1 week ago New KMT chair hopes to take peace message to Beijing while on Taiwan political tightrope

A plan by the chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party to visit Beijing – where she hopes to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping – early this year carries hopes of improving communication amid high tension between the two sides of the strait. While supporters portray Cheng Li-wun’s trip as a potential opening to ease cross-strait tensions, critics warn it risks signalling political alignment with Beijing at a time of rising military pressure. Cheng, who was elected chairwoman of the Kuomintang...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump calls on Hamas to disarm as he meets Netanyahu in Florida to discuss Gaza peace plan

US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday for crucial talks on moving to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan. The two leaders also discussed Iran, with Trump saying that if Tehran rebuilt its nuclear facilities the United States would “knock them down”. Trump played down reports of tensions with Netanyahu, saying that “he can be very difficult” but that Israel “might not exist” without his leadership following Hamas’ October 7, 2023...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump warns of ‘hell to pay’ if Hamas fails to disarm, says Israel is complying

US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Hamas would have “hell to pay” if it does not disarm quickly as part of a Gaza deal, which he said Israel was complying with. “If they don’t disarm as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, and then there will be hell to pay for them,” Trump told a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time,” Trump said. Trump publicly...

Events

2 w. ago Trump warns Hamas and Iran after meeting with Israel’s Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump warned Iran of fresh strikes and said Hamas would have “hell to pay” if it fails to disarm in Gaza, as he presented a united front with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Speaking at a news conference with Netanyahu in Florida, Trump threatened to “eradicate” any attempt by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear programme or ballistic missile arsenal following US and Israeli strikes earlier this year. Trump also played down reports of tensions with Netanyahu...

Events

2 w. ago Israeli President Herzog disputes Trump’s claim that Netanyahu pardon is ‘on its way’

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had told him a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “on its way”, an assertion Herzog’s office was quick to challenge. “He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero. How do you not give a pardon?” Trump told reporters while standing beside Netanyahu before a meeting in Florida. “I spoke to the president he tells me it’s on its way.” Asked about the US president’s remarks, Herzog’s office said the Israeli...

Politics

2 w. ago Israeli president denies Trump claim Netanyahu pardon is ‘on its way’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied a claim by Donald Trump on Monday that the pair had discussed the US president’s request for a pardon on corruption charges for Israel’s premier. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of accepting luxury goods from billionaires in exchange for political favours, and of seeking to negotiate more favourable coverage from Israeli media outlets. “There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump and Netanyahu to discuss next phase of Gaza ceasefire plan at US talks

US President Donald Trump is expected to push for progress in the stalled ceasefire in Gaza when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for talks that will include Israel’s concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu said this month that Trump had invited him for talks, as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance and an international security force for the Palestinian enclave. Trump has said he could meet the Israeli leader soon but the White...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump and Israel’s Netanyahu to discuss next phase of Gaza plan during US visit

US President Donald Trump is expected to push for progress in the stalled ceasefire in Gaza when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for talks that will include Israel’s concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu said this month that Trump had invited him for talks, as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance and an international security force for the Palestinian enclave. It will be Netanyahu’s fifth visit to see Trump in the United States...

Politics

3 w. ago Netanyahu to discuss Iran’s nuclear activities, next phase of Gaza plan with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will discuss Iran’s nuclear activities during his visit next week with US President Donald Trump. Speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel was aware Iran had been conducting “exercises” recently, without elaborating. Earlier on Monday, Iranian state media reported Iran had held missile drills in various cities...

Politics

3 w. ago Beijing ‘firmly opposes’ Japanese lawmakers’ trips to Taiwan as tensions spike

Beijing has lodged a protest with Tokyo over a series of visits to Taiwan by high-ranking officials from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) amid a sharp downturn in bilateral relations. Koichi Hagiuda, an LDP lawmaker and the party’s executive acting secretary general, is on a three-day trip to Taiwan that will end on Tuesday. Hagiuda on Monday held a meeting with William Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s leader. In total, about 30 Japanese lawmakers plan to visit the island between the end of...

Events

3 w. ago Business leaders plan to visit China during presidential summit early next year

Business leaders plan to visit China during presidential summit early next year  Korea JoongAng Daily

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