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China Confirms Visa-free Access for Canada, UK Visitors from Feb 17

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of a bilateral meeting in Beijing, China, January 29, 2026. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of a bilateral meeting in Beijing, China, January 29, 2026. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS
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China Confirms Visa-free Access for Canada, UK Visitors from Feb 17

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of a bilateral meeting in Beijing, China, January 29, 2026. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of a bilateral meeting in Beijing, China, January 29, 2026. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS

China confirmed that Canadian and British citizens will be able to visit the country visa-free from Tuesday, after the two countries' leaders had announced such agreements following official trips to Beijing.

British and Canadian prime ministers Keir Starmer and Mark Carney both visited Beijing in January, seeking to bolster relations with China and pivot from the increasingly mercurial United States, said AFP.

Both leaders had hailed progress following meetings with top Chinese leaders such as President Xi Jinping, including on issues like visa-free access for their citizens to China.

Beijing's foreign ministry confirmed these agreements on Sunday, saying Canadian and British citizens will be able to travel to China visa-free from Tuesday, with the policy in effect until December 31.

"Holders of ordinary passports from these countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanges, or transit for a period not exceeding 30 days," it said in a statement.

This was to "further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries", it added.

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World

Israel’s Purchase of ‘Stolen’ Ukrainian Grain Is Not ‘Legitimate’, Zelenskiy Says

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)
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Israel’s Purchase of ‘Stolen’ Ukrainian Grain Is Not ‘Legitimate’, Zelenskiy Says

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Israel's purchase of grain from occupied Ukrainian territory "stolen" by Russia "cannot be legitimate business" and that Kyiv was readying sanctions against those attempting to profit from it.

"Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload," Zelenskiy said on X. "This is ‌not – and cannot ‌be – legitimate business."

"The Israeli ‌authorities ⁠cannot be unaware ⁠of which ships are arriving at the country's ports and what cargo they are carrying," he added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Israel's ambassador had been summoned to his ministry over what he ⁠described as Israeli inaction in allowing ‌shipments of grain to ‌enter the country from Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Israeli Foreign ‌Minister Gideon Saar told Sybiha that Ukraine had ‌provided no evidence to support allegations that the grain was "stolen".

Kyiv considers all grain produced in the four regions Russia claimed as its own since ‌invading Ukraine in 2022, and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, ⁠to ⁠have been stolen by Moscow.

Russia refers to the four regions as its "new territories", but they are still internationally recognized as Ukrainian.

"Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers," Zelenskiy said.

"Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself."

He added that Ukraine expected Israel to respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine bilateral relations.

World

Iran Says US No Longer in Position to ‘Dictate’ Policy to Other Nations

Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)
Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)
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Iran Says US No Longer in Position to ‘Dictate’ Policy to Other Nations

Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)
Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)

Iran said on Tuesday that the United States was no longer able to "dictate" what other countries do, as Washington weighed a new proposal from Tehran on unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively sealed off the strategic waterway since early in the war with the United States and Israel, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and putting the strait at the center of negotiations to end the conflict.

"The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," defense ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said, according to state TV, adding Washington would "accept that it must abandon its illegal and irrational demands".

While a ceasefire has halted the fighting between Iran, the US and Israel, talks on bringing a permanent conclusion to the conflict have been inconclusive.

The proposal being considered in Washington would reportedly reopen the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital conduit for global oil and gas shipments -- as broader negotiations on the war continue.

Talaei-Nik, speaking ahead of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers' meeting, said Iran was also "ready to share its defensive military capabilities with independent countries, especially the member states" of the SCO.

World

Philippines Is Not Concerned Iran War Will Distract US from Region, Defense Secretary Says

Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
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Philippines Is Not Concerned Iran War Will Distract US from Region, Defense Secretary Says

Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)

The Philippines is not worried about any reduction in US deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific due to the Middle East war, though China would likely try to seize on any perceived opening, the Defense Secretary said ‌on Tuesday.

China's recent ‌actions in the ‌South ⁠China Sea and ⁠the Taiwan Strait were "not surprising", Gilberto Teodoro told Reuters in an interview, saying Beijing looked to take advantage when it thought rival powers were preoccupied ⁠elsewhere.

"It is not surprising ‌that ‌any opportunity they see, perceived opportunity, or ‌with a perceived weakness ‌or a perceived opening, they will take advantage," Teodoro said.

Teodoro said he had full confidence in the ‌Mutual Defense Treaty, the long-standing security pact between Manila ⁠and Washington, ⁠and was not worried by concerns that the Iran war could weaken US strategic bandwidth in Asia.

"I'm not concerned at all about reduced deterrence," he said, pointing to joint military exercises currently underway with the US as a sign of Washington's commitment.