The Prague Post - Politics

Top French diplomat visits Ukraine frontline region

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday visited Ukraine's northeastern frontline region of Kharkiv, where Russia launched a new offensive last year.

Moscow not expecting 'breakthroughs' from Ukraine talks

Moscow on Tuesday once again downplayed expectations for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine and did not confirm the date for a meeting in Istanbul set for Wednesday by Ukraine.

Stocks diverge with eyes on earnings, trade talks

Stock markets were mixed Tuesday as traders awaited earnings from Wall Street titans and US trade talks, with just over a week before the deadline to avert steeper tariffs.

Amnesty urges probe into Israeli strike on Tehran prison

Amnesty International on Tuesday called for a war crimes investigation into Israel's deadly air attack on Tehran's Evin prison during last month's 12-day war.

UK gives green light to £38 bn Sizewell C nuclear plant

The UK government on Tuesday gave new British nuclear power plant Sizewell C the final go-ahead, after it struck a deal with investors, in a move to bolster energy security.

Kurdish farmers return to mountains in peace as PKK tensions calm

Deep in the mountains of Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province, bordering Iran and Iraq, Kurdish livestock owners and farmers have gradually returned with their animals after decades of armed conflict between Kurdish militants and the Turkish army.

MAGA-style 'anti-globalist' politics arrives in Japan

Populist ideals are gaining traction in Japan, spurred by right-wing politicians running rampant elsewhere railing against "elitism", "globalism" and immigration.

Anxiety and pride among Cambodia's future conscripts

The generation of Cambodians who may find themselves in the firing line when the country introduces military conscription is split between quiet pangs of anxiety and proud proclamations of patriotism.

A month after ceasefire with Israel, Iranians fear another war

The ceasefire that ended Iran's 12-day war with Israel has held for nearly a month without incident, but many Iranians remain uneasy, struggling with uncertainty as fears of another confrontation linger.

Iran says will not halt nuclear enrichment ahead of European talks

Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear programme including uranium enrichment despite the "severe" damage caused by US strikes to its facilities, the country's foreign minister said ahead of renewed talks with European powers.

White House restricts WSJ access to Trump over Epstein story

The White House on Monday barred The Wall Street Journal from traveling with US President Donald Trump during his upcoming visit to Scotland, after the newspaper reported that he wrote a bawdy birthday message to his former friend, alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Ex-US policeman in Breonna Taylor killing sentenced to 33 months

A federal judge on Monday rejected an appeal for leniency by the Trump Justice Department and sentenced an ex-police officer to 33 months in prison for violating the civil rights of a Black woman whose 2020 killing fueled widespread protests.

Venezuela says migrants were tortured in Salvadoran prison

Venezuela announced a probe Monday into torture claims by 252 migrants the United States had sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison where they said they were beaten, sexually abused and fed rotten food.

WHO says Gaza facilities attacked as Israel expands operations

The World Health Organization said Monday its facilities in Gaza had come under Israeli attack, echoing calls from Western countries for an immediate ceasefire as Israel expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah.

Leftist leaders gather in Chile with democracy 'under threat'

The leftist leaders of Spain and four South American nations met in Chile on Monday to appeal for unity in the face of US protectionism and a rise in extremism worldwide.

New Russia-Ukraine talks on Wednesday: Zelensky

Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks in Turkey Wednesday as a follow-up to two rounds in Istanbul that made little progress on ending their war, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.

Leftist leaders gather in Chile warning democracy 'under threat'

The leftist leaders of Spain and four South American nations met in Chile on Monday to appeal for unity in the face of US protectionism and a rise in extremism worldwide.

Vatican hardens tone on Israel after Gaza parish strike

An Israeli army strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza last week has pushed the Vatican to change its tone on Israel and blame it more directly in the dragging war -- a break from its traditional diplomacy strategy.

German govt looks to roll back tax hike on flights

Germany's government signalled Monday that it may reverse a rise in the tax applied to passenger flights as it steers a pro-business turn in Europe's top economy.

Western nations call for immediate end to Gaza war as Israel expands offensive

More than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying that suffering there had "reached new depths" as Israel's military expanded its operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah.

Trump's tariffs deadline casts shadow over European shares

Stock markets diverged on Monday, as traders in the United States and Asia focused on upbeat corporate news but those in Europe braced for US President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline for ramped-up tariffs.

UK calls for 50-day drive to arm Ukraine

The UK government on Monday called for a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine to take advantage of a recent ultimatum put to Russia by US President Donald Trump.

German industry alliance lays out domestic investment push

More than 60 German companies said Monday they would fund new domestic investments worth at least 100 billion euros ($117 billion) each as Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to revive Europe's largest economy.

Fears of escalation after Israel hits Huthi-held Yemen port

Israel pounded Yemen's Huthi-held port of Hodeida with air strikes on Monday for the second time in a month, stoking fears of escalation as it warned Yemen could face the same fate as Iran.

Kremlin cautions 'lots of work' ahead before Ukraine peace deal

Russia on Monday downplayed the chances of a breakthrough in peace talks with Ukraine, saying the two sides held "diametrically" opposed positions, hours after it launched a massive drone and missile barrage on Kyiv.

Ahead of new talks, Iran blames Europeans for nuclear deal collapse

Tehran on Monday blamed European powers for the failure of the 2015 nuclear deal, accusing them of breaking their commitments ahead of renewed talks in Istanbul with Britain, France and Germany.

Russia strikes Ukraine after Kyiv offers fresh talks

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Hong Kong leads most stocks higher, yen gains as Ishiba vows to stay

Equities mostly rose Monday on optimism countries will reach US trade deals before an August 1 deadline, while the yen gained after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he would stay in office despite another election defeat.

Japan PM hangs on after 'extremely regrettable' election

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba clung on Monday even after his coalition suffered what he called an "extremely regrettable" election result, as painful new US tariffs loom.

Iran confirms fresh nuclear talks with European powers: state media

Iran confirmed fresh talks with European powers to be held on Friday in Istanbul, the country's state media reported, the first since the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago.

Hong Kong leads stocks higher, yen gains as Ishiba vows to stay