Storm Kristin kills at least five in Portugal before moving to Spain
Storm Kristin has killed at least five people and left more than 850,000 residents of central and northern Portugal without electricity on Wednesday (...
US president Donald Trump has said that a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is “scheduled” to take place during his upcoming trip to South Korea.
The announcement signals a potential thaw amid worsening relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Speaking ahead of his Asia visit, President Trump indicated that the meeting would take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where both leaders are expected to attend.
The planned sit-down would mark the first direct engagement between the two since renewed tensions erupted over tariffs, and technology restrictions.
Relations between Beijing and Washington have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, with both sides trading barbs over trade policy and security issues.
The United States has tightened export controls on advanced semiconductors and imposed fresh tariffs on Chinese imports, while China has accused Washington of engaging in “economic coercion” and interfering in its domestic affairs.
Trump, who has positioned himself as a hardliner on China throughout his political career, suggested that dialogue remains essential despite the friction.
“We’ll be having a very good meeting,” he said. “It’s important to talk, especially when times are tough.”
Analysts say the meeting could offer a chance to reset communication channels that have largely broken down amid the escalating trade and technology disputes.
However, expectations for any major breakthrough remain low, as both countries continue to prioritise strategic competition over reconciliation.
So far Beijing has not issued any official response to Trump’s announcement but if confirmed, the Trump-Xi meeting would draw significant international attention, with markets watching closely for any signal of easing tensions.
For both leaders, the encounter could serve as an opportunity to project strength at home while cautiously testing the waters for renewed engagement in a region increasingly shaped by rivalry and uncertainty.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
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Residents in Syria’s Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli have stepped up volunteer patrols amid growing pressure from the country’s Islamist-led government, expressing deep mistrust of Damascus despite a fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire.
High-level diplomatic consultations were held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday as Ankara seeks to solidify the fragile progress of the Gaza ceasefire and accelerate the delivery of life-saving assistance to the strip.
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he rejects U.S. interference in Iraq's internal affairs, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support to the country if Maliki was picked as prime minister.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is likely to increase its number of parliamentary seats and gain a majority in the lower house, a preliminary survey by the Nikkei newspaper showed on Thursday (29 January).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday (29 January) for talks he hopes will deepen economic ties, signalling a potential breakthrough after years of strained relations.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran on Wednesday (28 January) to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons or the next U.S. attack would be far worse. Tehran responded with a threat to strike back against the United States.
Life will be particularly tough for Ukrainians over the next three weeks due to plunging temperatures and a compromised energy infrastructure that has been pummeled by intense Russian attacks, depriving millions of light and heat, a senior lawmaker said on Wednesday.
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