Australia on Tuesday announced a A$7 billion ($4.7 billion) agreement with the US to acquire long-range missiles. An expert noted that the deal could raise concerns and disrupt regional peace and stability.

As a multilateral platform promoting dialogue and cooperation, the BRICS cooperation mechanism is playing an increasingly important role in the world, especially in strategic areas such as infrastructure and renewable energy, said Rafael Gontijo, a senior advisor of the BRICS Parliamentary Front at the National Congress of Brazil, in an interview with the Global Times days before the 16th BRICS Summit, which is being held in Kazan, Russia until October 24.

Luong Cuong, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat, was elected as Vietnam's president on Monday, local media reported.

As the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate, the US is reportedly investigating a leak of highly classified intelligence about Israel's plans for retaliation against Iran, which also suggested that Israel has nuclear weapons.

The 16th BRICS Summit is set to take place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, marking the first summit following the expansion. Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences, remarked that BRICS has transformed from its original concept into a robust cross-continental cooperation network, now embodying a new vision for the global governance system.

European Union (EU) countries contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have condemned attacks on UNIFIL positions and agreed to increase pressure on Israel to avoid further incidents involving the mission.

EU nations with peacekeepers in Lebanon reportedly expressed "the shared will to exert maximum political and diplomatic pressure" on Israel over attacks against UN mission.

India and Canada have each expelled six diplomats in tit-for-tat moves as the row over last year's assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil intensifies, with analysts saying that New Delhi-Ottawa relations stand at a historic low, while putting Washington in an awkward position as well.

Abu Dhabi Police has launched a next-generation autonomous patrol vehicle at GITEX Global 2024 in partnership with the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council.

NATO's annual nuclear exercise could escalate risks of a nuclear war, at least on the level of tactical nuclear weapons, in the battlefield of Russia-Ukraine conflict, said Chinese analysts, as the US-led military alliance launched its two-week drill starting on Monday.

Iran rejects claims linking Tehran to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez issued a joint statement on Friday, condemning the recent targeting of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

DPRK condemns ROK for flying drones over Pyongyang - KCNA

Leaders from Fatah and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to form a Palestinian unity government for Gaza and the occupied West Bank, for the first time since the two Palestinian factions met in Beijing in July for a historic reconciliation dialogue. The consensus comes at a crucial juncture as the conflict spillover becomes increasingly intense, experts said, hailing it as a significant step toward enhancing Palestine's international status and fostering internal unity.

A look at China-built railway in Hanoi

Conventional scientific methods are limited in their ability to predict the behavior of complex dynamic systems over extended periods. For instance, weather forecasts typically cannot provide detailed predictions beyond 14 days. This unpredictable nature of systems is referred to as "chaos."

The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the Union General Budget Plan for the fiscal year 2025.

Lebanon is "on the verge of an all-out war," but there is still time to stop, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.

Nobel Committee Secretary General Thomas Perlmann speaks to the media in front of a picture of this year's laureates Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun during the announcement of the winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on October 7, 2024. Ambros and Ruvkun won the prize for the discovery of microRNA and its role in how gene activity is regulated, the Nobel jury said.

Sama Tubail celebrated her ninth birthday on Saturday. A month ago, the Palestinian girl expressed her greatest wish to Xinhua: to have her hair back before her birthday.

Victor Ambros, Gray Ruvkun win 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine

The people of Gaza, Palestine, and the broader Middle East deserve a concerted international effort to establish a lasting peace.

A senior Iranian military official warned that any "unconsidered action" by Israel would provoke a "harsh and destructive" response from Iran, semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

Lebanese take refuge at a monastery in Syria's central Homs province, Oct. 2, 2024. (Photo by Monsef Memari/Xinhua)

Displaced people from Lebanon cross a destroyed road caused by an Israeli airstrike near the Masnaa Border Crossing, Lebanon, Oct. 4, 2024. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced an Israeli airstrike on the Syria-Lebanon border on Friday, accusing Israel of targeting civilians and vital infrastructure in its ongoing campaign of aggression. According to the ministry, the airstrike hit the Jdeidat Yabous crossing, also known as the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon, a key transit route used by tens of thousands of Lebanese refugees and Syrian citizens fleeing the Israeli assault in Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during an interview with Chinese media in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on Oct. 2, 2024. The unique Chinese modernization serves as a model for Pakistan to promote economic development, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said, extending congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. (Photo by Ahmad Kamal/Xinhua)

The US military on Friday reportedly launched strikes on a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen using both aircraft and warships, which Chinese experts believe is a dangerous and irresponsible move that adds fuel to the fire of the current tense situation in the Middle East.

UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon are currently staying in their positions and continue to do their best to implement their Security Council mandate in very difficult conditions, the UN peacekeeping chief said on Thursday.

Africa, including Tanzania, has benefited a lot from China's development and cooperation since the founding of the New China 75 years ago, Joseph Kahama, secretary general of the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association, told Xinhua ahead of China's National Day.

The World Bank on Wednesday projected a growth of 5.1 percent for Nepal in the current 2024-25 fiscal year starting in mid-July, below the Nepali government's 6 percent target.

Avid spectator Lav Sopha on Wednesday drove his motorcycle about 30 km from Prey Veng province to watch a century-old tradition of buffalo races here in southeast Cambodia's Kandal province.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza on Tuesday launched a 426-million-U.S. dollar Flash Appeal to mobilize urgent resources for civilians affected by the escalating conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what Tehran said was retaliation for the recent killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Analysts view the attack as the latest escalation of the regional tensions at a time when this round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on for nearly a year, with a greater potential to spill over to regional multi-point conflicts.

Shigeru Ishiba elected Japan PM by House of Representatives

Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday he plans to call a general election on Oct 27.

In the 18th installment of the series, the Global Times focuses on a recently passed act by US Congress, which is widely regarded as a funding mechanism for the US to badmouth China in the international community. As a latest case in the US' high-profile cognitive warfare against China, this article discusses in detail the aspects of China that this act may seek to defame and slander, as well as where the substantial sum of $1.6 billion will ultimately be directed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike on the Lebanese organization's target in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with Chinese analysts saying this may further escalate regional conflict.

The Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has opted to keep the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) unchanged at 8.25 percent and 9.25 percent respectively, a CBSL press release issued on Friday said.

Former Japanese defense minister Shigeru Ishiba was elected as the new leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday and is expected to become the country's next prime minister. On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a routine daily press conference in response to Ishiba's victory that China has noted the election results but emphasized that it is Japan's internal matter, and China does not comment on it.

Shigeru Ishiba was elected as new leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party LDP on Friday and will highly likely become the country's new prime minister.

Saudi Arabia is working with international partners and prioritizes cooperation with China to achieve its goal to a regional hub, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi told the Global Times.

After Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka's Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People's Power coalition is elected as Sri Lanka's new president, Indian media recently showed a complex attitude toward this change, with Chinese analysts saying on Tuesday that India's neighboring countries in the region often share concern over interference, even bullying from India. If New Delhi's foreign policy continues to be driven by mentality of major power confrontation and zero-sum game, regional countries will be increasingly cautious in handling ties with India.

The United Arab Emirates and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) announced on Monday a strategic partnership to support 20 developing nations in strengthening their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under the NDC Partnership, to raise climate ambitions and drive urgent action.

Russian Energy Week (REW) is a major international forum for strengthening global cooperation, and addressing other topical issues, in the fuel and energy sector. In 2024, the forum will be held on September 26-28 in Moscow.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad approved the formation of a new government on Monday, reshuffling 14 ministers, the presidential office said in a statement.

The exchange of heavy fire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has escalated an already tense situation in the Middle East to a dangerous boiling point, added the risk of spill-over, Chinese observers noted on Sunday. The latest conflicts have further dimmed hopes for peace and left little room for the international community to mediate, as the Israel-Palestine conflict approaches its one-year mark.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) was on Sunday elected as the country's new president.

Lebanese army soldiers secure the area for an ambulance to enter the premises of the American University hospital in Beirut on September 17, 2024, after coordinated explosions of pagers across Lebanon the same day. At least 12 were killed as of press time. Photo: VCG

Rahmat Allah Mohamed Osman, the permanent representative of the African Union (AU) to China, highlighted in a recent interview with Global Times that the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that just concluded in Beijing is significant for China-Africa relations. He believes that China and Africa have mutually beneficial needs, and expresses hopes for the implementation of more policies in China's support in agriculture, industry, and talent development to Africa.

"For the sake of the Filipino nation, I don't think we should take any side," a Philippine scholar said on Friday on the sidelines of the ongoing Beijing Xiangshan Forum, calling for more dialogue between China and the Philippines to de-escalate tensions while stressing the need for ASEAN unity when faced with external intervention.

Spain needs to reconsider its position on EU's proposed additional tariffs for Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday, amid his visit to China.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and former US president Donald Trump faced off in Philadelphia on Tuesday night local time in their first presidential debate ahead of the November election, clashing over a wide range of issues including abortion, immigration, the economy and foreign policy in a showdown that lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

The characteristics of high-power terahertz beams in new laser systems can be controlled using silicon and diamond optical elements created at the Samara University.

The Cervantes Institute opened its second branch in Shanghai on Tuesday. This is the Institute's second branch in China, following the establishment of the Beijing branch in 2006.

The UAE has made significant strides in global real estate market transparency, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi securing a place among the top 5 improvers in the transparency score globally, according to JLL's 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI).

The UN Security Council on Wednesday heard a growing call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas following the killings by the latter of six hostages held in Gaza as speakers also discussed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and escalating tensions in the West Bank.

With multiple references to China-related issues, Japan and Australia vowed to bolster military ties to cope with an increasingly complex regional situation during their “two-plus-two” security meeting in Australia on Thursday, which Chinese observers warn would jeopardize peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and raise deep concerns among regional countries.

The launching ceremony for the Lao edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on poverty relief "Up and Out of Poverty" is held in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Sept. 4, 2024.

In recent years, cooperation between East China's Zhejiang Province and African nations has steadily deepened, spanning various fields such as trade, culture, and healthcare. This reflects the high-quality advancement of the China-Africa community with a shared future.

Nationwide protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu across Israel are calling for a cease-fire deal in exchange for hostages, but analysts saw dim hope of such a deal as Israel, with US support, can still withstand the pressure and sustain the war.

The Board of Directors of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has approved the distribution of interim dividends of 8.40 fils per share for the first half of 2024.

At the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to Mongolia on September 2-3, with meetings between two sides would be devoted to key issues of bilateral relations and promising areas of cooperation.

Editor's Note: The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of this year's summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." In light of this, the Global Times launches a series of China-Africa stories, including interviews with political leaders, stories of exchanges between young people from China and African countries, and intensive cooperation in various fields. Through these stories, we will see how China and Africa are deepening their ties and building a brighter future together. In this instalment, Global Times reporter Zhao Yusha talked with Endalkachew Sime, PhD student at Peking University, ex-state minister of planning and development of Ethiopia and ex-secretary general of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations.

Editor's Note: The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of this year's summit is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” In light of this, the Global Times launches a series of China-Africa stories, including interviews with political leaders, stories of exchanges between young people from China and African countries, and intensive cooperation in various fields. Through these stories, we will see how China and Africa are deepening their ties and building a brighter future together. In this instalment, Global Times reporter Zhao Yusha talked with Mwangi Wachira, an advisor for the Kenyan government and also a former economist with the World Bank.

A deepfake crime surge in South Korea has sparked worries in China as Chinese experts said on Sunday that AI-powered scams have turned into an international concern, and social media platform operators should take more action.

India is reportedly scheduled to launch its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine on Thursday. Chinese experts said that India should wield this power responsibly and contribute to peace and stability, rather than use it to flex muscles.

Russia's Saratov State University (SSU) researchers have developed a mathematical model demonstrating how the rhythm of cortisol secretion affects the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.

Thailand has confirmed Asia's first known case of a more contagious and potentially deadlier version of the mpox virus with its transmission modes changed.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, as well as New Delhi's ties with Moscow, were put to the test after Kiev hinted that signing the communique of the Switzerland Ukraine peace conference is a precondition for hosting a second summit on peace.

Australian officials are confident of locking in an ambitious Pacific-wide policing pact amid the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting this week, with the hope that it can help contain China's security presence in the region.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon exchanged extensive fire early Sunday, marking the most serious direct conflict between them during the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict that started October 2023.

By shuttling between both Russia and Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be hoping to use "yoga diplomacy" to show India's flexibility in bridging the gap between conflicting parties. However, strength is what New Delhi lacks in making "yoga diplomacy" successful this time, analysts said.

Russia upholds its wheat supply commitments to Egypt to the utmost, Egyptian Supply and Internal Trade Minister Sherif Farouk said on Monday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly scheduled to visit Ukraine on August 23, marking the first visit by an Indian leader since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. While India is prepared to contribute to resolving the conflict, analysts said that Modi's visit, which aims to repair ties with the West and the US, is a largely symbolic gesture and unlikely to significantly advance peace talks, especially given the ongoing conflict in the Kursk region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge the differences that are holding up a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza, and he called on Hamas to do the same.

Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), today signed the transport fund for the satellite "ALainSat-1."

One of the topics of discussion at a recent meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev was the preparations for the Eastern Economic Forum 2024. The event was attended by heads of regions and representatives of federal ministries and departments.

Although Russia and Ukraine are reportedly set to hold indirect talks in Doha, Qatar for a “landmark agreement” halting strikes on energy and power infrastructure on both sides, Ukraine's surprise attack and incursion into Russia's western Kursk region last week appears to have derailed the schedule and thrown potential partial cease-fire talks into doubt in the short term, observers said on Sunday.

At the end of July, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in China for her first China visit since taking office. During her visit, she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times (GT), Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide (Jia) said that the visit further enhanced the mutual political trust in China-Italy relations, successfully pushing the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership to a new stage.

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country's prime minister, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives Arpath Sukhanunth announced on Sunday.

Hospitals and clinics across India turned away patients except for emergency cases on Saturday as medical professionals started a 24-hour shutdown in protest against the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in the eastern city of Kolkata, Reuters reported.

As Russia continues to fight back against the offensive on its territory by Ukraine, a Russian parliamentary deputy said on Friday that Kiev's attack may lead to the conclusion that “the world is on the brink of a third world war,” media reported. Experts said that the situation on the battlefield is now more complicated, warning of the potential for the conflict to spill over and become more brutal.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra secures majority support in parliament to become Thailand's new PM

The US and French navies recently conducted a joint drill in the Philippine Sea “in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” but Chinese experts said on Thursday that such move had no practical significance, and served only as a publicity stunt.

With a mournful cry echoing through the air, a male fin whale with a length of over 20 meters and a weight of over 55 tons was captured off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Japan in early August. Everything happened so suddenly, leaving behind its final silhouette on the sea, gazing up at the sky and bidding farewell to the ocean that nurtured its growth. What awaits it now are cold blades and greedy diners.

A new round of Gaza cease-fire talks was held in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday afternoon, while Hamas officials did not join the talks, media reported. Hamas' absence from a new round of Gaza cease-fire talks has dashed hopes that they may yield some substantial results, and the failure to reach a deal increases the risk of Iran striking Israel to avenge the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran last month, said observers.

Embassy of Pakistan in China celebrated the 78th Independence Day of Pakistan in Beijing on Wednesday. Activities were hosted at the embassy. The friendship between China and Pakistan was also celebrated at an award ceremony.

Rostec is one of Russia's largest state corporations, with a diverse portfolio of over 800 companies, including defense contractors, aerospace companies, as well as industrial and technology firms.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided that he will not run in the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party next month, multiple local media outlets reported on Wednesday.

In today's world, where challenges and opportunities coexist, the global economy is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. How to respond to these changes and uncertainties has become a common issue for governments, businesses, and individuals alike. Recently, Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with renowned economist and former governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz (Poloz), on this topic. According to Poloz, five economic tectonic forces – population aging, debt accumulation, income inequality, technological advancement, and climate change – are constantly shifting and accumulating, much like geological forces, and are causing profound "economic earthquakes" around the globe.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said the UAE's economy continues to demonstrate robust growth, particularly within non-oil sectors such as real estate, tourism, and manufacturing.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has recently seen a significant escalation, as Russian forces attempt to repel the largest incursion into their territory in decades by Ukrainian troops. This escalation, resulting in severe civilian injuries and thousands evacuated from the Kursk region, will further complicate the situation on the battlefield, and potentially trigger a broader confrontation involving NATO and neighboring countries, experts said..

After Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar assured that ties with the Maldives are a priority during his meeting with top Maldivian officials on Saturday, some Indian media said Jaishankar's visit has China in mind. Chinese experts said on Sunday that China does not seek exclusive engagement or cooperation from Maldives, while India perceives China as a threat to its supremacy in the region.

While the US has ramped up efforts to discredit Chinese athletes with doping allegations, a media investigation report revealed on Saturday that a deeply entrenched doping industry has taken root in the US over recent decades, from athletes to coaches and agents, and from pharmaceutical companies to government bodies.

The US Embassy in China has been questioned after posting color-adjusted photos to celebrate US swimmers' success at the Paris Olympics.

The anti-migrant riots that have broken out across the UK over the past week marked the worst social unrest in Britain in 13 years. Although the far-right demonstrations that had been anticipated by police failed to materialize Wednesday, Chinese nationals working and living in the country said they have growing safety concerns, and fear that the chaos has yet to come to an end.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called the alleged incursion by Ukraine a "large-scale provocation" after Ukrainian forces reportedly launched a "massive attack" in Russia's Kursk region, which has reportedly resulted in at least five civilian deaths and more than 30 injuries.

In a bid to win support from conservative forces ahead of an upcoming party leadership election, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is looking to drag Japan into a dangerous abyss by urging the party to accelerate the discussion on revising Japan's pacifist Constitution, a move that many believe will instill fear into those who cherish peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.

As Boeing's Starliner remains stranded in space and its airliners repeatedly encounter issues, experts on Thursday questioned the company's technical and management capabilities as a whole, raising doubts over other Boeing products, especially those with military applications that affect peace and stability in the world.

Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has held phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan, condemning the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, calling for efforts by different parties to prevent further escalation of conflicts and urging countries to form a joint force to help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza.