Reuters: World

Duterte takes responsibility for Philippines drug war, anticipates long ICC battle Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he takes full responsibility for his administration's "war on drugs", in a video message posted on his Facebook account, as he braces for a legal battle at the International Criminal Court. "Whatever happened in the past, I will be the front of our law enforcement and the military. I said this already, that I will protect you, and I will be responsible for everything," Duterte said. His remarks were his first since being put on a plane to The Hague. read more

As Germany moves right, migrants grapple with uncertainty and hope Germany's asylum policy was one of the biggest topics in this year's election, pushing the conservatives and the AfD to win first and second place, respectively. Worried about an increasingly hostile atmosphere, and the cost of living, Azmouz gave his vote to the far-left Die Linke party, which ran a campaign promoting social justice and promising more support for low-income households. "We now miss the days when Mrs. Merkel was in charge of the government," he said, referring to long-time chancellor Angela Merkel. "Now everything is expensive ... It feels like one is running and running without ever catching up." read more

US and Russia conclude first talks without Ukraine, as Moscow makes new demand U.S. and Russian officials held more than four hours of talks in Riyadh on Tuesday, their first on ending the war in Ukraine, as Kyiv and its European allies watched anxiously from the sidelines and Moscow raised a major new demand. Interfax news agency quoted Russian negotiator Yuri Ushakov as saying the talks went well, and conditions were discussed for a meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. read more

Singapore opposition party leader Pritam Singh found guilty of lying to parliament A court in Singapore on Monday found opposition Workers' Party leader Pritam Singh guilty of two counts of lying to parliament, a verdict that could see him barred from contesting a general election this year. Singh had pleaded not guilty and his sentencing was due later on Monday. The prosecution has asked for a maximum fine of S$7,000 ($5,231) for each charge. If the combined fines amount to more than S$10,000, or if he is jailed for more than one year, Singh would be unable to run in an election, which must be held by November. read more

Trump says he backs Ukraine, but early concessions to Russia spark concerns U.S. President Donald Trump has promised a swift end to the Ukraine war but with talks about to begin the author of "The Art of the Deal" may have already complicated his task by sacrificing leverage. Trump, who took office on January 20, separately discussed the war on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and told U.S. officials to begin talks on ending the nearly three-year-long war. read more

Exclusive: US will push European allies to buy more arms for Ukraine, say sources The Trump administration plans to push European allies to buy more American weapons for Ukraine ahead of potential peace talks with Moscow, said two people with knowledge of the matter, a move that could improve Kyiv's negotiating position. The plan, if formalized, will offer some reassurance to Ukrainian leaders who have worried that President Donald Trump might block further aid to the country, whose military has been slowly losing territory under fierce Russian assault in the east. read more

War crimes prosecutor first target of Trump's ICC sanctions, sources say International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan is the first person to be hit with economic and travel sanctions authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump that target the war crimes tribunal over investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday. Khan, who is British, was named on Friday in an annex - not yet made public - to an executive order signed by Trump a day earlier, a senior ICC official and another source, both briefed by U.S. government officials, told Reuters. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential matter. The sanctions include freezing of U.S. assets of those designated and barring them and their families from visiting the United States. read more

Trump's Gaza plan for 'Riviera of the Middle East' triggers international condemnation President Donald Trump's plan for the U.S. to take over war-torn Gaza and create a "Riviera of the Middle East" after resettling Palestinians elsewhere has shattered U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sparked widespread criticism. The shock move from Trump, a former New York property developer, was swiftly condemned by international powers, with regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, which Trump hopes will establish ties with Israel, rejecting the plan outright. read more

In shock announcement, Trump says U.S. wants to take over Gaza Strip President Donald Trump said the U.S. would take over the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and develop it economically after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere, actions that would shatter decades of U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump unveiled his surprise plan, without providing specifics, at a joint press conference on Tuesday with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. read more

Many feared dead after passenger jet and helicopter collide, crash into Washington river Scores of people were feared dead after an American Airlines regional passenger jet with 64 people on board and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided and crashed into the frigid Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport. Officials did not provide a death toll from Wednesday night's collision but U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, where the flight originated, suggested most if not all those on board had been killed. read more

Trump aid freeze stirs chaos before it is blocked in court President Donald Trump's attempt to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid was temporarily blocked in court on Tuesday, even as it sowed chaos throughout the government and stirred fears that it would disrupt programs that serve tens of millions of Americans. Minutes before it was due to take effect at 5 p.m. ET (2200 GMT), a federal judge blocked Trump's spending freeze that would have affected thousands of federal grant programs. read more

China to prioritise physical education in schools as obesity rates rise China is aiming to beef up physical education in schools, making it core to the curriculum rather than a secondary subject, authorities said as they push for a more "holistic education" amid growing concerns about the rise in childhood obesity. Primary and secondary schools must ensure physical education teachers are treated "the same as their colleagues in subjects such as Chinese, math and English, and intensify efforts to develop key sports such as soccer, basketball and volleyball," the official Xinhua news agency said, citing the country's Ministry of Education. read more