Edinburgh has decided to shelve a potential friendship deal with Kaohsiung, Taiwan, due to fears of potential sanctions from China. The city council was considering establishing a partnership with Kaohsiung, but concerns were raised by both Chinese officials and local businesses. The decision to halt the partnership comes as tensions between China and Taiwan continue to escalate. China considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory and has been known to impose sanctions on countries or cities that establish official ties with the self-governing island. Despite the potential benefits of a friendship deal with Kaohsiung, Edinburgh ultimately decided to prioritize its relationship with China and avoid any potential backlash. The council's decision reflects the delicate balance that many cities and countries must navigate in their relationships with both Taiwan and China.

Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine if he wins the presidential election. The plan involves informing Ukraine that it will only receive more US weapons if it agrees to enter into peace talks with Moscow. Retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, one of Trump's national security advisers, stated in an interview that the United States would also warn Moscow that a refusal to negotiate would lead to increased US support for Ukraine.

Greece has accused North Macedonia's new center-right government of violating a historic agreement regarding the country's name. The deal, which was reached in the past, is now being called into question by Greece. The Greek government has warned that North Macedonia's aspirations to join the European Union may be jeopardized as a result of this alleged breach of the agreement.

Simon Birmingham, the shadow foreign minister, has indicated that a future Coalition government would not adopt the same approach to China diplomacy as the Morrison government. Birmingham acknowledged that the Morrison government's public confrontations with China had backfired and caused negative outcomes. He suggested that a more nuanced and strategic approach would be taken by a future Coalition government in managing the relationship with China.

In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian President Putin has issued a warning to South Korea, cautioning against providing military assistance to Ukraine. This threat has raised concerns in the United States, with officials describing Putin's mention of North Korea's weapons capabilities as "incredibly concerning." The tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, with international actors closely monitoring the situation.

In his D-Day speech about democracy, President Biden made subtle references to his predecessor, without mentioning him by name. The speech came just a day after Biden had cautioned against the perils of isolationism.

Labour Party leader Starmer has revealed a key policy in the party's manifesto, which includes a plan to officially recognize a Palestinian state. The details of the manifesto were leaked to The Independent, showcasing a bold new approach to addressing the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces Running Mate for 2024 Presidential Election Introduction Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the prominent Kennedy family, has made waves in the 2024 US presidential election by running as an independent candidate. His choice of running mate, Nicole Shanahan, an attorney and entrepreneur, is expected to play a crucial […]