BIG Wrap

(Al Jazeera Media Network) The United States has imposed sanctions on six Chinese and Hong Kong officials to punish China for its ongoing crackdown on democracy advocates in financial hub Hong Kong, which was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The US Department of State announced the sanctions on Monday. They target prominent figures, including Hong Kong Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam for playing a role in efforts to...

(BBC News) "Incredible." That was the single word uttered under her breath by Marine Le Pen as she stormed out of a Paris courtroom on Monday morning. She left the court early – just before hearing that she was barred from running for office for five years after being found guilty of embezzlement of EU funds – almost certainly ruling her out from standing in the 2027 French presidential election. Without even waiting for the judge...

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Hungary this week, despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu’s trip, announced on Sunday by his office, comes at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The visit, scheduled from Wednesday to Sunday, comes after Orban dismissed the warrant when it was announced in November. Orban, a right-wing nationalist leader often at odds with...

(BBC News) Donald Trump has said he "couldn't care less" if carmakers raise prices after his 25% tariffs on foreign-made vehicles come into effect. Some analysts have warned that Trump's import charges could lead to the temporary shutdown of some US car production, with increased prices passed on to consumers. But the US president told NBC News on Saturday that he hoped foreign carmakers will raise prices as it meant "people are gonna buy American-made cars –...

(Al Jazeera Media Network) New alliances in Sudan’s civil war risk sparking a regional conflict by drawing in neighbouring South Sudan, analysts tell Al Jazeera. The biggest development was an alliance in February between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which established a government to rival Sudan’s current de-facto leadership. The RSF has been at war with Sudan’s army since April 2023 and seeks to increase its control and influence in...

(BBC News) Myanmar's military junta has continued to bomb parts of the war-torn country following the major earthquake there on Friday, which has killed more than 1,600 people. The UN has described the attacks as "completely outrageous and unacceptable". Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews told the BBC that it was "nothing short of incredible" that the military was continuing to "drop bombs when you are trying to rescue people" after the earthquake. He called on the military regime,...

(BBC News) Vice-President JD Vance's comments at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland were nothing we have not heard before – but are sure to raise eyebrows among some US allies, particularly in Copenhagen. We have heard the assertion that Denmark has been "under-investing" in Greenland's security from Vance, Donald Trump and others – not just about Greenland but European security in general. We also saw shades of that with this week's publication of the now-infamous Signals chat with...

(Al Jazeera Media Network) A powerful earthquake has hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, destroying buildings, damaging infrastructure and killing more than 150 people. Myanmar’s state-run MRTV reported that at least 144 people were killed on Friday and 732 were injured in the country. The quake also hit Thailand, where at least nine people were killed in the capital, Bangkok, according to local authorities. A magnitude 7.7 quake struck just outside Myanmar’s ancient capital Mandalay at 12.50pm (06:20 GMT)....

(BBC News) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada's old relationship with the United States, "based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over." Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after a cabinet meeting, Carney said Canadians must "fundamentally reimagine our economy" in the face of US President Donald Trump's tariffs. He said Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the US. Trump announced on Wednesday he...

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Geopolitical rivalries are intensifying in the Arctic, but Russia is willing to co-operate with foreign partners, including from the West, in economic ventures there that will benefit all sides, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. In a major speech on Thursday, Putin said US President Donald Trump’s stated intention to acquire Greenland was “serious”, and it was clear that the US would continue to promote its interests in the Arctic. The Greenland question had...