The China Mail - Politics

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 100 as Hamas makes a plea to lift blockade

Rescuers said Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 100 people on Friday, as Hamas demanded the United States press Israel to lift a sweeping aid blockade in return for a US-Israeli hostage released by the group.

European leaders seek united front with Trump on Ukraine

Key European leaders sought Friday to project a united front with US President Donald Trump on ending the war in Ukraine, after direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv wrapped up with no breakthrough on a ceasefire.

UN rights chief warns of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

The UN's rights chief on Friday denounced Israel's sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza -- and an apparent push to permanently displace the population -- as amounting to "ethnic cleansing".

Ukraine war talks yield POW swap, but no truce

Russia and Ukraine agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange, said they would trade ideas on a possible ceasefire and discussed a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in their first direct talks in over three years on Friday.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 88 as Hamas makes a plea to lift blockade

Rescuers said Israeli strikes on Gaza killed nearly 90 people on Friday, while Hamas demanded the United States press Israel to lift a sweeping aid blockade in return for a US-Israeli hostage released by the group.

Russia, Ukraine agree prisoner swap, fail to reach truce in first talks since 2022

Russia and Ukraine agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange, said they would trade ideas on a possible ceasefire and discussed a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in their first direct talks in over three years on Friday.

'Magnificent', 'handsome': Trump's fascination for Gulf leaders

Gulf Arab leaders were "starving for love" -- so US President Donald Trump showered them with near endless praise during a tour filled with bromance and billion-dollar deals this week.

Albania's Rama gives showman's welcome to Europe's leaders

Kneeling to greet Italy's Giorgia Meloni and gripping France's Emmanuel Macron in a bro hug, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama hosted Europe's leaders Friday with his showman's panache undampened by torrential rain.

PM seeks election win as Portugal campaigning ends

Portugal's general election campaign ends on Friday for a vote that Prime Minister Luis Montenegro is expected to win, but with no guarantee he can form a more stable government.

Chad's ex-prime minister arrested for 'inciting hatred'

Chad's former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra was arrested early Friday accused of inciting hatred in connection with deadly clashes in the southwest, the public prosecutor said.

French crypto boss hails 'heroic' duo for foiling kidnap bid

French cryptocurrency boss Pierre Noizat on Friday praised his "heroic" son-in-law and a neighbour armed with a fire extinguisher for thwarting the attempted kidnapping of his pregnant daughter and young grandson.

Council of Europe denounces 'deliberate starvation' in Gaza

The Council of Europe on Friday said Gaza was suffering from a "deliberate starvation", and warned that Israel was sowing "the seeds for the next Hamas" in the territory.

Russia, Ukraine conclude first peace talks since 2022

Russians and Ukrainians sat face-to-face for under two hours Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks in over three years aimed at ending their war, with expectations low for breakthroughs.

World Press Photo suspends credit for 'Napalm Girl' picture

World Press Photo suspended on Friday the credit for who took one of the most iconic pictures in history, the Vietnam War image "Napalm Girl", after doubts were raised over the photograph's authorship.

Russia, Ukraine hold first peace talks since 2022

The first direct talks on halting Russia's war on Ukraine in more than three years started Friday in Istanbul, with expectations low that the two sides would agree to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Stock markets calmer as trade rally eases

Stock markets were calmer Friday, with European stocks consolidating weekly gains fuelled by the China-US trade war hiatus and as investors awaited further developments over tariffs.

Russia, Ukraine hold first talks since 2022

The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia on ending their war in more than three years started on Friday in Istanbul, with expectations low that the two sides would agree to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Iran, European powers hold nuclear talks in Turkey

Iranian negotiators began talks with Britain, France and Germany on Friday, a diplomatic source said, after US President Donald Trump said a nuclear deal with Tehran was "getting close".

More Hollywood stars join protest letter over Gaza 'genocide'

Hollywood heavyweights Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed and Guillermo del Toro have added their names to a letter condemning the film industry's silence on what it called "genocide" in Gaza, the organisers confirmed Friday.

India asks IMF to reconsider Pakistan programme over 'terror funding'

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Friday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should reconsider a one billion dollar loan to Pakistan, alleging Islamabad was "funding terror".

Russia, Ukraine to meet for first talks since 2022

Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet in Istanbul on Friday for their first talks in more than three years of war, with tens of thousands killed in Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

Trump says many in Gaza are 'starving'

US President Donald Trump said Friday "a lot of people are starving" in the besieged Gaza Strip, where rescuers reported more than 50 deaths in Israeli air strikes since midnight.

Umerov: 'Wonder' dealmaker from Crimea leading Ukraine peace talks

Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine's delegation at peace talks with Russia on Friday, is a skilled and pragmatic negotiator, hailed by his colleagues as a worker of diplomatic "wonders".

Russia and Ukraine to meet in Istanbul, but expectations low

Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv will be in Istanbul Friday for what could be their first direct meeting on the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, but the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves little hope for progress in ending the war.

'He's killing us': Cannes dealmakers hate Trump's big Hollywood idea

There are not many fans of Donald Trump's dream to save Hollywood with tariffs among the dealmakers at the Cannes film festival -- even among those who voted for him.

Independence hero assassin's calligraphy breaking auction records in Seoul

Calligraphy by a South Korean independence hero, created while awaiting execution for assassinating a Japanese statesman, is breaking new auction records in Seoul, as the country's ultra-rich seek to bring historic artwork home.

Trump caps Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi with dizzying investment pledges

US President Donald Trump on Friday capped off a Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi that has seen the securing of multi-billion-dollar deals, a $1.4 trillion investment pledge from the UAE, as well as historic overtures to Syria and renewed optimism over an Iran nuclear deal.

Iran, European powers to hold nuclear talks in Turkey

Iran is set to hold talks with Britain, France and Germany in Turkey on Friday, after US President Donald Trump said a nuclear deal with Tehran was "getting close".

Opposition leader vows 'empty' polling stations for Venezuelan legislative vote

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has called for a boycott of May 25 gubernatorial and legislative elections, on Thursday vowed polling stations would be "empty" 10 months after President Nicolas Maduro's disputed reelection.

Rubio has no high expectations for Ukraine-Russia talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he had little hope that Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul would produce a peace breakthrough after the two sides traded insults during a tense buildup to negotiations.

Gaza strikes kill 120 as Hamas says aid entry 'minimum requirement' for talks

Palestinian rescuers reported 120 people killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

Rubio says no high expectations for Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Thursday downplayed expectations for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, after Moscow sent a low-profile delegation and both sides traded insults ahead of the negotiations.

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