World - Daily Politics

China’s leader Xi Jinping has intensified a sweeping military purge within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), removing and investigating an increasing number of senior officers in what analysts describe as one of the most significant defence upheavals in years.

The campaign, part of Xi’s anti-corruption drive within the PLA, has impacted top ranks, including figures linked to the Rocket Force and defence procurement systems. The removals are broadly seen as both a crackdown on corruption and a wider effort at Xi’s consolidation of power within the PLA, reinforcing political loyalty among the armed forces.

The purge occurs at a delicate juncture for ...

Russia has taken steps to limit access to WhatsApp, the country's most popular messaging app, which has around 100 million users. A Meta spokesperson, the company that owns WhatsApp, confirmed that Russian authorities tried to "fully block" the service, calling the move a "backward step" that isolates users from private and secure communication. The success of the block remains uncertain.

This action is part of a wider Kremlin effort to control digital communications and push forward its "sovereign internet" plan, creating an online space shielded from foreign technology. Officials are actively promoting Max, a state-backed app inspired by China's WeChat, which ...

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a lengthy trial under the Hong Kong national security law, a ruling that has sparked sharp disagreement over how the case is portrayed internationally.

In a video titled "Why and how is the Western media lying about Jimmy Lai?", published by Reports on China (@ReportsOnChina) on YouTube, host Andy Boreham challenges what he describes as misleading Western media narratives surrounding the verdict. The programme argues that coverage in outlets such as CNN, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal has represented Lai's conviction mainly as punishment for ...

Prominent Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison under the city's controversial national security legislation, prompting widespread international condemnation and renewed concerns about the erosion of press freedom and human rights in Hong Kong. Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy advocate and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was convicted of conspiracy to publish seditious material and to collude with foreign forces — charges critics claim criminalise dissent and free expression.

The UK, the United Nations, and the European Union condemned the sentence as a "monumental injustice" and incompatible with international human rights standards, with officials calling ...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to the United States for a diplomatic meeting with President Donald Trump. The high-profile talks are expected to focus mainly on Iran, specifically addressing concerns over its advancing nuclear programme and the escalating tensions it fuels across the Middle East. This meeting highlights the ongoing strategic alliance between the US and Israel on regional security issues.

Discussions will likely centre on strategies to pressure Tehran and prevent the development of nuclear weapons, a long-standing red line for Israel. The talks take place against a backdrop of complex diplomatic efforts involving international powers ...

High-stakes diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran are scheduled to take place in Oman on Friday, but negotiations have been brought to the brink of collapse due to fundamental disagreements over their agenda and format. The crisis emerged when Iran insisted that the talks be moved from Turkey to Oman, initially rejected by the US. Last-minute interventions by several Arab states persuaded the White House to accept the venue change, preventing the meeting from fully breaking down.

Beyond the location, a more profound dispute over the scope of discussions threatens the dialogue. The US insists that talks must also ...

In an interview with Novara Media (@NovaraMedia), podcaster Kaiser Kuo discusses a significant reversal in Western foreign policy towards China. He coined the term "China vibe shift" in early 2025 to describe a swift change in perception from hawkish confrontation to diplomatic re-engagement.

According to the analysis in the video, Western political rhetoric from 2016-2024 was characterised by intense competition to appear tough on China, often focusing on human rights and national security threats. However, a noticeable shift began as leaders from France, Canada, and the UK started visiting Beijing, seeking to reset relations. Kuo attributes this change to several converging ...

High-level diplomatic talks aiming to end the war in Ukraine continue, but significant obstacles hinder the path to a sustainable peace agreement. The negotiations, which include recent meetings in Abu Dhabi, highlight the deeply entrenched positions of both sides and the complexities of international mediation.

Ukraine's core demands focus on securing strong, legally-binding security guarantees from Western allies to prevent future aggression. This is seen as essential for long-term stability. Conversely, Russia persists in insisting on territorial concessions, seeking recognition of its control over parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. The removal of international sanctions remains a key Russian objective, creating ...

Israel has announced it will terminate the humanitarian operations of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders, or MSF) in the Gaza Strip. The decision comes after the medical charity refused to comply with an Israeli order to hand over a list of its Palestinian and international staff working in the territory. Israeli authorities claim the measure is necessary for security, alleging some MSF staff have links to armed groups, which the charity vehemently denies.

MSF stated it could not provide the list without concrete assurances from Israel that the information would not be used in a way that puts its staff ...

A new travel advisory from the German government highlights a significant shift in how key allies perceive stability and security within the United States. In an analysis from the House of El channel (@HouseofEl), the late January advisory is noted not for terrorism or natural disasters, but for "violent clashes with immigration authorities" in American cities like Minneapolis, as well as an "increased risk of politically motivated violence."

The advisory carries unusual diplomatic weight by explicitly stating that having a valid ESTA travel authorisation does not guarantee entry, and that U.S. border authorities hold final discretionary power with no recourse for ...