French Alps gets conditional approval to host 2030 Winter Games

Philippine capital under state of calamity due to flooding

One day after US President Joe Biden announced his decision to quit the US presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, Harris on Monday secured enough support to become the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, US media reported.

Japan, the only country to have ever suffered from atomic bombings during wartime, is gradually breaking its “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons, and places itself at nuclear risk by aligning with the US to create their first joint document on extended deterrence.

As Israel continues to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip, China is reportedly hosting talks to bridge the gap between the rival Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas from Saturday to Sunday, aiming to resolve the serious political divisions that have persisted for 17 years. Experts said that promoting reconciliation within Palestine is a key factor in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and China can play a positive role in this process where the US cannot.

Former President Donald Trump, in his address at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night, officially accepted his party's nomination for a third consecutive presidential election, boasting about how good the US economy will be and highlighting the lack of foreign entanglements during his presidency.

Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance repeatedly mentioned China, casting blame for US wage losses on China's efforts to build its own middle class. This type of rhetoric hyping the "China threat" is little more than a cliché given Vance's limited experience in foreign policy, but served to highlight the extreme misconception of China among US politicians, analysts said.

Russia plans to deploy 2,600 comms and remote sensing satellites by the mid-2030s, Roscosmos CEO Yuri Borisov has announced. Russia's NPO Lavochkina and Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems will be tasked with creating conveyor production capabilities by 2026, with 60 billion rubles needed to get up and running.

Former US President Donald Trump was shot in the right ear during a campaign rally on Saturday, which not only shocked America but also surprised some Chinese experts and netizens.

Responding to the plan announced at the NATO summit that the US intends to deploy long-range missiles in Germany by 2026, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned on Saturday local time that European countries will be putting themselves at risk if they accept the deployment of long-range US weapons, adding that the move may make European capitals targets for Russia missiles in a repeat of a Cold War-like confrontation.

The China-Turkey strategic cooperative relationship has witnessed a sound momentum of development under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. As a major developing country and member of the Global South, Turkey is now actively applying for a BRICS membership. What motivates Turkey to apply for the BRICS membership and how does it view its relations with the EU? What kind of cooperation does Turkey want to conduct with China? Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) interviewed Turkish Ambassador to China Dr İsmail Hakkı Musa (Musa) on these topics as well as his opinions on the "China's overcapacity" and "de-risking" rhetoric.

Russia's fifth-generation submarines will receive new hydroacoustic rubber coating that will be 20% thinner and much more efficient, Valery Polovinkin, science principal at the Krylov State Research Center (KSRC), told Sputnik on Monday.

The report issued by the Department of Economic Development in Ajman (Ajman DED) recorded a significant growth in business activity during the first half of 2024, where the licence growth rate reached 15 percent compared to the first half of 2023, amounting to 37,755 active licences.

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation Monday after his party failed to secure a majority in the snap legislative elections, French news channel BFMTV reported.

French PM Attal submits resignation letter to Macron -- Media

Iran will continue its "Look East" policy and consolidate its collaboration with both China and Russia, even though the newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian may put more effort into repairing ties with the West, said a Chinese expert after Iran's "reformist candidate" won the election on Saturday.

After the far-right took the lead in the first round of France's snap legislative elections, Sunday's second and decisive round saw joint efforts from the left-wing and the centrists to try to prevent the far-right from gaining an absolute majority.

Rishi Sunak said he would formally resign as Britain's Conservative leader and prime minister on Friday after the Conservatives lost heavily to the Labour Party in the country's general election.

Britain's Labour Party wins parliamentary majority -- media

Belarus officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Thursday, and became its 10th member state.

The 2024 UK general election, the first national election in five years, is scheduled for Thursday, with various polls projecting the overall result of the Labour Party being on the course for a win. If the Labour Party finally comes to power, a new British government is hoped to adopt more pragmatic and realistic policies in dealing with the China-UK bilateral relations, analysts said.

Switzerland will continue to promote the upgrading of the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement (FTA), particularly in many areas worth advancing, such as market access and e-commerce, within the China-Switzerland FTA, said Swiss Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin on Tuesday in Beijing.

The World Bank has classified Russia as a high-income country, with its per capita gross national income rising to $14,250 in 2023 from $12,830 in 2022, according to the bank's report.

The Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) Network announced today the launch of the 'AI for Sustainability Hub' at the second Global Sustainability Forum held at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, organised jointly with the New York Stock Exchange, part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and ADNOC.

The US Supreme Court's ruling that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts gave what former president Donald Trump, the first to be convicted of felony crimes, wants to prevent him from facing trial or being sentenced before the November election, analysts said. They predict that the decision, amid intensifying partisan competition between the Republican and Democratic parties, will provoke further controversy, highlighting the politicization of the American judicial system and deepening societal divisions.

As US President Joe Biden's “disastrous” performance at the Thursday debate sparked Democratic nominee replacement chatter, Chinese experts said this reflects public concerns about the aging of US candidates, as well as the deep-seated contradictions in the US between the elites and the ordinary people.

The curtain fell on the 2024 US presidential election's first televised debate on Thursday, but the performances of the two candidates neither impressed nor surprised American voters and foreign observers.

The astronauts' return journey was first delayed until June 14 and more recently it was scheduled for June 26. Now, the NASA crew will reportedly stay aboard the ISS until some time in July as their window to return begins to close.

The curtain has closed on Julian Assange's saga as the WikiLeaks founder pleaded guilty to violating US espionage laws and walked out of court as a free man on Wednesday. Yet his case has exposed the hypocrisy of the US' long-flaunted freedom of speech and the ugliness of the country's relentless efforts to crush those who have caused harm.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) strengthened its gains at the close of today's trading session, with its market cap gaining over AED13.5 billion, supported by financial blue chips.

Preliminary assessments indicate that 17 Chinese nationals have been killed in a fire at a lithi-um battery factory in South Korea, according to the Chinese embassy in South Korea. The ex-act number is awaiting further investigation. Following the accident, the Chinese embassy promptly activated emergency mechanisms, requesting all-out efforts to be made in rescuing the injured and managing the aftermath.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi after a state visit to Pyongyang, starting his first visit to the country since 2017, drawing an anxious tone of criticism from the US.

The finalists of the 10th Andrei Stenin International Contest for young photojournalists have been announced in Moscow.

Fernando Lugris, Uruguayan Ambassador to China, said that Uruguay will strive to revitalize and rejuvenate the dialogue with China as a top priority when it takes over the presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in July. In an interview with the Global Times on Tuesday, he stressed that China is a reliable and healthy trade partner for his country.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that plans for an attack in southern Lebanon had been approved and steps had been taken to accelerate "readiness of troops in the field."

Russian President Vladimir Putin started his visits to two Asian countries on Tuesday, which according to analysts will attract intensive attention from the US and the West as they may potentially impact the regional geopolitical landscape.

Savings deposits in the UAE's banking sector, excluding interbank deposits, attracted about AED13.8 billion during the first quarter of this year, according to the latest statistics from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza on Monday. According to the resolution, phase one includes an “immediate, full and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages including women, the elderly and the wounded, the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.” The resolution urged both parties to fully implement the terms of the proposal “without delay and without condition.” How will the resolution impact on the current Palestine-Israel conflict? Is the “comprehensive arrangement” sought by the US feasible? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) talked to ex-Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy (Levy), the president of the US/Middle East Project, on these pressing matters.

160 rockets fired at northern Israel -- Israeli Army

The UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) launched the 'Principles for Sustainability-Related Disclosures for Reporting Entities' as part of the joint efforts of the UAE supervisory authorities to upgrade requirements for sustainability-related disclosures for the UAE financial institutions according to the best international practices, and in line with the announcement of 2024 as the 'Year of Sustainability'.

The death toll from an Israeli raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp has risen to 274 Palestinians and injured more than 400, Gaza's health officials said Sunday. On Saturday, the Israeli military launched a raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, rescuing four hostages from two apartment buildings in the camp. Israel's actions have drawn condemnation from multiple parties, with even some US media outlets pointing up the death toll Gaza has suffered as a result of Israel's military operations.

Modi sworn in as Indian PM

US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron took aim at China during Biden's visit to France, as Biden called for "free navigation" in the Indo-Pacific while Macron called for "coordinated" action against so-called "overcapacity" in China. Chinese observers said the US aims to bring its allies into the Indo-Pacific region to support its own strategy and to expand its presence, while sound China-EU economic and trade cooperation would be impacted if the EU imposes tariffs on Chinese goods.

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the country's marketing body, said Friday it has launched a strategic marketing campaign to boost tourism within the East African Community (EAC) market.

A new Chinese-built high-speed train was unveiled in Belgrade on Friday during a ceremony attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

From June 4 to 8, 2024, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif made an official visit to China. This was Sharif's first visit to China since being re-elected as Prime Minister this year. He was accompanied by several members of the Pakistani cabinet and businessmen. Ahsan Iqbal (Iqbal), Pakistani minister for planning, development and special initiatives was among the delegation.

The triple threat of extreme heat, deoxygenation and acidification can last for as long as 30 days. The study also found that these water column-compound extreme events tend to occur in high latitudes and the tropics and can reduce habitable space by as much as 75%.

Pakistan and China have an iron-clad friendship spanning 73 years, marked by shared sentiments of unparalleled strategic trust, camaraderie, and unflinching solidarity. Our "All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership" has grown into a sturdy tree with deep roots in the hearts of our two peoples. We have stood by each other, through weal and woe, sharing good as well as challenging times together, in the true spirit of iron-clad friendship. Our special relationship is rooted in the mutual understanding of the people of both countries, and built on shared ideals, values, and aspirations. This has made China and Pakistan good neighbors, good friends, and good brothers who understand, trust, and support each other.

June 5 is World Environment Day. According to China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the theme for World Environment Day in 2024 is "Comprehensively Advancing the Construction of a Beautiful China." In the context of this important background, Inger Andersen, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, was recently interviewed by the Global Times and other Chinese media outlets, discussing China's leadership role and contributions to global biodiversity conservation. In particular, the recent launch of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund marks China's significant support and investment in the global ecological protection cause.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, has underscored the UAE's unwavering commitment to ensuring sustainable aviation growth while addressing climate challenge.

The recent heat wave that resulted in a rising death toll in India has sparked debate in China on how to deal with extreme weather, with analysts highlighting the crucial role of international cooperation in addressing climate change.

The launch of the satellite into geostationary orbit is expected in 2026 with the help of Proton spacecraft.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), hosted a panel discussion on the Federal Regulation for Energy Management in Industrial Facilities on the first day of the "Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) Forum".

US campus protests expose ideological fault lines, show declined confidence

Israel-Hamas talks on hostage deal to resume soon：Israeli state-run TV

Multiple explosions reported in Russian city of Belgorod

Military exercises for practicing the use of tactical (or non-strategic) nuclear weapons will be conducted at the appropriate time; the exact dates should be clarified with the Russian Ministry of Defense, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday that the country will recognize Palestinian statehood.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Wednesday that the country will recognize a Palestinian state.

Norway will recognize a Palestinian state, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Wednesday.

To Lam, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was elected as Vietnam's new president on Wednesday, local media reported.

Severe turbulence on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 heading from London to Singapore killed one person and injured several others, prompting an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday, local media reported.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the real gross domestic product (GDP) of the UAE to grow by 4 percent in 2024.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter incident, media reported Monday.

Iran state TV says "no sign" of life in president's helicopter

Iran's IRGC confirmed heat source detected by Turkish drone believed to be wreckage of helicopter: media

A hard landing happened to a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan on Sunday, Iran's state-run IRIB TV reported.

Yesterday, researchers discovered a 165-million-year-old New Euthemistid Damsel–Dragonfly fossil from the Middle Jurassic in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This discovery provides a new scientific basis for studying the natural history and evolution of dragonflies.

Pakistan's newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar is visiting Beijing this week. He has a busy schedule of meetings with officials and business leaders in a bid to attract Chinese investment and further improve bilateral relations between China and Pakistan.

The position of Secretary of the Russian Security Council, to which former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been appointed, is a high government post with a wide range of tasks and implies direct contacts with the head of state, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday. Wang called on the two countries to further enhance and develop their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership during the meeting. Ahead of Dar's visit, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal (Iqbal) kicked off a visit to Beijing on May 8. Iqbal's visit is the first high-level visit of a Pakistani official to China since the new government came to power in March. At a press conference on May 9 at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, Prof. Iqbal shared his opinions on the relationship and cooperation between China and Pakistan with Global Times reporters Leng Shumei and Xie Wenting (GT). He also shared the new government's expectations for the construction of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Zayed International Airport today welcomed the visit of a senior Chinese delegation to officially inaugurate the launch of the "Meet Me in Shanghai" event. The interactive experience which is taking place from the 6th to 20th May, invites travellers to embark on an immersive journey into the heart of Shanghai's vibrant culture and cosmopolitan allure.

India completed its troop withdrawal from the Maldives on Thursday, a move that experts said aligns with international law and norms. The call for India to withdraw its troops reflects the sentiment of the Maldivian people and fulfills the country's need for national security and dignity, according to experts.

On May 5, the opening ceremony of the “China-France Cultural Spring” in Southern China, alongside the Gilles Caron Photography retrospective exhibition, was held at the Guihu Art Museum in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province.

The first manned launch of Boeing's Starliner to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed by US aerospace manufacturer United Launch Alliance (ULA), which owns the Atlas V launch vehicle, the company said on Tuesday.

US aerospace company Boeing is struggling to ramp up production of its 787 Dreamliner jet after a supplier's capability to provide parts for the aircraft was hampered by US sanctions against Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

AIM Congress 2024, a premier global investment platform, kicked off today in Abu Dhabi under the theme "Adapting to a Shifting Investment Landscape: Harnessing New Potential for Global Economic Development".

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled its largest Refugee Olympic Team to date for the Paris Olympic Games and a new emblem for the team.

Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Sunday morning for state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron of the Republic of France, President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia, and President Tamás Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary. Ahead of his visit to France, Global Times reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi (GT) interviewed former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (Raffarin), talking about the significance of the state visit for China-France relations, reviewing the future development of bilateral ties, and discussing the role of China-France relations in China-EU relations.

Uganda has asked Britain to stop meddling in the local politics of the East African country after London announced sanctions on three of Uganda's senior officials over allegations of corruption.

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), one of the top public universities in the United States, canceled all classes for Wednesday after a night of violent clashes on campus over the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Gaza.

Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, underscored that the UAE's approach to climate action is underpinned by striking balance between economic development and environmental protection through leveraging low-carbon energy solutions.

Pro-Palestine protests spread to more countries as of Saturday amid arrests of more than 550 demonstrators on American campuses as the US' policy on the ongoing conflict in Middle East triggered boiling anger.

Russia's grain supplies to China reached a record high of $125 million in the first quarter of 2024, increasing revenues 1.7-fold, according to Sputnik's analysis of data published by China's General Administration of Customs.

The United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar and Turkey, have signed a quadrilateral Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the Development Road project. Iraq's PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan witnessed the signing ceremony on Monday

In his recent visit to Australia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China welcomes Australia, an ally of the US, also a partner of China, and more importantly, a sovereign nation, to make policies independently, based on its own fundamental interests. After Wang's visit, the two countries saw positive signs in the healthy development of bilateral ties. Given the importance of the relations between China and Australia, Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with John Queripel (Queripel), an Australian historian and author, on bilateral relations, Australia's foreign policy, how Australia views its role in Asia, as well as its relations with the US.

Editor's Note: As the former director of the Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies in the Philippines, Rommel C. Banlaoi, the Chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, has a deep understanding of Philippine foreign policy and US-Philippine defense cooperation. He was assigned to help advise the president on security matters in 2022, as a deputy national security adviser, but his connections with China were questioned as posing a “security risk” to the Philippines. His nomination was later revoked, local media reported. His experience has seen the Philippine government shift from neutrality to a bias toward the US in diplomacy and defense. Recently, Banlaoi (Banlaoi) expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current diplomatic and military policies of the Philippines in an interview with Global Times (GT) reporters Hu Yuwei, Fan Wei and Zou Zhidong in Manila. In his view, the diplomatic policy pursued by the current Philippine government and its confrontational measures in the South China Sea not only loses important trading partners like China, but also risks marginalizing the Philippines in the ASEAN.

Harry Roque, a former Philippine congressman and former presidential spokesperson to president Rodrigo Duterte, recently expressed dissatisfaction at the series of legal maneuvers carried out by the current Philippine government regarding the South China Sea dispute in an interview with the Global Times in Manila.

The US House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and the island of Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hard-liners. Experts warned on Sunday that the increased aid will undoubtedly escalate the crises in the world rather than cool them, and that the US' policy of adding fuel to the fire will only create more conflicts in the world.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched the Olympic AI Agenda here on Friday, setting out the envisioned impact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can deliver for sport and how the IOC intends to lead on the global implementation of AI within sport.

Israeli missiles struck a site in Iran -- media

Establishing sustainable closed-loop research facilities capable of maintaining life on the Moon is an ambitious task only two countries have come close to so far.

The Solomon Islands is set to hold general elections on Wednesday, a significant event that follows the establishment of diplomatic ties with China in 2019 and the subsequent shift in regional dynamics. This election is not just a domestic affair but has attracted international attention, particularly due to the alleged interventions and influence exerted by foreign powers.

The World Bank has raised its forecast for the UAE's real GDP growth to 3.9% in 2024, compared to its previous forecast in January of 3.7%.

After seven months of conflict in Gaza, a cease-fire still seems distant. Meanwhile, the Palestine-Israel conflict is causing ripple effects across the region, and has led to major humanitarian crises. The international community, including China, is making efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crises.

China expressed deep concern on Sunday over the current escalation following the Iran's military strike on Israeli territory and called on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations.

Retaliation from Iran would potentially complicate the Gaza conflict as the situation is at a critical juncture, with a choice between pursuing peace through political means or gearing up for potential armed conflict, Chinese observers said, following heightened tensions between Israel and Iran over the killings of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria. But the likelihood of Iran directly engaging in the war is minimal, they said.

Earlier reports had indicated that the administration of US President Joe Biden was pushing hard to gain momentum on the AUKUS Pillar 2 stage before the US elections in November. It was also noted that Japan and Canada were in line to join the second - non-nuclear - pillar of the trilateral security partnership.

S. Korean prime minister submits resignation after parliamentary election defeat

At a time when the Kishida administration is facing a governance crisis, the Japanese Prime Minister stopped by the White House Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesday's official visit that is focused on a "historic" upgrade to the US-Japan defense ties to contain and suppress China. Analysts said that the upgrading of the US-Japan alliance during Kishida's term will be undoubtedly an important achievement, which will help his reelection as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president.