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United Nations

United Nations
The UN is an international organisation founded after World War II that aims to provide a dialogue platform between countries, fortifying international corporation and preventing future wars. There are currently 193 members led by five permanent members of the Security Council - US, Russia, UK, France and China. The organisation currently has six principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, International Court of Justice, and the Trusteeship Council.
The World AI Conference in Shanghai comes amid mounting concerns that a digital divide could exclude emerging markets from critical development opportunities. Photo: Xinhua
Artificial intelligence

China AI summit hears Global South needs equal access to avoid digital divide

Delegates at the World AI Conference in Shanghai warn fragmentation risks isolating emerging markets and concentrating advanced computing in rich economies.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran attack infrastructure, raising fears of escalation

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Climate change

Opinion | To tackle the climate crisis, start small and scale big

Pakistan

‘Mini Kabul’ falls silent as Pakistan targets undocumented Afghans in border province

About 2.3 million Afghans – some who lived in Pakistan for decades – have been sent back since the repatriation drive began in 2023.

A man collects building materials in Peshawar before his repatriation to Afghanistan on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Xi Jinping warns against creating ‘new historical injustices’ in AI era

Chinese leader’s presence at World AI Conference signals Beijing’s push to elevate AI from tech priority to pillar of geopolitical strategy.

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Artificial intelligence

Top takeaways from Xi Jinping’s opening address at the World AI Conference

The speech marks the Chinese president’s first-ever keynote address at the nation’s premier artificial intelligence summit.

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Myanmar

Rohingya refugees among over 500 feared dead after Myanmar boats capsize

The UN said the incidents highlighted the plight of Rohingya, calling for enhanced rescue and anti-trafficking efforts.

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Rohingya refugees stand on their capsized boat as rescuers throw a rope to them off West Aceh, Indonesia, in 2024. Photo: AP
Iran

Video | US strikes Iran again after UAE tankers hit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted US facilities in the region and two UAE tankers travelling through the strait.

Middle East

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

Science

Pan Jianwei becomes first Chinese scientist to win top UN basic science prize

Father of quantum recognised for ‘seminal contributions to large-scale secure quantum communications and scalable quantum computation’.

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Chinese physicist Pan Jianwei has been named a recipient of the Unesco-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences, an award commemorating the creator of the periodic table. Photo: Handout
Thailand

Wombs for hire: the painful price of Asia’s lawless baby trade

Commercial surrogacy is illegal in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. It is also worth an estimated US$15 billion a year.

Media attend a press briefing where Thai police showed pictures of surrogate babies in 2014, the year before Thailand banned commercial surrogacy. Photo: AP
United States

US Democrat Ro Khanna ‘detained’ by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit

US progressive lawmaker Ro Khanna said ⁠he was detained by Israeli settlers this week as he sought out an ‘unfiltered’ look at the Israeli occupation.

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Venezuela

Quake-hit Venezuela faces looming health threats as survivors crowd shelters

Poor shelter conditions, lack of clean water and sanitation could leave many thousands vulnerable, PAHO says.

Africa

Ebola outbreak is ‘fastest growing ever’ as 600 die in DR Congo

The number of cases is doubling every 28 days, health authorities say, warning that the virus is moving faster than the response.

A health worker takes a woman’s temperature in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, in June. Photo: TNS
US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iran again, Tehran fires back at neighbouring Gulf states

Fresh wave of tit-for-tat attacks follows Donald Trump’s declaration that an interim agreement to end the war is ‘over’.

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An explosion at an unknown location following what the US military said were strikes on Iranian targets. Photo: US Central Command via Reuters
China's economic recovery

What was China’s FDI last year? US$174 billion keeps it the world’s No 3 source

As China redraws global investment map, mainland firms use leading roles to secure critical supply chains with overseas plans.

Cuba

At UN, Cuba rallies support against ‘cruel’ and ‘ruthless’ US blockade

Cuba’s foreign minister slammed the blockade’s ‘collective punishment’ of the population but the US envoy insisted ‘there is no blockade’.

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Cuba

More hardship in fuel-starved Cuba, hit by third nationwide blackout this year

Cuba’s president slams Washington’s ‘strangulation’ of communist island as grid collapse leaves 9.6 million without power.

A woman walks on a street in Havana carrying a fan as Cuba endures another power failure. Photo: Reuters
Middle East

Lebanon says school principal among 4 killed in Israeli drone strike on car

IDF claims it targeted ‘suspects’ approaching the area its forces occupy in southern Lebanon.

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas dissolves Gaza governing body but disarmament still a question

The move paves the way for technocratic committee the NCAG to implement civilian rule; Israel said it was a ‘trick’ to avoid disarming.

Australia

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef avoids ‘in danger’ listing by Unesco

The agency’s draft report says Australia is working on addressing concerns over climate change, water quality and sustainable fisheries management.

Bleached and dead coral around Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in April 2024. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

China can help Ukraine recover from war and advance industry, ambassador says

Beijing’s envoy says his country’s continuous growth offers opportunities for Kyiv’s post-war revival.

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An explosion lights up the sky over Kyiv on Thursday during a Russian missile and drone strike amid its invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Open Questions | Sun is setting on US dominance of the world, Wu Xinbo says

Fudan University expert says while China’s influence grows, US under Trump has lost credibility and its ability to drive international action has stagnated.

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Israel-Gaza war

Gaza marks 1,000 days of war. Palestinians there face an uncertain future

Over 2 million Palestinians remain displaced amid ruins as the region grapples with the immense, gridlocked task of reconstruction.

Venezuela

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

A public health emergency in Venezuela, unless quickly controlled, could take more lives in the days and weeks ahead.

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A child’s toy and debris in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: Reuters
Extreme weather

Spain blames over 1,000 excess deaths on heatwave, in second-hottest June ever

At the heatwave’s peak, June 23, almost 75 per cent of the population were exposed to health risks due to heat. The hottest June was in 2025.

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A tourist drinks water in Barcelona, Spain, on a hot day. File photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

Tallest South China Sea tower; Chinese experts leave US: 7 science highlights

From two Chinese scientists leaving the US to a desalination prototype, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

Venezuela

Venezuela survivors pulled from rubble days after quakes

Amid diminishing hope, a preliminary assessment via satellite data says the two earthquakes likely damaged or destroyed 58,870 buildings.

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