Day: September 23, 2025

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva used the UN rostrum on Tuesday to excoriate Washington over tariffs and military actions, promote closer ties with China, and call for reform of global institutions – only to be met moments later by an unexpected olive branch from US President Donald Trump, who proposed meeting the Brazilian leader next week. Advertisement Lula’s address came against the backdrop of sharp tensions with the United States, including 50 per cent tariffs on imports from Brazil, which Trump has imposed in response to “unfair barriers”…

US President Donald Trump offered up a litany of grievances in a combative speech at the UN that called on the global community to end “failed approaches”, stop supporting renewable energy and recognise that “I have ended seven unendable wars”. Advertisement Addressing the world’s foremost diplomatic body with his characteristically undiplomatic rhetoric, Trump touted his record of revitalising US fortunes and said his nation has the “greatest weapons on earth” that it would rather not deploy. “Not only is the UN not solving the problems it should, too often it’s…

The Chinese military has warned against Japan’s laser weapon plans, accusing Tokyo of undermining regional security. Advertisement Japan has made progress in road-mobile laser weapons and will begin a ship-mounted laser weapon programme that can intercept incoming small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a commentary in the PLA Daily on Tuesday noted. “These trends should be watched with high caution,” it said. Laser weapons are an effective measure against the fast-developing drone warfare, with the advantages of long endurance in combat and cheap operational costs. Many countries are investing in this…

As Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels down on southern China, the country’s tech and manufacturing hub has gone into emergency lockdown mode. Advertisement With the highest alert level declared, officials in Shenzhen – the southern manufacturing powerhouse with a reputation as China’s Silicon Valley – sounded the alarm for “wartime readiness”. Residents responded by scrambling to stockpile supplies, boarding up or taping windows, and bracing for what forecasters are saying could be one of the most ferocious storms to hit the region in years. Amid the rush, online delivery platforms struggled…

Pakistan is eyeing Chinese laser weapons, according to a former senior commander. Advertisement “In the coming days, high-energy directed weapons will be more prominent… I think the world is going towards this transition. Pakistan would love to see some integration [with China] into this area,” Ahmed Saeed, president of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs, said on the sidelines of Beijing’s Xiangshan Forum on Friday. China’s LY-1 shipborne laser was among the weapons on display in this month’s parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan in…

Advertisement The policy change, which initially appeared vague on who was responsible for paying the fee, prompted H-1B visa holders Selena Tang and her husband to skip their planned Chinese wedding on Tuesday in Wuxi, in eastern Jiangsu province. When the news came, it was like “a bolt out of the blue”, Seattle-based Tang said. She and her husband flew back from China to the US on September 20 amid urgent directives from their firms’ legal departments to immediately return to America. Tang said they returned, in spite of higher…

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Xi Jinping is first Chinese president to attend Xinjiang anniversary celebration China’s President Xi Jinping has arrived in Urumqi to attend the 70th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to Xinhua, becoming the first Chinese president to attend a landmark anniversary of its founding. 2. ‘Final straw’: Chinese workers in US explore fleeing to Europe after H-1B chaos Trump’s proposed changes to…