Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia and ASEAN member states should transition to using national currencies for financial settlements in commercial transactions and eliminate trade barriers.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged enhanced international cooperation to bolster energy supply chain resilience at an expanded G7 summit session in Evian-les-Bains, France. He highlighted vulnerabilities in the Asia-Pacific region and pledged support for the International Energy Agency.
A Russian diplomat stated that Ukraine is close to legally banning the Orthodox Church, citing attacks on clergy, seizure of property, and lack of dialogue. The envoy described Ukraine as a prime example of religious rights violations.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, writing in the Financial Times, stressed international cooperation for secure shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz and supply chains for essential goods. She likened herself to Margaret Thatcher as "Japan's Iron Lady" and expressed a strong will to implement necessary reforms. Takaichi will visit the UK, Italy, and France for a G7 summit.
The Gwangju Institute proposed attracting a UN AI Hub to make Gwangju a global AI cooperation hub, citing its public AI infrastructure, democratic values, and cultural inclusivity as key strengths.
The Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) will partner with Chinese universities and companies in high-tech fields, including medicine and creative industries. Director General Svetlana Chupsheva signed cooperation agreements during a visit to China.
Texas community groups met with officials from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (Nexi) to urge them to halt support for planned crude oil export and LNG infrastructure projects in Freeport, citing pollution and safety risks.
The World Urban Forum in Baku highlighted the global housing crisis, with officials stressing the need for international cooperation due to rapid urbanization, climate pressures, and infrastructure deficits. Slovakia's Deputy PM noted vast differences in homeownership rates, while Malaysia's Housing Minister emphasized the need for convincing projects to attract investment. Delegates agreed that no single approach fits all, but inspiration and new ideas are key.
Russia's United Engine Corporation (UEC) produced more combat aircraft engines in 2023 than the US and China combined, despite international sanctions since 2021, with a 3.5x increase in production volume.
Russia strengthens global cooperation against drug trafficking, emphasizing strict adherence to international conventions and opposing recreational substance legalization, as highlighted during the 69th UN CND session in Vienna.
China has confirmed plans to expand its space station, potentially more than doubling in size to meet growing scientific demand and expand international cooperation. The Tiangong and the International Space Station (ISS) are the only space stations operating in low Earth orbit. The ISS, led by Nasa and built with contributions from 15 countries, is the biggest structure in space and has been a laboratory for more than 3,000 experiments. Nasa plans to retire the ISS in early 2031, using a...
A political clash has ignited online between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Senator Bernie Sanders regarding the inclusion of Chinese scientists in a crucial AI safety forum. Sanders advocates for international cooperation to address AI's existential threat, while Bessent criticizes the move, asserting American AI leadership and warning against foreign influence on US regulation.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned at a briefing in Izhevsk about increasing physical threats to nuclear facilities, notably the Zaporozhye NPP and Iran’s Bushehr NPP. She urged strong physical security worldwide, stressed host-country responsibility, highlighted the IAEA’s leading role in international cooperation, and called for strict confidentiality of security data.
Japan's Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, approved new guidelines lifting decades-old restrictions on lethal weapons exports, allowing sale of fighter jets, missiles and destroyers. The move marks a major shift from Japan's postwar pacifist stance amid rising regional security concerns.
