The China Mail - Politics

US national crosses into North Korea during border tour: UN Command

A United States national entered North Korea during a tour of the heavily-fortified border and is believed to have been detained, the United Nations Command said Tuesday.

Macron sticks with prime minister after pensions crisis, riots

French President Emmanuel Macron is keeping his prime minister in place, his staff has said, ending weeks of speculation about a possible reset after successive crises shaking his government.

Succession plan: Cambodia PM's favoured son on path to power

After nearly four decades as Cambodian leader, Hun Sen goes into elections this weekend certain of victory and vowing to eventually hand power to his eldest son.

'Forgotten' Buenaventura on edge as Colombian peace efforts drag on

Young members of the Shottas gang, responsible for dozens of deaths in Colombia's impoverished port city of Buenaventura, are at work rebuilding a football pitch during a lull in fighting with their archrivals.

Biden agrees to meet Netanyahu in US, easing lengthy tensions

President Joe Biden agreed Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this year in the United States but declined, amid months of tension, to specify if this would be at the White House.

Israel recognises Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara

Israel has decided to "recognise Morocco's sovereignty" over the disputed Western Sahara region, the royal office in Rabat announced Monday, citing a letter from the Israeli prime minister.

Collapse of Ukraine grain deal to have medium-term impact

The collapse of the Black Sea export corridor, which allowed the export of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the past year, should have little immediate impact but over the medium term create market tension and push up food prices.

Ukraine grain deal expires after Russia refuses extension

The deal allowing Ukraine to safely export grain to global markets via the Black Sea expired at midnight in Istanbul (2100 GMT) after Russia refused an extension.

Millions will 'pay the price' of Russia's grain deal exit: UN chief

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Monday that millions of people facing hunger will "pay the price" of Russia's decision to exit the Ukraine grain deal.

Thwarted Thai PM candidate chases support for next vote

The liberal reformist seeking to become Thailand's prime minister said Monday he was marshalling support for his next tilt at the job after military-appointed senators foiled his first attempt.

Russia says Ukraine grain export deal 'ended'

The Kremlin on Monday said it was exiting a major agreement allowing Ukraine grain exports hours after drones struck Russia's only bridge connecting its mainland to the annexed Crimea peninsula.

Threatened Ethiopian cabaret lives to dance another day

A beloved monument to Ethiopia's traditional cabaret culture, the historic nightclub Fendika is running on borrowed time, having just escaped demolition.

Sudan refugees face soaring rent prices in Cairo

Sudanese refugee Mohannad had only been in Cairo a few weeks when his landlady told him he would have to pay triple the rent if he wanted to keep his apartment.

Kyiv reports 'intensified' combat as Putin says counteroffensive failing

Ukraine on Sunday said fighting had "intensified" on the eastern front as Russian President Vladimir Putin deemed Kyiv's counteroffensive a failure.

Fears over Syria's proposed control on aid to rebel-held areas

The Syrian government recently announced it would allow aid to cross into rebel-held areas after a United Nations mechanism expired, sparking concerns from humanitarian groups.

Senegal opposition leader stages noisy but peaceful protest

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko led a peaceful protest banging pots and pans after authorities blocked a rally to publicly confirm he would run in next year's presidential elections.

US envoy Kerry arrives in China to restart climate talks

US climate envoy John Kerry arrived in China on Sunday, state media reported, to restart stalled talks between the world's two biggest emitters of planet-warming gases.

Yellen says Ukraine aid is the best boost for global economy

Redoubling support for war-stricken Ukraine is the "single best" way to aid the global economy, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday, along with boosting emerging economies and tackling debt distress.

Losses stack up for FTC's Khan in US antitrust crackdown

FTC chairman Lina Khan is on a mission to embolden US competition enforcers, but a series of court defeats has sowed doubt that she will put an end to decades of Washington's light-touch approach to antitrust regulation.

Lebanon economic crisis means more work for craftsmen

Among meandering alleyways in the historic market of Lebanon's southern city of Sidon, cobblers and menders are doing brisk business, as an economic crisis revives demand for once-fading trades.

Airlines grapple with rise in turbulent passengers

Viral videos of vulgar, intoxicated and violent airplane passengers have become common, but it is not just a social media trend: statistics confirm cases are on the rise.

Spain vote may change govt, but not foreign policy

From defending Spain's interests within the EU to its tortuous relations with Morocco, there will be no shortage of foreign policy challenges for right-wing leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo if he wins the July 23 election.

Abascal: face of Spain's far right and likely kingmaker

Presenting himself as a knight trying to defend Spain, Santiago Abascal has turned the far-right Vox into a powerful force and indispensable ally of the right with whom he hopes to govern after a snap general election on July 23.

Spain far-right bastion seeks to counter 'left's anarchism'

The rainbow flags were the first to go when the far-right seized power in Naquera, an ultraconservative town in eastern Spain where many want "order and morality" to counter what it sees as the "anarchism" of the left.

Spain PM fails to get vote boost from economy

Spain's economy is growing steadily and inflation has been tamed -- but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is facing an uphill battle to be re-elected in a snap poll next weekend.

European right eyes fresh gains with Spain election

Europe's eyes will turn to Spain next Sunday where a widely expected right-wing victory in a snap election would further consolidate the dominance of conservative parties across the bloc.

White House hopeful DeSantis loses steam, struggling with image

Long viewed as the most formidable challenger to Donald Trump in the Republican US presidential nominating contest, Ron DeSantis boasts a record of ultra-conservative legislative wins and a pile of campaign cash.

UK defence secretary 'to quit before next govt reshuffle'

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in an interview published on Saturday that he will step down at the next cabinet reshuffle and not contest the next general election.

Sudan army returns to talks in Saudi as war enters fourth month

Sudanese army representatives have returned to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for talks with their paramilitary foes, a government source said Saturday as the war between rival generals entered its fourth month.

Sudan mediation to resume in Saudi as war enters fourth month