Nancy Pelosi is expected to land in Taiwan late on Tuesday, according to local news reports, in a visit that would test U.S.-China relationsU.S. House speaker’s potential trip—not confirmed—would be the highest-level visit in 25 years by an American official to the islandChina warned the U.S. it “will not sit idly” if Pelosi visits the […]
Category: Foreign
What could happen if Pelosi visits Taiwan?
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s expected visit to Taiwan has resulted in stern warnings from Beijing and mounting concerns in Washington. The California Democrat is leading a congressional delegation to the Indo-Pacific, with stops including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, according to a statement released by her office on Sunday.The statement and Pelosi’s public […]
Putin targets US, warns of using hypersonic weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new naval doctrine that targets the U.S. as Russia’s top global adversary. Putin signed the 55-page during an appearance in St. Petersburg to mark Russia’s Navy Day. The Russian leader delivered a speech announcing Russia’s plans to become a great maritime power, saying resisting the U.S. is a top […]
Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit prompts show of force by China
The Chinese military is mounting a show of force ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Asian tour, which could include a visit to Taiwan.As China hardened its posture, despite growing concern that a miscalculation could increase the risk of conflict, it said it was holding live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait and released footage […]
Biden, Xi Speak as US-China Tensions Rise
US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping began their first conversation since March on Thursday, a call the White House says is intended to keep relations stable despite rising tensions over Taiwan and the war in Ukraine. The discussion is the fifth time the two presidents have spoken since Biden took office. The […]
Should Us trade Russian Arms Dealer for Griner, Whelan?
With basketball superstar Brittney Griner having faced yet another day in Russian court, pressure has mounted in Washington to sway President Joe Biden’s administration to offer the release of convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for her freedom and that of another detained U.S. citizen, suspected spy Paul Whelan. CNN reported Wednesday that […]
Current World Order Is Over and New Era Is Coming, Warns Putin
Vladimir Putin has warned that “a new stage in world history” is coming in a speech in which he condemned “the model of total domination” by the West. During the address on Wednesday in Moscow, the Russian leader took a swipe at the populations of Western countries, which he described as the “golden billion”, and […]
Wildfires rage as record heatwave moves across Europe
Fires continue to run wild in countries across Europe, where a heatwave has intensified drought conditions. Though temperatures have cooled in France and the UK, firefighters are still tackling blazes in Greece, Spain and Italy. The fires in France’s badly-hit south-west have started to be brought under control. And as the heatwave moves north-east, low […]
Putin now has hypersonic missiles in play
Russia has completed testing of its long-range Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, and is set to put the weapon into use by the Russian Navy by the end of the year. State-run news agency TASS cited a source close to Russia’s military department as confirming the latest developments, which come as Moscow’s war in Ukraine grinds […]
Biden’s fist bump with crown prince worse than a handshake
It was a striking photograph. The US president and the man he’d called a pariah, bumping fists in the gilded splendour of Jeddah’s royal palace. Saudi Arabia was always going to be the controversial stop on Joe Biden’s first trip to the Middle East as US president. Just four weeks earlier, Mr Biden had said […]
Biden set to meet Saudi Crown Prince amid criticism
US President Joe Biden will meet Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank on Friday before he flies to a controversial summit in Saudi Arabia. His meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is likely to be strained, analysts say, after ties hit a low under the Trump administration. Later, Mr Biden will travel to Saudi […]
Why is there an economic crisis in Sri Lanka?
A state of emergency has been declared in Sri Lanka, and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the country. His departure follows months of mass protests over soaring prices and a lack of food and fuel. The country’s foreign currency reserves have virtually run dry, and it has already missed debt interest payments. The price of […]