UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday convened a special solemn meeting in commemoration of all victims of World War II, as the international community marks the 80th anniversary of the war's end.
China, which won the war in the major Oriental theater of WWII, endured casualties exceeding 35 million, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, emphasizing China's role in the global victory over fascism.
"By holding back the main forces of Japanese militarism, China not only secured its own survival and national salvation, but also provided strong support to the resistant forces in Europe and the Pacific, making an indelible contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War," said Fu.
Fu said that 80 years later, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change, with unilateralism on the rise and bullying running rampant.(UN-WWII)
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TRIPOLI -- Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Unity on Wednesday "categorically" rejected any arrangement about receiving illegal migrants deported from the United States without knowledge or acceptance.
"The Government confirms its rejection of any country using Libya as a destination to deport migrants without its knowledge or acceptance, and commitment to its right to protect the national sovereignty," the Tripoli-based government said in a statement published on its official Facebook page.
The statement came after several Western media outlets, including Reuters, BBC, CNN, and The New York Times, reported that Washington is planning to fly migrants without legal status to the North African country.
Because of the insecurity and chaos in Libya since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean to Europe from Libya.(Libya-US-Deporting Migrants)
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PARIS -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday criticized Israeli strikes in Syria, warning such actions would not guarantee "Israel's long-term security."
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
"As far as bombing and incursions are concerned, I think this is bad practice. You don't ensure the security of your country by violating the territorial integrity of your neighbors," Macron said.
"The right method is increased cooperation," he added.
Macron's comments followed a series of Israeli airstrikes early Friday targeting a site near the official residence of the Syrian president in central Damascus. Loud explosions were heard across wide areas of the capital. Israeli aircraft were also reportedly observed flying reconnaissance missions over Damascus shortly after the strikes.(France-Israel-Syria)
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BELGRADE -- Wreaths and white roses were laid on Wednesday at a memorial plaque in Belgrade to honor three Chinese journalists killed in the 1999 NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy, as Serbia and China marked the 26th anniversary of the event.
The commemoration was held at the China Cultural Center in Belgrade, constructed on the site of the former embassy in New Belgrade. Leading the tribute were Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming.
Stamenkovski emphasized that the anniversary serves as a solemn reminder of the innocent lives lost and a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations.
"Let today be a reminder of our shared suffering, but also of the strength of our alliance," she said. "Only together, united and respecting the choices and will of all peoples, will Serbia and China continue to strengthen their partnership for mutual benefit, in service of our national interests, stability, prosperity, and justice."(Serbia-NATO-Bombing)
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NEW YORK -- Harvard University's distinguished service professor, emeritus and former dean of the Kennedy School of Government (HKS) Joseph S. Nye Sr. died at 88 on Tuesday.
HKS Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein announced Nye's death in an email to faculty, staff and students Wednesday afternoon.
"It is impossible to capture Joe's intellectual contributions in a paragraph or a page," Weinstein wrote in his email to HKS affiliates. "In a century of unprecedented change in global politics, he was among the foremost thinkers to shape our understanding of contemporary international relations."
Nye, who served as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs under former President Bill Clinton, is also known for coining the term "soft power" in the 1980s to describe a country's non-military sway on the world stage.(U.S.-Nye-Death)
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday left target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent, as the Trump administration's tariff policies are expected to lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth.
"Uncertainty about the economic outlook has increased further," the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the central bank's policy-setting body, said in a statement after a two-day meeting.
"The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and judges that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen," the statement read.
This marks the Federal Reserve's third consecutive decision to keep interest rates unchanged since the January and March meetings.(US-Fed-Rate) Enditem
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