A coalition of mostly Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging a move by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold about $6.8 billion in congressionally approved federal funding for K-12 schools.
Attorneys general or governors from 24 states and the District of Columbia sued in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, arguing that the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget threw schools nationwide into chaos by unconstitutionally freezing funding for six programs approved by Congress.
The freeze extended to funding used to support the education of migrant farm workers and their children; recruitment and training of teachers; English proficiency learning; academic enrichment; and after-school and summer programs.
The administration also froze funding used to support adult literacy and job-readiness skills.
The government was legally required to release the money to the states by July 1, the lawsuit said. Instead, the Education Department notified states on June 30 that it would not be issuing grant awards under those programs by that deadline. It cited the change in administration as its reason.
An OMB spokesperson at the time cited an “ongoing programmatic review” of education funding and said initial findings showed what he termed as a misuse of grant funds to “subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”
OMB also raised objections to the use of the grant money to support scholarships for immigrant students and lessons that involved LGBTQ themes.
The Democratic-led states said the sweeping funding freeze has disrupted school systems, resulting in summer school and after-school programs being canceled or put at risk and the halting of other initiatives with little time for school districts to fill in the holes left in their budgets.
The states say the administration violated the U.S. Constitution by disregarding Congress’ sole authority over spending and ran afoul of federal administrative law by freezing the funds without any reasoned explanation.
The states also say the administration failed to abide by procedures of the Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from unilaterally refusing to spend funds appropriated by Congress unless certain steps are followed.
The lawsuit follows a series of other cases Democratic-led states and others have filed challenging the administration’s sweeping efforts to freeze or terminate federal funding for programs out of line with Trump’s agenda.
A coalition of mostly Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging a move by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold about $6.8 billion in congressionally approved federal funding for K-12 schools.
Attorneys general or governors from 24 states and the District of Columbia sued in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, arguing that the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget threw schools nationwide into chaos by unconstitutionally freezing funding for six programs approved by Congress.
The freeze extended to funding used to support the education of migrant farm workers and their children; recruitment and training of teachers; English proficiency learning; academic enrichment; and after-school and summer programs.
The administration also froze funding used to support adult literacy and job-readiness skills.
The government was legally required to release the money to the states by July 1, the lawsuit said. Instead, the Education Department notified states on June 30 that it would not be issuing grant awards under those programs by that deadline. It cited the change in administration as its reason.
An OMB spokesperson at the time cited an “ongoing programmatic review” of education funding and said initial findings showed what he termed as a misuse of grant funds to “subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”
OMB also raised objections to the use of the grant money to support scholarships for immigrant students and lessons that involved LGBTQ themes.
The Democratic-led states said the sweeping funding freeze has disrupted school systems, resulting in summer school and after-school programs being canceled or put at risk and the halting of other initiatives with little time for school districts to fill in the holes left in their budgets.
The states say the administration violated the U.S. Constitution by disregarding Congress’ sole authority over spending and ran afoul of federal administrative law by freezing the funds without any reasoned explanation.
The states also say the administration failed to abide by procedures of the Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from unilaterally refusing to spend funds appropriated by Congress unless certain steps are followed.
The lawsuit follows a series of other cases Democratic-led states and others have filed challenging the administration’s sweeping efforts to freeze or terminate federal funding for programs out of line with Trump’s agenda.
A coalition of mostly Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging a move by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold about $6.8 billion in congressionally approved federal funding for K-12 schools.
Attorneys general or governors from 24 states and the District of Columbia sued in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, arguing that the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget threw schools nationwide into chaos by unconstitutionally freezing funding for six programs approved by Congress.
The freeze extended to funding used to support the education of migrant farm workers and their children; recruitment and training of teachers; English proficiency learning; academic enrichment; and after-school and summer programs.
The administration also froze funding used to support adult literacy and job-readiness skills.
The government was legally required to release the money to the states by July 1, the lawsuit said. Instead, the Education Department notified states on June 30 that it would not be issuing grant awards under those programs by that deadline. It cited the change in administration as its reason.
An OMB spokesperson at the time cited an “ongoing programmatic review” of education funding and said initial findings showed what he termed as a misuse of grant funds to “subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”
OMB also raised objections to the use of the grant money to support scholarships for immigrant students and lessons that involved LGBTQ themes.
The Democratic-led states said the sweeping funding freeze has disrupted school systems, resulting in summer school and after-school programs being canceled or put at risk and the halting of other initiatives with little time for school districts to fill in the holes left in their budgets.
The states say the administration violated the U.S. Constitution by disregarding Congress’ sole authority over spending and ran afoul of federal administrative law by freezing the funds without any reasoned explanation.
The states also say the administration failed to abide by procedures of the Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from unilaterally refusing to spend funds appropriated by Congress unless certain steps are followed.
The lawsuit follows a series of other cases Democratic-led states and others have filed challenging the administration’s sweeping efforts to freeze or terminate federal funding for programs out of line with Trump’s agenda.
Egypt’s foreign minister said on Monday that the flow of aid into Gaza has not increased despite an agreement last week between Israel and the European Union that should have had that result.
“Nothing has changed (on the ground),” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told reporters ahead of the EU-Middle East meeting in Brussels on Monday.
The EU’s top diplomat said on Thursday that the bloc and Israel agreed to improve Gaza’s humanitarian situation, including increasing the number of aid trucks and opening crossing points and aid routes.
Asked what steps Israel has taken, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar referred to an understanding with the EU but did not provide details on implementation.
Asked if there were improvements after the agreement, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters that the situation in Gaza remains “catastrophic”.
“There is a real catastrophe happening in Gaza resulting from the continuation of the Israeli siege,” he said.
Safadi said Israel allowed the entry of 40 to 50 trucks days ago from Jordan but that was “far from being sufficient” for the besieged enclave.
EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of Monday’s meeting that there have been some signs of progress on Gaza aid but not enough improvement on the ground.
Israel’s continued military operations and blockade have left the entire population of 2.3 million people in Gaza facing acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million at risk of famine by the end of September, a joint United Nations report said last month.
The official tally of storm-related deaths across Texas rose to 131 on Monday as authorities warned of yet another round of heavy rains 10 days after a Hill Country flash flood that transformed the Guadalupe River into a killer torrent.
A National Weather Service flood watch forecasting heavy downpours of up to half a foot of rain was posted until Tuesday morning for a wide swath of central Texas extending from the Rio Grande east to San Antonio and Austin.
The advisory included Kerr County and other parts of Texas Hill Country along the Guadalupe still recovering from the July 4 flood disaster, which ravaged the county seat of Kerrville and a riverside Christian summer camp for girls in the nearby town of Hunt.
Riverfront residents as well as search teams still combing the banks of the waterway were advised to seek higher ground until the latest danger had passed. The search for additional victims along the Guadalupe was likewise suspended due to flood concerns on Sunday.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday said storms had claimed at least 131 lives in Texas since July 4, the bulk of those deaths in and around Kerrville, up from 120 reported on Friday.
He said 97 people were still listed as missing in the greater Kerrville area, down from the 160-plus who authorities said were unaccounted for last week.
About a third of the Kerr County fatalities are children, most of whom perished at Camp Mystic when floodwaters raged through the girls-only summer retreat before dawn on July 4.
Authorities have not rescued anyone alive since the day of the floods, when more than a foot of rain fell in less than an hour in the heart of a region known as “flash flood alley,” sending a deadly wall of water down the Guadalupe River basin.
Abbott said state lawmakers would investigate the circumstances of the flooding, disaster preparedness and emergency response to the flooding at a special legislative session set to convene later this month.
The high casualty toll, ranking as one of the deadliest U.S. flood events in decades, has raised questions about the lack of flash-flood warning sirens in Kerr County and vacancies left at National Weather Service offices amid staffing cuts under the Trump administration.
Indonesian rescuers were searching for 11 people missing after a boat capsized in bad weather off the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra province, the local search and rescue agency said on Tuesday.
Seven people had been rescued after the incident, which happened on Monday at around 11 a.m. (0400 GMT), the rescue agency said in a statement.
Of 18 people on board, 10 were local government officials. The boat had departed Sikakap, a small town in the Mentawai Islands, and was heading to another small town, Tuapejat.
Two boats and dozens of rescuers were deployed to find the missing people on Tuesday.
Boats and ferries are a regular mode of transport in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, and accidents are relatively common due to bad weather as well as lax safety standards that often allow vessels to be overloaded.
A ferry sank earlier this month near the island of Bali. Of the 65 people on board, 18 died, 30 survived and 17 remain missing.
Mitchell Starc delivered the fastest five-wicket haul in test history on Monday as Australia crushed the West Indies by 176 runs in the third test in Kingston, Jamaica to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
In his 100th test, Starc took 15 balls to wreck the West Indies top order and leave the home side’s run chase in tatters, before returning for his sixth wicket after Scott Boland became Australia’s 10th bowler to take a test hat-trick.
West Indies were bowled out for 27, the second-lowest total in test history after New Zealand’s 26 against England in 1955.
Starc shattered the previous record for a “five-for” by four balls, surpassing Ernie Toshack (1947), Stuart Broad (2015) and Boland (2021), who needed 19 deliveries to achieve the feat.
“You talk about 100 tests and skill and fitness … but I think today showed the real Mitchell Starc – what he can bring to a team. Which is, out of nowhere, tear an opposition apart and win a game for you,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins.
The drama began on the first delivery of West Indies’ second innings, when Starc enticed John Campbell to nick an outswinger to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.
Debutant Kevlon Anderson shouldered arms to a ball that jagged back and struck his pad four balls later, before Brandon King edged on to his stumps as the hosts found themselves three wickets down with no runs on the board.
Starc, named player-of-the-match and series, then trapped Mikyle Louis lbw to become the fourth Australian to reach 400 test wickets alongside Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Nathan Lyon.
Two balls later, he trapped Shai Hope lbw and finished with figures of 6-9.
At tea, the West Indies stood at a precarious 22-6, needing 182 runs for victory and staring down the barrel of cricket’s ultimate embarrassment, with five runs needed to avoid the lowest-ever total.
And the drama was far from over.
Boland dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican to claim a hat-trick that left West Indies at 26-9, level with New Zealand’s record.
“He is amazing, isn’t he?” Starc said of 36-year-old Boland, who has 62 wickets from 14 tests at an average of 16.53.
“He would have played so many more tests in another team.”
In the end, it was a narrow escape for West Indies as they added another run before Starc returned to bowl Jayden Seales.
Earlier, Australia were dismissed for 121, their lowest score against West Indies in 30 years, with Alzarri Joseph completing career-best figures of 5-27 and Shamar Joseph 4-34.
That was little consolation for West Indies captain Roston Chase, who said being bowled out for less than 30 was “quite embarrassing.”
“Obviously we’ve been putting ourselves in positions to win games and then we (are) just laying down and not putting up a fight in the last batting innings,” he said.
“It’s quite heartbreaking, because I think we did it in all three tests, and we’re not really learning from our mistakes.”
Heated exchanges between England and India players made the Lord’s test more exciting and challenging, India captain Shubman Gill said after England took a 2-1 lead in the series with a dramatic 22-run win on Monday.
Tension flared between the teams during the intense third test, with Gill sarcastically clapping England batters for unnecessary delays, and India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj roaring in the face of England opener Ben Duckett after taking his wicket.
Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee for his aggressive behaviour.
“You’re giving everything, mentally, physically. There would be times when there would be a little bit of heat from both sides. But I think that’s what makes it so exciting, more challenging,” Gill told a news conference.
“At the end of the day, there’s a lot of admiration within the two teams. Both the teams try their best to win.”
Gill said staying calm under pressure would be crucial going forward in the five-match series.
“The longer the match goes, shows how well both the teams are balanced. It’s just a matter of which team keeps their calm and composure longer,” he said.
Heated exchanges between England and India players made the Lord’s test more exciting and challenging, India captain Shubman Gill said after England took a 2-1 lead in the series with a dramatic 22-run win on Monday.
Tension flared between the teams during the intense third test, with Gill sarcastically clapping England batters for unnecessary delays, and India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj roaring in the face of England opener Ben Duckett after taking his wicket.
Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee for his aggressive behaviour.
“You’re giving everything, mentally, physically. There would be times when there would be a little bit of heat from both sides. But I think that’s what makes it so exciting, more challenging,” Gill told a news conference.
“At the end of the day, there’s a lot of admiration within the two teams. Both the teams try their best to win.”
Gill said staying calm under pressure would be crucial going forward in the five-match series.
“The longer the match goes, shows how well both the teams are balanced. It’s just a matter of which team keeps their calm and composure longer,” he said.
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki began his visit to Hainan Province by meeting officials there and touring the Hainan Chronicles Museum along with the Wenchang Yaoguang Rocket Viewing Platform.
Mr Chan first met Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Hainan Provincial Committee Party Secretary and Chairman Li Rongcan in Haikou to exchange views on the latest developments in the two places, and discuss promoting and deepening the partnership between Hong Kong and Hainan Province.
Mr Chan said that there is a frequent flow of people, logistics and capital between the two places, and with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two governments in March this year, the exchanges between Hong Kong and Hainan Province will be closer in future.
He stressed that Hong Kong will fully leverage its unique advantage of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and will work with Hainan Province to achieve results attributable to the two places’ advantages, deepen economic, trade and cultural exchanges, and make greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development and high-level opening up.
Mr Chan then visited the Hainan Chronicles Museum to learn about the patriotic and revolutionary tradition education work there as well as the construction and development progress of the Hainan Special Economic Zone and Hainan as an international tourism island.
Afterwards, he departed for Wenchang to meet CPC Wenchang Municipal Committee Secretary Wang Peng.
Mr Chan introduced the latest situation of Hong Kong, and exchanged views with Mr Wang on further promoting exchanges between the two places and exploring more co-operation and development opportunities.
The Chief Secretary visited the Wenchang Yaoguang Rocket Viewing Platform to join a science exploration activity of the Hainan Aerospace Science & Research Study Tour under the Strive & Rise Programme.
While there, he engaged with the participants and encouraged them to grasp this valuable learning opportunity to learn and understand the country’s robust developments and significant achievements in the field of aerospace.
He also encouraged the participants to continue to work hard in the future to cultivate a sense of contributing to the country and serving the society, and become a new generation with a sense of social responsibility and contributions.
Mr Chan added that he believes the experience of joining the meaningful aerospace science and research study tour will boost the participants’ sense of patriotism and national pride.
MOFA extends sympathies following severe flooding in central Texas
Date：2025-07-07 Data Source：Department of North American Affairs
July 7, 2025 No. 231
The central region of the US state of Texas was recently hit by catastrophic flooding, causing major devastation. More than 80 people are confirmed to have died, including dozens of children, while an unknown number of people remain missing. Flood warnings currently remain in place across certain parts of the region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) promptly instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston to ascertain whether any Taiwanese nationals had been affected. It also instructed the office to convey condolences and sympathies to the government of Texas on behalf of the government of Taiwan and emphasize that Taiwan would be glad to offer assistance.
According to information currently available to TECO Houston, no Taiwanese nationals have been identified among the dead, injured, or stranded as a result of the flooding. MOFA and TECO Houston will closely follow developments, maintain contact with the relevant Texan agencies, and provide assistance if needed. (E)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on July 7 attended the opening of the 2025 International Law Association-American Society of International Law Asia-Pacific Research Forum, where he addressed more than 50 noted international scholars from over 20 nations.
In his remarks, Minister Lin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been promoting the policy of integrated diplomacy, which aimed to deepen partnerships with like-minded countries based on the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. He explained that Taiwan had proactively leveraged its diplomatic strengths—consolidating diplomatic ties, expanding its alliance of friendly nations, and integrating the resources of the public and private sectors with the goal of having Taiwan continue to be a Taiwan of the world.
Noting the extreme turbulence of international relations and the severe geopolitical challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, Minister Lin said that in recent years, China had repeatedly challenged the rules-based international order, gravely undermining democracy, the rule of law, human rights, freedom, and even fair trade. He observed that the world’s leading states had gone on alert and that an increasing number of countries had acted by sending warships through the Taiwan Strait, underscoring that the Taiwan Strait constituted international waters and demonstrating the great importance that they attached to the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
Minister Lin also pointed out that China had long sought to pressure Taiwan in the international arena, enacting the Anti-Secession Law in 2005 and 22 guidelines on punishing independence in 2024, among other legal warfare tools. He said that China had inappropriately distorted UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, seeking to weaponize the text and transform it into a tool to suppress Taiwan’s international participation and provide cover for an armed invasion. He stated that China had used the resolution as justification for its false claims that Taiwan was a part of China and that the Taiwan Strait was China’s internal waters, adding that such claims were clearly contrary to the facts and to democratic values.
Minister Lin noted that in response to China’s efforts to distort UNGA Resolution 2758, last year the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, the European Parliament, and the parliaments of Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic passed resolutions clearly opposing China’s misrepresentations. He said that senior US officials had also publicly expressed a similar position and that the international community had gradually gained an accurate understanding of Resolution 2758—that it neither mentioned Taiwan nor precluded Taiwan’s international participation.
Looking back on history, Minister Lin remarked that following the Second World War, the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which was binding under international law, had supplanted the political statements contained in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. He also pointed out that the People’s Republic of China had never governed Taiwan. He said that since the mid-1980s, Taiwan had experienced political liberalization and democratization, leading to the completion of its first direct presidential election in 1996. At that point, he said, the central executive and legislative representatives of government of the Republic of China were all elected by the people of Taiwan—and since then, the Republic of China government had been the sole legitimate government exercising effective rule over Taiwan and representing Taiwan internationally. He added that this underscored the cross-strait status quo that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China existed as equals, with neither being subordinate to the other. He said that the Republic of China (Taiwan) had experienced three changes of governing party—in 2000, 2008, and 2016—that had consolidated the democratic system and helped create a clearer sense of national identity, reflecting the Taiwanese people’s pursuit of and desire for freedom and democracy.
Minister Lin went on to explain that, in response to dramatic changes in the international geopolitical landscape and the threat of authoritarian expansion, President Lai Ching-te had issued 17 national security measures. He said that China’s vaulting ambition had alerted the international community to the fact that Taiwan was not subordinate to the PRC. He observed that this had upended China’s cross-strait framework, making the issue of democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China not merely a regional matter, but a question the countries of the world must address together.
Minister Lin emphasized that the more secure Taiwan was, the more secure the world would be, and that the stronger Taiwan grew, the more secure the world’s democracies would be. He reiterated that Taiwan was a Taiwan of the world and said that the Republic of China (Taiwan), as a democratic nation and a force for good in the world, had demonstrated that it was part of the global village through the continued application of democratic processes and through its international participation.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Lin said that Taiwan would continue to be at the forefront of the global battle against authoritarian expansionism, adding that Taiwan would work with like-minded countries to defend the values of freedom and democracy and ensure regional peace, security, and prosperity. (E)
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Haitian Foreign Minister Jean-Baptiste
Date：2025-07-09 Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs
July 9, 2025 No. 234
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on July 7 for a delegation from the Republic of Haiti led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste and his wife. Minister Lin welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Taiwan government and expressed his anticipation that, based on the deep friendship between the two nations, bilateral exchanges and cooperation would continue to expand.
Minister Lin noted that Taiwan and Haiti had maintained diplomatic relations for 69 years and that the two sides had enjoyed fruitful collaboration in a wide range of areas, including food security, medical care, public health, and education. He added that such cooperation had benefited the people of Haiti and earned considerable recognition from the international community.
Furthermore, Minister Lin thanked the Haitian government for voicing support for Taiwan on the international stage, such as at the World Health Assembly and the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He said that the people and government of Taiwan deeply appreciated Haiti’s long-term and staunch backing of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
In his remarks, Minister Jean-Baptiste thanked Minister Lin for his warm hospitality. He also took the opportunity to express, on behalf of the people and government of Haiti, gratitude to all sectors of Taiwan for providing humanitarian and food assistance over the years and participating in projects that benefited women, children, and other disadvantaged groups in Haiti. Minister Jean-Baptiste said that he looked forward to gaining a better understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic, and social development during his visit so as to further deepen the close collaborative relations between the two countries.
Minister Lin, Minister Jean-Baptiste, and the other guests at the luncheon exchanged views on Haiti’s current political and social situation, as well as bilateral cooperation. Minister Lin expressed Taiwan’s willingness to continue to work with the Haitian government to help Haiti restore social stability, advance economic prosperity, and bolster national development. (E)
This marks the first such death in this region in 18 years. But it’s a stark reminder that this historic disease, though rare nowadays, is not just a disease of the past.
So what actually is “plague”? And is it any cause for concern in Australia?
There are 3 types of ‘plague’
The word “plague” is often used to refer to any major disease epidemic or pandemic, or even to other undesirable events, such as a mouse plague. Naturally, the word can evoke fear.
But scientifically speaking, plague is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
Plague has three main forms: bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic.
Bubonic is the most common and is named after “buboes”, which are the painful, swollen lymph nodes the infection causes. Other symptoms include fever, headache, chills and weakness.
Bubonic plague is typically spread by fleas living on animals such as rats, prairie dogs and marmots. If an infected flea moves from their animal host to bite a human, this can cause an infection.
People can also become infected through handling an animal infected with the disease.
Septicemic plague occurs if bubonic plague is left untreated, or it can occur directly if the disease enters the bloodstream. Septicemic plague causes bleeding into the organs. The name comes from septicemia, which refers to a serious blood infection.
The recent death in the United States was due to a case of pneumonic plague, which is the most severe form. Bubonic plague can in some cases spread to the lungs, where it becomes pneumonic plague. However, pneumonic plague can also spread from person to person via tiny respiratory droplets, in a similar way to COVID. Symptoms are similar to the other forms but also include severe pneumonia.
Some 30–60% of people who contract bubonic plague will die, while the fatality rate can be up to 100% for pneumonic plague if left untreated.
This disease is one of the most important in history. The Plague of Justinian (541–750CE) killed tens of millions of people in the western Mediterranean, heavily impacting the expansion of the Byzantine Empire.
Spread by the growing trade networks of the British empire, the third and most recent plague pandemic spanned the years 1855 until roughly 1960, peaking in the early 1900s. It was responsible for 12 million deaths, primarily in India, and even reached Australia.
It’s believed the bubonic plague was largely behind these pandemics.
Plague in the modern day
First introduced into the US during the third pandemic, plague infects an average of seven people a year in the west of the country, due to being endemic in groundhog and prairie dog populations there. The last major outbreak was 100 years ago.
The countries with the most cases currently include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Peru, with cases also occurring in India, central Asia and the US. Cases usually occur in rural and agricultural areas.
Plague can be treated
Plague can easily be treated with common antibiotics, typically a course of 10–14 days, which can include both oral and intravenous antibiotics. But it must be treated quickly.
The recent death is concerning, as it involves the airborne pneumonic form of the disease, the only form that spreads easily from person to person. But there’s no evidence of further spread of the disease within the US at this stage.
As Y. pestis is not found in Australian animals, there is little risk here. Plague has not been reported in Australia in more than a century.
But plague, like many diseases, is influenced by environmental conditions. The risk of climate change causing an expansion in the habitat of animal hosts means public health experts around the world should continue to monitor it closely.
The plague, though often perceived as a disease of history, is still with us and can pose a major health threat if not treated early.
Thomas Jeffries does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast
We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedlycompared to tyranny.
This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.
We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.
Where does tyranny come from?
The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.
A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.
Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.
These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.
Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.
According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.
He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.
Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.
Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.
The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.
For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.
It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.
Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.
Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.
Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.
Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.
Protecting democracy from tyranny
Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.
For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.
It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.
This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.
The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.
Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.
Tyranny in classical China
In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.
During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.
These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.
Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.
There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.
Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.
Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.
To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.
Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.
Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.
According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.
Tyranny today
Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.
Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.
Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.
Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs representing the Government of Liberia signed the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs, Honorable Charlyne A. Taylor, who signed the Convention, reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to advancing the women, peace and security agenda in Africa.
She noted that Liberia will continue to work with the African Union and all partners in implementing the Convention to protect and empower women and girl’s rights.
Minister Taylor praised the African Union and affiliated organizations for their work in protecting women and girls, and promised that Liberia will accelerate the process of ratifying the convention given that Convention aligns well with the agenda of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. who has made women empowerment and protection of women and girls a key program of his government.
The Vice Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Honorable Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, commended Liberia for the bold step and praised Liberia for its impressive record in promoting and protecting women’s rights, well as enhancing women’s participation in government and the economy.
She noted that Liberia is the fifth African country to sign the convention but encouraged Liberia to lead in the ratification process.
Also attending the ceremony were Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration; Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security; and Her Excellency Doris Mpoumou, UNWOMEN Special Representative to the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
India’s benchmark indices opened higher on Tuesday, staging a mild rebound after four straight sessions of losses, as easing inflation and positive global cues lifted investor sentiment.
Consumer inflation dropped to a more than six-year low of 2.10 percent in June, providing a boost to hopes for future rate cuts and signaling macroeconomic resilience.
The Nifty 50 rose 36.30 points, or 0.14 percent, to 25,129.70, while the BSE Sensex added 85.48 points, or 0.10 percent, to 82,338.94.
The rebound offered some relief to investors following recent market volatility. Broader indices showed even stronger momentum, with the Nifty Midcap 100 climbing 0.57 percent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.82 percent. The Nifty 100 was up 0.29 percent.
Global markets also provided tailwinds. US equities eked out modest gains overnight, while Asian stocks advanced after China’s second-quarter GDP growth came in at a better-than-expected 5.2 percent, signaling underlying economic strength.
Ajay Bagga, banking and market expert, said, “Indian markets recovered from session lows on Monday, signaling that the four-day fall, the first since March, may be bottoming out. With CPI at multiyear lows, there’s now more room for rate cuts. The global outlook is resilient, and we expect Indian markets to show some strength here on.”
Sectoral indices on the NSE mirrored the upbeat tone, with all major sectors opening in the green. Nifty Media led the gains, rising 1 percent. Nifty Auto advanced 0.68 percent, Nifty IT added 0.31 percent, and Nifty FMCG edged up 0.22 percent. Nifty Pharma and Nifty PSU Bank also saw gains of 0.22 and 0.28 percent, respectively. The Nifty Realty index climbed 0.48 percent.
Despite ongoing uncertainty around potential US tariffs under Donald Trump’s policy rhetoric, markets appeared to take the noise in stride. Focus has now shifted to upcoming earnings from major US banks and key macroeconomic data.
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to show a mild uptick in inflation, while the Producer Price Index (PPI), due Wednesday, may offer insight into the impact of supply chain disruptions and tariffs.
Meanwhile, safe-haven assets like gold and silver posted mild declines after recent gains, suggesting improved risk appetite among global investors.
Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities, offered a technical perspective: “The Nifty held support at 25,000 on Monday, forming a large lower shadow candle, which suggests that the level is technically significant. However, unless the index closes above 25,340, bulls should remain cautious, as a drop into the 24,800–24,900 zone remains likely.”
Across Asia, indices were largely trading in the green. Taiwan’s Weighted Index rose 0.65 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.20 percent, and Singapore’s Straits Times edged 0.12 percent higher. South Korea’s KOSPI was the only major laggard at the time of reporting.
India’s benchmark indices opened higher on Tuesday, staging a mild rebound after four straight sessions of losses, as easing inflation and positive global cues lifted investor sentiment.
Consumer inflation dropped to a more than six-year low of 2.10 percent in June, providing a boost to hopes for future rate cuts and signaling macroeconomic resilience.
The Nifty 50 rose 36.30 points, or 0.14 percent, to 25,129.70, while the BSE Sensex added 85.48 points, or 0.10 percent, to 82,338.94.
The rebound offered some relief to investors following recent market volatility. Broader indices showed even stronger momentum, with the Nifty Midcap 100 climbing 0.57 percent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.82 percent. The Nifty 100 was up 0.29 percent.
Global markets also provided tailwinds. US equities eked out modest gains overnight, while Asian stocks advanced after China’s second-quarter GDP growth came in at a better-than-expected 5.2 percent, signaling underlying economic strength.
Ajay Bagga, banking and market expert, said, “Indian markets recovered from session lows on Monday, signaling that the four-day fall, the first since March, may be bottoming out. With CPI at multiyear lows, there’s now more room for rate cuts. The global outlook is resilient, and we expect Indian markets to show some strength here on.”
Sectoral indices on the NSE mirrored the upbeat tone, with all major sectors opening in the green. Nifty Media led the gains, rising 1 percent. Nifty Auto advanced 0.68 percent, Nifty IT added 0.31 percent, and Nifty FMCG edged up 0.22 percent. Nifty Pharma and Nifty PSU Bank also saw gains of 0.22 and 0.28 percent, respectively. The Nifty Realty index climbed 0.48 percent.
Despite ongoing uncertainty around potential US tariffs under Donald Trump’s policy rhetoric, markets appeared to take the noise in stride. Focus has now shifted to upcoming earnings from major US banks and key macroeconomic data.
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to show a mild uptick in inflation, while the Producer Price Index (PPI), due Wednesday, may offer insight into the impact of supply chain disruptions and tariffs.
Meanwhile, safe-haven assets like gold and silver posted mild declines after recent gains, suggesting improved risk appetite among global investors.
Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities, offered a technical perspective: “The Nifty held support at 25,000 on Monday, forming a large lower shadow candle, which suggests that the level is technically significant. However, unless the index closes above 25,340, bulls should remain cautious, as a drop into the 24,800–24,900 zone remains likely.”
Across Asia, indices were largely trading in the green. Taiwan’s Weighted Index rose 0.65 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.20 percent, and Singapore’s Straits Times edged 0.12 percent higher. South Korea’s KOSPI was the only major laggard at the time of reporting.
India’s benchmark indices opened higher on Tuesday, staging a mild rebound after four straight sessions of losses, as easing inflation and positive global cues lifted investor sentiment.
Consumer inflation dropped to a more than six-year low of 2.10 percent in June, providing a boost to hopes for future rate cuts and signaling macroeconomic resilience.
The Nifty 50 rose 36.30 points, or 0.14 percent, to 25,129.70, while the BSE Sensex added 85.48 points, or 0.10 percent, to 82,338.94.
The rebound offered some relief to investors following recent market volatility. Broader indices showed even stronger momentum, with the Nifty Midcap 100 climbing 0.57 percent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 gaining 0.82 percent. The Nifty 100 was up 0.29 percent.
Global markets also provided tailwinds. US equities eked out modest gains overnight, while Asian stocks advanced after China’s second-quarter GDP growth came in at a better-than-expected 5.2 percent, signaling underlying economic strength.
Ajay Bagga, banking and market expert, said, “Indian markets recovered from session lows on Monday, signaling that the four-day fall, the first since March, may be bottoming out. With CPI at multiyear lows, there’s now more room for rate cuts. The global outlook is resilient, and we expect Indian markets to show some strength here on.”
Sectoral indices on the NSE mirrored the upbeat tone, with all major sectors opening in the green. Nifty Media led the gains, rising 1 percent. Nifty Auto advanced 0.68 percent, Nifty IT added 0.31 percent, and Nifty FMCG edged up 0.22 percent. Nifty Pharma and Nifty PSU Bank also saw gains of 0.22 and 0.28 percent, respectively. The Nifty Realty index climbed 0.48 percent.
Despite ongoing uncertainty around potential US tariffs under Donald Trump’s policy rhetoric, markets appeared to take the noise in stride. Focus has now shifted to upcoming earnings from major US banks and key macroeconomic data.
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to show a mild uptick in inflation, while the Producer Price Index (PPI), due Wednesday, may offer insight into the impact of supply chain disruptions and tariffs.
Meanwhile, safe-haven assets like gold and silver posted mild declines after recent gains, suggesting improved risk appetite among global investors.
Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities, offered a technical perspective: “The Nifty held support at 25,000 on Monday, forming a large lower shadow candle, which suggests that the level is technically significant. However, unless the index closes above 25,340, bulls should remain cautious, as a drop into the 24,800–24,900 zone remains likely.”
Across Asia, indices were largely trading in the green. Taiwan’s Weighted Index rose 0.65 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.20 percent, and Singapore’s Straits Times edged 0.12 percent higher. South Korea’s KOSPI was the only major laggard at the time of reporting.
We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedlycompared to tyranny.
This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.
We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.
Where does tyranny come from?
The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.
A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.
Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.
These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.
Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.
According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.
He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.
Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.
Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.
The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.
For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.
It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.
Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.
Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.
Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.
Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.
Protecting democracy from tyranny
Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.
For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.
It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.
This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.
The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.
Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.
Tyranny in classical China
In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.
During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.
These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.
Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.
There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.
Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.
Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.
To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.
Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.
Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.
According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.
Tyranny today
Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.
Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.
Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.
Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedlycompared to tyranny.
This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.
We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.
Where does tyranny come from?
The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.
A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.
Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.
These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.
Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.
According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.
He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.
Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.
Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.
The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.
For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.
It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.
Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.
Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.
Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.
Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.
Protecting democracy from tyranny
Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.
For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.
It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.
This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.
The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.
Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.
Tyranny in classical China
In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.
During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.
These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.
Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.
There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.
Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.
Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.
To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.
Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.
Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.
According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.
Tyranny today
Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.
Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.
Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.
Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedlycompared to tyranny.
This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.
We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.
Where does tyranny come from?
The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.
A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.
Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.
These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.
Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.
According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.
He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.
Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.
Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.
The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.
For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.
It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.
Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.
Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.
Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.
Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.
Protecting democracy from tyranny
Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.
For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.
It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.
This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.
The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.
Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.
Tyranny in classical China
In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.
During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.
These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.
Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.
There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.
Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.
Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.
To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.
Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.
Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.
According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.
Tyranny today
Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.
Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.
Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.
Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedlycompared to tyranny.
This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.
We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.
Where does tyranny come from?
The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.
A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.
Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.
These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.
Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.
According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.
He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.
Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.
Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.
The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.
For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.
It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.
Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.
Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.
Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.
Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.
Protecting democracy from tyranny
Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.
For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.
It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.
This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.
The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.
Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.
Tyranny in classical China
In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.
During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.
These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.
Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.
There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.
Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.
Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.
To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.
Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.
Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.
According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.
Tyranny today
Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.
Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.
Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.
Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedlycompared to tyranny.
This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.
We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.
Where does tyranny come from?
The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.
A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.
Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.
These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.
Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.
According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.
He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.
Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.
Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.
The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.
For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.
It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.
Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.
Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.
Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.
Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.
Protecting democracy from tyranny
Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.
For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.
It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.
This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.
The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.
Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.
Tyranny in classical China
In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.
During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.
These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.
Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.
There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.
Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.
Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.
To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.
Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.
Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.
According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.
Tyranny today
Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.
Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.
Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.
Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong cinema is taking centre stage at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) with the “Hong Kong Panorama” series, a curated showcase of 10 dynamic films being presented with support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO).
A star-studded award presentation was held prior to the North American premiere of “Last Song For You” this evening (July 14, New York time) at the esteemed Film at Lincoln Center. The film’s lead actor, Ekin Cheng, was honoured with the prestigious Star Asia Award, recognising his legendary contributions across film, television, and music, as well as his enduring impact on Hong Kong’s popular culture.
Cheng’s co-star Natalie Hsu received the Screen International Rising Star Award, highlighting her breakout performances and her bright future on the global stage.
The New York ETO hosted a special reception before the award presentation in honour of the visiting Hong Kong film talent participating in this year’s Festival. Among them are actors, directors, and creatives whose work is helping to shape the next chapter of Hong Kong cinema.
Speaking at the reception, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted the lineup for this year’s Festival. “This year we’re proud to showcase 10 diverse Hong Kong films, from romantic comedies and crime thrillers to powerful action dramas. Over half of them are having their North American premieres right here at NYAFF – proof that Hong Kong cinema continues to innovate, inspire, and resonate across borders,” she said.
Ms Ho added that four of these films are marking directorial debuts. They are: Jill Leung’s “Last Song For You”; Jack Lai’s “Possession Street”; Trevor Choi’s “Smashing Frank”; and “Valley of the Shadow of Death” by Jeffrey Lam and Antonio Tam.
“Three films, ‘Last Song For You’, ‘Papa’ and ‘Possession Street’, were made possible with support from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund. It’s this mix of rising talent and strong institutional backing that keeps our film industry vibrant, evolving, and ready for the world stage,” she added.
Ms Ho went on to extend warm congratulations to the honourees. She praised Cheng for his 37-year career and for helping shape the cultural DNA of Hong Kong entertainment, and lauded Hsu as a gifted and dynamic artist representing the bold future of Hong Kong cinema.
To further honour Cheng’s legacy, the NYAFF held a special retrospective screening of his iconic film “Young and Dangerous”, celebrating the blockbuster’s 30th anniversary and its enduring impact on a generation of filmmakers and audiences.
In addition to Cheng and Hsu, a stellar delegation of Hong Kong filmmakers are attending this year’s NYAFF. They include actor George Au actress Hedwig Tam, directors Oliver Chan, Trevor Choi, Jack Lai, Jeffrey Lam, Jill Leung, Antonio Tam, Adam Wong, and composer Chan Kwong-wing – all showcasing the creative talent propelling Hong Kong cinema into the future.
Adding to this year’s celebration, acclaimed Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu was presented with both the Trailblazer Award and the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring her groundbreaking career and indelible contributions to cinema across the United States, and Greater China including Hong Kong.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong cinema is taking centre stage at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) with the “Hong Kong Panorama” series, a curated showcase of 10 dynamic films being presented with support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO).
A star-studded award presentation was held prior to the North American premiere of “Last Song For You” this evening (July 14, New York time) at the esteemed Film at Lincoln Center. The film’s lead actor, Ekin Cheng, was honoured with the prestigious Star Asia Award, recognising his legendary contributions across film, television, and music, as well as his enduring impact on Hong Kong’s popular culture.
Cheng’s co-star Natalie Hsu received the Screen International Rising Star Award, highlighting her breakout performances and her bright future on the global stage.
The New York ETO hosted a special reception before the award presentation in honour of the visiting Hong Kong film talent participating in this year’s Festival. Among them are actors, directors, and creatives whose work is helping to shape the next chapter of Hong Kong cinema.
Speaking at the reception, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted the lineup for this year’s Festival. “This year we’re proud to showcase 10 diverse Hong Kong films, from romantic comedies and crime thrillers to powerful action dramas. Over half of them are having their North American premieres right here at NYAFF – proof that Hong Kong cinema continues to innovate, inspire, and resonate across borders,” she said.
Ms Ho added that four of these films are marking directorial debuts. They are: Jill Leung’s “Last Song For You”; Jack Lai’s “Possession Street”; Trevor Choi’s “Smashing Frank”; and “Valley of the Shadow of Death” by Jeffrey Lam and Antonio Tam.
“Three films, ‘Last Song For You’, ‘Papa’ and ‘Possession Street’, were made possible with support from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund. It’s this mix of rising talent and strong institutional backing that keeps our film industry vibrant, evolving, and ready for the world stage,” she added.
Ms Ho went on to extend warm congratulations to the honourees. She praised Cheng for his 37-year career and for helping shape the cultural DNA of Hong Kong entertainment, and lauded Hsu as a gifted and dynamic artist representing the bold future of Hong Kong cinema.
To further honour Cheng’s legacy, the NYAFF held a special retrospective screening of his iconic film “Young and Dangerous”, celebrating the blockbuster’s 30th anniversary and its enduring impact on a generation of filmmakers and audiences.
In addition to Cheng and Hsu, a stellar delegation of Hong Kong filmmakers are attending this year’s NYAFF. They include actor George Au actress Hedwig Tam, directors Oliver Chan, Trevor Choi, Jack Lai, Jeffrey Lam, Jill Leung, Antonio Tam, Adam Wong, and composer Chan Kwong-wing – all showcasing the creative talent propelling Hong Kong cinema into the future.
Adding to this year’s celebration, acclaimed Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu was presented with both the Trailblazer Award and the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring her groundbreaking career and indelible contributions to cinema across the United States, and Greater China including Hong Kong.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong cinema is taking centre stage at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) with the “Hong Kong Panorama” series, a curated showcase of 10 dynamic films being presented with support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO).
A star-studded award presentation was held prior to the North American premiere of “Last Song For You” this evening (July 14, New York time) at the esteemed Film at Lincoln Center. The film’s lead actor, Ekin Cheng, was honoured with the prestigious Star Asia Award, recognising his legendary contributions across film, television, and music, as well as his enduring impact on Hong Kong’s popular culture.
Cheng’s co-star Natalie Hsu received the Screen International Rising Star Award, highlighting her breakout performances and her bright future on the global stage.
The New York ETO hosted a special reception before the award presentation in honour of the visiting Hong Kong film talent participating in this year’s Festival. Among them are actors, directors, and creatives whose work is helping to shape the next chapter of Hong Kong cinema.
Speaking at the reception, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted the lineup for this year’s Festival. “This year we’re proud to showcase 10 diverse Hong Kong films, from romantic comedies and crime thrillers to powerful action dramas. Over half of them are having their North American premieres right here at NYAFF – proof that Hong Kong cinema continues to innovate, inspire, and resonate across borders,” she said.
Ms Ho added that four of these films are marking directorial debuts. They are: Jill Leung’s “Last Song For You”; Jack Lai’s “Possession Street”; Trevor Choi’s “Smashing Frank”; and “Valley of the Shadow of Death” by Jeffrey Lam and Antonio Tam.
“Three films, ‘Last Song For You’, ‘Papa’ and ‘Possession Street’, were made possible with support from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund. It’s this mix of rising talent and strong institutional backing that keeps our film industry vibrant, evolving, and ready for the world stage,” she added.
Ms Ho went on to extend warm congratulations to the honourees. She praised Cheng for his 37-year career and for helping shape the cultural DNA of Hong Kong entertainment, and lauded Hsu as a gifted and dynamic artist representing the bold future of Hong Kong cinema.
To further honour Cheng’s legacy, the NYAFF held a special retrospective screening of his iconic film “Young and Dangerous”, celebrating the blockbuster’s 30th anniversary and its enduring impact on a generation of filmmakers and audiences.
In addition to Cheng and Hsu, a stellar delegation of Hong Kong filmmakers are attending this year’s NYAFF. They include actor George Au actress Hedwig Tam, directors Oliver Chan, Trevor Choi, Jack Lai, Jeffrey Lam, Jill Leung, Antonio Tam, Adam Wong, and composer Chan Kwong-wing – all showcasing the creative talent propelling Hong Kong cinema into the future.
Adding to this year’s celebration, acclaimed Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu was presented with both the Trailblazer Award and the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring her groundbreaking career and indelible contributions to cinema across the United States, and Greater China including Hong Kong.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing as part of a delegation of foreign ministers attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”
This marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. He is in the country to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (CFM), being held in Tianjin.
On Monday, Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the CFM.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for bilateral talks.
The two leaders reviewed the current state of India-China ties, acknowledging recent progress in stabilizing and rebuilding relations. Both sides emphasized the importance of people-centric engagement and agreed to enhance cooperation to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Jaishankar expressed appreciation for China’s support in resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and discussed expanding people-to-people exchanges, including improved travel access and direct flight connectivity.
Stressing the need for peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to de-escalation and effective border management.
“He underlined the need for cooperation on trans-border rivers, including resumption of provision of hydrological data by the Chinese side. He also took up restrictive trade measures and roadblocks to economic cooperation,” the MEA said in a statement.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments, with Jaishankar affirming India’s support for China’s current SCO presidency.
“The discussions were constructive and forward-looking. The Ministers agreed to remain in touch, including through bilateral visits and meetings,” the MEA said.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and met Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
“Good to meet IDCPC Minister Liu Jianchao in Beijing. Discussed the changing global order and the emergence of multipolarity. Spoke about a constructive India-China relationship in that context,” Jaishankar said on X.
Founded as a regional security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent intergovernmental organisation comprising India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus. The SCO’s agenda spans counterterrorism, security, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing as part of a delegation of foreign ministers attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”
This marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. He is in the country to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (CFM), being held in Tianjin.
On Monday, Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the CFM.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for bilateral talks.
The two leaders reviewed the current state of India-China ties, acknowledging recent progress in stabilizing and rebuilding relations. Both sides emphasized the importance of people-centric engagement and agreed to enhance cooperation to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Jaishankar expressed appreciation for China’s support in resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and discussed expanding people-to-people exchanges, including improved travel access and direct flight connectivity.
Stressing the need for peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to de-escalation and effective border management.
“He underlined the need for cooperation on trans-border rivers, including resumption of provision of hydrological data by the Chinese side. He also took up restrictive trade measures and roadblocks to economic cooperation,” the MEA said in a statement.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments, with Jaishankar affirming India’s support for China’s current SCO presidency.
“The discussions were constructive and forward-looking. The Ministers agreed to remain in touch, including through bilateral visits and meetings,” the MEA said.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and met Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
“Good to meet IDCPC Minister Liu Jianchao in Beijing. Discussed the changing global order and the emergence of multipolarity. Spoke about a constructive India-China relationship in that context,” Jaishankar said on X.
Founded as a regional security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent intergovernmental organisation comprising India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus. The SCO’s agenda spans counterterrorism, security, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing as part of a delegation of foreign ministers attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties. Value the guidance of our leaders in that regard.”
This marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. He is in the country to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (CFM), being held in Tianjin.
On Monday, Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the CFM.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for bilateral talks.
The two leaders reviewed the current state of India-China ties, acknowledging recent progress in stabilizing and rebuilding relations. Both sides emphasized the importance of people-centric engagement and agreed to enhance cooperation to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Jaishankar expressed appreciation for China’s support in resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and discussed expanding people-to-people exchanges, including improved travel access and direct flight connectivity.
Stressing the need for peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to de-escalation and effective border management.
“He underlined the need for cooperation on trans-border rivers, including resumption of provision of hydrological data by the Chinese side. He also took up restrictive trade measures and roadblocks to economic cooperation,” the MEA said in a statement.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments, with Jaishankar affirming India’s support for China’s current SCO presidency.
“The discussions were constructive and forward-looking. The Ministers agreed to remain in touch, including through bilateral visits and meetings,” the MEA said.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and met Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
“Good to meet IDCPC Minister Liu Jianchao in Beijing. Discussed the changing global order and the emergence of multipolarity. Spoke about a constructive India-China relationship in that context,” Jaishankar said on X.
Founded as a regional security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent intergovernmental organisation comprising India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus. The SCO’s agenda spans counterterrorism, security, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity.
