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First Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Lavrov dials Rubio after Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web sees Russian airfields rattle
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web rattled its five airfields and 40 bombers read more US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov and members of the delegations attend talks at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke late June 1, regarding the prospects of peace talks in Turkey . According to the statement released by the US State Department, the call was conducted at Lavorv's request soon after the tensions between Moscow and Kyiv escalated. 'Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, at Russia's request. Secretary Rubio reiterated President (Donald ) Trump's call for continued direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a lasting peace,' US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry issued a separate statement in which they mentioned that 'the situation linked to the Ukraine crisis was discussed'. 'SV Lavrov and M Rubio also exchanged views on various initiatives concerning a settlement of the Ukraine crisis, including plans to resume direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on June 2,' the ministry statement reads. The ministry also noted that during the conversation, Rubio expressed condolences over the deaths that occurred when two bridges collapsed in two separate regions in Russia, bordering Ukraine. Russian officials noted that at least seven people were killed and 69 were injured when the two bridges were blown up on Saturday. The escalation The talks between the two diplomats came after Ukraine staged a dramatic series of strikes across Russia, deploying drones hidden in trucks deep inside the country to hit strategic airfields far away in eastern Siberia. Meanwhile, Moscow launched one of its longest drone and missile attacks against Kyiv. The tensions between the two nations have been escalating ahead of crucial peace talks between Russia and Ukraine this week. Multiple reports suggested that over 40 Russian aircraft, including the Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3 long-range bombers capable of deploying conventional and nuclear weapons, as well as the A-50, have been damaged in the operation on Sunday. The preparation took over a year and a half. Planning, organisation, every detail was perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was an absolutely unique operation. — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a series of posts on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the operations and revealed that the plan took a year and a half to prepare. 'Today, a brilliant operation was carried out — on enemy territory, targeting only military objectives, specifically the equipment used to strike Ukraine. Russia suffered significant losses, entirely justified and deserved,' Zelenskyy wrote in the post. 'The preparation took over a year and a half. Planning, organisation, and every detail were perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was a unique operation,' he added. With inputs from agencies.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
US Embassy Issues Statement on Visa Security Protocols in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, May 31: The US Embassy in Kuwait affirmed that the US visa policy is not new and explained that security screening procedures for visa applicants to the United States remain part of the established approach to protecting American citizens. In a press release on Thursday, the Embassy stated that, like all sovereign countries, the United States is committed to verifying the identities of applicants, their reasons for travel, and their plans for stay. It noted that the US Department of State began requiring the disclosure of social media handles on visa application forms in 2019 and emphasized the importance of this verification process. The Embassy also mentioned that visa interview dates are adjusted periodically to provide consular officers with adequate time to review applications per US laws. It encouraged applicants to continue submitting their applications and to apply well in advance of their expected travel dates to avoid potential delays. For accurate and up-to-date information on visa procedures, the embassy advised those wishing to travel to the United States to visit the official website of the relevant US embassy or consulate in their country. (KUNA)
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
War of the words: Why top US diplomat Rubio is lost in China's translations
America's top diplomat Marco Rubio has made clear that he does not trust Beijing's English translations of Chinese officials' words – he says they are 'never right'. The China hawk has instead urged his colleagues to go back to the original Chinese version of statements put out by Beijing to get a more accurate understanding of what is going on. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, appears to be the most powerful diplomat under President Donald Trump. He is the first person since Henry Kissinger to hold the national security adviser and secretary of state positions at the same time, making him the point man on China over the next four years. Rubio has been blunt about his distrust of China. During his secretary of state confirmation hearing in January, he highlighted the importance of referring to the original Chinese to understand the words of President Xi Jinping. 'Don't read the English translation that they put out because the English translation is never right,' he said. The subject of translation came up again later that month, when Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone. Wang reportedly told Rubio to ' hao zi wei zhi ' – an idiom Beijing translated as 'act accordingly' in its English readout of the call. It was more stern in foreign media reports on the meeting – Reuters translated it as 'conduct yourself well', while Bloomberg's translation was 'conduct yourself properly'. Adding to the confusion, Rubio denied Wang had even given him any warning. 'The translator that was on the call did not say anything to me that I felt was over the top. But then they put out these games – they like to play these games,' Rubio said in an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, according to a transcript released by the US Department of State. 'They put out these translations where it says one thing in English and then it's translated in a different – they use a different term in Mandarin – so like 'He was warned not to overstep himself'. They never said that.' Accurate translation is a difficult task given the linguistic, cultural and political differences between the United States and China. Analysts also point to other factors, such as the target audience for the messaging. But one thing is clear – understanding what the other side is saying is more important than ever amid a 90-day pause in the US-China tariff war and with key areas on the table for negotiation, from electric vehicles to semiconductors and rare minerals. Xiaoyu Pu, an associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, said the linguistic, conceptual and political differences between the countries could lead to gaps in perception and interpretation. He said some Chinese political phrases were 'highly idiomatic, historically rooted or symbolic', and that made them challenging to translate directly. Pu noted that there was also a difference in political communication styles. He said Chinese official discourse could be vague and ambiguous, whereas Western diplomatic language tended to be more direct and precise. He said there was also some flexibility with translation that could be used strategically for different audiences. 'As one Chinese concept can be translated into different English terms, sometimes Chinese officials intentionally emphasise the Chinese meaning for a domestic audience while translating the idea into English for an international audience,' Pu said. He pointed to the idiom used by Wang as an example, saying it was intended for a nationalistic domestic audience, while the official English translation was more moderate. According to Pu, Chinese concepts could sometimes also be interpreted by foreign translators in the West in ways that fit their country's political climate, rather than genuinely adhering to the original Chinese meaning. Pang Zhongying, a visiting senior fellow at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said Rubio seemed to have 'inherited' a distrust of Beijing's translations from other China hawks like Robert Lighthizer. Lighthizer, the US trade representative and architect of the trade war with China in Trump's first term, wrote in his 2023 book No Trade Is Free that: 'There is often a major difference between what China says in Chinese to its people and the way it officially translates those words into English for Western audiences. 'Routinely, the harsh, combative language is watered down. It thus is important to look to an unofficial and candid translation to determine what is being conveyed,' he said, citing an interpretation of Xi's report to the 2022 Communist Party congress provided by Kevin Rudd, the former Australian prime minister and a China expert who speaks fluent Mandarin. Pang said political distrust was at the heart of 'misconception or disinformation' given that both sides had a large team of professional translators to draw on. He said one way to reduce the problem was by increasing face-to-face communications so that misunderstandings could be cleared up. That was especially important given the range of issues expected to be negotiated by Beijing and Washington following the trade war truce agreed in Geneva earlier this month, he added. Sabine Mokry, a researcher at the University of Hamburg's Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy, said the criticism of Beijing's English translations reflected a deep-seated mistrust that had become one of the defining features of US-China relations. She said the remarks were 'a bit overblown'. 'It speaks to a common perception – or misperception – that we don't know anything about their [Chinese authorities'] intentions and they hide everything,' she said. Mokry analysed the official English translations of foreign policy documents released by Beijing from 2013 to 2019. According to her study findings, published in 2022, almost half of the documents contained differences between the English and Chinese versions, and most of those differences potentially altered the intended meaning. But she said the two versions were not entirely different, and the key messages remained largely consistent because the official translations were 'carefully crafted' to align with Beijing's political objectives and diplomatic priorities. Mokry found that the Chinese version usually signalled stronger and more assertive intentions while the English version came across as softer, since they targeted different audiences. 'The question is more about how the US government and also governments around the world can build up enough capacity to deal with the original Chinese texts instead of just relying on the official English translations,' she said. Mokry said machine-learning tools could help to identify translation differences but it remained crucial to have experts available who could work with the original Chinese statements, point their colleagues to the nuances and add the interpretive context that went beyond linguistic skills. To do that, she said it was important to understand the institution issuing the document and its role in the political system. According to Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a Beijing-based think tank, the historical and cultural differences that shape the values of Chinese and Western societies – and the way concepts are expressed and decoded – are the main reason for misperceptions when it comes to translation. Wang said Chinese civilisation was rooted in agrarian traditions such as cultivating one's plot and favouring modesty, while Western cultures, influenced by nomadic and expansionist histories, tended to emphasise individualism, mobility and global outreach. He noted that some of the terms used in Chinese political messaging could be hard for international audiences to grasp. But he said instead of just communicating those unfamiliar phrases Beijing could create new terms and concepts that might gain international acceptance if there was clear context and the ideas were framed in more globally relatable ways. Wang gave the example of Beijing's renamed trade and infrastructure strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative. When it was launched in 2013 it was known as One Belt, One Road. But that caused confusion because it was not a road but sea routes linking China's southern coast to East Africa, the Mediterranean and Latin America, while the 'belt' refers to a series of overland corridors connecting China with Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. It quietly became the Belt and Road Initiative in 2015 – a name that is now recognised globally – with the Chinese name left unchanged. Wang said further efforts from both China and the US were needed to boost exchanges in education and tourism, ease visa restrictions, and allow more access for foreign media to promote mutual understanding. He said far more Chinese had studied in America than Americans in China since the reform and opening-up began in the 1970s. According to Wang, that imbalance, with a limited number of Americans learning Chinese, had a serious impact on how well they could understand each other. 'Chinese people are much more familiar with the United States than Americans are with China,' he said.
The South African
4 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
United States issues updated travel warning for South Africa
The United States has updated its travel advisory for South Africa, adding new warnings about terrorism risks and tightening security protocols for US government employees. While the country remains at Level 2 – 'Exercise Increased Caution''' – the enhanced advisory reflects growing diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The updated guidance, issued by the US Department of State on May 27, now includes a warning about the risk of terrorist violence in South Africa, although it does not identify any specific threats or groups. In addition, travelers are being urged to remain vigilant in urban centers after dark and avoid traveling outside major metropolitan areas at night due to heightened crime risks and road safety concerns. US officials working in South Africa now face stricter movement restrictions. They must secure special authorisation to enter certain township areas near Cape Town and are required to use armored vehicles during limited visiting hours. The travel update comes just days after a contentious Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 21. Trump cited alleged attacks on white farmers and accused South Africa of enabling a so-called 'white genocide' – claims that have been widely debunked. President Ramaphosa pushed back, stating that while South Africa faces serious criminal challenges, violence is not racially exclusive. 'There is criminality in our country,' Ramaphosa said. 'People who do get killed, unfortunately through criminal activity, are not only white people. The majority of them are black people.' The South African leader also reaffirmed that land reform efforts are aimed at addressing historical injustices, not racially motivated land seizures. This advisory is the latest in a series of developments straining US-South Africa relations. In recent months: The US cancelled development aid to South Africa to South Africa Offered asylum protections to white Afrikaner groups Expelled South Africa's ambassador following public criticism of President Trump. The upgraded travel guidance now appears to reflect a hardening US posture towards South Africa amid the political fallout. Despite the advisory level remaining at Level 2, the US government's updated stance suggests travelers should exercise greater vigilance, particularly in high-crime areas and during night-time travel. Government employees face restricted access to certain regions, underscoring US concerns over security and political stability. The long-term impact of the diplomatic spat remains to be seen. Analysts warn that if tensions escalate further, it could affect bilateral cooperation on trade, security, and regional development. For now, South Africa remains open to American travelers, but the message from Washington is clear: caution is advised. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pausing student visa interviews will increase uncertainty, create chaos, and deter global talent: US-based associations
US President Donald Trump The decision of the US Department of State (DOS) to pause visa interviews for international students, has invited flak from various associations. Marco Rubio, Secretary, DOS has recently ordered a pause on consulate appointments for student and exchange visitor visas (F, M and J visa categories). The move comes as the US government plans to expand social media checks for all student and exchange visitor visa applicants. Soon thereafter, a statement announced revocation of visas for Chinese students. 'Under President Trump's leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong,' it states. India and China are the main countries of origin of international students. According to the Open Doors Report, released last November, during the academic year 2023-24, there were 3.31 lakh Indian students in the US (constituting 29.4% of the total number of international students). This was followed by 2.77 lakh Chinese students (24.6% of the total number of international students). Responding to the pause on visa interviews, Miriam Feldblum, President and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration said, 'The State Department's decision to pause visa interviews for international students during this crucial admissions period is deeply concerning. It will generate harmful delays and likely cause longer-term chaos. In the immediate term, it disrupts existing processes and creates great uncertainty for students and campuses. Alongside plans to expand the existing social media vetting and screening of all international student applicants, this decision continues a pattern of administrative actions, including the SEVIS student record terminations and visa revocations, that contradict America's national economic, academic, and global interests.' 'If unaddressed, this growing climate of fear, volatility, and uncertainty will weaken our nation's prosperity and competitiveness. Deterring students from choosing American colleges and universities costs us the valuable contributions of international students to campuses, communities and the economy, and threatens America's longstanding position as the world's premier destination for international talent. This is not about quotas, but about talent. A decline in new international enrolments will harm communities and regions across the country. International students fuel cutting-edge research and innovation and expose domestic students to ideas and approaches that prepare them to participate in the global economy. Every year, tuition revenues from international students support programs and funding streams that serve all students on our campuses,' she added. According to the Presidents' Alliance, in 2023–2024, international students contributed nearly $44 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs, making international education the seventh-largest US service export. 'Stand up for international students' is a prominent post by On its website it stated that international students and graduates are critical to the STEM workforce and industries of the future. These students drive innovation by performing essential work in university labs and classrooms and contributing to American companies while working on optional practical training (OPT). Tens of thousands of international students are positioned to graduate with degrees related to key fields like AI and semiconductors each year. In addition, a quarter of the US billion-dollar startup companies were founded by a former international student who each created an average of 860 jobs. In total, 44% of these 'unicorn' startups were started by someone outside the US. The Association pointed out that if America loses its reputation as the premier destination for international student education, it is not a status that it will be able to easily recover.
