Author: HeraldStar

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), Asia’s largest oil producer, is overhauling its global strategy to reignite deal-making and enhance its reserves. The state-owned energy giant is exploring opportunities in gas liquefaction, deepsea drilling, and optimizing production from aging wells. According to Lu Ruquan, director of CNPC’s Economics and Technology Research Institute (ETRI), the company may revisit its acquisitive approach of the 1990s and 2000s, when it made significant investments in Sudan, Chad, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia. Lu emphasized the need for CNPC to embark on more global acquisitions, stating, “One needs to paddle harder, or else it will retreat backward.” CNPC…

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has expressed regret over succumbing to alleged pressure from the Biden administration to censor content on Facebook and Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter addressed to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, Zuckerberg revealed that senior officials, including those from the White House, repeatedly urged Meta to remove certain COVID-19 content, including satire and humor, in 2021. Zuckerberg acknowledged that Meta made decisions that, in hindsight, were misguided and pledged to be more outspoken in the face of similar pressure in the future. He emphasized that the company’s primary goal is to…

These restrictive laws have forced many women to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, travel abroad to have legal abortions or seek private unsafe procedures, based on information from the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The report from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) published on Monday, found that most abortions in Poland are being carried out illegally and in unsafe conditions as it is illegal to assist women in getting abortions, with minimal legal exceptions, and services are often inaccessible. CEDAW members are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Committee Vice-Chair Genoveva Tisheva said: “The…

More than 640,000 children are targeted to receive the polio type two (nOPV) vaccines, UNICEF said in a post on X. The World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s main agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) and other partners aim to coordinate to reach the unvaccinated as the war grinds on against the backdrop of multiple civilian displacements. The Israeli government agency COGAT said vaccine shipments had arrived in Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, adding that the vaccination campaign will be conducted in coordination with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) as part of “routine” humanitarian pauses. Gaza has been in the grip of an ongoing…

Pacific Island leaders are convening for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, from August 26-30, bringing together over 1,000 international dignitaries to address the region’s most pressing issues. The summit comes at a critical time, as the Pacific region faces a complex web of challenges, including climate change, human security, transnational drug trafficking, and geopolitical competition. The meeting’s theme, “Build Better Now,” reflects the need for tangible results and outcomes, as the region grapples with existential threats and a growing sense of urgency. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the summit, five years after his…

President Joe Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the recent unrest in Bangladesh. The call comes after Modi’s visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed India’s support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. According to a posting on X by Modi, the two leaders discussed “India’s full support for early return of peace and stability” in Ukraine. Modi also raised concerns about the safety of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh, following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this…

A devastating flood has struck Bangladesh and northeast India, claiming the lives of at least 36 people and affecting nearly 4.5 million individuals. The disaster has forced hundreds of homes underwater, leaving residents stranded on rooftops, and has caused rivers on both sides of the border to reach extreme levels. In Bangladesh, 13 people have died, and almost 200,000 have been evacuated from flooded areas. The country’s Disaster Management ministry has reported that nearly 4.5 million people have been affected by the flooding, with hundreds of homes underwater. In the northeastern Indian state of Tripura, which borders Bangladesh, at least…

A powerful typhoon is barreling towards Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, prompting warnings of widespread disruptions to transportation services and daily life. Typhoon Shanshan, currently packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (65 knots) near its center, is forecasted to approach Kyushu on Tuesday or Wednesday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the storm is located south of Japan’s main islands and is moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. As Typhoon Shanshan draws closer, railway operators have warned of potential service disruptions, while airline companies have already begun canceling flights in anticipation of the…

Renowned Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Eriksson, who made history as the first foreigner to lead the England national team from 2001 to 2006, passed away on Monday surrounded by his family, leaving behind a legacy of achievements and memories in the football world. Eriksson’s illustrious career spanned multiple countries and clubs, including Swedish, Portuguese, and Italian teams, which he led to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s. His success and experience made him an ideal candidate to take the reins of the England national…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a successful test of domestically-developed attack drones, state media KCNA reported on Monday. The test, conducted at the Drone Institute of North Korea’s Academy of Defense Science, showcased the capabilities of the country’s latest military technology. Photos released by North Korean media depicted a white drone with X-shaped tails and wings crashing into and destroying a target resembling South Korea’s K-2 main battle tank. Kim, surrounded by advisers, emphasized the importance of drones in modern warfare and called for accelerated development and production of various drone systems. The tested drones are intended…