20 h. ago Trump’s pick for United Nations ambassador wants to ‘make the UN great again’

Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador, vowed on Tuesday to make the world body “great again” – and that he would do so by confronting Beijing’s expanding influence while leading an overhaul of what he described as a bloated, favouritism-plagued institution. “Countering China is critical,” the former Florida congressman said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Waltz called it “absurd” that China, the world’s...

Politics

59 h. ago ‘Not welcome here’: Malaysia lashes out at ‘Zionist’ US envoy pick Nick Adams

The Trump administration’s selection of Nick Adams, a self-styled “Alpha Male” author and social media provocateur, as the next US ambassador to Malaysia has triggered outrage in the Muslim-majority nation, with critics questioning the motives behind the decision. Washington announced on Thursday that Adams, who has a history of inflammatory remarks, had been selected for the diplomatic post. The decision has prompted alarm among diplomats and Southeast Asian observers, many of whom see...

Politics

60 h. ago China's exports, imports pick up as Trump tariff deadline looms

China's exports, imports pick up as Trump tariff deadline looms  Reuters

Politics

60 h. ago China’s exports, imports pick up as Trump tariff deadline looms By Reuters

China’s exports, imports pick up as Trump tariff deadline looms By Reuters  Investing.com

Politics

4 d. ago Ancient Silk Road tombs in China join Unesco World Heritage list

The Western Xia Imperial Tombs in northwest China has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage site – a recognition of the site’s importance as a centre of cultural fusion and commercial activity on the ancient Silk Road. The group of burial sites, also known as the Xixia Imperial Tombs, officially received the designation from the United Nations cultural body on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua. The site dates back to the Western Xia dynasty (1038–1227), which was ruled by the...

Politics

4 d. ago Mu Hong meets delegation from Zambia’s United Party for National Development

Mu Hong meets delegation from Zambia’s United Party for National Development  CPPCC National Committee

Politics

9 d. ago Brics in push for UN to take lead on setting rules for artificial intelligence

Brics leaders have adopted a new declaration calling for the United Nations to take the lead in setting global rules for artificial intelligence, arguing that the fast-growing technology must not deepen inequalities between developed and developing nations. The statement, agreed late on Sunday at the summit in Rio de Janeiro, described AI as a “unique opportunity” for driving inclusive growth, innovation and sustainability but warned that without fair governance it could widen the digital...

Politics

1 week ago Did the US really ‘obliterate’ Iran’s nuclear ambitions, or just UN oversight?

Two weeks after the United States launched air strikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites, mounting evidence is puncturing President Donald Trump’s boasts that the facilities were “obliterated”. From the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog to leading American non-proliferation experts, scepticism is growing over Washington’s assertions that the strikes set back Tehran’s nuclear weapons ambitions “by years”. Trump “appears to have already lost interest”, according to Barbara Slavin, a...

Events

2 w. ago Pentagon reliant on Chinese suppliers and ‘not prepared’ for war, report warns

The US defence industrial base remains dependent on Chinese suppliers despite efforts to decouple – and that raises concerns over war readiness, according to a report by data analytics firm Govini. Chinese firms still made up 9.3 per cent of the primary contractors, or Tier 1 suppliers, involved in major US defence programmes across nine critical sectors in 2024, Govini said in its annual National Security Scorecard. “The United States is not prepared for the war that we may have to enter if...

Events

2 w. ago China’s Renewable Energy Dominance Should Be a Wakeup Call to the United States

China’s Renewable Energy Dominance Should Be a Wakeup Call to the United States  The National Interest

Politics

2 w. ago Former Hong Kong protester challenges travel ban in bid to study law

A former Hong Kong protester has lodged a judicial challenge against prison authorities’ decision to bar him from studying law in the United Kingdom on national security grounds, even after he completed his prison sentence for offences committed during the 2019 anti-government unrest. To Kai-wa on Wednesday sought a judicial review after the Correctional Services Department forbade him from leaving Hong Kong during his post-release supervision by citing his failure to “demonstrate sincere...

Events

3 w. ago Asia is heating up at double the global rate amid climate crisis, UN warns

Asia, home to more than half the world’s population, is heating up nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world, with surging temperatures intensifying extreme weather, threatening food security and fragile ecosystems, and inflicting billions in economic losses, according to a new United Nations report. The State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report, released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – a UN agency charged with monitoring the planet’s atmosphere and climate – that last year...

Events

3 w. ago China condemns US strikes on Iran, calls for ceasefire and talks

China condemned the United States for its weekend attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, describing them as serious violations of international law. In a brief statement on Sunday night, the Chinese foreign ministry said the bombing of the facilities, which were under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, seriously violated the United Nations Charter and its principles. It called on all parties, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians...

Events

3 w. ago UN needs overhaul to take on today’s global challenges: Ban Ki

A former UN secretary general has called for an overhaul of the United Nations to better confront global challenges as “some powerful nations” seek to undermine the institution. Ban Ki-moon, who was secretary general of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016, said in Hong Kong on Tuesday that the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza showed the need for a multilateral response. “The illegal Russian war against Ukraine and the horrific war in Gaza represent one of the most dangerous moments for global...

Politics

3 w. ago Why a UN Security Council seat is ‘crucial’ to the Philippines

The Philippines has a strong chance of gaining a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), according to observers. Manila has renewed its bid, with its foreign secretary stressing the country’s track record as a “pathfinder and peacemaker”. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo reiterated the Philippines’ UN aspirations in a speech in New York earlier this week to more than 300 diplomats and guests at his country’s Independence Day celebrations. He pointed to the...

Events

4 w. ago China’s state security agency warns of phishing emails sent by foreign spies

China’s top spy agency said foreign agents had sent Chinese military research institutes fake job applications in emails with a Trojan program embedded in them. In a social media post on Tuesday, the Ministry of State Security said they were among thousands of phishing emails sent by foreign spy agencies in recent years targeting Communist Party and government organs, national defence and military industrial units, as well as universities and research institutes. The post did not give details of...

Events