logo
US, China confront each other on Ukraine at United Nations

US, China confront each other on Ukraine at United Nations

US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea speaks during a security council meeting. (EPA Images pic)
UNITED NATIONS : The US told China at the UN on Friday it should 'stop fuelling Russia's aggression' in Ukraine, as China accused Washington of trying to shift blame and spark confrontation.
Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea urged all countries, specifically naming China, to stop exports to Russia of dual-use goods that Washington says contribute to Russia's war industrial base and enable its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
'Beijing's claim to have implemented strong export controls on dual-use goods falls apart in the face of the daily recovery of Chinese-produced components in the drones, weapons, and vehicles that Russia uses against Ukraine,' Shea told a meeting of the 15-member UN Security Council on Ukraine.
China did not start the war in Ukraine, is not a party to the conflict, has never provided lethal weapons, and has always 'strictly controlled dual-use materials, including the export of drones', China's deputy UN ambassador Geng Shuang responded.
'We urge the US to stop shifting blame on the Ukraine issue or creating confrontation and instead play a more constructive role in promoting ceasefire and peace talks,' he told the council.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Chinese-made engines are being covertly shipped via front companies to a state-owned drone manufacturer in Russia, labelled as 'industrial refrigeration units' to avoid detection in the wake of Western sanctions.
'If China is sincere in calling for peace, it should stop fuelling Russia's aggression,' Shea said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gaza civil defence reports 14 killed by Israeli forces amid aid crisis
Gaza civil defence reports 14 killed by Israeli forces amid aid crisis

The Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Sun

Gaza civil defence reports 14 killed by Israeli forces amid aid crisis

GAZA CITY: Gaza's civil defence agency reported 14 Palestinians killed by Israeli military actions on Wednesday, even as aid deliveries resumed in the war-torn territory. The conflict, now in its 22nd month, has left Gaza's two million residents facing severe famine, according to a UN-mandated report. Spokesman Mahmud Basal stated that six people died near an aid distribution centre northwest of Rafah. Two more were killed near the Netzarim junction, while another two died in an airstrike near Gaza City's Church of the Holy Family. Four others perished near the Wadi Gaza bridge. The Israeli military said it would review the reports. Media restrictions hinder independent verification of casualty figures. The war began after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Israel's retaliatory offensive has claimed at least 60,034 lives in Gaza, per Hamas-run health ministry data. Under international pressure, Israel announced daily pauses in fighting to allow aid distribution. Over 200 truckloads of food aid were delivered by UN agencies, with additional airdrops from Jordan and the UAE. Both sides accused armed groups of looting supplies, blaming each other for security failures. - AFP

Amendments to the Education Act passed, secondary school education now compulsory
Amendments to the Education Act passed, secondary school education now compulsory

The Star

time5 hours ago

  • The Star

Amendments to the Education Act passed, secondary school education now compulsory

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat passed the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, which expands the definition of 'compulsory education' under the 1996 Education Act to include secondary schooling. The amendment also introduces a new provision, Section 32A, empowering the Education Minister to designate secondary education as mandatory for all Malaysian children residing in the country. It states that parents are legally required to enrol their children in both primary and secondary insti­tutions, unless officially exemp­ted. Under the new Section 32A(4), parents who fail to do so may face a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both upon conviction. The amendment further outlines penalties for non-compliance and authorises the minister to make additional regulations related to enforcement and exemptions. It also revises provisions related to primary school registration, requiring parents to enrol children who have reached the age of six by Jan 1 of any given academic year. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told the Lower House on Wednesday (July 30) that the legislation aims to strengthen educational responsibility rather than introducing punitive measures. 'The spirit of this amendment is not about punishment, but about education - to ensure that no child falls behind. 'The government's priority is to foster a sense of responsibility among parents and guardians to ensure their children are enrolled in school, in line to uphold every child's right to education,' she said. She added that the ministry is also taking steps to improve awareness among communities and enhance support systems to address issues of dropout and absenteeism. During the debate earlier, Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) welcomed the amendment, calling it 'bold, progressive and long overdue.' However, he urged the government to clarify whether the law would apply to children of mixed-nationality parents, non-citizen children and those in private, Chinese independent or homeschool settings. In response, Fadhlina said homeschooling will be considered for exemption on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of each child. 'I'm open to exploring how we can ensure the justification, space and opportunity for these children without any form of discrimination,' she said. On enforcement, Cha proposed focusing on awareness and outreach rather than punishment. 'If enforced well, this could boost SPM participation rates and reduce dropout gaps between lower and upper secondary levels,' he added. Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) called on the Education Ministry to address the root causes of student dropouts before enforcing amendments to make secondary education compulsory. 'Many students leave school due to poverty, family problems or lack of interest in academics,' she said. Kok warned that penalising low-income parents is unjust and burdensome. She also questioned how the law would apply to homeschooled children, slow learners and those in private institutions. 'Reform should focus on curriculum and school improvements, not just legal punishment,' she said, adding that slow learners should be allowed to repeat a year to catch up. On concerns about poverty, Fadhlina Sidek stressed that the ministry had taken the matter into account and would prioritise support over punishment. 'Punitive measures are not the core of this bill - our focus is on providing assistance, including 18 forms of aid such as scholarships and school-related support like uniforms, to ensure children remain in school,' she said. Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) called for clarity on how the amendment will affect students in unregistered private institutions, including pondok and tahfiz schools. 'Will these students automatically be exempted under Section 32A(3), or must parents apply individually?' he asked, referring to a provision that allows the minister to exempt any pupil or group of pupils from compulsory education, either fully or conditionally, by gazetting an official order. On this, Fadhlina said all registered private institutions, including religious schools, are subject to the provisions of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025. 'We are engaging with unregistered institutions to encourage them to register so we can implement a standard curriculum and address issues like bullying - if they remain unregistered, the legal responsibility will fall on parents, and that's a concern we're working to resolve,' she said.

Myanmar junta mandates prison sentences for election critics
Myanmar junta mandates prison sentences for election critics

The Star

time8 hours ago

  • The Star

Myanmar junta mandates prison sentences for election critics

YANGON: Myanmar's junta said Wednesday (July 30) it has enacted a new law dictating prison sentences for critics or protesters of their planned election, which is being boycotted by opposition groups. The junta seized power in a 2021 coup, sparking a many-sided civil war, and has touted elections at the end of this year as a path to peace. Opposition groups -- including democratic lawmakers ousted by the military takeover -- and international monitors have called the poll a ploy to legitimise the junta's rule. State newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar said the "Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction" was enacted on Tuesday. Its 14-page text forbids "any speech, organising, inciting, protesting or distributing leaflets in order to destroy a part of the electoral process". Individuals convicted face between three and seven years behind bars, while offences committed in groups can result in sentences between five and 10 years. The legislation also outlaws damaging ballot papers and polling stations, as well as the intimidation or harm of voters, candidates and election workers, with a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. If anyone is killed during an attempt to disrupt the election "everyone involved in the crime faces the death penalty", the law says. Swathes of Myanmar are beyond the control of the junta and some government census workers deployed last year to gather data ahead of the poll faced resistance and security threats. Data could not be collected from an estimated 19 million of the country's 51 million people, provisional results said, in part because of "significant security constraints". Analysts have predicted the myriad of anti-coup guerrillas and ethnic armed groups the junta is battling may stage offensives in the run-up to the vote as a sign of their opposition. A UN expert called on the international community last month to reject the election plan as "a fraud". Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, said the junta is "trying to create this mirage of an election exercise that will create a legitimate civilian government". - AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store