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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.
A wooden boat carrying Rohingya migrants is detained in Malaysian territorial waters off the island of Langkawi, in 2020. Photo: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/AP
Malaysia

‘We drank seawater’: a refugee’s journey from Myanmar to Malaysia

A Rohingya woman recalls her days adrift at sea and the legal limbo that has defined the 16 years since she reached Malaysia’s shores.

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India-Pakistan tensions

Letters | Reforms are a band-aid solution to water woes of downstream countries

Thailand

Thailand to join UN maritime arbitration with Cambodia

The Philippines

Philippines’ UN defeat: a result of domestic ‘political circus’, close ties with US?

Kyrgyzstan won a seat on the UN Security Council due to perceptions of its neutrality and Central Asia’s under-representation, analysts say.

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Philippine police crowd control personnel block pro-Vice-President Sara Duterte protesters outside the Senate of the Philippines, in Manila last month. Photo: AP
United States

Trump foe Bolton to plead guilty in classified information case

Ex-national security adviser cuts deal to drop 18 felony counts down to one, facing a US$2.25 million fine but avoiding prison time.

China trade

New global financial architecture needed to end trade surplus fixation: Piketty

Economist proposes central bank and currency under the UN to remove fears that ‘world financial markets are going to eat your currency’.

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Germany

Portugal and Austria defeat Germany for seats on UN Security Council

Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines by a vote of 143-49 to join the council for the first time.

The Austrian delegation celebrate their result. Photo: dpa
Artificial intelligence

Want to save the planet? Stop being so polite to AI chatbots

UN report reveals massive energy, water, and e-waste footprint, urging sustainable practices as AI usage skyrockets.

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North Korea

Tears in North Korea as Kim meets footballers after historic title win

Naegohyang Women’s FC became the first North Korean side to win Asia’s top club title last month.

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Extreme weather

‘On our doorstep’: UN warns world to prepare for El Nino extreme weather

UN chief warns that the phenomenon, expected within months, will ‘pour fuel on the fire’ of global heating.

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A man drags a traditional boat across a dried-up channel in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The UN has warned countries to prepare for severe droughts. Photo: AFP
Cambodia

Cambodia starts UN-backed process for maritime dispute with Thailand

The dispute relates to sea space in the Gulf of ‌Thailand that holds trillions of cubic feet of natural gas and large quantities of oil.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (front) attends a parliamentary session in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last month. Photo: Xinhua
US, Israel war on Iran

US-Iran diplomacy mired in uncertainty as Trump claims Lebanon de-escalation

Israeli leader vows to continue operations in southern Lebanon despite the US president claiming ‘no Troops going to Beirut’.

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US-China relations

Xi-Trump aftermath, space tactics, AI policy change: 7 US-China relations reads

From Xi-Trump meeting analysis to soybean worries and tech plans, here are highlights from our correspondents in the second half of May 2026.

Middle East

Israeli forces capture historic castle in deepest push into Lebanon in decades

Troops take over the medieval fortress of Beaufort, returning to the strategic peak occupied by Israel from 1982 to 2000.

An Israeli flag and a flag of the Golani Brigade raised on Beaufort Castle. Photo: Reuters
My Take

My Take | Why China-bashing is being replaced by China-maxxing

Young Westerners embracing Chinese habits and culture started as a meme. But under it is a serious political signal.

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“Chinamaxxing”, in which the norms and traditions associated with Chinese culture are embraced, is trending among young Westerners. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote
US, Israel war on Iran

Why the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation isn’t Nato for Iran

Central Asian members in particular see bloc’s main value as preserving their sovereignty rather than enabling collective military action.

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War and conflict

Israel, Russia hit back after being added to UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts

UN documentation of alleged abuses sparks furious denials from both nations.

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US-China relations

China, US at ‘historical crossroads’, Beijing’s envoy tells New York gala event

Nixon, Bush and Rockefeller families are among evening’s honorees, along with former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa.

Ambassador Xie Feng addresses the attendees at the China Institute of America centennial gala in New York on Thursday. Photo: Lucy Quaggin
Middle East

Israel launches deadly strike near Beirut as it widens offensive in Lebanon

Escalating hostilities in Lebanon strain a fragile ceasefire ahead of crucial negotiations in Washington.

US-China relations

America at 250: how Trump’s foreign policy is redefining the US story

‘Even if the US comes back, it will not return to the position it once held,’ while China could play a bigger role, analyst Wu Xinbo says.

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Climate change

Earth is hot and getting hotter: UN warns next 5 years likely to smash records

Climate agencies predict planet will experience a new hottest-ever year before 2031.

A parched field mirrors the rising global temperatures that the UN warns will shatter records over the next five years. Photo: AP
Africa

Uganda shuts border with DR Congo to curb surging Ebola outbreak

Defying WHO guidelines, temporary closure follows exposure of Ugandan health workers to the rare virus strain.

A Uganda Red Cross Society worker sprays disinfectant at the home of a suspected Ebola victim in Kampala on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japan eyes new rules to curb US, China and Russia space arms race

Japan is ‘best placed’ to establish new rules given its space capabilities and strong support for nuclear non-proliferation, analysts say.

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China-Latin America relations

Panama encourages dialogue at UN as canal tensions with China simmer

Panama’s foreign minister uses UN speech to help defuse tension after deterioration in Panama-China relations due to canal dispute.

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US-China relations

China’s Wang Yi tells UN multilateralism must be protected in swipe at US

Beijing’s top diplomat says ‘world peace and security are in great jeopardy’ and that UN Charter should be safeguarded at all costs.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Northern Metropolis is Hong Kong’s chance to show the best of urbanism

Hong Kong has an opportunity to affirm that, rather than being opposites, technological advancement and human-centric design go hand in hand.

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A view of the newly commissioned Fanling Bypass (Eastern section), the first major transport infrastructure in the Northern Metropolis border town development project, is seen on May 3. Photo: Eugene Lee
European Union

Pope calls for ‘disarming’ of AI, technology should be ‘human friendly’

Pope Leo called for the ‘disarming’ of artificial intelligence, and warned of ‘new forms of slavery’ behind its rise.

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China’s military

China boosts peacekeeping budget share amid warnings UN may be sidelined

SIPRI says Beijing’s participation in such UN missions helps ‘project an image of itself as a responsible major power’.

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