China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals
UK and Canadian nationals will be able to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa from 17 February, BBC reported.
China's foreign ministry said visa-free entry would be permitted for tourism, business or visits to family and friends, with the policy set to stay in effect initially until 31 December.
It follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official visit to China last month, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed travel rules would be relaxed, according to BBC.
Ukraine's ex-energy minister detained while attempting to leave country
A former energy minister in Ukraine has been detained while attempting to leave the country, authorities have said, BBC reported.
German Galushchenko, who was forced out of his government role last year after being among officials named in a corruption scandal, was reportedly apprehended while on a train leaving Ukraine. It is unclear where he intended to travel to.
He was one of several government figures implicated in an alleged $100m (£75m) embezzlement scheme in November, according to BBC.
Israeli airstrikes kill 9 in Gaza, including tent camp, Palestinian officials say
At least nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in northern and southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, Palestinian civil defense and health officials said, Reuters reported.
Medics said an Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment housing displaced families killed at least four people, while health officials said another strike killed five in Khan Younis in the south.
An Israeli military official said Israel Defense Forces were striking Hamas "terrorists" in response to "a violation (on Saturday) in Beit Hanoun where terrorists emerged from a tunnel east of the yellow line".
China is the real threat, Taiwan says in rebuff to Wang Yi’s Munich speech
China is the real threat to security and is hypocritically claiming to uphold UN principles of peace, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said on Feb 15 in a rebuff to comments by China's top diplomat at the Munich Security Conference, Reuters reported.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a view the government in Taipei rejects, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, addressing the annual security conference on Feb 14, warned that some countries were “trying to split Taiwan from China”, blamed Japan for tensions over the island and underscored the importance of upholding the UN Charter, according to Reuters.
