The US has denounced Russia for "cynically obstructing" the monitoring of North Korea's compliance with UN sanctions, claiming Moscow is trying to avoid criticism for using Pyongyang's weapons in its war with Ukraine. Despite a veto by Russia in March 2024, the US and South Korea are convening a meeting to heighten awareness of potential sanctions-busting actions by Moscow. The US envoy, Dorothy Shea, stated that North Korea continues to violate UN resolutions by exporting coal and iron ore to China, which funds its unlawful weapons programs. Evidence shows that Russia has received over 24,000 containers of munitions from North Korea since September 2023, with well over 100 ballistic missiles also transferred for use against Ukraine.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/05/08/us-accuses-russia-of-blocking-north-korea-sanctions-to-hide-weapons-transfers-for-ukraine-war/176038Multiple countries have issued statements in response to India's military action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. Russia expressed concern over the escalation, while China regretted New Delhi's actions and urged restraint. The US hopes for a quick resolution, and the UK is ready to assist in deescalating tensions between the two nations.
https://www.sochfactcheck.com/khawaja-asifs-remarks-on-indian-fighter-jets-misrepresented-pakistan-india/Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow for a three-day trip, including a Victory Day parade and a show of support for Vladimir Putin. The visit comes amid rising tensions between China and the US over trade tariffs, while President Donald Trump has attempted to mediate the conflict in Ukraine. Xi hailed "resilient" China-Russia ties, calling on other countries to respect their relationship, as the Kremlin praised Russia-China relations as a "genuine example" of cooperation.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1309446-xi-lands-in-moscow-to-beef-up-no-limits-putin-partnershipPresident Asif Ali Zardari described Russia as a "key global power" and highlighted its role in promoting regional peace and stability, particularly in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation with the Russian Federation in areas such as trade, investment, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1309148-russia-can-play-role-in-de-escalating-indo-pak-tensions-zardariChina and Russia have strengthened their alliance through BRICS, a multilateral organization that has expanded to include other developing nations. Despite Beijing's claim of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, it has echoed Kremlin narratives blaming NATO and Western powers for provoking Russia. In return, Moscow supports China on Taiwan and other sovereignty issues. This partnership has raised concerns in Western capitals, viewing the Moscow-Beijing axis as a threat to the post-WWII international order. Unconfirmed reports suggest Chinese nationals may be fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, with Beijing denying any state involvement.
https://africanews.com/2025/05/08/putin-and-xi-deepen-strategic-alliance-amid-rising-tensions-with-the-west/The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that April was the second-hottest month in its dataset, with all but one of the last 22 months exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Scientists believe this target is no longer attainable and will be crossed in a matter of years. A recent study concluded global warming reached 1.36°C in 2024, while Copernicus projects 1.5°C could be reached by mid-2029 or sooner. Climate scientists Samantha Burgess and Julien Cattiaux warn that the current rate of warming is high and urgent action is needed, despite uncertainty about other contributing factors such as changes in global cloud patterns and airborne pollution.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2025/05/08/earth-nears-15c-threshold-as-global-heatwave-persists-through-april-2025/176007EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič discussed the EU's response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs, stating that the bloc is exploring alternative trade routes and negotiating with other countries to mitigate the impact.Šefčovič emphasized the need for cooperation among European nations to counterbalance the US trade policies, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong economic relationship with key trading partners such as China and India.
https://channelnewsasia.com/watch/us-eu-ties-eus-trade-chief-trump-tariffs-5117606The European Union (EU) has proposed a list of $21 billion worth of products to target in response to US tariffs imposed by President Trump, including aircraft, cars, human hair, and bourbon whiskey. The EU's trade chief Maros Sefcovic stated that the bloc will not accept an outcome at any price, while Trump has rolled out 25-percent tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars. The EU has paused retaliatory tariffs until July 14 to allow for negotiations, but warned it is prepared to take more extreme measures if necessary, including targeting US Big Tech companies.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/eu-threatens-to-target-us-cars-planes-if-trump-tariff-talks-fail/article_42a0f28b-98d1-52f2-b588-0750b60b1c5f.htmlBitcoin's recent surge may be linked to market optimism over potential calm in global trade negotiations, particularly between China and the US. As the two nations prepare for talks, other countries like India and Malaysia are also making efforts to ease tensions by submitting proposals. India has offered zero tariffs on certain sectors, while Malaysia has made a similar offer, as the US approaches its 90-day deadline to resolve trade disputes with multiple countries.
https://bitcoinist.com/bitcoin-rallies-to-97k-as-china-reopens-trade-channels-with-us/