Mala to global mojo: Regional cuisines are China's tastiest forms of soft power
In 1972, the world watched as then US President Richard Nixon deftly wielded a pair of ivory chopsticks while sitting next to his smiling host, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, working his way through an extravagant eight-course banquet with exotic dishes that included shark's fin soup, spongy bamboo shoots in egg-white consomme and fish fillets in pickle wine sauce.
The televised dinner for 600 guests at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and Mr Nixon's historic eight-day visit, marked the end of decades of the disconnect between the two countries and a momentous beginning of engagement in what has been described as 'the week that changed the world'.
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Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Hamas receives new Gaza truce plan: Palestinian official
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Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Australia cancels far-right Israeli lawmaker's visa
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Head of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Simcha Rothman speak as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo TEL AVIV/SYDNEY - Australia has cancelled the visa of an Israeli lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition who has advocated against Palestinian statehood and called for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. Simcha Rothman, a Knesset member from the Religious Zionism party led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, was scheduled to visit Sydney and Melbourne this month at the invitation of a local conservative Jewish organisation. Australia is among countries set to recognise a Palestinian state next month, a decision that Rothman said would be a "grave mistake and a huge reward for Hamas and for terror". In June, Australia, along with four other nations including Britain, sanctioned Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over accusations of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Rothman said that he was informed his visa had been cancelled due to remarks the Australian government considered controversial and inflammatory, including his claim Palestinian statehood would lead to the destruction of the State of Israel and his call for Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. "Nothing that I said personally has not been said over and over again by the vast majority of the public in Israel and the Government of Israel," Rothman told Reuters by phone on Monday. Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said in an emailed statement that the government takes a hard line on those who seek to spread division in Australia, and that anyone coming to promote a message of hate and division was not welcome. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Singapore LTA, public transport operators join anti-vaping effort with stepped-up enforcement Opinion It's time vaping offences had tougher consequences Singapore Malaysia's Inspector-General receives prestigious Singapore award Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Woman hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Singapore Jail for driver of 11 tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands Life 'Unexpected challenge': Actor Jet Li in hospital for operation "Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe," he said, without disclosing specific reasons for cancelling Rothman's visa. The Home Affairs Ministry declined further comment. Rothman, who chairs a parliamentary committee that deals with judicial matters, was invited by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) to meet members of the Jewish community. AJA Chief Executive Robert Gregory said that the purpose of Rothman's visit was "to show solidarity with Australia's Jewish community, which is facing a wave of antisemitism," and that during his visit he was to meet with victims of antisemitism. REUTERS
AsiaOne
10 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Trump tells Ukraine to give up on Nato and Crimea ahead of Zelenskiy meeting, World News
KYIV — US President Donald Trump told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining Nato as he prepared to host President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders in Washington on Monday (Aug 18) to press Kyiv into accepting a peace deal with Russia. After rolling out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump is leaning on Ukraine to accept a deal to end Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Trump will meet first Zelenskiy and then the leaders of UK, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union and Nato, the White House said. The European leaders are flying to Washington to show solidarity with Ukraine and to press for strong security guarantees in any post-war settlement. Trump's team stressed on Sunday that there had to be compromises on both sides. But Trump put the burden on Zelenskiy to end the war that Russia began with its full-scale invasion in February 2022. That, along with his comments on Nato and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014 during Barack Obama's presidency, suggested he would press Zelenskiy hard at Monday's meeting. Zelenskiy "can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump said on Truth Social. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE." Ukraine and its allies have long feared that Trump could press an agreement favourable to Moscow. However they have taken heart from some developments, including Trump's apparent willingness to provide post-settlement security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Zelenskiy has already all but rejected the outline of Putin's proposals from the Alaska meeting, including for Ukraine to give up the rest of its eastern Donetsk region, of which it currently controls a quarter. Zelenskiy is also seeking an immediate ceasefire to conduct deeper peace talks. Trump previously backed that but reversed course after the summit with Putin and indicated support for Russia's favoured approach of negotiating a comprehensive deal while fighting rumbles on. Trump will meet first with Zelenskiy at 1.15pm EDT (1.15am in Singapore time on Tuesday) in the Oval Office and then with all the European leaders together in the White House's East Room at 3pm EDT, the White House said. The Ukrainian president, seeking to avoid a repeat of the bad-tempered Oval Office meeting he had with Trump in February, said after arriving in Washington late on Sunday he was grateful to Trump for the invitation. "We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. "Russia must end this war - the war it started. And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace." Russia launched missiles and drones in overnight attacks that included strikes on Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, near the Russian border, which killed seven people, including two children, officials said. "They hit an ordinary apartment block, many flats, many families were living here, small children, children's playground, residential compound, there are no offices here or anything else, we lived here peacefully in our homes," said Olena Yakusheva, a local resident, as firefighters battled a blaze in the building and rescue workers dug in the rubble. On the battlefield Russia has been slowly grinding forward, pressing home its advantages in men and firepower. Putin says he is ready to continue fighting until his military objectives are achieved. Russian peace proposal The outline of Putin's proposals, reported by Reuters earlier, appears impossible for Zelenskiy to accept. Ukrainian forces are deeply dug into the Donetsk region, whose towns and hills serve as a crucial defensive zone to stymie Russian attacks. Concerned that they would be shut out of the conversation after a summit with Putin to which they were not invited, European leaders held a call with Zelenskiy on Sunday to align on a common strategy for the meetings with Trump. [[nid:721444]] "It's important for the Europeans to be there: (Trump) respects them, he behaves differently in their presence," Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker from Zelenskiy's ruling party, told Reuters. "D-Day at the White House" said Britain's Daily Mail, while the Daily Mirror said "Europe takes a stand" in its front page headline. Germany's Die Welt called it the "moment of truth" for the US president. "It is probably not an exaggeration to say the whole world is looking to Washington," Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said at a press briefing. Relations between Kyiv and Washington, once extremely close, have been rocky since Trump returned to the White House in January. However, Ukraine's pressing need for US weapons and intelligence sharing, some of which have no viable alternative, has forced Zelenskiy and his allies to work with Trump. [[nid:721460]]
