International

On the 14th local time, the Federal Reserve of the United States concluded a two-day monetary policy meeting and announced the maintenance of the target range of the federal funds rate from 5% to 5.25%. This means that after 10 consecutive interest rate hikes since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has pressed the "pause button" for the first time. But outsiders believe that the Fed's move may be an "eagle like pause". The Federal Reserve has hinted that if the economy and inflation do not further cool down, interest rates may still be raised within the year. After the first 10 consecutive interest rate hikes since March last year, the Federal Reserve chose to remain silent. In a statement released on the 14th, the Federal Reserve stated that recent indicators indicate that US economic activity continues to expand moderately, with strong employment growth in recent months and low unemployment rates, but inflation remains high. To support the maximization of employment and 2

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and co chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, announced on social media on the evening of June 14th that he has arrived in Beijing, marking his first visit to China in nearly four years. He stated that this trip aims to promote the resolution of issues such as climate change, and China plays an important role in this process. "I just landed in Beijing after nearly four years, and this is my first visit since 2019," Gates said on Weibo last night. "I am very happy to meet my Chinese partners.". Gates stated that this trip aims to promote innovative solutions to issues such as climate change, health inequalities, and food security. He said, "The world has made tremendous progress in reducing child deaths and poverty, but the global crisis has hindered these progress. Faced with expensive food,..."

This week, Iranian President Lech entered the United States' backyard, sparking public attention. This is Lech's first trip to Latin America during his tenure, with stops in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The three countries visited are not far apart, and the commonality seems to outweigh the individuality: they are all governed by left-wing governments, have been suppressed by US sanctions, and have shown an unyielding and tough stance. The public opinion believes that Lech's visit is of great significance. It will not only strengthen practical cooperation with Latin American countries, but also demonstrate to the outside world that Iran's influence is not limited to the Middle East, and it also has friends in the western hemisphere. This is Lai Xi's 12th overseas visit since taking office in 2021, taking place against the backdrop of Iran's reconciliation with regional countries and the continuation of tensions with the United States. Although Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba are separated by a long ocean from Iran

On the 13th local time, former US President Trump appeared in a federal court in Miami, Florida to plead guilty to 37 federal criminal charges, including improper handling of confidential documents. According to foreign media reports such as Reuters, during the 47 minute trial, Trump, wearing his iconic dark blue suit and red tie, remained silent and held his arms. When prosecutors accused him of improperly possessing and hiding confidential documents, Trump frowned. His lawyer represented Trump in presenting a plea of not guilty to the court. After the hearing, Trump was allowed to leave the court unconditionally, without paying cash bail or submitting a passport, and his personal travel was not restricted. But the judge ordered him not to discuss this case with another defendant, Norta, and other potential witnesses. Norta is Trump

Reuters reported on the 12th that Pakistan's Minister of Oil, Musadik Malik, stated on the same day that Pakistan had paid for the first batch of intergovernmental import transactions of Russian crude oil in Chinese yuan, marking a significant shift in Pakistan's past US dollar led import and export payment policy. Malik said that according to the agreement reached by the governments of Pakistan and Russia in April this year, the oil purchased this time is 100000 tons, of which 45000 tons have arrived at Karachi Port in Pakistan on the 11th, and the rest of the oil is currently in transit. He did not disclose any commercial details such as pricing or discounts, but stated that the payment was made in Chinese yuan. Malik revealed that the traded oil is Ural light crude oil. Pakistan refining company PRL will conduct refining. Pakistan used to rely on Middle Eastern oil,

Former US President Trump arrived in Florida on the 12th local time and will appear in court at 3:00 pm on the 13th in Miami, Florida, to respond to the "classified matter controversy". According to the indictment released by the US Department of Justice last week, the prosecution has filed 37 charges against Trump and 7 separate charges. This also makes Trump the first former president in American history to be charged with federal criminal charges. Analysis suggests that compared to the previous criminal charges against Trump in the "sealing fee" case, the new charges have greater "legal seriousness and political risk", as Trump has been "caught in action" on confidential matters, and the subsequent trial outcome depends on the recognition of the degree of harm. Currently, the incident has not had a significant impact on Trump's bid for the party's presidential nomination, as polls show he continues to lead his opponents. American public opinion

On June 12th, UNESCO announced a news: five years after withdrawing from the group, the United States has decided to repay the fees and return to the organization. Previously, due to dissatisfaction with Palestine's accession and other reasons, the United States and Israel insisted on withdrawing. However, just last week, the US State Department submitted a letter to the organization proposing a return plan. The outside world is curious, why is the United States not being stubborn? US officials are straightforward: this move aims to counter China's influence in the organization, especially in setting standards for global artificial intelligence and technology education. According to the UNESCO website, there are two key points in the US letter regarding the willingness to repay the debt. Firstly, we welcome the efforts made by UNESCO in recent years to address new challenges, promote modern management, and ease political tensions; Secondly, list the outstanding debts to be repaid

25 countries, 250 aircraft, and 10000 soldiers. Starting from June 12th, NATO forces will gather on a large scale in Germany to hold the largest air military exercise in history. German officials stated that the exercise is a defensive exercise aimed at practicing the defense of European airspace. But the United States emphasizes that the exercise sends a signal of strength, not just for deterrence. As the war in Ukraine continues and Ukraine claims to launch a counterattack, the skies over Europe, including Russia's doorstep, are filled with the roar of fighter jets and smoke, making the scene particularly eye-catching. What are the considerations for NATO's move? What kind of impact will it have on the already fragile European security situation? Send a signal of strength? Since the Cold War era, military exercises have been an important means for NATO to strengthen its military strength and deter Eastern opponents. It is reported that NATO member countries and partner countries hold hundreds of joint military exercises every year. “

According to Italian media reports, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi passed away at the age of 86 at a hospital in the northern city of Milan on the morning of the 12th. For 30 years, despite worrying health and constant political struggles, Berlusconi has persisted in being active at the center of the Italian political stage. Although people have a deep impression of Berlusconi as a politician, he spent the first half of his life as a business tycoon. During this period, the Berlusconi family established a media empire in Italy and held a controlling stake in the local large commercial media company, Media Media. But in the early 1990s, Berlusconi decided to abandon business and enter politics, and created the still active Power Party. From 1994 to 2011, Berlusconi served as the Prime Minister of Italy three times,

Under the shadow of the "gathering door" scandal, former British Prime Minister Johnson announced on the 9th that he has resigned from his position as a member of the House of Commons. Shortly thereafter, two other Conservative MPs decided to follow in Johnson's footsteps. This means that the Conservative Party is now facing a by election for three parliamentary seats. While the opposition is eyeing, this farce has become the latest challenge facing Prime Minister Sunak. In his resignation statement, Johnson stated that this decision is related to the investigation surrounding the "Party Gate" scandal. "Party gate" refers to the scandals of the British Prime Minister's Office and other government offices meeting in violation of epidemic prevention regulations for many times during the COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, which is one of the reasons why Johnson was forced to resign as Prime Minister last July. After the scandal was exposed, Johnson denied any violations and mistakenly believed it was a work activity at the time. Discussion

In the heart of the Colombian jungle, the military radio suddenly heard the message that people had been praying to hear: "Miracle, miracle, miracle, miracle.". This means that all four Colombian indigenous children who have been missing in the jungle for 40 days have been rescued. How did these children survive for 40 days in the dangerous jungle from the plane crash on May 1st to being found on June 9th? Colombian President Gustavo Petro, known as the "Son of the Jungle," said on the 9th that after 40 days of search and rescue, four children who were previously trapped in the jungle due to a plane crash have been found and all have survived. "The whole country is delighted!" According to the Colombian military, the children were found in a small forest clearing about 5 kilometers away from the crash site. Currently, they are in Bogota, the capital of Colombia

TBS TV in Japan reported that Tokyo Electric Power Company conducted a trial operation of the Fukushima nuclear sewage discharge facility at 8:40 am local time on the 12th. The 2-week trial operation will test whether a fixed amount of water can be discharged into the sea and confirm whether the discharge operation can be suspended in emergency situations. The trial operation means that the discharge of nuclear wastewater has entered the countdown, attracting widespread attention from the international community. On April 13, 2021, the Japanese government officially decided to filter and dilute millions of tons of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant before discharging it into the sea. Despite strong opposition from Japanese fishing groups and some local officials, as well as strong opposition and questioning from neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, the Japanese government still ignores the opposition. In January 2023, the Japanese government announced the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant

During the season of increasing summer sentiment, China's diplomacy has also gained popularity due to the successive visits of multiple foreign dignitaries to China. After Honduras President Castro's trip to Shanghai and Beijing, China will welcome another distinguished guest next week - Palestinian President Abbas, who will start a four-day state visit to China on the 13th. As an old and good friend of the Chinese people, Abbas is the first Arab head of state received by China this year, fully reflecting the high level of friendly relations between China and Pakistan. Analysis suggests that in the context of the marginalization of the Palestinian issue and the frequent occurrence of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, China has always supported the just cause of restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and won the trust of regional countries. China will continue to play a positive role in promoting peace talks, adhere to international fairness and justice, and ensure the overall peace and stability in the Middle East. A time focused on the overall situation

The Federal Reserve will hold a monetary policy meeting from the 13th to the 14th. Against the backdrop of the Federal Reserve's continued interest rate hikes, high inflation, and banking industry turbulence, the direction of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy has attracted attention. The interest rate hike has not yet ended. In order to curb inflation, the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates for 14 months, with a total of 10 rate hikes and a cumulative increase of 500 basis points. Last month, the Federal Reserve announced at its monetary policy meeting that it would once again raise the target range of the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to between 5% and 5.25%, the highest level since September 2007. As the Federal Reserve holds its monetary policy meeting this month, most economists expect that the Fed's interest rate hike action is not yet over. A survey conducted jointly by the Financial Times and the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago earlier this month showed that

On June 8th local time, former US President Trump, who is now 76 years old, was prosecuted by the Department of Justice for mishandling confidential documents. This is Trump's second criminal prosecution after being charged with forging business records for "sealing fees" in April this year. However, this time, he became the first former president in American history to face federal criminal charges. However, the latest lawsuit will not hinder Trump's campaign or even his election as president. So, what does it actually mean? On the 8th, news of Trump being charged with seven criminal offenses spread across major American media outlets. The US Department of Justice did not comment. The indictment is said to remain confidential. Lawyer Trump confirmed on the same day that the Department of Justice sent a court subpoena via email, which listed seven charges against Trump, including conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice, and violation

The mainstream attitude among European citizens on how to view potential conflicts between China and the United States has surprised some American media. A poll released by the European Commission on Foreign Relations on the 7th showed that more Europeans see China as a necessary strategic partner rather than a competitor.How do Europeans view China and the United States? In April this year, the European Commission on Foreign Relations conducted a public opinion survey of 16168 respondents from 11 EU countries, covering France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Bulgaria. The survey results show that 43% of respondents believe that China is a "necessary partner" and needs to cooperate with China

The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States released a report on the 8th, stating that signals of a resurgence of the El Ni ñ o phenomenon have emerged. Public opinion is concerned that this phenomenon will bring extreme weather and exacerbate climate change, leading to the hottest year on record on Earth. Unusual El Ni ñ o is a climate phenomenon caused by abnormally high sea temperatures in the central eastern Pacific equator, occurring on average every 2 to 7 years and typically lasting for 9 to 12 months. The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States stated that a signal of this phenomenon's resurgence has emerged, with seawater temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific equator rising by more than 0.5 degrees Celsius for three consecutive months compared to normal. Michelle Lehrucks, a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States, said that despite the current "weak signal..."

With China successfully facilitating the dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Beijing, the Middle East region has entered the fast lane of "resolving the tide", and Iran is also seizing this opportunity to develop and seek breakthroughs. Recently, Iran has taken frequent military and diplomatic actions, not only publicly showcasing its domestically produced hypersonic missile "Conqueror" and proposing to form a naval alliance with regional countries, but also continuing its positive momentum in diplomacy. What signals are Iran's series of developments and changes releasing? Can we make a breakthrough again? What is the purpose of frequently "showing off muscles"? Recently, Iran has frequently become the focus of attention from the outside world. On the 6th, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force held a ceremony in the Iranian capital Tehran, showcasing for the first time the domestically produced hypersonic missile "Conqueror" to the public. According to Iranian media, the maximum range of the new ballistic missile is 1

Since the beginning of this week, many parts of the northeastern United States have been shrouded in haze due to the impact of wildfires in Canada. On June 6th and 7th, the international metropolis of New York became the world's worst major city in terms of air quality. Summer wildfires have always been commonplace for people in Canada and the western United States. But this year, why will it evolve into a public health crisis that "disrupts the normal lives of millions of Americans"? It reminds people of "9/11". American media said that in the past two days, there has been no scene more unforgettable than New York City. The sky presents a faint orange red hue, with haze enveloping the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan's skyscrapers. Flights to LaGuardia Airport are forced to stop, and the sports stadium that was originally filled with matches is cleared. There is a burning smell in the air, and more and more passersby are wearing masks again. It looks like

Welcome and send, China's diplomatic "hot season" continues.This is the first visit of the President of Honduras to China, just over two months after the two countries officially established diplomatic relations. The public opinion believes that the speed and duration of the visit arranged by China and Hong Kong from the establishment of diplomatic relations to the meeting highlight the importance and expectations of both sides for the bilateral relationship, and it is also a manifestation of the compatibility of their development concepts and focus. This visit will not only open a new chapter in China Hong Kong relations, but also inject new impetus into China Latin America cooperation. Honduras is located in the northern part of Central America, with an area of less than 120000 square kilometers and a population of less than 12 million. Although its economy is relatively backward, it has abundant natural resources. six

The Singapore Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Development issued a statement on the 5th stating that Singapore's only racecourse, the Jockey Club, will hold its final race in October 2024 and close in March 2027. The local government has decided to use the site for development to meet land use needs. This means that Singapore's 180 year history of horse racing will come to an end, attracting public attention. The difficult decision is that "Singapore is a city-state with limited land. The government continuously reviews land use plans to meet current needs while ensuring sufficient land for future generations to use." Both departments stated in a statement that in recent years, the number of spectators for local equestrian events has also decreased. The Singapore government has decided to redevelop this 120 hectare site, which will be used for housing, including public housing, and may also be used in the future

According to foreign media on the 6th, citing insiders, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to visit China in the coming weeks for talks with high-level Chinese officials. Analysis suggests that despite the tense relationship between China and the United States, the United States still hopes to resume high-level contact with China. However, although both sides have recently reached an optimistic tone of maintaining communication, there is still a risk of whether China US relations can stop falling and stabilize in the future. Plan to visit China within the month? According to media reports such as Bloomberg, CBS and CNN, several insiders said that Antony Blinken will visit China this month for talks with senior Chinese officials. However, details such as the exact time of Antony Blinken's visit to China have not yet been finalized. Affected by the "balloon incident" at the beginning of this year, Antony Blinken had postponed his trip to China originally scheduled for February. For foreign media's "exposure" to Bolin

British Prime Minister Sunak will visit the United States from the 7th to the 8th, marking his first official visit to the United States since taking office. During this period, he will hold a meeting with US President Biden at the White House to discuss issues such as the Ukrainian crisis, bilateral economic relations, and the situation in Northern Ireland. The public opinion believes that Sunak's trip aims to deepen the special relationship between the UK and the US in the context of international changes, but the differences between the two sides in areas such as trade are difficult to bridge. Sunak, his closest ally, stated in March that he had accepted Biden's invitation to visit Washington in June. At that time, Sunak was meeting with Biden and Australian Prime Minister Albanese at the San Diego Naval Base in California, USA, and announced a trilateral nuclear submarine cooperation plan. At that time, Sunak and Biden seemed to get along well. "Welcome back to California," Biden mentioned

For the sake of the presidency, former US Vice President Pence is once again competing with his former boss Trump. On June 5th local time, Pence submitted documents to the Federal Election Commission and planned to hold a rally in Iowa on June 7th, officially pressing the start button for the 2024 presidential election. During the election, it is expected that Pence will position himself as a "Reagan conservative" who focuses on fiscal responsibility, while emphasizing social conservative issues such as anti abortion, in order to replace Trump as the Republican flag bearer and challenge current President Biden. However, some Republicans are concerned that the more candidates there are, the more divided the battlefield becomes, and the less likely it is to overthrow Trump. For a period of time, traditional conservatives have joked that he may run for president. All kinds of signs indicate that he is

According to foreign media reports, on June 5th local time, during the visit of US Secretary of Defense Austin to India, the two countries have developed a roadmap for defense industry cooperation in the coming years. The public opinion believes that the US government is strengthening its defense partnership with India, freeing India from its dependence on Russia in defense and achieving the goal of balancing China in the Asia Pacific region. Strengthening India's "Defense Manufacturing Ambition" Local time from June 4th to 5th, Austin departed for India after concluding the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. This is his second visit to India since March 2021. During the visit, Austin met with Indian Defense Minister Singh and finalized a roadmap for defense industry cooperation between the two countries in the coming years. In response, the US Department of Defense issued a statement stating that this move aims to change the cooperation between the defense departments of the two countries

Amidst the wave of reconciliation in the Middle East, US diplomatic and security officials have also frequently visited Saudi Arabia to gain a sense of presence. From June 6, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia, and he will be the second US senior official to visit Saudi Arabia in a month. According to public opinion, Antony Blinken's visit bears the "heavy responsibility" of stabilizing relations with Saudi Arabia and emphasizing the presence of the United States in the region. However, analysts believe that with the increasing strategic autonomy of Middle Eastern oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, it may be difficult for the United States to achieve results if it continues to attempt to repair its relationship with an outdated mindset and strategy. Another senior official visited the US State Department before announcing that Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia from June 6 to 8 to discuss the "strategic cooperation in regional and global affairs" between the US and Saudi Arabia, as well as a series of bilateral affairs, including economic and security cooperation. During the visit, Antony Blinken

The US State Department announced on June 3rd that Assistant Secretary of State for Asia Pacific Affairs Conda will visit China and New Zealand from June 4th to 10th. The Senior Director of China Affairs at the White House National Security Council, Bessaran, will also visit China together. The two will hold talks with Chinese officials on China US relations. On the morning of June 5th, the Director General of the US Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with them. Recently, China US relations have been at a tense and delicate moment. Washington is seeking to strengthen communication and contact with Beijing. However, does this mean that the relationship between the two countries is beginning to stabilize and recover? The outside world is still observing. Pave the road again? According to a statement released by the US State Department, Conda's visit will hold talks with Chinese officials to discuss key issues in bilateral relations. Public information shows that Kanda is proficient in Chinese and Japanese, and entered the US diplomatic community in 1994

German Defense Minister Pistorius stated at the Shangri La Dialogue held in Singapore on the 4th that Germany will carry out multiple operations in the Indian Ocean Pacific region this year and next, including dispatching two warships to maintain a "rule based international order". If implemented, this would be the German warship's second foray into the Indo Pacific waters after two years. However, while showcasing its muscles in the Indo Pacific region, Germany also needs to carefully balance its economic interests in the region. The German warship will take office in the Indo Pacific for nearly half a year, and Pistorius will embark on his first Indo Pacific trip during his tenure on the 2nd. During the 6-day itinerary, he has attended the "incense ceremony" in Singapore and will visit Indonesia and India. The German Ministry of Defense stated that this trip is committed to fulfilling Germany's long-term commitments in the Indo Pacific region and strengthening partnerships. When we examine the security of the 21st century

The three major food delivery platforms in the United States, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats, bring convenience to the public. However, can they make restaurants and takeout staff on the platform profitable and satisfy customers? After an investigation by The Washington Post, it was found that the answer is not certain. The delivery platform is not always transparent about order details, restaurant and delivery staff's income information. In addition, the tips paid by customers vary from person to person, resulting in significant fluctuations in the income of delivery drivers. But overall, it seems difficult for restaurants, delivery drivers, and platforms to make money through delivery orders. Customer: The bill is opaque. Firstly, at a Latin restaurant called "Atsano" located in San Francisco, if the customer wants to order a chicken skewer and fried bananas, the most cost-effective option is to pick them up directly from the store

On June 2nd, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect for the Philippines. This marks the entry into force of RCEP for all 15 signatory countries. The world's largest free trade zone has entered a new stage of comprehensive implementation. "RCEP is completely unobstructed", "Philippine officials expect RCEP to bring more opportunities", "The Philippines has reached good business with China through RCEP"... In recent days, multiple Philippine media outlets have focused on the economic effects that RCEP may bring. What does it mean for the world's largest free trade zone to fully take effect? What benefits can businesses and consumers in various countries receive? Amidst the headwinds of economic globalization, what will RCEP's journey forward bring to Asia and the world? On June 2nd, at a press conference held in Manila, the Philippines held the first round of RCEP negotiations