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Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward on Tuesday a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in West Asia, when meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing.Xi called for adherence to the principle of peaceful coexistence. It is imperative to promote the building of a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture for West Asia and the Gulf region, he noted.He urged adherence to the principle of national sovereignty. He said the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of countries in West Asia and the Gulf region should be fully respected, and the safety of personnel, facilities and institutions of all countries should be effectively safeguarded.On adherence to the principle of international rule of law, Xi said the authority of international rule of law should be upheld to prevent the world from falling back into the law of the jungle.He said development and security should be coordinated. All parties should work together to create a favorable environment for the development of countries in West Asia and the Gulf region.On the other hand, the Chinese President said during his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is on an official visit to China, that China and Spain should strengthen cooperation to oppose a return of the world to “the law of the jungle.”Noting the world today is in turmoil, confronted with the contest between the rule of law and the rule of power, Xi called on both China and Spain to jointly defend true multilateralism.For its part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain opposes a “new Cold War,” decoupling and severing of supply chains, and supports Europe and China in enhancing communication, mutual understanding and cooperation. Source link
Millions of people in Sudan are surviving on just one meal a day, as the country’s food crisis deepens and threatens to spread, according to a report published on Monday by a group of non-governmental organisations.Sudan’s war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which enters its third year on Wednesday, has caused widespread hunger and displaced millions of people amid one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.“In the two areas worst hit by the conflict — North Darfur and South Kordofan — millions of families can only access one meal a day,” the report by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council found.“Often, they miss meals for entire days,” the report stated, adding that many people have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed to survive.The army-aligned Sudanese government denies the existence of famine, while the RSF denies responsibility for such conditions in areas under its control.Some 61.7% of Sudan’s population — 28.9mn people — is acutely food-insecure, according to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.The UN has reported widespread atrocities and waves of ethnically charged violence. In November, the global hunger monitor confirmed, for the first time, famine conditions in Al-Fashir, as well as Kadugli. In February, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification found that famine thresholds for acute malnutrition have been surpassed in Um Baru, where the rate of acutely malnourished children under 5 was nearly double the famine threshold, and Kernoi.The report, based on interviews with farmers, traders, and humanitarian actors in Sudan, details how the war in Sudan is driving communities towards famine conditions — due to disruptions to farming as well as the use of starvation as a weapon of war — including deliberate destruction of farms and markets. Communal kitchens are increasingly unable to meet rising needs, while major donor funding cuts are impeding aid agencies’ abilities to respond, the report said. Source link
France and Britain will co-host a summit this week to discuss a “co-ordinated, independent, multinational plan” to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said yesterday.Britain had convened “more than 40 nations who share our aim to restore freedom of navigation” and the summit will discuss ways to protect shipping “when the conflict ends,” Starmer said. Britain and France will work on a “peaceful multinational mission” that would be “separate from the warring parties,” French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier yesterday.US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February sparked a region-wide war and brought traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill, blocking a key route for global oil and gas shipments. Iran and the US last week agreed to a two-week cessation of hostilities, but ceasefire talks between the warring sides in Pakistan on the weekend ended in failure.US President Donald Trump responded by ordering his navy to carry out a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting yesterday. Trump also said, on his Truth Social platform, that “Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade” but did not specify which ones.The UK-French initiative, which Macron and Starmer announced on X, appeared to be separate from Trump’s announced blockade. On April 2, a UK-led diplomatic meeting of some 40 countries demanded “the immediate and unconditional reopening” of the vital shipping route.Macron said the conference would involve “countries prepared to contribute alongside us to a peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait”. “This strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties to the conflict, is intended to be deployed as soon as circumstances permit,” he said. The US military said the blockade of the Strait ordered by Trump would begin at 1400 GMT, and apply to all ships leaving or seeking to dock at Iranian ports on either side of the key waterway.Starmer said yesterday that Britain will not join the naval blockade announced by Trump. Source link
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that the current events in the Strait of Hormuz clearly demonstrate the need for a “strong international maritime security coalition.”In her address to the UN Security Council session on cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union, Kallas emphasized the necessity of maintaining security at sea. “Yet, this domain has become increasingly contested. Whether we are talking about the Baltic, North or Red seas, the numerous straits or the Indo-Pacific, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea/UNCLOS is being undermined deliberately.””International cooperation at sea has not evolved at the same rate as the threats in this domain. We must catch up,” the European official added, noting that there have been many criticisms against the United Nations including the Security Council for failing to resolve conflicts.In this regard, Kallas pointed out that the record use of the veto in 2024, for example, suggests, that this body struggles to address conflicts as they arise.She further said: “If the Security Council was functioning as it should, we would not be where we are today. On the other hand, it is a chance for the UN to step up and show that it can deliver.” Source link
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today called on all parties to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that Guterres stressed the need for all parties to the conflict to respect freedom of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law.It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, which went into effect today.Trump threatened to destroy any Iranian military vessel that violates the US blockade imposed on this vital waterway, which Iran has effectively closed almost completely since the beginning of the war.Dujarric pointed out the need to remember that some 20,000 seafarers are caught in this conflict, aboard ships facing increasing difficulties every day, reminding everyone of the impact this has on the global economy.He called on the parties to continue negotiations to find a solution to the conflict, demanding an end to all ceasefire violations. Source link
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a telephone conversation today with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.During the call, they discussed developments in the region, their repercussions, and the efforts being made to address them. Source link
His Excellency President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani has crowned Al Rayyan as champions of HH the Amir Handball Cup for the 2025-2026 season, after defeating Al Arabi 28-26.His Excellency presented Al Rayyan with the the championship’s trophy and gold medals, while Al Arabi, the runners-up, received the silver medals.Held at Duhail Handball Sports Hall on Monday, the final saw Al Arabi finish the first half ahead with a score of 16-12. However, Al Rayyan mounted a comeback in the second half, overturning a four-goal deficit into a two-goal victory to officially claim the title.President of the Qatar Handball Association, Ahmed Al Shaabi congratulated Al Rayyan on winning HH the Amir Handball Cup for the fifth time ever, praising their performance against Al Arabi in the final.Al Shaabi also commended Al Arabi’s efforts and noted the match’s high technical and organizational standards, along with the game’s large fan turnout. Source link
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and newly appointed Chief of Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle pose for photographers after a press conference…
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung pose for photographs before their meeting at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, Monday. (Reuters)…
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, offers a speech at Tsinghua University, in Beijing, Monday. (Reuters) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Monday said China should take on a more substantial role with issues including climate change, security, defence and the fight against inequality, adding that Europe will also have to redouble its efforts as the US withdraws from leadership roles on many fronts.Sanchez, who is making his fourth visit to China in four years, spoke at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.His visit comes as many Western governments seek to maintain engagement with Beijing despite lingering security and trade tensions. It follows visits to China earlier this year by the prime ministers of Britain, Ireland, Canada and Finland.Spain has been one of Europe’s loudest proponents of expanding trade and treating China as a strategic ally rather than an economic and geopolitical rival.Sanchez said China could do more in terms of fighting climate change, promoting global health, controlling the development of responsible artificial intelligence as well as nuclear weapons.”For example, by demanding as it is doing, that international law be respected and that the conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank and Ukraine cease,” he said.”Europe will also have to redouble its efforts, especially now that the US has decided to withdraw from many of these fronts.”Sanchez is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping today where they are expected to focus on geopolitics.China accounted for 74% of Spain’s total trade deficit, Sanchez said, adding that co-operation was important to build a “balanced, globalised economy that generates shared prosperity.”Madrid hopes Sanchez’s visit will narrow Spain’s trade deficit, which more than doubled in four years to nearly $50bn in 2025. It is looking to boost agricultural and manufacturing exports to offset high volumes of China’s imports.China’s official news agency Xinhua Monday said Sanchez’s visit was set to further consolidate bilateral ties and pointed to a broader pathway for steady engagement between China and Europe at a time of growing global uncertainty. Related Story Source link