Author: HeraldStar

By Salman Mansoor The global climate crisis has entered a critical phase in which the ability to communicate effectively across sectors and societies is as vital as scientific innovation. Despite the abundance of data, international reports, and technological breakthroughs, a significant disconnect persists between climate science and public understanding. This gap impedes collective action and delays the necessary behavioral and policy shifts to address the climate emergency. It is within this communicative vacuum that youth-led climate media is beginning to establish a new paradigm. The involvement of youth in climate action has traditionally been framed through activism, education, and policy…

By Salman Mansoor As the climate crisis intensifies and climate diplomacy becomes increasingly complex, the call for youth representation in global climate negotiations has never been more urgent. Events like the UNFCCC’s SB62 (Subsidiary Body sessions) serve as critical platforms where international climate policy is shaped, yet youth participation remains largely symbolic unless empowered with meaningful space and voice. For youth from the Global South, especially, inclusion is not just about equity—it’s about justice. I have had the opportunity to work with several international organizations—including The Society International (Together for Health and Education) and the Global Institute for Sustainable Development—that…

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to ratchet up his trade war again, pushing for a 50% tariff on European Union goods starting June 1 and warning Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab he may slap a 25% levy on all imported iPhones bought by U.S. consumers. The twin threats, delivered via social media, roiled global markets after weeks of de-escalation had provided some reprieve in the tariff battle. Major U.S. stock indexes and European shares fell and the dollar weakened, while the price of gold, a safe-haven for investors, rose. U.S. Treasury yields fell on fears about tariffs’ effect on economic growth. Trump’s broadside against the EU was prompted by…

By Hadia Safeer Choudhry With the joint statement issued by China and the United States on May 12, global attention to such a tariff war, unprecedented in scale, was put on hold. However, under the storm, some weak calls have never been heard – more contradictions hidden under the surface of the dispute are becoming increasingly prominent, and underdeveloped economies are increasingly struggling. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released the latest report, showing that the upgraded import tariffs recently announced by the United States will have a far-reaching impact on the global trade pattern and significantly…

By Qaiser Nawab Chairman, Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) Following months of intensifying economic friction, the United States and China reached a provisional truce in Geneva, agreeing to a 90-day suspension of additional tariffs. This agreement marks a significant recalibration between the world’s two largest economies. The establishment of a joint economic working group—tasked with addressing trade, investment, and technology-related issues—is a cautiously optimistic step toward stabilizing a relationship that has grown increasingly fraught in recent years. While the agreement falls short of a comprehensive resolution, it reflects a vital return to economic realism at a time…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman, Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) The United States, long regarded as the bedrock of global financial stability, now finds itself at a precarious fiscal crossroads. With the national debt surpassing $36 trillion and a recent credit rating downgrade by Moody’s, the U.S. fiscal trajectory raises alarms not just domestically but across the interconnected global economy. The implications of these developments extend beyond America’s borders, highlighting vulnerabilities in a global system that has, for too long, leaned heavily on U.S. economic might. On May 16, 2025, Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating from Aaa…

By Qaiser Nawab Chairman Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development – BRISD Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, delivered his first major policy address this month, outlining a cautious yet significant shift in Berlin’s China policy. While reaffirming China’s status as an “important partner” for Germany and the EU in addressing global and economic challenges, he introduced the now-familiar phrase: “strategic de-risking.” It is not a policy of severance, but it signals an intention to reassess economic dependencies. In practical terms, this raises fundamental questions. Germany’s economy—rooted in export-driven manufacturing, high-tech engineering, and complex global supply chains—has long relied on…

BEIJING/ISLAMABAD — Building on their landmark partnership formed earlier this year, the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) and Yingke Law Firm reconvened on April 21, 2025, at Yingke’s global headquarters in Beijing for a high-level follow-up meeting to operationalize their shared legal development goals under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly in Pakistan and other Global South countries. The strategic session focused on the launch of a series of International Workshops on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). These workshops aim to empower the legal fraternity, including young lawyers, law students, judges, corporate…

UN Climate Change News, 16 May 2025 – A UN Body responsible for setting up a carbon market under the Paris Agreement adopted important new standards to guide how emission-reducing projects measure their impact. Known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), it enables countries and other actors to work together on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by generating high-integrity carbon credits that support global efforts to fight climate change. Key standards agreed The rules adopted set out how to measure a project’s actual emission reduction impact under the mechanism. Specifically, two key standards were agreed: A standard for estimating the…

Islamabad – [May 16, 2025]Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD), Mr. Qaiser Nawab, along with BRISD Director, Sardar Waqar Shahzad Advocate, called on Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, at his office in Islamabad. The meeting focused on enhancing regional peace, interfaith coexistence, and the promotion of civilizational dialogue as a means to foster mutual understanding and counter radicalism. The discussion highlighted the value of cross-cultural exchange, respect for religious diversity, and inclusive development in building a peaceful and connected region. Sardar Waqar Shahzad Advocate shared key outcomes from…