This photo taken on Oct. 4, 2024 shows the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. [Photo/Xinhua]
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports upon entering the United States, regardless of their country of origin, has sparked strong opposition across Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday that U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union (EU) “will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures.”
“Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered,” von der Leyen said in a statement. “The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers.”
Addressing members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg on Tuesday, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic said that the EU will respond “firmly and proportionately” to the tariffs imposed by the U.S.
“In our opinion the tariffs are unjustified, because they will lead to an increase in prices and inflation,” Sefcovic said. Describing the move as a “lose-lose scenario,” he warned that the tariffs were “economically counterproductive.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed EU’s stance on countermeasures. “If the U.S. leaves us no other choice, the EU will respond with a united position,” he said in a speech to the Bundestag on Tuesday.
However, he cautioned against escalating tensions. “I hope we can avoid the misguided path of tariffs and counter-tariffs, as trade wars ultimately come at the expense of prosperity on both sides,” he added. He also warned that U.S. tariffs could soon extend beyond steel and aluminum, posing a particular threat to Germany as Europe’s largest exporting economy.
Dirk Jandura, president of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), said in a statement that should Trump’s tariffs take effect, the EU must respond with a unified position. He cautioned that a trade war could have “fatal” consequences.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that Poland is preparing for the potential impact of the U.S. tariffs. “It is worth doing everything to avoid unnecessary trade and customs wars, because this brings negative consequences for producers and consumers,” Tusk said before a government meeting.
Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek told local media Tuesday that Europe needs to act in unison against the U.S. tariffs. Given the size of the EU’s trade with the U.S., a tariff war would not help anyone, he said.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a post on social media Monday evening that the imposition of high customs tariffs on steel and aluminum from Europe is a manifestation of Trump’s distrust in the power of the EU, which he disrespects.
A new round of U.S. protectionist policies could harm global trade, disrupt supply chains, and ultimately burden consumers in the U.S., Fabrizio Hochschild, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), told Xinhua.
“History shows that unilateral tariffs often provoke retaliatory measures, disrupting supply chains and undermining economic stability,” Hochschild noted, emphasizing that trade disputes should be resolved through multilateral mechanisms like the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“In any case, the announced tariffs will harm American producers and consumers in the end,” said Drago Patrlj, Croatian political analyst. “The world seems heading for a trade war, and it is extremely uncertain who will win and who will lose,” he said, adding, “In fact, everyone will lose, it’s just a question of who will lose more.”
China is a doer in climate response and is committed to fulfilling its pledged goals on carbon peak and carbon neutrality in its own way and at its own speed, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Tuesday.
Guo made the remarks at a daily news briefing in response to the question of when China will submit its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) since countries need to submit their NDCs by February 2025 according to the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
China is now working to set the new NDCs in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the requirements of the first global stocktake, and will inform the UNFCCC secretariat of China’s 2035 NDCs this year in due course based on national circumstances, capability and stage of development, the spokesperson said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A report focusing on “small and beautiful” projects in China’s foreign aid was unveiled on Tuesday, demonstrating China’s commitment and efforts to promote international development cooperation and achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
The reports is the fifth of its kind regarding China’s practice in international development cooperation released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and the Center for International Knowledge on Development.
A large number of “small and beautiful” projects have taken root worldwide over the years, establishing renowned and widely recognized Chinese foreign aid brands, such as Chinese medical teams, Juncao technology, and Luban workshops, according to the report.
As an important direction and priority of the Belt and Road development, those small-scaled, well-grounded and replicable projects aim to improve people’s well-being and boost people-to-people bond in recipient countries, the report said.
They demonstrate the humanistic care and kindness of China’s foreign aid and international development cooperation, it added.
In the next step, China will scale up those projects and magnify the comprehensive benefits of the projects based on efforts in top-level design, communication and coordination, diversified participation and management efficiency, it said.
Also on Monday, another report on the country’s green development assistance was released as the sixth issue of China’s international development cooperation practice.
The report showed that since 2018, the country has carried out 184 assistant projects in green development totaling 30 billion yuan ($4.11 billion), benefiting 75 countries.
The aid, ranging from sustainable agricultural development, clean energy development to climate change response and environmental protection and pollution control, are provided through various ways including technical assistance, materials and complete sets, the report noted.
Hu Zhangliang, vice-chairman of the CIDCA, said that China closely aligns its assistance with the development plans of partner countries, ensuring that improving local livelihoods and well-being remains the key focus.
China will, as always, play an active and important role in global development and continuously expanding the scope of foreign aid and international development cooperation, enriching aid modalities, increasing investment in global development cooperation and strengthening supervision and evaluation of aid programs, Hu said.
China is also willing to strengthen cooperation with developed countries and emerging economies, and carry out tripartite and multilateral cooperation with more international organizations, complementing each other and jointly promote the realization of UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development, he added.
Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, Pakistani ambassador to China, said that China’s “small and beautiful projects” and green development financing align with Pakistan’s national economic transformation plan from 2024 to 2029, and complement with the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“We are grateful to China for launching a series of ‘small and beautiful’ projects in Pakistan…These projects are yet another demonstration of China’s enduring commitment to promoting inclusive development,” he said.
By fostering partnerships in key sectors through targeted cooperation initiatives, CIDCA is improving local employment and building local capacities, he said, adding that Pakistan is keen to further expand partnership with the agency in broader areas of cooperation.
Zhao Bing, representative of the UN World Food Programme in China, said that thanks to the support of CIDCA and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, WFP has implemented 53 practical people-centered projects across 36 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which have impacted the lives of more than 10 million people.
“We serve as a bridge for South-South and triangular cooperation, sharing Chinese knowledge, technology, expertise throughout the Global South countries,” Zhao said.
The WFP commits to further deepening and expanding collaboration with the public and private sectors represented by CIDCA, redouble efforts through “small and beautiful” projects and green development projects, so as to leverage additional resources, innovation and technology from China and beyond, in an effort to end hunger and achieve the sustainable development goals for resilient, inclusive future for all, he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Gaoligong Mountains Tunnel on the Dali-Ruili Railway in Yunnan Province is a testament to the builders’ dedication. They are building the 34.538-kilometer-long tunnel while facing geological complexity, underground water, and dense vegetation. Despite these challenges, the builders remain committed to completing this monumental project.
Brazil’s first-ever Minister of Indigenous Peoples and an initiative promoting sustainable agriculture in Egypt are among the six recipients of the 2024 Champions of the Earth award, announced by the UN EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday.
The laureates were honoured for their outstanding leadership, brave actions and sustainable solutions to tackle land degradation, drought and desertification.
Protecting people and the planet
The Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour and recognizes trailblazers from the public and private sectors, civil society and academia who are at the forefront of efforts to protect both people and the planet.
It has been presented annually since 2005, with122 laureates to date.
This year, nominations focused on finding champions who are restoring degraded land, increasing drought resilience and preventing desertification.
Honouring ‘extraordinary individuals’
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen noted that almost 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded. At the same time, desertification is on the rise and devastating droughts are becoming more regular.
“The good news is that solutions already exist today, and around the world, extraordinary individuals and organizations are demonstrating that it is possible to defend and heal our planet,” she said.
“The efforts of the 2024 Champions of the Earth stand tall as a reminder that the fight to protect our land, our rivers and our oceans is a fight we can win. With the right policies, scientific breakthroughs, system reforms, activism, as well as the vital leadership and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, we can restore our ecosystems.”
Meet the Champions
Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was honoured in the Policy Leadership category.
Ms. Guajajara has been advocating for Indigenous rights for more than two decades. She became Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples and the country’s first female Indigenous minister in 2023. Under her leadership, 10 territories have been recognized as Indigenous land to ward off deforestation, illegal logging, and drug traffickers.
Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate, received the award in the Inspiration and Action category
Ms. Cordalis is using her legal expertise and passion for restoration to secure a better future for the Yurok tribe and the Klamath River in the United States. UNEP said her work to restore the river ecosystem and encourage the adoption of sustainable fishing practices demonstrate how bold environmental action can bring significant positive change, while upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights and livelihoods.
Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender, was honoured in the Inspiration and Action category.
Mr. Paun is the founder of Agent Green, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which has been helping save thousands of hectares of precious biodiversity in the Carpathians since 2009 by exposing the destruction and illegal logging of Europe’s last old growth forest.
He has received death threats and been physically attacked for his work in documenting deforestation in an area that is vital for the ecosystem and supports unique biodiversity such as endangered lynx and wolves.
Chinese scientist Lu Qi was honoured in the Science and Innovation category. He has worked in science and policy sectors for three decades, helping China reverse degradation and shrink its deserts
As Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and founding President of the Institute of Great Green Wall, Mr. Lu has played a key role in implementing the world’s largest afforestation project, establishing expert research networks and partnerships, and boosting multilateral cooperation to stem desertification, land degradation and drought.
Madhav Gadgil, an Indian ecologist was named as the laureate in the Lifetime Achievement category. He has spent decades protecting people and the planet through research and community engagement.
“From landmark environmental impact assessments of state and national policies to grassroots environmental engagement, Gadgil’s work has greatly influenced public opinion and official policies on the protection of natural resources.
“He is renowned for his seminal work in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region of India, which is a unique global biodiversity hotspot,” said UNEP.
The SEKEM initiative in Egypt was honoured in the Entrepreneurial Vision category for helping farmers transition to more sustainable agriculture.
Its promotion of biodynamic agriculture plus afforestation and reforestation work has been transforming large swathes of desert into thriving agricultural business, advancing sustainable development across the country.
A woman carries a baby and a water container as she walks across arid land in Niger.
Restoring the world’s ecosystems
Roughly 3.2 billion people worldwide are currently threatened by desertification, according to UNEP. Additionally, by 2050, more than three-quarters of the world’s population is expected to be affected by droughts.
Led by UNEP and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported by partners, it aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide to revive billions of hectares of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The announcement of the 2024 Champions of the Earth on 10 December coincides with Human Rights Day and the Resilience Day at the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Droughts across the world are intensifying and have become a “slow onset, silent killer” to which no country is immune, according to the UN’s most senior official working on desertification, drought and land restoration issues.
Ibrahim Thiaw, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was speaking at the opening of COP16 a major global conference taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where a new global drought regime is expected to be agreed which will promote the shift from reactive relief response to proactive preparedness.
Here’s what you need to know about droughts.
Droughts are increasing in regularity and intensity
Droughts are a natural phenomenon, but in recent decades have been intensified by climate change and unsustainable land practices. Their number has surged by nearly 30 per cent in frequency and intensity since 2000, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people, with the poorest nations bearing the brunt.
Water availability is essential to prevent migration in places like western Nigeria.
They can also lead to conflict over dwindling resources, including water, and the widespread displacement of people as they migrate towards more productive lands.
No country is immune
More than 30 countries declared drought emergencies in the past three years alone, from India and China, to high-income nations such as the US, Canada and Spain, as well as Uruguay, Southern Africa and even Indonesia.
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
A ship passes through the Panama Canal in Central America.
Droughts impeded grain transportation in the Rhine River in Europe, disrupted international trade via the Panama Canal in Central America, and led to hydropower cuts in the South America country, Brazil, which depends on water for more than 60 per cent of its electricity supply.
Firefighters were even called to an urban park in New York City, in the United States in wintry November 2024 to tackle a bush fire after weeks of no rainfall.
“Droughts have expanded into new territories. No country is immune,” said UNCCD’s Ibrahim Thiaw adding that “by 2050, three in four people globally, up to seven and half billion people, will feel the impact of drought.”
Domino effects
Droughts are rarely confined to a specific place and time and are not simply due to a lack of rainfall but are often the result of a complicated set of events driven or amplified by climate change, as well as sometimes the mismanagement of land.
For example, a hillside which is deforested is immediately degraded. The land will lose its resilience to extreme weather and will become more susceptible to both drought and flooding.
And, once they strike, they can trigger a series of cataclysmic domino effects, supercharging heat waves and even floods, multiplying the risks to people’ s lives and livelihoods with long-lasting human, social and economic costs.
As communities, economies, and ecosystems suffer the damaging effects of drought, their vulnerability is increased to the next one, feeding a vicious cycle of land degradation and underdevelopment.
Drought is a development and a security issue
Around 70 per cent of the world’s available freshwater is in the hands of people living off the land, most of them subsistence farmers in low-income countries with limited livelihood alternatives. Around 2.5 billion of them are youth.
Without water there is no food and no land-based jobs, which can lead to forced migration, instability, and conflict.
“Drought is not merely an environmental matter,” said Andrea Meza, UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary. “Drought is a development and human security matter that we must urgently tackle from across all sectors and governance levels.”
Planning for greater resilience
Droughts are also becoming harsher and faster due to human-induced climate change as well as land mismanagement and typically the global response to it is still reactive. More planning and adaption is required to build resilience to the extreme conditions created by dwindling supplies of water and this often happens at a local level.
UN Haiti/Daniel Dickinson
A beekeeper collects honey in southern Haiti.
In Zimbabwe a youth-led grass-roots organization is aiming to regenerate land by planting one billion trees across the southern African country, while more farmers on the Caribbean island of Haiti are taking to bee-keeping; Bees feed off the trees, so there is an incentive for bee keepers to protect the trees from being cut down. In Mali, a young woman entrepreneur, is creating livelihoods and building resilience to drought by promoting the products of the moringa tree.
Experts say proactive initiatives like these can prevent immense human suffering and is far cheaper than interventions focused on response and recovery.
What next?
At COP16 countries are coming together to agree how to collectively tackle worsening droughts and promote sustainable land management.
Two key pieces of research were launched on the opening day.
The World Drought Atlas depicts the systemic nature of drought risks illustrating how they are interconnected across sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport, and international trade and how they can trigger cascading effects, fueling inequalities and conflicts and threatening public health.
One UN estimate suggests that investments totalling $2.6 trillion will be needed by 2030 to restore land across the world which is affected by drought and poor management.
At COP16 an initial pledge of $2.15 billion was announced to finance the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.
It will serve as a global facilitator for drought resilience, promoting the shift from reactive relief response to proactive preparedness,” said Dr Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudia Arabia, adding that “we also seek to amplify global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world.”
The “Musical Harmony Between East and West” Spring Festival Concert was held at the Teatr Dramatyczny in Warsaw, Poland on Tuesday, attracting 400 guests from various sectors in Poland.
Hosted by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Poland, the event featured performances by the Beijing Symphony Orchestra and the Beijing Chinese Orchestra.
Chinese Ambassador to Poland Sun Linjiang opened the event, stating, “I hope that music can serve as a bridge to connect the hearts of our two peoples, deepen mutual understanding, and contribute positively to the bright future of China-Poland relations.”
The concert began with the piece New Year Celebration, setting a festive tone for the evening. The program blended Chinese traditional music with Western chamber music, featuring renowned pieces such as Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon, A Toast Song, and Nocturnal Peace, highlighting the beauty of musical integration.
Following the performance, Polish audience member Paulina Krukowska shared her impressions: “I was truly amazed by how well Chinese traditional instruments blended with chamber music.”
The concert is part of the “Happy Chinese New Year” cultural program, organized annually by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism since 2001.
The Haiyun’an branch of the 2025 Qingdao Radish, Yuanxiao and Tangqiu Fair kicked off on Sunday in Shibei district of Qingdao, Shandong province.
The fair will conclude on Thursday, the day after Lantern Festival. During the festival, locals eat yuanxiao (or glutinous rice balls) and tangqiu (sugar coated haws) and make lights out of radishes.
Dating back centuries, this event holds a special place as one of the region’s most beloved and culturally significant folk traditions.
Offering a diverse range of activities and attractions, the fair attracted large crowds of enthusiastic attendees eager to join the festive celebrations.
Sales are soaring for merchandise from the film “Ne Zha 2,” which recently became the sole Asian film listed in the world’s top 30 highest-grossing films of all time.
As of Monday, the film’s box office has surpassed 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion), making it a top player in global animated films and sparking a frenzy of offline merchandise purchases.
Second-hand markets have seen the IP’s merch selling at several times their original price, with “Hard to find Ne Zha 2 items” becoming a hot topic on social media platforms.
The colored papers and badges are produced by Guangdong Henglitai Crafts in Dongguan, Guangdong province.
“We didn’t expect such a frenzy of offline purchases for Ne Zha 2 merchandise,” said Chen Qi, general manager of Guangdong Henglitai Crafts.
When the company resumed operations after the Spring Festival holiday on Friday, the company’s client FunCrazy, the film’s official cooperation brand, placed an order for over 1 million sets of merchandise.
“We are also concurrently working on designing new styles of such items to meet the growing market demand,” said Chen.
The trendy toy company started with badge manufacturing and gradually became a renowned player covering global IPs.
The company’s annual sales skyrocketed from 100 million yuan in 2022 to 300 million yuan in 2024, with its market share in China jumping from 20 percent to 70 percent.
“The success of Ne Zha 2 proves that Chinese animation IPs can completely rival those of Japanese and American giants,” said Chen.
The company plans to collaborate with brand partners to develop more peripheral characters while exploring new techniques such as metal sculpting and dynamic lighting effects, according to Chen.
“A combination of high-quality content and manufacturing capability is the key to breaking new ground in the IP merchandise series,” he said.
The popularity of Ne Zha 2 merchandise is attributed to the film’s impact and the exquisite craftsmanship of the manufacturing in Dongguan, according to Chen. “For example, our acrylic colored paper utilizes a silver spring fine flash technique, presenting the dynamic effects of movie scenes under different lighting conditions.”
After receiving orders in October, the company delivered over 300,000 sets of products in early January, including acrylic cards, colored paper, fridge magnets, clips and transparent cards.
“Brand partners are requesting restocks, so once we resume operations after the Spring Festival holiday, we ramp up production,” said Chen.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held historic hearings from 2 to 13 December addressing States’ obligations under international law to combat climate change, a process spearheaded by small island nations facing existential threats.
While ICJ advisory opinion will be non-binding, it is expected to shape the future of international climate law.
Small islands call for justice
The hearings opened with an appeal from Vanuatu and Melanesian Spearhead Group, representing nations most vulnerable to climate change.
“The outcome of these historic proceedings will have repercussions for generations to come, determining the fate of nations like mine and the future of our planet,” said Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change.
The Pacific Island nation highlighted the catastrophic impacts of rising seas and extreme weather, calling the failures of high-emitting States “illicit”.
The country’s Attorney General Arnold Kiel Loughman argued that “the failure of a handful of high-emitting states to meet their obligations constitutes an internationally wrongful act,” as they have brought humanity “to the brink of the abyss.”
They asked the World Court to affirm principles of international law that address sea-level rise, including the recognition of maritime zones and statehood even if territories are inundated.
Differentiated responsibilities: Brazil, China weigh in
Brazil highlighted its commitment to ambitious emissions reductions, stressing that despite being a developing country, it faces significant challenges like poverty eradication and extreme climate impacts.
The country’s special envoy on climate change, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, underscored the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, asserting that high-emitting developed countries bear the greatest burden in addressing the crisis.
China, meanwhile, urged the ICJ to avoid creating new legal obligations and focus on existing frameworks such as the Paris Agreement on climate change.
As one of the world’s largest emitters, China argued that developed nations must bear historical responsibility, while developing countries require longer timelines to meet climate goals.
UN Photo
The towers and gables of the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
US, EU take diverging stances
The United States acknowledged the severity of the climate crisis but argued that international treaties like the Paris Agreement are not legally binding.
Margaret Taylor, the US representative, also rejected the notion that “common but differentiated responsibilities” is a fundamental principle of international law.
On the other hand, the European Union (EU) emphasised cooperation and stressed the non-adversarial nature of the advisory proceedings.
EU representatives pointed to the importance of existing treaties in addressing climate change but stopped short of calling for enforcement mechanisms.
A crucial moment for international climate action
While the ICJ deliberates, nations and observers alike await its advisory opinion, expected to guide future legal interpretations of States’ responsibilities for the climate crisis.
For small island nations and vulnerable communities, the stakes are existential.
The world has just experienced the hottest January ever recorded, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday, citing data crunched by UN partner the Copernicus Climate Service
Last month was 1.75 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level and 0.79°C above the 1991-2020 average, despite expectations that the La Nina weather phenomenon might bring cooler temperatures.
In 2015, the international community agreed to try to limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Surprise data
The January data was “surprising” even to climate change experts at Copernicus, the European climate change service, which noted that it was the 18th month in the last 19 where the global-average surface air temperature was more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level.
“January 2025 is another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures,” said Samantha Burgess, Copernicus Strategic Lead for Climate.
For many in the northern hemisphere January 2025 will be remembered by “wetter-than-average conditions” over western Europe, as well as parts of Italy, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, Copernicus said, highlighting “heavy precipitation” and flooding in some regions.
Regional variations
On the other hand, drier than average conditions were recorded in the northern UK and Ireland, eastern Spain and north of the Black Sea.
Beyond Europe, it was wetter than average in Alaska, Canada, central and eastern Russia, eastern Australia, southeastern Africa, and southern Brazil, with regions experiencing floods and associated damage.
But drier-than-average conditions took hold in southwestern United States and northern Mexico, northern Africa, the Middle East, across Central Asia and in eastern China as well as in much of southern Africa, southern South America and Australia.
Global temperature rise is primarily attributed to humans burning fossil fuels which have led to record concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Other factors are also key, including deforestation.
Liu Zhiqiang, a former vice minister of justice, has been indicted for suspected bribery-taking, China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said on Tuesday. Liu, also a former member of the Ministry of Justice’s leading Party members group, allegedly took advantage of his various positions to seek benefits for others and illegally accepted an especially huge amount of money and valuables, according to the SPP. Prosecutors had informed the defendant of his legal rights, interrogated him and listened to the defense counsel’s arguments. Following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision, the People’s Procuratorate of Wuhu City in east China’s Anhui Province filed Liu’s case with the city’s intermediate people’s court.
Rescuers in southwest China’s Sichuan Province pressed on for a fourth day on Tuesday in their search for survivors after a landslide struck Jinping Village in Junlian County, Yibin City, on Saturday. Unstable terrain and ongoing rockfalls have made operations challenging, but rescue teams are advancing with a methodical, grid-based approach. “We have divided the site into grid-based zones, equipping each team with specialized rescue and communication tools,” said Li Wanqiang, head of Yibin’s emergency management bureau. So far, one person has been confirmed dead, 28 are missing, and two others have been injured and transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital Chengdu for further treatment, according to local authorities. A total of 360 people from 95 households have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Drone footage on Sunday morning showed the landslide spanned around 100 meters in width, with a vertical drop of over 400 meters and extending 1.2 kilometers. A total of 949 personnel from multiple rescue teams including armed police, firefighters, mine rescue workers, police officers, and experts from transportation, medical, and telecommunication sectors have been deployed to assist in the search. In addition to excavators, rescuers are using search dogs, life-detection cameras and other specialized rescue equipment to locate survivors. At night, floodlights and drones illuminate the disaster site, allowing search efforts to continue uninterrupted. Displaced villagers at a temporary shelter set up in a secondary school in Junlian County are being provided with hot meals and medical care. Psychologists have also arrived to offer counseling to survivors and the families of the missing. “Psychological recovery is a vital part of disaster response. We will do our best to help victims overcome trauma and restore their emotional well-being,” said Yuan Minlan, a psychologist at the site. At the temporary shelter, displaced villagers were seen gathered around a fire, chatting with one another, as the warmth provided relief from the night’s chill. To prevent secondary disasters, officials have deployed drones, slope radars, and crack monitors to ensure 24-hour surveillance. “We combine human expertise with technology to monitor risks and ensure the safety of rescue teams,” said Liu Zhengyu, head of the Yibin natural resources and planning bureau. Authorities are also expanding geological hazard inspections across the region to prevent future disasters. “We are conducting thorough checks on similar slopes throughout the city and launching multiple rounds of inspections around identified risk areas,” Liu said. “We aim for early detection, early warning, and prompt action to ensure the maximum protection of lives and property in mountainous regions,” Liu added.
A group of Chinese researchers have utilized metal corrosion to prepare high-performance electrodes, enabling efficient and cost-effective upgrading of biomass, according to a research article published in journal Chem Catalysis on Monday. Corrosion is a common phenomenon that can lead to material failure and economic losses. Meanwhile, scientists around the world are exploring the potential of metal corrosion for beneficial applications, particularly in biomass upgrading. Biomass is among the most abundant renewable resources on earth, said Zhang Jian from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Through catalytic conversion, biomass can upgrade into fuels and chemicals that can substitute traditional fossil resources. Inspired by the idea of “turning damage into benefits,” Zhang and his teammates at the NIMTE combined spontaneous metal corrosion with efficient biomass upgrading. They fabricated a type of microwire array on copper foam to enable the efficient electrochemical reduction of the biomass, which can be further converted into environmentally friendly plastic or rubber products, high-value derivatives, and high-quality bio-based chemicals through simple methods. Moreover, the prepared electrode demonstrated a remarkable biomass conversion rate of roughly 96 percent, according to the study. And the activation energy for the electrocatalytic reduction of the biomass was significantly lower than in thermocatalysis. The researcher acknowledged that their study challenged conventional views on metal corrosion phenomena and enabled the production of highly efficient catalysts at an extremely low cost.
More than 1,300 advanced persistent cyberattacks targeting China were detected last year, with more than half aimed at the Chinese government institutions and education sector, according to a newly released research report. Domestically developed software systems in China have become key targets, the 2024 Advanced Persistent Threat Report published by Chinese cybersecurity firm 360 said. The findings follow extensive cyberattacks on Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek at the end of January. The internet protocol addresses involved were all traced to the United States, according to the report. The report said cyberspace has become a critical battleground in regional conflicts, with global advanced persistent threat organizations maintaining high levels of activity. An advanced persistent threat is a prolonged, targeted cyberattack, often orchestrated by skilled hackers, typically state-sponsored, aiming to infiltrate and maintain access to a network for espionage or data theft. China has long been a primary target for advanced persistent threat organizations, the report said. More than 1,300 attacks targeting China were recorded last year, with the attacking organizations primarily originating from South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and North America. The attacks targeted 14 key industries in China, with government institutions accounting for 33 percent and the education sector 20 percent. Other heavily targeted sectors included scientific research, national defense and military industries, and transportation. “Government institutions and educational units have always been primary targets for advanced persistent threat groups,” said Bian Liang, a cybersecurity expert at 360. Attackers target diplomatic and overseas embassy institutions to steal information on the latest diplomatic strategies and positions on major international issues, Bian said, helping the political forces behind them gain an advantage in geopolitical conflicts. “In the education sector, most of the affected universities have backgrounds in aviation and military industries or undertake related national research projects, meaning the attackers are essentially targeting China’s national defense and technological development,” he said. Meanwhile, cyberattacks targeting national defense and military-related objectives primarily focus on aviation, aerospace, shipbuilding and weapons industries, the report said. “These cyberattacks are not only capable of espionage to gather military intelligence and disrupt enemy network communications, but they can also control military facilities, paralyze enemy command and control systems, and forge and transmit false commands,” Bian said. This capability makes cyber warfare an indispensable part of modern military conflicts, he added. The report also highlighted emerging cyber threats in the automotive manufacturing, new energy and telecommunications sectors. Domestically developed software systems in China have become major targets as more Chinese institutions replace foreign products with domestic alternatives, the report said. Bian warned that domestically developed software has a broad customer base among Chinese enterprises and institutions, meaning penetration of a successful supply chain by an advanced persistent threat organization could have severe consequences. The report also pointed to the risks posed by artificial intelligence large models to cybersecurity, noting a surge in their use and influence in 2024. In late January, DeepSeek, whose AI chatbot has been described as a challenger to ChatGPT, said on its website that its AI model services had been subjected to large-scale malicious attacks, preventing many users from logging in, registering or engaging in conversations. A January report by China Media Group cited Wang Hui, a cybersecurity expert at Chinese security company Qi An Xin Group, who said the IP addresses involved in the DeepSeek attacks were located in the United States. Wang said the wave of cyberattacks included brute-force attacks aimed at cracking users’ passwords to obtain private information.
China’s top procuratorate has upheld a firm stance against particularly heinous crimes over the past year, delivering severe punishments in a strict and timely manner, a senior prosecutor with the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said on Tuesday. Yuan Ming, chief of the SPP’s major crime department, cited the car-ramming case in Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province, which resulted in significant casualties last November, as a prime example. Following the brutal crime, the department deployed prosecutors to oversee and guide the case handling, expedited the litigation process within the legal time frame, and resolved the case swiftly and in strict accordance with the law, effectively deterring further crimes and addressing public concerns, Yuan noted. The perpetrator of this horrific crime, Fan Weiqiu, was executed on Jan. 20 after the death sentence was approved by the Supreme People’s Court. The SPP’s major crime department has also worked on a targeted operation to tackle gun and explosive-related crimes, while continuing to take a strong approach in combating drug-related offenses, Yuan said. From January to November 2024, procuratorial agencies across the country approved the arrest of 669,000 criminal suspects and took over 1.46 million individuals to court.
An aerial drone photo shows the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base in Lianyungang, east China’s Jiangsu Province, July 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Continuous innovation, global expansion and industrial upgrade will empower Chinese companies to counter rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions this year, driving foreign trade growth and reinforcing China’s global competitiveness, said market observers and exporters.
Despite challenges, China’s foreign trade remains resilient, adapting to an increasingly complex global landscape shaped by the United States’ new tariff policies, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory uncertainties in certain countries, they added.
Zhang Xiaotao, dean of the School of International Trade and Economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, said that as a major player in global trade, China has accumulated extensive experience in navigating international political and economic shifts over the past decade.
“Foreign trade companies have already seen positive results from their strategic adjustments to tackle headwinds, including building new factories and overseas warehouses in countries such as Thailand, Hungary, the U.S. and Brazil, as well as increasing investment in research and development,” Zhang said.
Denis Depoux, global managing director at German management consultancy Roland Berger, said that China is now increasingly recognized for its high-value, technologically advanced products, including electric vehicles, solar cells and liquefied natural gas carriers, as it moves up the value chain to drive export growth.
Chinese companies exporting high-value products include Narwal, a manufacturer of household robots based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The company saw the number of its export markets expand from less than 10 in 2023 to over 30 last year, covering multiple regions and countries including North America, Europe, Australia and Japan.
“We will continue to invest in multiple fields such as 3D perception, artificial intelligence solutions, binocular vision technologies and big data applications to win more orders,” said Zhang Junbin, the company’s founder.
Li Lizhong, sales director at Zhejiang Yueli Electrical Co, a home appliances manufacturer based in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, said the company’s personal care products, such as hair dryers and curling irons, previously targeted the U.S. and Western Europe markets.
“However, our exports to these traditional markets have been impacted by the U.S. tariff hike and the Russia-Ukraine conflict in recent years,” he said, adding that the company has launched more intelligent, eco-friendly home appliances to expand into markets in Central and Eastern Europe, and economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Data from Ningbo Customs showed that Zhejiang Yueli’s hair dryer exports reached 602 million yuan ($82.4 million) in 2024, marking a 6.3 percent year-on-year increase, while the company’s exports in this category to Central and Eastern Europe totaled 45.46 million yuan, up 39.2 percent compared with 2023.
Li said the increasing penetration of the internet in Central and Eastern Europe has allowed e-commerce to expand at a remarkable pace in countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania. The company’s cross-border e-commerce exports emerged as a key growth driver after it deployed resources in this business segment in the region, he added.
As China continued to enhance its high-value export portfolio and deepen its market presence in emerging economies, the nation’s foreign trade rose 5 percent year-on-year to reach a record high of 43.85 trillion yuan in 2024, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Meanwhile, China’s mechanical and electrical product exports grew 8.7 percent year-on-year, accounting for 59.4 percent of the country’s total exports. Last year, the country’s EV exports rose 13.1 percent compared with 2023, while its 3D printer exports increased 32.8 percent and industrial robot exports surged 45.2 percent.
Lan Qingxin, a professor at the School of International Trade and Economics of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said the restructuring of global supply chains and protectionist moves in certain countries have pushed Chinese companies to adapt and leverage their strong manufacturing and technological capabilities.
By responding innovatively to these changes, the companies can meet market needs in other emerging economies, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and expanding their global presence, said Lan.
A Chinese business delegation, organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, departed on Monday for Kazakhstan to explore new opportunities for economic and trade exchanges.
During the four-day trip, the delegation, comprising representatives of more than 30 Chinese companies across industries such as petrochemicals and machinery manufacturing, hopes to sign several cooperation agreements and foster mutually beneficial outcomes.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a vice premier of the State Council, poses for a group photo with heads of state and government and high-level representatives from more than 30 countries, along with leaders of international organizations, after the AI Action Summit in Paris, France, Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
China is willing to work with other countries to promote development, safeguard security, share achievements in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative Zhang Guoqing said in Paris on Monday.
Zhang is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a vice premier of the State Council. He made the remarks in his speech at the AI Action Summit, which was held from Feb. 10 to 11.
AI has become an important driving force for the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, Zhang said. China has always participated in global cooperation and governance on AI with a highly responsible attitude, he underlined.
In October 2023, President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Initiative for AI Governance, which proposed China’s solution and contributed China’s wisdom for the AI development and governance, Zhang noted.
In facing the opportunities and challenges brought about by the development of AI, Zhang called on the international community to jointly advocate for the principle of developing AI for good, to deepen innovative cooperation, strengthen inclusiveness and benefits, and improve global governance.
He also invited developer communities from around the world to participate in the upcoming 2025 Global Developer Conference, scheduled from Feb. 21 to 23 in Shanghai, China.
During the AI Action Summit in Paris, heads of state and government and high-level representatives from more than 30 countries, along with leaders of international organizations, jointly signed a Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet.
When meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, Zhang said China is ready to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries, and push for further development of China-France relations over the next 60 years. He conveyed cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Macron.
Meanwhile, Macron expressed his gratitude to President Xi for sending a special representative to participate in the AI Action Summit. He reaffirmed that France firmly upholds strategic autonomy and is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability, and tackle global challenges.
Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China reiterated on Saturday his country’s commitment to playing a constructive role and engaging in mediation for peace, not exploiting volatile situations for “selfish gains”.
To that end, China, jointly with Brazil and other countries of the Global South, launched a Group of Friends for Peace, he said in his address the UN General Assembly.
“Its very purpose is to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, build consensus for a political settlement of the crisis and contribute to a prospect of peace,” the Minister said.
He noted that the question of Palestine is the “biggest wound” to the human conscience.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza is causing more casualties with each passing day, he said, adding that fighting has started again in Lebanon.
“But might cannot replace justice. Palestine’s long held aspiration to establish an independent state should not be shunned anymore, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people should not be ignored anymore.”
The Foreign Minister also noted China’s partnerships with African nations as well as with some least developed countries (LDCs), while highlighting its opposition to unilateral coercive measures, such as sanctions and blockades, and disruption of supply chains.
“Sanctions and pressure will not bring monopolistic advantages. Suppressing and containing others will not solve problems at home. The right of people of all countries to pursue a better life should not be taken away,” he said, calling on the United States to completely lift its blockade, sanctions and terrorism related designation against Cuba.
Mr. Wang also emphasized China’s commitment to a “path of green, low-carbon, and sustainable development”.
“We will move from carbon peaking to carbon neutrality in the shortest time span in world history, contributing China’s efforts to harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature at the global level,” he said.
He also highlighted that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must be upheld, and that the Paris Agreement on climate change must be implemented in earnest.
Developed countries should also assist developing nations in building their capacity to cope with climate change, he added.
Foreign Minister Wang further highlighted China’s support for UN reform and modernization, as well as for international financial systems to be fit for current times. China would also continue fulfil its obligations, providing financial support and qualified human resources.
He urged the Organization to “respond to the legitimate calls” of developing countries and increase the representation and voice of those in the Global South.
Concluding his address, Mr. Wang said next year will mark the 80th anniversary of end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations.
“China stands ready to work with all countries to renew the founding purposes and mission of the UN, reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the UN Charter, advocate and practice true multilateralism, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly usher in a better world.”
The Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil, will be the global focus of efforts to tackle the climate crisis in November 2025, when it hosts one of the most significant UN climate conferences in recent years.
However, throughout the years there will be plenty of opportunities to make important progress on several climate-related issues, from the staggering levels of plastic pollution to financing the shift to a cleaner global economy.
1 Can we keep 1.5 alive?
“Keep 1.5 alive” has been the UN’s rallying cry for a number of years, a reference to the goal of ensuring that average global temperatures don’t soar beyond 1.5 degrees higher than pre-industrial levels. The scientific consensus is that a lack of action would have catastrophic consequences, not least for the so-called “frontline States”, such as developing island nations which could disappear under the ocean, as sea levels rise.
A man fishes sitting on sandbags which protect the Pacific Ocean island nation Tuvalu against sea erosion.
At COP30, the UN climate conference scheduled to take place between 10 and 21 November 2025, mitigation (in other words, actions and policies designed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to rising temperatures) is likely to a key focus.
The nations of the world will arrive with upgraded, more ambitious commitments to lowering greenhouse gases. This is both a recognition that existing pledges are wholly inadequate, in terms of getting temperatures down, and part of the deal that Member States signed up to in 2015 at the Paris COP (nations are expected to “ratchet up” their commitments every five years. The last time this happened was at the 2021 Glasgow COP, delayed by one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic).
2 Protecting nature
Holding COP30 in the Amazonian rainforest region of Brazil is of symbolic importance. It harks back to the early days of international attempts to protect the environment: the pivotal “Earth Summit”, which led to the establishment of three environmental treaties on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, took place in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
A parrot stands on a tree branch in Maharashtra, India.
The location also highlights the role that nature has to play in the climate crisis. The rainforest is a massive “carbon sink”, a system that sucks up and stores CO2, a greenhouse gas, and prevents it from entering the atmosphere, where it contributes to warming.
Unfortunately, rainforests and other “nature-based solutions” face threats from human development, such as illegal logging which has devastated huge swathes of the region. The UN will continue efforts begun in 2024 to improve the protection of the rainforest and other ecosystems, at biodiversity talks due to be resumed in Rome in February.
3 Who’s going to pay for all this?
Finance has long been a thorny issue in international climate negotiations. Developing countries argue that wealthy nations should contribute far more towards projects and initiatives that will enable them to move away from fossil fuels, and power their economies on clean energy sources. The pushback from the rich countries is that fast-growing economies such as China, which is now the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, should also pay their share.
Activists protest against fossil fuels at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, a breakthrough of sorts was made, with the adoption of an agreement to triple the amount of climate finance paid to developing countries, to $300 billion per year, by 2035. The deal is a definite step forward, but the final sum is far less than the $1.3 trillion that climate experts say these countries need in order to adapt to the crisis.
Expect more progress to be made on financing in 2025, at a summit in Spain at the end of June. The Financing for Development conferences only take place once every 10 years, and next year’s edition is being billed as an opportunity to make radical changes to the international financial architecture. Environmental and climate concerns will be raised, and potential solutions such as green taxation, carbon pricing and subsidies will all be on the table.
Vanuatu often experiences destructive extreme weather, such as typhoons, which are being exacerbated by climate change.
Vanuatu, a Pacific island state particularly vulnerable to the crisis, asked the court for an advisory position, in order to clarify the obligations of States with regard to climate change, and inform any future judicial proceedings.
Over a two-week period, 96 countries and 11 regional organizations took part in public hearings before the Court, including Vanuatu and a group of other Pacific islands States, and major economies including China and the USA.
The ICJ will deliberate for several months before delivering its advisory opinion on the subject. Although this opinion will be non-binding, it is expected to guide future international climate law.
5 Plastic pollution
UN-convened talks on getting to grips with the global epidemic of plastic pollution edged closer to a deal during negotiations in Busan, South Korea.
Some key advances were made during the November 2024 talks – the fifth round of negotiations following the 2022 UN Environment Assembly resolution calling for an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
Agreement on three pivotal areas needs to be ironed: plastic products, including the issue of chemicals; sustainable production and consumption; and financing.
UNDP India
Plastic bottles are collected for recycling in India.
Member States are now charged with finding political solutions to their differences before the resumed session begins, and with landing a final deal that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics and delivers on the growing global momentum to end plastic pollution.
“It is clear that the world still wants and demands an end to plastic pollution,” said UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen. “We need to ensure we craft an instrument that hits the problem hard instead of punching below its potential weight. I call on all Member States to lean in.”
The U.S. Navy (USN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and Royal Navy (RN) joined together to conduct a link exercise, a coordinated maneuvering exercise, and a variety of other combined operations in the South China Sea, Feb. 6-7.
Participating units included the USN Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), the RAN Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart (DDG 39), the RN River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey (P234).
“Regular military engagements between the defense forces in the Indo-Pacific will help maintain regional security and stability” said Commodore Jonathan Ley, Joint Force Maritime Component Commander for Australia’s Headquarters Joint Operations Command. “This activity is a testament to the growing ability of Australia and the United States to work together in this complex maritime environment. As one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes and home to almost two thirds of the world’s population, it is essential we are ready, willing and able to meet any challenge.”
During the maritime training, the three ships exercised their ability to exchange data using their tactical datalink systems, while the maneuvering exercise trained the crews’ ability to sail alongside each other in various conditions, improving the self-defense and communication capabilities of the three countries.
“Operating alongside our Royal Navy and Australian counterparts strengthens collaboration at sea,” said Capt. Justin Harts, Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. “We will continue to reinforce our interoperability with our allies at every corner to maintain a consistent presence in the Indo-Pacific.”
The U.S. Navy regularly operates alongside our allies in the Indo-Pacific region as a demonstration of our shared commitment to upholding international law. Combined operations provide valuable opportunities to train, exercise and develop tactical interoperability across allied navies in the Indo-Pacific.
Benfold is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.
U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Every September when UN Headquarters in New York is swamped – massive motorcades, intense security, snipers on rooftops and world leaders descending along with throngs of diplomats, media and celebrities – it’s not easy to grasp what exactly is going on or what was achieved.
Let’s try to unscramble those 10 days for you. This year, some 235 events and hundreds of speakers later, the spotlight was shone on what the world was facing – how to move towards a revamp of an outdated global economic order, forging new pathways to peace, and finding solutions to the growing threat of nuclear war, global public health challenges, climate disruption and dangerous levels of impunity, inequality and uncertainty.
Kicking off the Summit of the Future (22-23 September) ahead of the General Assembly’s annual high-level week, Secretary-General António Guterres’ clarion call for change made the stakes plain: “We cannot build a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents.”
More than 140 leaders spoke in the action-packed gathering while the UN was taken over by youth and civil society. The end-goal? Torchbearers of change trying to chart a course to rejig a UN that can be fit for purpose and ready to meet 21st century challenges with modernized, upgraded institutions that do not reflect the world of 1945.
The good news is they agreed on a rescue plan to steer the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track, a groundbreaking Pact for the Future that now needs to be implemented. Despite a last-minute challenge from a group of countries opposed to the pact, UN Member States actually inked a deal – and agreed on the need for justice and reform.
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The big wins? Economic justice pledges included a promise to overhaul the international financial architecture so that developing countries reeling under a debt burden can begin to invest in development and not be crippled by debt repayments. Security Council reform saw a groundswell of support to expand and balance rights of membership. Strong backing was expressed for Africa to have permanent representation in the Security Council – along with other contenders like Brazil, India, and Japan. South African Prime Minister Cyril Ramaphosa called for the Security Council to be “more representative and inclusive,” noting that Africa and its 1.4 billion people remain excluded from this key decision-making structure.
A group of experts delivered findings on the critical need to embrace digital innovation and harness how artificialintelligence could transform our world; but equally to close the digital divide and ensure guardrails around a responsible advance for humanity.
A Global Digital Compact was agreed, with the aim of opening the doors to a brave, new and accountable digital world order.
On the sidelines, a dark moment was captured in a conversation on the future of women in Afghanistan – actress Meryl Streep questioned how it was possible that cats and birds had more freedom in the country where girls were banned from education. “A cat may go sit on her front stoop and feel the sun on her face. She may chase a squirrel into the park. A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan today because the public parks have been closed to women and girls by the Taliban,” Streep said. “This is a suppression of the natural law.”
In a devastating testimonial during a ministerial meeting “The Cost of Inaction in Sudan”, Sudanese activist Nisreen al-Saem lamented that the war in her country was a “war on women” and appealed: “Oh, Burhan and Hemediti, we’re tired, unite the Sudanese people and lay down your arms”.
As the General Assembly began its 79th session, 190 countries out of 193 Member States spoke in what is not a debate at all – but a chance for governments to speak their mind on the state of the world or their region or pressing global problems. Highlighting an ignominious fact, Iceland’s Foreign Minister Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir – as one of only 19 women speaking in the hallowed hall – chastised: “I thought we had come further than this.”
Another female leader, the outspoken premier of Barbados, Mia Mottley, a fierce advocate of the Bridgetown Initiative which aims to kickstart global financial restructuring exhorted global institutions to give developing countries – especially small vulnerable ones – “seats at the tables of decision-making”.
The chorus was loud on the need for institutional reform at the UN, stoked by fears of an outdated and archaic institution unable to keep pace with a world that has changed profoundly.
If the UN is to become a “central platform for finding common ground” according to the Minister for External Affairs of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, “it cannot, by remaining anachronistic.” In his swansong speech, US President Joe Biden reminded fellow leaders: “Never forget we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.”
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The eclipse of multilateralism and international law bubbled up repeatedly – Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, warned that multilateralism is not an option but an existential necessity while Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago wagged his finger at the selective respect for international law.
A refrain heard repeatedly on the war in Ukraine and Gaza was captured by Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Rasmussen, who worried that the respect for international law is slowly being undermined and flagged that, “Wars of aggression and altering borders is — and should remain — a thing of the past.”
Many sounded the alarm on the climate-security nexus with President Ramkalawan of the Seychelles flagging this as an existential issue that would plague future generations – a sentiment widely echoed by the young activists who flocked to the UN.
As nation after nation spoke out about the unimaginable destruction and devastation in Gaza following the terror attacks launched by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and with the drumbeat of war growing in the region, Brazil’s President Luiz Ignacio Lula had warning words: “The right to defense has become the right to vengeance.” While committing to sending forces to counter the deteriorating security in Haiti, President William Ruto of Kenya regretted that the Charter’s foundations have been shaken.
The President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang pleaded for an end to the spiralling conflict and retribution between Israel and Gaza and a return to a solution grounded in international law for the good of Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the UN to “set the record straight” in a session that was sparsely attended because of a walkout – but his speech was watched by record numbers online illustrating how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dominated the discussions.
The entire General Assembly session was supposed to be about the future, devoted to uplifting commitments to reset the world on the path to sustainable development, to rethink how we can make the world more equitable and efficient, find ways to tackle public health threats like Anti-Microbial Resistance and to showcase how the world can leverage the potential of new technologies. Yet, the focus inevitably ended up on what the Secretary-General called “the purgatory of polarity” and the threat of an “age of impunity.”
In the spirit of the Pact for Future Generations, heartwarming moments came from youth who showed up for the Action Days and the SDG Media Zone. Sanjana Sanghi, a UN Development Programme climate activist from India, praised the positivity of the younger generation that inspired hope. She summed up the buzz felt around the UN campus: “I am deeply inspired by these young changemakers who are passionately working to address climate issues and secure a sustainable future for everyone.”
*This is not an official record. It is a snapshot of this year’s General Assembly High-Level Week.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued an alert on Tuesday over intensifying hostilities in the northeast in recent days.
Between 16 and 18 January, at least three civilians were killed and 14 injured in shelling and other attacks impacting Manbij, Ain al-Arab and other villages near the Tishreen Dam in the eastern Aleppo region.
UN partners also reported that shops in the main market were damaged when an improvised bomb detonated inside a car in Manbij.
These incidents have forced people from their homes and obstructed aid access, OCHA reported after sending a mission to the city on Monday.
The mission visited the Manbij National Hospital and met with local officials, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and local non-governmental organizations to identify and address the issues at stake, according to Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.
OCHA and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also completed a monitoring mission on Monday to the Ain Al Bayda water station in eastern Aleppo.
Deadly remains
UN partners have recorded 69 explosive ordnance incidents over the first two weeks of January due to contamination, in which 45 people were killed and 60 others wounded.
“Since 26 November, a total of 134 new areas with explosive remnants of war have been identified by partners across five governorates – Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Deir-ez-Zor and Latakia,” said Mr. Haq.
As people continue to move and return to their communities, UN partners are calling for increased and flexible funding for mine action, including risk education and emergency clearance.
Meanwhile, with water and sanitation services suspended in many displacement camps due to funding gaps affecting more than 635,000 people, OCHA asked for increased funding to ensure the continuation of its services.
$770 million response plan launched in Mali
On Tuesday, the UN in collaboration with Mali’s transitional authorities, launched a $770 million humanitarian needs and response plan in the capital Bamako to support millions of people across the country this year.
Two girls at the Barigondaga displacement site in Mali.
The plan aims to address the urgent needs of 4.7 million people affected by conflict, displacement, health emergencies and climate shocks, according to the Deputy Spokesperson.
Mostly women and children
Nearly 80 per cent of the people to be reached with aid are women and children who are in need of food, water, healthcare and protection support.
Last year, UN partners mobilised nearly 40 per cent of what was required – just over $270 million – enabling lifesaving assistance and protection to reach 1.8 million people.
The Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator on the ground, Khassim Diagne, said it is urgent that the entire humanitarian community and donors renew their commitment to addressing essential needs in the region.
UN rights experts urge Thailand to halt Uyghur deportations
Independent UN human rights experts have called on Thailand to immediately stop the deportation of 48 Uyghurs to China, citing serious concerns over potential torture and inhumane treatment.
“The treatment of the Uyghur minority in China is well-documented,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts stated. “We are concerned they are at risk of suffering irreparable harm.”
The experts emphasised the international prohibition on refoulement, which forbids returning individuals to countries where they face real risks of torture or cruel treatment. They urged Thailand to provide urgent medical care to the mostly Muslim Uyghurs being held.
The 48 individuals are part of a larger group of around 350 Uyghurs detained in Thailand since 2014 after crossing the border irregularly. They have reportedly been held incommunicado for over a decade, without access to legal representation, family members or UN officials.
No return
“It is our view that these persons should not be returned to China,” the experts said. “They must be provided with access to asylum procedures and humanitarian assistance, including medical and psycho-social support.”
The experts highlighted that 23 of the 48 Uyghurs held suffer from severe health conditions, including diabetes, kidney dysfunction and paralysis. “It is essential they receive appropriate medical care,” the experts added.
Thai authorities were reminded of their obligation to treat all detainees humanely and with dignity, ensuring access to legal representation, medical assistance and the ability to communicate with lawyers and family members.
The plea underscores the urgent need for Thailand to uphold international human rights standards and protect the Uyghur detainees from potential harm.
Special Rapporteurs and other experts are not UN staff, receive no salary for their work and are fully independent of any government or organization.
The missile, launched on 31 October at approximately 7:11am local time, reportedly flew for 1 hour and 26 minutes, covered approximately 1,000 kilometres, reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometres before landing in the sea.
“The DPRK described this latest launch as a ‘very crucial test’ that ‘updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK’,” Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Asia at the UN Department of Political Affairs, told ambassadors.
“The Hwasong-19 sets new records in terms of flight duration and altitude and is the second solid-fuel ICBM developed by the DPRK which does not need to undergo fuelling prior to launch. It is reported to be larger than its predecessor, the Hwasong-18, and may be capable of carrying larger warheads or even multiple warheads.”
This latest test marks the 11th intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch by DPRK – more commonly known as North Korea – since announcing a new five-year military expansion plan in 2021.
Diplomatic engagement vital
Mr. Khiari noted that the launch also posed “serious risks” to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, with the potential for unintended incidents, as North Korea had issued no safety alerts.
“The DPRK’s launch of yet another ICBM is of serious concern and represents a grave threat to regional stability,” he stated, noting that despite numerous meetings of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024, the country “has not heeded calls to refrain from further launches.”
Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the missile launch, urging the country to de-escalate and comply with international resolutions. He stressed that diplomatic engagement remains the “only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
Uphold non-proliferation regime
Mr. Khiari also expressed concern about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, warning that DPRK’s “persistent pursuit” of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes – in violation of Security Council resolutions – continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
“There is a crucial need for practical measures to reduce tensions and reverse this dangerous trajectory,” he said, urging Member States to foster an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation.
Concluding his briefing, Mr. Khiari said that the UN and its partners stand ready to assist DPRK in addressing the basic needs of its people.
He urged the country to facilitate the full return of the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team which leads the humanitarian effort.
Assistant Secretary-General Khiari briefing the Security Council.
Hold DPRK accountable: United States
US Ambassador and Alternate Permanent Representative Robert Wood described the missile launches by DPRK as a “direct violation” of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, with each launch allowing Pyongyang to further advance its weapons programmes.
“These are unacceptable attempts to undermine global peace and security and make us all less safe. This Council has the responsibility to hold the DPRK accountable,” he said.
“Yet we are here again today because two members of this Council – China and Russia – have repeatedly shielded the DPRK, contributing to the normalization of these tests and emboldening the DPRK to further violate this Council’s sanctions and resolutions.”
He alleged that “Russia’s willingness to openly violate this Council’s sanctions resolutions and to jeopardize international peace and security knows no bounds – as Russia, is unlawfully training DPRK soldiers in its territory.”
He claimed that DPRK has sent “around 10,000” soldiers to Russia, adding that these troops are not yet seen to have been deployed into combat against Ukraine’s forces, “but we expect them to do so in the coming days.”
“If these troops engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine, they would render themselves legitimate military targets,” he noted.
Japan: Missiles ‘more threatening than ever’
Japan’s Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki “strongly urged” DPRK not to conduct further launches, to immediately and fully comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions, and to engage in diplomacy and accept the repeated offers of dialogue.
The most recent ICBM landed around only 200 kilometres from the Japanese island of Hokkaido, and was “more threatening than ever” due to its trajectory and flight time, he said.
“This launch has deteriorated the not only regional but entire global security situation even further, and has brought the gravest threat yet from North Korea to all citizens of the region and beyond,” he added.
Ambassador Yamazaki said increased military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a great concern to the international community.
He noted the lawlessness of Russia’s “procurement of ballistic missiles from North Korea, as well as the training of North Korean soldiers, both of which constitute serious violations of relevant Security Council resolutions.”
He added that DPRK’s “involvement in Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine would constitute a grave violation of international law, including the UN Charter.”
Republic of Korea: Missiles are a distraction
Joonkook Hwang, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, recalled the Security Council meeting last week and the ignoring by Pyongyang of the “repeated calls” for restraint.
“North Korea launched another ICBM right after our meeting last Wednesday,” he said, adding: “its intention could be to distract the world’s attention from its troops in Russia, demonstrate themselves as larger than life, or gain diplomatic leverage amid the US presidential election.”
Questioning how could an “impoverished pariah regime” continue to develop its ballistic missile programme despite “rigorous” sanctions regime imposed by the Security Council, he emphasized the presence of “large loopholes” that enable DPRK’s access to the equipment, materials and technology necessary to advance its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes.
He also warned of the challenges facing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
“Once the NPT regime begins to erode and ultimately collapses, it will be extremely difficult to restore it,” he said, adding:
“The repercussion will have a deep and lasting impact on international peace and security, and Permanent Members of the Security Council will not be immune to it either.”
China: Prioritize peace and stability
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong said that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula “remains tense” with growing antagonism that is not in the interest of any party.
“China calls on all parties to bear in mind the overall peace and stability on the Peninsula and the world at large, exercise calm and restraint, and avoid intensifying and escalating tensions,” he said.
He noted that the longstanding issue of the Korea Peninsula is in essence a security issue, with its root cases stemming from the vestiges of the Cold War and lack of mutual trust between the US and DPRK.
“It is imperative for all parties to take a rational and pragmatic approach and work to build mutual trust,” Ambassador Fu said.
He added that the US, while claiming that it seeks to uphold the international non-proliferation regime and denuclearize the Peninsula, “has continued to increase the deployment of its strategic forces…and even transferred weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state under AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation framework.”
“These moves are tantamount to pushing the threat to the doorstep of China and other countries in the region, seriously jeopardising regional security and upsetting the strategic security balance,” he said.
Russia: The west only seeks to demonize DPRK
Anna Evstigneeva, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia said that the “collective West is methodically using” the Security Council to present Pyongyang as being responsible for the deteriorating situation on the Peninsula.
“We did not expect nor did we hear anything new from the group of countries that requested today’s meeting,” she said, adding that the “aim of convening the meeting is the same every time – to make yet another step towards demonizing the DPRK.”
She said that it would be “interesting” to hear from those that requested the meeting if even one of these meetings had any impact on resolving the Peninsula’s problems, of if they have even made one constructive proposal or launching dialogue.
“The answer is obvious to everyone in this Chamber.”
She added that the “real motives” of those that requested the meeting was for creating a negative information backdrop around Pyongyang and keeping afloat ineffective sanctions measures and justifying aggressive steps by the US and their allies in the region.
Song Kim, DPRK Ambassador and Permanent Representative, said that the missile test conducted on 31 October by his country, within the area around the Korean Peninsula, did not have “the slightest” impact on security of neighbouring countries.
He said the present meeting of the Security Council, convened at the request of the US, runs contrary to the spirit of the UN Charter of state sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs. It also sets the example of “extreme double standards”.
“I resolutely denounce the holding of another unlawful meeting by UN Security Council infringing upon the sovereign right of the DPRK at the instigation of the US and its followers,” he said.
“Like all strategic weapons tests we have conducted so far, the test launching of the ICBM Hwasong-19 is an exercise of the just and legitimate right to self-defence to reliably safeguard the security of our State as well as peace of the region involved against escalating reckless nuclear war threats of hostile forces,” he added.
Ambassador Kim further noted that “some countries” speak of violation of Security Council resolutions at every opportunity as a “cure-all prescription,” adding however that these resolutions are “nothing but illegal documents” going totally against the principle of the sovereign equality of the UN Charter.
The World Health Organization (WHO) this week reflected on COVID-19, and ongoing efforts to understand the disease, five years after its emergence.
WHO recalled that on 31 December 2019, its Country Office in China picked up a media statement by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission from their website on cases of “viral pneumonia” in the city.
“In the weeks, months and years that unfolded after that, COVID-19 came to shape our lives and our world,” the UN agency said on Monday.
Worldwide, there have been 777,074,803 confirmed cases of the disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and more than seven million deaths.
Share data and access
“We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of COVID-19,” WHO said.
“This is a moral and scientific imperative. Without transparency, sharing, and cooperation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics. “
In marking the five-year milestone, WHO also honoured lives lost to the disease, and recognized those are still suffering from it or from long COVID.
The agency also expressed gratitude to the health workers “who sacrificed so much to care for us, and commit to learning from COVID-19 to build a healthier tomorrow.”
It said staff initiated emergency procedures on 1 January 2020 and informed the world three days later.
By 9 to12 January, WHO had published its first set of comprehensive guidance for countries, and on 13 January, brought together partners to publish the blueprint of the first SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test.
“All along, we convened experts and ministries of health from around the world, gathered and analysed data, and shared what was reported, what we learned and what it meant for people,” the agency said.
A day after the United States reported its first human death from avian flu, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) insisted on Tuesday that the risk to the wider population remains “low”.
WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris told reporters in Geneva that the H5N1 virus causing the disease is “not circulating in humans but jumping into humans” who are exposed to poultry or dairy cattle. “We’re not seeing sustained circulation,” she insisted.
Underlying conditions
The man who died of the disease in Louisiana was over 65 and reportedly had underlying medical conditions, Dr. Harris said.
According to the health authorities, he had been exposed to chickens and wild birds. Several dozen people in the US have contracted avian influenza – commonly referred to as bird flu – during the current outbreak, mainly farmworkers in close contact with poultry flocks and cattle herds.
Dr. Harris stressed that WHO’s assessment of the risk to the general population “is still low and remains set”. The main concern is for people who work in animal industries because they need to be better protected from infection.
The WHO spokesperson added that the United States was continuing to carry out “a lot of surveillance” in the human and animal population, “in the methods we use for farming, for our food production…all those things need to be combined because indeed it always does pose a risk”.
China respiratory virus is not new
Meanwhile, a respiratory virus gaining ground in China, known as the human metapneumovirus, or hMPV, has been sparking media attention in recent weeks, but it does not represent a new or major threat, Dr. Harris insisted.
The UN health agency spokesperson said that such infections are on the rise in China “as expected during winter”, with seasonal influenza being “by far the most common among them”, as reported by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“China’s reported levels of respiratory infections are within the usual range for the winter season,” Dr. Harris explained. “Authorities report that hospital utilization is currently lower than this time last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered,” she added.
As for hMPV, it was first identified in 2001 and “has been in the human population for a long time”, Dr. Harris clarified.
‘Very, very low’ risk
She added that it is a common virus that circulates in winter and spring and usually “causes respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold”.
Like any of the hundreds of common cold viruses known to exist, it can lead to more serious disease in patients with low immunity, particularly but not limited to newborns and the elderly.
Asked about hMPV’s mortality rate, Dr. Harris described it as “very, very low”. It is not a pathogen that normally leads to deaths in humans, save for the most vulnerable, she concluded, recommending “simple” prevention measures, such as wearing a mask, improving ventilation of closed spaces and handwashing.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that his country’s on-going invasion of Ukraine violates the United Nations Charter and international law.
Their meeting took place on Thursday, in Kazan, Russia, the venue for the 16th BRICS Summit.
In a post on social media platform X, Mr. Guterres wrote on Friday that during the meeting, he had emphasized to President Putin the illegality of the Russian invasion.
“I reiterated the points I made in the Summit session,” Mr. Guterres said.
The BRICS group was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2006 – with South Africa joining in 2010 – and has since expanded to a bloc of nations which collectively represents nearly half of the world’s population.
Addressing the Summit on Thursday, the Secretary-General highlighted the need for peace in Ukraine, “a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.”
He also emphasized the importance of upholding everywhere the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of States.
In his meeting with Mr. Putin, Secretary-General Guterres also expressed his strong support for the establishment of an agreement for safe navigation in the Black Sea, which an essential avenue for global food security.
“The Secretary-General expressed his belief that establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is of paramount importance for Ukraine, the Russian Federation and for the world’s food and energy security,” according to a readout of the meeting issued by the Mr. Guterres’ spokesperson.
“He fully supports the continuation of negotiations in this regard and expresses his deep appreciation for the work being done by Türkiye,” the readout added.
Transport of agricultural goods, in particular grain from Ukraine and other ports on the Black Sea, as well as fertilizers have been severely affected since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, jeopardizing food security and skyrocketing prices globally.
Brokered by the UN and Türkiye in July 2022, the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the subsequent parallel accord between UN and Russia were crucial in restoring trade in the vital commodities.
At a news briefing in New York on Friday, a UN spokesperson addressed questions about Secretary-General António Guterres’ meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite an active International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against the Russian leader.
UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said that any engagement between UN officials and individuals under indictment is based strictly on operational necessity.
“There are very clear operational issues that we have to deal with,” Mr. Haq explained, referring to the readout from the meeting and noted concerns about the war in Ukraine and safe navigation in the Black Sea.
“These are all reasons for having a meeting such as this, again, under strict conditions in terms of dealing with operational matters, while you have to deal with indicted personnel.”
Over one million people in the Gaza Strip have received food assistance since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect nearly three weeks ago, UN aid coordination office OCHA said in an update on Wednesday.
The temporary agreement to stop the fighting and release hostages brought an end to some 15 months of conflict and destruction in the Strip, following the brutal Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel of 7 October 2023.
The truce came into force on 19 January and OCHA said the surge in the daily entry of supplies into Gaza since then, along with improved access conditions, have allowed humanitarians to meaningfully expand the delivery of lifesaving assistance and services across the enclave.
Moreover, coordination with the Israeli authorities for humanitarian aid missions is mostly no longer required, except when entering buffer zones.
Food and healthcare delivery expands
“As a result, humanitarian partners are adjusting their response in accordance with population movements, including by expanding their operational presence and services in areas that were previously hard or impossible to access, such as Rafah, Gaza and North Gaza governorates,” OCHA said.
Needs remain dire in Gaza, where the war has left over two million people fully dependent on food assistance, homeless, and without any income.
Over the past two weeks, the World Food Programme (WFP) delivered more than 10 million metric tonnes of food to the Strip, reaching roughly a million people through food parcel distributions to households.
This is in addition to expanding bread deliveries at bakeries and community kitchens and re-opening a community kitchen in North Gaza on 24 January.
WFP also delivered fuel that enabled the five bakeries in Gaza governorate that it supports to increase production capacity by 40 per cent to meet the growing demand.
Furthermore, 25 emergency medical teams are operating as of Tuesday, with 22 in the centre and south, two in Gaza City, and one in North Gaza.
Palestinian families travel back to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip.
On the move
OCHA noted that since 27 January, population movements have continued across the Strip but have largely slowed down.
Over 565,092 people have crossed from the south to the north, while more than 45,678 have been heading southwards due to the lack of services and the widespread destruction of homes and communities in the north.
It is estimated that more than half a million people have returned to Gaza and North Gaza governorates, and the need for food, water, tents and shelter materials remains critical.
Shelter concerns
“Despite the entry of a large volume of supplies since the ceasefire took effect, priority was given to food during the first two weeks, significantly limiting the entry of shelter assistance,” OCHA said, citing partners working in the sector.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported bringing at least 3,000 tents into northern Gaza on Monday, and an additional 7,000 tents are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Highlighting other developments, OCHA said this past Sunday saw the start of medical evacuations through Rafah crossings into Egypt. Between 1 and 3 February, 105 patients, including 100 children, and 176 companions were evacuated.
Hostage releases continue
The update also included details on hostage releases. Hamas and other groups killed around 1,200 people in the 7 October attacks on Israel. They also seized some 250 others, both Israelis and foreigners, who were taken to Gaza.
OCHA said estimates indicate that 79 people currently remain captive, including hostages who have been declared dead and whose bodies are being withheld in Gaza.
Over the past week, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the third and fourth release operations since the ceasefire took hold.
On 30 January, three Israeli and five Thai hostages were transferred from Gaza to Israeli authorities, and 110 Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli detention centres. Among the Palestinian detainees were 30 children as well as 20 prisoners from the West Bank who were released to the Gaza Strip.
The following day, three Israeli hostages were transferred out of Gaza to Israel, and 183 Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli detention centres. The Palestinians freed included 111 people who were detained from the Gaza Strip after 7 October and seven detainees who were released to Egypt.
Overall, the ICRC has facilitated the return of 18 hostages and 583 Palestinian detainees since the ceasefire began.
Although far away from home, Chinese tourist Ye Manning and her family could still feel the familiar Spring Festival vibes on their trip to Japan, as they came across red street banners and shopping window decorations there in tribute to the traditional Chinese holiday.
Attracted by the convenient visa application process and convenient transportation services to this neighboring country, the family traveled to Japanese cities including Tokyo and Osaka, and enjoyed local cuisine, scenic spots and pop culture during the Spring Festival holiday, which ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 this year.
Noting the presence of Spring Festival elements in Japan, Ye was quoted in an article by China Youth Daily as saying: “These details not only arouse a sense of belonging for Chinese tourists away from home during the holiday, but also mirror how far the Spring Festival culture has spread around the world.”
Like Ye, post-1990 generation youth Zhang Yu also chose to spend the Spring Festival outside China, traveling to the resort island of Phuket in Thailand with his family. As a delightful surprise during this trip, another international tourist hailing from Europe greeted Zhang and wished him a “Happy Spring Festival.”
“At that time, I felt this holiday also being celebrated in a foreign country, and that really touched my heart,” said Zhang.
Against the backdrop of China’s inbound travel boom during the holiday, which saw a proliferation of “China Travel” content shared by international tourists on social media platforms, many Chinese people opted for outbound trips to overseas destinations in pursuit of diversified, cross-cultural experiences for the traditional holiday.
According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, border inspection authorities across the country handled over 14 million entries and exits by domestic and international travelers, up 6.3 percent year on year. Among these, about 7.7 million entry-exit trips were made by Chinese mainland residents, up 5 percent year on year.
According to Chinese online travel platform Qunar, Chinese tourists visited more than 2,100 overseas cities during the Spring Festival holiday this year, a surge of 50 percent compared with 2024.
Data from another online travel platform, Trip.com, showed that Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore were among the most popular outbound destinations for Chinese travelers during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday.
In particular, Japan stood out among short-distance overseas travel destinations as total tourism orders for trips to Japan had doubled compared to last year’s figure during the holiday season. As for long-haul travel, the most sought-after destinations such as the United States, Spain, Italy and France saw an increase of 53 percent, 82 percent, 56 percent and 50 percent in tourism orders, respectively, according to Trip.com.
“With the recovery of the global tourism market, Chinese tourists continue to expand the radius of their trips during the Spring Festival,” said the China Youth Daily article. “From tropical Southeast Asian islands to ancient European towns and bustling North American cities, Chinese travelers can be found everywhere.”
This year’s Spring Festival, which marked the start of the Year of Snake, was the first since its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. With the Chinese New Year becoming a festival celebrated worldwide, nearly 20 countries have designated the Spring Festival as an official holiday, while Spring Festival customs are celebrated in almost 200 countries and regions across the globe.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
View of kelp breeding area in China’s Shandong
Updated: February 12, 2025 08:25Xinhua
An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 11, 2025 shows fishermen working at the kelp breeding area in Rongcheng City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 11, 2025 shows fishermen working at the kelp breeding area in Rongcheng City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 11, 2025 shows fishermen working at the kelp breeding area in Rongcheng City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 11, 2025 shows fishermen working at the kelp breeding area in Rongcheng City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 11, 2025 shows fishermen working at the kelp breeding area in Rongcheng City, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]