Latest news with #Xinhua
RTHK
31 minutes ago
- Business
- RTHK
Xi urges deeper NZ partnership amid Cook Islands row
Xi urges deeper NZ partnership amid Cook Islands row President Xi Jinping hosts New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Reuters President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing on Friday, calling on both sides to place greater emphasis on cooperation. For more than 50 years, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long been at the forefront of Beijing's ties with Western developed countries, Xi said. As the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade, both sides should work to grow the partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said. Xi stressed that China and New Zealand should place greater emphasis on cooperation in bilateral relations, leverage their complementary strengths, deepen trade and investment cooperation, and explore potential for cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, climate change and infrastructure. The president encouraged both sides to strengthen exchanges in education, culture, youth and at non-governmental and sub-national levels. The meeting came as Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown condemned "patronising" neighbour New Zealand, which halted aid to the Pacific island nation after it signed a slew of deals with China. Major partner New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in aid to the Cook Islands, citing a "lack of consultation" over agreements struck with Beijing in February. Self-governing Cook Islands has a "free association" pact with New Zealand, its former colonial ruler which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence. "The relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is defined by partnership, not paternalism," Brown said in a speech to parliament. "Decisions to unilaterally pause core sector support reflect a patronising approach inconsistent with modern partnership." Brown said his nation's ties with China did not "compromise" its independence, adding that no military or defence arrangements had been made. "No debt commitments, no erosion of our national sovereignty," he told parliament. (Xinhua/AFP)
Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Malaysia Sun
Brunei cracks down on int'l drug cartel
Xinhua 20 Jun 2025, 07:45 GMT+10 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has thwarted an international drug syndicate which recruited five Bruneian men, local media reported on Thursday. The local men were recruited as drug couriers smuggling drugs into Europe via Brunei's neighboring country, NCB said in a press release on Thursday. According to local daily Borneo Bulletin, those local men earned a total of 21,000 Brunei dollars (16,354 U.S. dollars) from smuggling Cannabis weighing 68 kg worth over a million Euros. The NCB expressed concern over the troubling trend of Bruneians being recruited for drug smuggling activities and urged them to resist being swayed by the enticing offers from the syndicate.
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- Climate
- TimesLIVE
China warns of extensive flooding after heavy rain
Chinese authorities have warned of flash floods and swift currents in mountainous areas in the eastern, central, southern and southwestern regions of the country after heavy rain. The red alerts, the first for this year, were issued late on Thursday covering areas in the provinces of Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi region, state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the water resources ministry and national weather forecaster China Meteorological Administration. Rescue workers evacuate residents stranded by floodwaters with a boat after heavy rainfall in Huaiji county of Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, China, on June 18 2025. Image: China Daily via REUTERS China is experiencing heavy and sudden rain in many parts, which meteorologists have attributed to climate change, leaving its huge population vulnerable to related disasters. In southern Hunan, heavy rainfall triggered the largest floods since 1998 in the upper and lower reaches of the Lishui River after its water levels breached the safety mark by more than two metres on Thursday. In the hilly metropolis of southwestern Chongqing, apartment blocks were submerged in muddy water and vehicles were swept away in flood water gushing down streets, according to state broadcaster CCTV's footage and images from Thursday. An image showed flood water almost reaching the top of power cable lines. Water and power supply were also disrupted in some areas, CCTV said. Nearly 300 people were evacuated from towns and villages in Pengshui county, where cumulative daily rainfall had reached 304mm and floods were made worse by precipitation from the mountains converging into the Ditang River which had swollen by 19 metres, according to CCTV. The water in several other rivers in Chongqing had also exceeded alert levels due to the extreme rainfall, Xinhua said. On Wednesday, power supply was disrupted in the city of Zhaoqing in southern Guangdong province as flood water rose more than five metres above warning levels, breaking historical records, local media reported.
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Barnama
One Dies From Suspected Heatstroke In Japan As Heatwave Continues
TOKYO, June 20 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- One person has died from suspected heatstroke in the central Japanese prefecture of Gifu, as a heatwave continued to grip much of the country, Xinhua reported citing local media. A 90-year-old man was found lying in a field in the town of Ikeda on Thursday afternoon. He was rushed to a hospital but later pronounced dead, public broadcaster NHK reported. Meanwhile, as of 9 pm local time on Thursday, 100 people in Tokyo aged between 11 and 97 had been taken to the hospital for suspected symptoms of heatstroke, the report said, citing local fire department officials.
The Star
2 hours ago
- Climate
- The Star
Laos warns of flood risk amid ongoing rainfall
VIENTIANE: (Bernama-Xinhua) The weather bureau of Laos has warned that continued rainfall in many parts of the country may cause floods and landslides, while water levels in rivers keep rising, Xinhua reported. Heavy and light rains are forecast across Laos from June 16 to 22. Residents, especially in the northern and central provinces, are advised to remain on high alert and take precautionary measures, as persistent rainfall over several days could trigger severe weather-related hazards. According to a report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday (June 18), the river level in southern Laos' Savannakhet province reached 15.70 metres on Tuesday (June 17), surpassing the danger level of 15 metres. Lao authorities are advising people in low-lying areas to prepare to move their belongings to a safer place. In northern Laos' Phongsaly province, heavy rain over the past few days caused rivers to burst their banks and flood houses and farmland on June 16. The weather bureau has urged the public to stay prepared for extreme weather conditions and to closely monitor official forecasts. - Bernama-Xinhua
