Politics
South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung vowed Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the US and Japan, as he laid out key policy goals for his single, five-year term. Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading
Politics
US President Donald Trump on Monday ruled out allowing Iran to enrich uranium under any nuclear deal between the foes, as Tehran defended what it said was its “peaceful” pursuit of fuel for power generation. Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention in five rounds of talks since
Politics
Representatives of Russia and Ukraine met Monday for their second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks, but aside from agreeing to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops, they made no progress toward ending the 3-year-old war, officials said. The talks unfolded a day
Politics
US President Donald Trump is “open” to meeting his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Turkiye, the White House said, after the two sides failed on Monday to make headway toward an elusive ceasefire. Delegations from both sides did, however, agree another large-scale prisoner exchange in their meeting in Istanbul, which
Politics
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed on Sunday prospects for settling the conflict in Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine talks set for Monday in Turkiye, Lavrov’s ministry said. “The situation linked to the Ukraine crisis was discussed,” the ministry said in a statement on
Politics
A Bulgarian group of dozens of cyber activists at first clubbed together to battle Russian disinformation, but they have since found other foes — like animal abusers. They call themselves the BG Elves, which both refers to the kind-hearted characters of Scandinavian mythology and hints at a rivalry with the Internet’
Politics
China and North Korea’s support for Russia in its war against Ukraine has exposed how lines between regions have blurred, and the need for a global approach toward defense, top security officials said Sunday. North Korea has sent troops to fight on the front lines in Ukraine, while China
Politics
Several jailed Tunisian opposition figures have been transferred without prior notice to prisons far from their families in a move their lawyers and relatives on Friday denounced as “repressive.” At least seven political figures were moved on Thursday from Mornaguia prison near Tunis to remote facilities, lawyer Dalila Msaddek told
Politics
Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Tripoli on Friday for the third week in a row to demand the resignation of UN-recognized Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah following recent clashes in Libya’s capital. Demonstrators chanted “Dbeibah out,” “the people want the fall of the government,” and “long live Libya.” At
Politics
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles on Saturday urged greater transparency from China over its military modernization and deployments as Pacific nations brace for a more assertive Chinese presence. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defense meeting in Singapore, Marles said that while China remains an important
Politics
A US plan for Gaza seen by Reuters on Friday proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages alive and dead in the first week and the release of 125 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. The plan, which says it
Politics
The United States told the UN Security Council on Thursday that its proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine was “Russia’s best possible outcome” and President Vladimir Putin should take the deal. The United States wants Russia to agree to a comprehensive 30-day land, air, sea and critical infrastructure ceasefire.
Politics
In a rare and increasingly panicked tone, Iran’s state media and nuclear officials have voiced mounting concern throughout nuclear negotiations with the United States. The regime is growing visibly alarmed that any concessions made in the talks could provoke internal instability and erode its strategic position, both domestically and
Politics
Russia said Wednesday it wanted new talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next Monday to present its plan for a peace settlement, but Kyiv said it needed to see the plan in advance for the meeting to yield results. Diplomatic efforts to end the three-year conflict have accelerated in recent months,
Politics
A US trade court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s tariffs from going into effect in a sweeping ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy. The Court of International Trade said
Politics
Early voting in South Korea’s presidential elections began on Thursday, with both main candidates casting ballots in a poll triggered by ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol’s ill-fated suspension of civilian rule last year. South Koreans are desperate to draw a line under months of political turmoil sparked by Yoon’