Author: HeraldStar

In the ongoing China-EU trade dispute, China is tactically preparing for potential retaliation while maintaining a cautious stance. Following the EU’s July 4 imposition of provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, China has responded prudently, prioritizing negotiation while signaling readiness to counter if necessary. Initially, China has launched targeted investigations into EU brandy and pork imports. The Ministry of Commerce has initiated an anti-dumping probe into EU brandy, focusing on France, which accounts for 99.3% of China’s brandy imports. However, potential tariffs on brandy are expected to have minimal impact on China’s alcohol market, which recently resumed imports from Australia…

US Vice President Kamala Harris is nearing a final decision on her presidential running mate, meeting in person with top contenders over the weekend. On Friday, Harris held a one-on-one meeting with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, lasting around 90 minutes. Other hopefuls include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, US Senator Mark Kelly, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Harris plans to make her choice by Monday, ahead of a public appearance with her new vice presidential nominee in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The campaign also plans a social media announcement featuring the duo. The choice…

Researchers at King’s College London have discovered a correlation between problematic smartphone use and increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in teenagers. Problematic smartphone use refers to behaviors such as feeling anxious when unable to access one’s phone, struggling to control screen time, and prioritizing phone use over other activities. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that 44% of 13-16-year-olds with problematic smartphone use reported symptoms of anxiety, compared to 26.4% without. Similarly, 56% of 13-16-year-olds with problematic use reported symptoms of depression, compared to 35.8% without. While screen time itself was not directly linked to…

Donald Trump has sparked controversy by questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity, asking “is she Indian or is she black?” during an interview with a black journalist at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago. The audience gasped in shock at his remarks. Trump claimed to have known Harris “indirectly” for a long time and said she always emphasized her Indian heritage. He then expressed surprise that she now identifies as black, asking “I didn’t know she was black until a few years ago, and now she wants to be known as black, so I’m confused, is…

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, and his two co-defendants, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, are expected to plead guilty to conspiracy charges at a military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as early as next week. According to US officials, the three men have agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life imprisonment, avoiding a potential death sentence. The defendants, who have been in US custody since 2003, are accused of planning and executing the deadliest terrorist attack in US history, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. The attack involved hijacking planes and…

Qaiser Nawab, President of BRISD, visited the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad to offer condolences for the passing of Indonesia’s former Vice President Hamzah Haz. On behalf of BRISD and Pakistani youth, Nawab wrote a heartfelt message recognizing Haz’s contributions to Indonesia. He was warmly received by embassy officials, who appreciated the gesture. Nawab emphasized Indonesia’s importance in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the strong ties between Indonesia and Pakistan. This visit showcased solidarity and the commitment of BRISD to fostering international relations. Pictures taken by ELVIN YUSUBOV

Almost 10 months of war and intense Israeli bombardment have shattered healthcare in Gaza and disrupted routine inoculation rounds for youngsters, leaving them exposed to a range of preventable diseases including polio, which the UN World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed had been identified last month in several sewage samples taken from Gaza. Safe access call Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that a ceasefire would be “the best” solution, before calling at the very least for the enclave’s roads to be kept clear and for safe access for medical and other relief supplies. “Otherwise, the vaccines…

In the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s departure from the presidential race and his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, young voters took to social media to express their excitement, sharing coconut tree and “brat summer” memes. This shift in tone reflects a generation that has felt neglected by the Democratic Party. Youth-led progressive organizations had warned for months that Biden struggled to connect with young voters, urging him to refocus on issues crucial to younger generations or risk losing their support. With Biden out of the race, many young leaders now hope Harris can tap into the energy of…

The US economy showed remarkable resilience in the second quarter, growing at a robust 2.8% annualized pace, exceeding expectations. Consumer spending, government outlays, and a significant inventory build drove the expansion, according to the Commerce Department’s initial estimate. Consumer spending, a key driver of growth, rose 2.3%, with both services and goods seeing solid increases. Inventory growth also contributed significantly, adding 0.82 percentage points to the total gain. Government spending, particularly defense outlays, added to the growth momentum. While imports jumped 6.9%, the biggest quarterly rise since Q1 2022, exports grew at a slower pace of 2%. Despite this, the…

A high-level retreat for Heads of Delegation (HOD) was held in Shamakhi on July 26-27 to discuss key issues on the COP29 agenda. The event brought together the chair of the Subsidiary Body for Science and Technology Advice (SBSTA), UNFCCC Secretariat representatives and experts, climate ministers from Bangladesh and Barbados, and over 40 country representatives leading international climate negotiation groups. In his opening address, Yalchin Rafiyev, COP29 Chief Negotiator and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, emphasized the COP29 Presidency’s commitment to achieving progress on all pillars of the Paris Agreement. He stressed the importance of transparent and purposeful…