Trump to attend security meeting on Friday after Israeli strikes on Iran
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
43 minutes ago
- HKFP
China and Russia start joint drills in Sea of Japan
China and Russia began joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan on Sunday as they seek to reinforce their partnership and counterbalance what they see as a US-led global order. Alongside economic and political ties, Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their military cooperation in recent years, and their relations have deepened since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The 'Joint Sea-2025' exercises kicked off in waters near the Russian port of Vladivostok and would last for three days, China's defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The two sides will hold 'submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat'. Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating in the exercises alongside Russian ships, the ministry said. After the drills, the two countries will conduct naval patrols in 'relevant waters of the Pacific'. China and Russia have carried out annual drills for several years, with the 'Joint Sea' exercises beginning in 2012. Last year's drills were held along China's southern coast. The Chinese defence ministry said Friday that this year's exercises were aimed at 'further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership' of the two countries. China has never denounced Russia's more than three-year war nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine's allies, including the United States, believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow. China insists it is a neutral party, regularly calling for an end to the fighting while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Do not equate William Lai and the DPP with Taiwan democracy
Like most people everywhere, Taiwanese worry about jobs, their livelihoods and, if they run a business, the direction of the economy. So Donald Trump's universal tariff war may be of some concern or at least interest to most of them. That's because it's been clear for some time that the US president doesn't distinguish between friend and foe when it comes to imposing duties on your exports to his country. In fact, if you are a traditional American ally or friend, he is likely to be even harsher because it makes you an easy mark for bullying. And so the island's leader William Lai Ching-te 'temporarily breathed a sigh of relief after learning that its exports to the United States will face a 20 per cent tariff – lower than the initially feared 32 per cent.' Well done, what an achievement! Even the much-despised European Union gets 15 per cent tariffs. And Taiwan is supposed to be the global hub of democracy where America is ready to spill its own blood to defend? No wonder Lai gets such dismal approval ratings The problem is that only now, at the last minute, Lai and his independence-seeking Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) make negotiating trade terms with Washington top of the island's news agenda. Before, while every other major government around the world was prioritising trade negotiations to minimise the economic damage coming from Washington, Lai was busy touring the island to warn against mainland China's existential threat. He has declared the mainland 'a foreign hostile force', showed off heavy American weapons like Abrams tanks, promoted urban warfare drills, and rewrote the history of the Republic of China (the island's official name) to deny its historical roots in the mainland. Then came la piece de resistance: the mass recall vote against opposition lawmakers. Through a quirk of the electoral system, you could recall legislators and run by-elections to replace them if there are enough voters to support the effort.
RTHK
2 hours ago
- RTHK
Assange joins pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney
Assange joins pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney Protesters walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Palestine Action Group's March for Humanity in Australia. Photo: Reuters Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters including WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, closing the world famous landmark. Assange, who returned to Australia last year after his release from a high-security British prison, was pictured surrounded by family and marching alongside former Australian Foreign Minister and New South Wales Premier Bob Carr. France, Britain and Canada have in recent weeks voiced intentions to recognise a Palestinian state as international concern and criticism have grown over malnutrition in Gaza. Australia has called for an end to the war in Gaza but has so far stopped short of a decision to recognise a Palestinian state. The pro-Palestinian crowd braved heavy winds and rain to march across the bridge, chanting "ceasefire now" and "free Palestine". New South Wales police said it had deployed hundreds of extra staff across Sydney for the march. Mehreen Faruqi, the New South Wales senator for the left-wing Greens party, told the crowd gathered at central Sydney's Lang Park that the march would "make history" and called for the "harshest sanctions on Israel". She also criticised New South Wales premier Chris Minns for saying the protest should not go ahead. Dozens of marchers held up banners listing the names of thousands of Palestinian children killed since the Gaza war broke out. Assange did not address the crowd or talk to the media. (AFP)
