their task was clear: keep the peace between bitter foes Armenia and Azerbaijan and prevent another war in the volatile region.

Hamas leader Haniyeh to hold Turkey talks

Hamas political leader Imsail Haniyeh will meet Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday with Middle East tensions at a high after Israel's reported attack on Iran and Gaza bracing for a new Israeli offensive.

US agrees to pull troops from key drone host Niger: officials

The United States agreed Friday to withdraw its more than 1,000 troops from Niger, officials said, upending its posture in West Africa where the country was home to a major drone base.

Like a bad movie: Argentina's culture industry agonizes under Milei

President Javier Milei's "chainsaw" approach to budget cuts have not only caused deep financial pain to many Argentines, but is also threatening the country's Oscar-winning culture scene, industry players say.

Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform

Togo lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a constitutional reform switching to a parliamentary system that opposition parties say will allow President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his grip on power.

US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package

The US House of Representatives is poised to hold a crucial vote on Saturday on a major aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan -- and a possible ban of TikTok.

NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky

NATO must decide if it is Kyiv's ally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, urging defence ministers from the bloc's member states to step up arms deliveries to his struggling forces.

Trump jury set for opening arguments, man self-immolates outside

Donald Trump's unprecedented criminal trial is set for opening arguments next week after final jury selection ended Friday in proceedings overshadowed by a man setting himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse.

Mideast enters new era with Israel strikes on Iran

After years of high-level US pressure on its ally to show restraint, Israel's purported attack on Iran takes the region and Western-led diplomacy into uncharted territory.

US fines Thailand-based firm $20 mn for Iran sanctions violations

The United States fined a Thailand-based firm $20 million on Friday for more than 450 possible Iran sanctions violations -- a day after Washington slapped fresh sanctions on Iran following last weekend's attack on Israel.

Advanced economies pledge $11 bn to boost World Bank lending

A group of advanced economies have pledged $11 billion in new funding commitments to boost the World Bank's lending capacity by up to $70 billion over a decade, the development lender announced Friday.

Pro-China PM retains his seat in Solomon Islands election

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was set Saturday to retain his seat in elections, local media reported, paving the way for the pro-China leader to try to form a government.

Zelensky says NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that NATO must decide if it is Ukraine's ally and urged the defence alliance's members to accelerate weapons deliveries to help his struggling forces.

Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran

World leaders appealed for calm Friday after reported Israeli retaliation against Iran added to months of tense spillover from the war in Gaza, with Iranian state media reporting explosions in a central province.

Croatia top court bars president from becoming next PM

Croatia's top court said on Friday that the country's president, who had campaigned to become prime minister ahead of this week's parliamentary election, could not head the new government.

Iran blasts rattle global markets

Reports Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes against Iran rattled markets on Friday, with oil prices briefly surging and equities slumping.

Global calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran

World leaders appealed for calm Friday after reported Israeli retaliation against Iran added to months of tense spillover from the war in Gaza, with Iranian state media reporting explosions in a central province.

Hundreds rally in Stockholm for climate action

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on Friday led some 500 people in a march in Stockholm to demand politicians do more to address the issue of climate change.

French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school

A 14-year-old girl has died of a heart attack in eastern France after her school locked down to protect itself from a knife attacker who lightly wounded two other girls, an official said on Friday.

Oil prices briefly surge, stocks slide on Iran blasts

Oil prices briefly surged and stock markets slid Friday on reports Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes against Iran, boosting investments deemed safer such as gold.

Israel, Iran ready to de-escalate -- for now: analysts

The limited nature of Israel's reported strike on Iran and the restrained immediate Iranian reaction shows both sides, in particular Tehran, are looking to de-escalate after weeks of tensions but the situation remains dangerously explosive, analysts say.

Eight killed in Russian strikes, as Ukraine downs bomber

Russian strikes against Ukraine on Friday killed at least eight people, including two children, as Kyiv said it shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time.

Eight killed in overnight Russian strikes, as Ukraine downs bomber

Russian strikes on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday killed at least eight people, including two children, as Kyiv said it shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time.

West Bank villagers vigilant but vulnerable after settler attacks

Sitting around a fire in the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Ibrahim Abu Alyah and some friends stood watch over his herd in the aftermath of a settler attack on their village.

Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China App Store on govt order: reports

Apple has removed Meta's WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China on orders from the country's internet regulator, US media reported Friday.

Ukraine says it downed Russian long-range strategic bomber

Ukraine said Friday that, for the first time since Russia's invasion, it had downed a Russian long-range bomber used to fire cruise missiles at cities across the war-battered country.

Ukraine says downed Russian long-range strategic bomber