Author: Riya Peter

In a historic move, the UN Security Council convened a session on Tuesday to address the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on international peace and security for the very first time. Chaired by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, the session saw the participation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, representatives from the 15 member countries, and two AI experts, Jack Clark, one of the co-founders of the prominent AI company Anthropic, and Professor Zeng Yi, who serves as the co-director of the China-UK Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance. Highlighting the urgent need for global oversight, UN Secretary-General António Guterres…

Russia on Monday pulled out of the Black Sea Grain deal, which had allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea. The agreement brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022, aiming to address the global food crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, sought to enable the secure exportation of Ukrainian grains, which had been impeded by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, to nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where the escalating menace of hunger poses a significant concern. During a press briefing, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, made it clear that Moscow would only reconsider its…

In the early hours of Monday morning, the Crimea Bridge, which connects the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula to Russia, was closed due to an emergency incident. Tragically, the incident resulted in the loss of two lives, a father and a mother, while their daughter sustained injuries. This bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is the sole overland link directly connecting Russia to the occupied Crimea. Spanning 19 kilometres, it comprises separate road and railway segments, both supported by concrete stilts. Apart from its significance for the transportation of fuel and food, the Crimea Bridge plays a strategically crucial role as…

On Sunday, July 16th, the UK government marked a significant milestone by formally signing the accession protocol to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major Indo-Pacific trade pact. Looking beyond Europe for trading opportunities after Brexit, Business and Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch signed the agreement in New Zealand. With the UK’s accession, the CPTPP bloc’s combined GDP now stands at £12 trillion, representing 15% of the global share. Established in 2018, the CPTPP comprises 11 nations, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. UK, the First New Member…

The Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan revealed its intentions to build advanced biosafety research and development facilities to enhance its protection against biological warfare. This move comes in response to increasing pressure from the People’s Liberation Army on the independently governed territory. The authorities have strongly emphasized that the project will not be utilized for the development of biological weapons. According to a report from Taiwan’s local news outlet UDN on Sunday, the United States has reportedly demanded that Taiwan MND’s National Defence Medical Center (NDMC) invest in building a new type of P4 laboratory. The objective of…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with Wang Yi, the top Chinese foreign policy official, on Thursday during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jakarta, according to an announcement by the US State Department. Wang is currently representing China in the meetings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partner countries following the disclosure that Foreign Minister Qin Gang would be unable to attend due to health-related issues. Blinken’s recent visit to China marked a significant milestone, being the first visit by a US Secretary of State in five years. During his visit, Blinken…

In a marathon special session ordered by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, the state’s Republican-led legislature passed a Bill on Tuesday night aiming to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. With the sole objective of restricting the procedure in the state, the anti-abortion Bill gained significant traction among GOP lawmakers. Moments after the Bill was passed, Gov. Reynolds stated that she would sign the Bill on Friday, making the legislation come into force immediately. “Justice for the unborn should not be delayed,” Reynolds said after the session. The Bill successfully made its way through both Houses of the state legislature…

Four years after switching ties from Taiwan to Beijing, the Solomon Islands, and China signed a police cooperation deal on Monday, solidifying their bilateral relations. This agreement marks a significant milestone in their upgraded relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” The policing ‘implementation plan,’ which will be in effect until 2025, was among nine agreements signed on Monday after discussions between the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. Solomon Islands Prime Minister’s First Official Visit to China Sogavare made his inaugural visit to China on Sunday at the…

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has embarked on his journey to Lithuania to attend the 2024 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, where he will deliver a powerful message opposing North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. The annual NATO Summit is held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from July 11-12. This is the second consecutive NATO Summit of the South Korean leader as an observer aiming to strengthen ties with the world’s biggest military alliances. Yoon’s itinerary includes a three-day visit to Poland following the NATO Summit. “Now is the time to clearly demonstrate that the international community’s determination to deter North Korea’s…

Anti-government protests in Israel gained fresh impetus on Saturday night as large crowds rallied against Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition government’s contentious plan to overhaul the judicial system. In Tel Aviv alone, about 180,000 people participated in a massive demonstration, while tens of thousands took part in protests held in various other locations across the country. This marks the 27th consecutive week of anti-government protests in Israel. Israel Parliament’s Bills to Curb Judicial Independence The wave of countrywide protests began in January in response to two controversial government Bills that aimed to curtail the powers of Israel’s judiciary. The first Bill,…