TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia. The budget, which adds up to about $245 billion, was announced at the National … Read more
Israel’s government is refusing to allow food, medicine and fuel into the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, Israel once again cut off much-needed food, medicine and fuel supplies into Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been clear: the move is meant to pressure Hamas into accepting a new set of ceasefire terms, contrary to the … Read more
Jaish al-Fursan, a group affiliated with the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. At least 12 people have been killed after a bombing attack at a security instillation in Pakistan’s northwestern border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police and a hospital official said. Two attackers rammed two explosive-laden vehicles into the wall of the compound … Read more
Arab leaders convened for an emergency summit in Cairo on Tuesday, facing pressure to come up with something that has proved elusive for decades: a comprehensive Arab vision for Gaza, just as the Israel-Hamas cease-fire is teetering and Israel, buoyed by President Trump’s backing, holds the upper hand. “Arab Summit: Rescue mission,” read a stark … Read more
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visits Riyadh in his first trip abroad since taking office in January. Saudi Arabia will review “obstacles” to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its nationals visiting Lebanon, the two governments said. The announcement was made in a joint statement released after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Saudi Arabia’s … Read more
European leaders and other allies met in London on Sunday to discuss support for Ukraine. After a disastrous trip to the United States, Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelenskyy was warmly received in London at a special summit. This was in contrast to the public dressing down he received from US President Donald Trump and his Vice … Read more
Britain and France have promised to muster a “coalition of the willing” to secure a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Now comes the acid test for Europe: How many countries will step up, and does that even matter, given Russia’s rejection of such a coalition as part of any settlement? Prime Minister Keir Starmer … Read more
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. Israel has carried out air strikes near Syria’s Mediterranean port city of Tartous, Syrian state media has reported. An Israeli army statement on Monday said that its forces “struck a military site where weapons belonging to the … Read more
BRUSSELS—The argument between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart at the White House sent relations between the two countries into a tailspin. It also caused serious damage to an alliance at the heart of the post-World War II order: NATO. Trump staked out a position that many European allies saw as siding with Russia’s autocratic … Read more
Far-right Freedom Party won most votes in September elections, but new ruling coalition keeps it in opposition. Conservative Christian Stocker has been sworn in as Austria’s chancellor at the head of a three-party coalition government, ending five months of political deadlock that followed a far-right party’s election win. The swearing-in on Monday came days after … Read more