WORLD

BEIJING | Xinhua |  When China’s annual “two sessions” convene in Beijing each spring, the discussions of national lawmakers and political advisors extend well beyond macroeconomic targets and national blueprints. The meetings are also opportunities for them and President Xi Jinping, who is a national lawmaker himself, to drill down …

BEIJING | Xinhua | When China’s national lawmakers and political advisers gather in Beijing for the annual “two sessions,” one document will stand out: a draft 15th Five-Year Plan, the blueprint that will guide the world’s second-largest economy from 2026 to 2030. Five-year plans have long been central to how …

CAIRO, EGYPT | Xinhua | As U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran entered their fourth day, global reactions remained sharply divided, with some condemning the initial strikes, others criticizing Iran’s retaliatory actions, and many urging de-escalation. Here’s a quick look at the international responses: THOSE CRITICIZING U.S.-ISRAELI STRIKES: — Russia Russian Foreign …

MOSCOW, RUSSIA | TASS | The involvement of European forces in combat operations against Iran could lead to a world war, Armando Mema, a member of the Finnish national-conservative party “Freedom Alliance,” wrote on social network X. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on the international community to condemn the US …

BEIJING, CHINA | Xinhua | At a moment when diplomacy remained on the table, Washington chose to set it ablaze. As the United States and Iran were still engaged in nuclear negotiations, Washington, alongside Israel, launched joint military strikes targeting Iran’s military and political figures and infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader …

Sunil Bharti Mittal Conferred GSMA Lifetime Achievement Award for Transforming Global Telecommunications New Delhi, India | THE INDEPENDENT | The GSMA has conferred a rare Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, recognising his role in reshaping the global telecommunications landscape and expanding connectivity across …

CAIRO | Xinhua |  Following the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran that began on Saturday, global attention has turned to the Strait of Hormuz, particularly after Iran warned it could disrupt transit through this vital waterway in retaliation, sending shockwaves through international markets. What makes the strait so vital? Has …

DOHA, Qatar | TASS | The US and Israel have launched new strikes on eastern, western, and southern areas of Tehran, the ISNA news agency reported. Iran used missiles and drones for new attacks on US military bases in the Middle East, Fars said. TASS has compiled the key developments …

    How the current conflict in the Middle East is reordering the world and may risk a dangerous escalation THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The joint USA-Israel attack on Iran has set the Middle East on fire and risks a global conflict of unimaginable proportions. It is …

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Chinese humanoid robot company Unitree Robotics and watched boxing and martial arts performances of robots HANGZHOU | Xinhua | German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a test ride in Beijing on Thursday morning, experiencing the intelligent assisted driving system during his …