The China Mail - Politics

Asian equities tumble, oil extends gains on Middle East worries

Asian stocks tumbled Friday and oil extended the previous day's surge on worries that Israel's war with Hamas could widen to a regional conflict with Iran as both sides ratcheted up tensions.

Their schools ruined, Gaza's children face long road to healing

Eight out of 10 schools in Gaza are damaged or destroyed, UNICEF says, but it is the psychological damage the war has done to the territory's nearly 1.2 million children that has experts really worried.

Peace feels further than ever at six months of Israel-Hamas war

The staggering suffering, death and destruction of six months of war since Hamas's October 7 attack has widened the gulf between Israelis and Palestinians, leaving both feeling that the prospect of peace is ever more elusive.

Biden warns Netanyahu of US shift, as domestic pressure mounts

President Joe Biden warned Israel of a sharp shift in his policy over the Gaza war Thursday amid growing frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu and mounting domestic pressure in a US election year.

Aid worker killed by Israel felt need to help, parents say

The father of US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger, one of seven aid workers killed in an Israeli strike, said Thursday his son was hesitant to go to Gaza but felt a need to help.

Guatemala's former first lady alleges plot to kill her

Guatemala's former first lady Sandra Torres, who has lost three presidential runoffs, on Thursday denounced an alleged plot to assassinate her due to an internal party conflict.

Frustrated Biden warns Netanyahu of US shift, as domestic pressure mounts

President Joe Biden warned Israel of a sharp shift in his policy over the Gaza war Thursday amid growing frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu and mounting domestic pressure in a US election year.

Christmas market attack plotter jailed for 30 years by French court

A French court on Wednesday sentenced Audrey Mondjehi to a 30-year jail term for helping an Islamist militant who killed five people in a 2018 attack on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

Biden warns Netanyahu US support depends on Gaza civilian protection

President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday that US policy on Israel depends on the protection of civilians in Gaza, in his strongest hint yet of possible conditions on military aid after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers.

Togo opposition calls for protests over election delay

Togo's opposition on Thursday called for a three-day mass protest to demonstrate against the government's decision to delay this month's legislative elections.

German firms help 'rebuild' Russian-occupied Mariupol: report

Two German construction companies are taking part in rebuilding Russian-occupied Mariupol, the Ukrainian city that fell to Moscow's invading forces two years ago, a German press investigation claimed on Thursday.

Biden warns Netanyahu US policy depends on Gaza civilian protection

President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday that US policy on Israel depends on the protection of civilians in Gaza, in his strongest hint yet of possible conditions on military aid after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers.

Biden, Netanyahu speak as pressure mounts over Gaza aid worker deaths

President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday amid growing domestic pressure to set conditions on US military support amid domestic outrage over the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza.

IMF chief Georgieva sole candidate in reelection process

The International Monetary Fund confirmed Thursday that its current managing director is the only candidate to lead the international financial institution once her first term expires later this year.

Drones deliver drugs, food to French prison cells

In the dead of night a drone hovers over a prison in southern France, secretly dropping packages to inmates inside. But one parcel becomes stuck in the railing outside a cell window, and guards seize three others.

Somalia expels Ethiopia ambassador over 'interference'

Somalia on Thursday ordered the expulsion of Ethiopia's ambassador and said it was recalling its own envoy to Addis Ababa, accusing its neighbour of "bluntly interfering" in its internal affairs.

Biden pushed to back outrage with actions in Netanyahu call

US President Joe Biden faced growing calls Thursday to turn outrage over the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza into conditions on military support for Israel, as he prepared to confront Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the incident.

Macron denounces 'threatening' Russia remarks after rare phone talks

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday condemned Russia's "threatening" tone following rare phone talks between the French and Russian defence ministers that only served to underline the gaping gulf between Moscow and Europe two years into the invasion of Ukraine.

S.Africa's ex-parliament speaker charged in graft probe

South Africa's former parliament speaker was charged with corruption and money laundering Thursday, piling new pressure on the governing African National Congress (ANC) party ahead of elections in May.

Kuwait, under new emir, votes yet again

Vote-weary Kuwait heads to the polls for the third time in three years on Thursday, just months into the reign of a new emir but with no end in sight to the major oil exporter's chronic political paralysis.

Macron denounces 'threatening' remarks from Russia after rare phone talks

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denounced as "bizarre and threatening" Russia's tone following rare phone talks between the defence ministers of France and Russia, their first contact since 2022.

Macron backs singer Aya Nakamura for Olympics opening ceremony

French President Emmanuel Macron backed the idea on Thursday of Franco-Malian singer Aya Nakamura performing at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics following criticism from conservatives about the prospect.

Europe stocks rise on eve of US payrolls; gold shines

European equities rose Thursday on the eve of key US data, while gold set another record peak on haven demand and hopes of interest-rate cuts.

Philippines to hold joint naval drills with US, Japan, Australia

The Philippines will hold joint naval drills with the United States, Japan and Australia, two diplomatic sources told AFP Thursday, as the four countries deepen military ties to counter China's expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Yellen in China to press officials on industrial subsidies

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in China's Guangzhou on Thursday for meetings to press Beijing over fears the country's industrial subsidies for green energy, cars and batteries could flood global markets with cheap goods.

UN rights council takes a stand against intersex discrimination

The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution Thursday on tackling discrimination against intersex persons, despite opposition from several countries to the terminology used.

Biden and Netanyahu to speak by phone after Israel killed aid workers

The leaders of the United States and Israel were set to speak on Thursday after Washington expressed "outrage" over Israel's killing of seven aid workers and growing concern over its military operations in besieged Gaza.

NATO turns 75 in shadow of Ukraine war -- and Trump

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged the United States to stick together with Europe as the Western military alliance turned 75 on Thursday menaced by an aggressive Russia and the spectre of Donald Trump's return to power.

'Bracing for conflict': Armenians fear Azerbaijani land claims

Peering through the window at a bustling crowd outside the Voskepar village council in northeastern Armenia, mayor Ishkhan Aghbalyan said locals are on edge over arch-foe Azerbaijan's claims to their lands.

Surviving 'hell': the ordeal of former Hamas hostages in Gaza

Nearly six months into the Gaza war, with the families of hostages still held captive by Hamas desperate for their release, many former hostages are finding the words to describe the ordeal of captivity.

War-stranded Sudanese find solace in Saudi's 'Little Khartoum'

Stranded abroad by almost a year of war, Saudi Arabia's swelling Sudanese community are drawn to Riyadh's "Little Khartoum" where they can eat, pray and console each other about the conflict ravaging their country.

Venezuela says US building 'secret' bases in disputed Essequibo

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday accused the United States of building "secret military bases" in Essequibo, an oil-rich region of Guyana that Caracas claims as its territory.

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