In his annual address to French ambassadors at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron outlined France’s foreign policy priorities, sharply criticizing the US for “gradually turning away” from some of its allies and “breaking free from international rules,” while leveling criticisms and claims against China and Russia, according to a press release issued by the Élysée Palace. A Chinese expert noted that Macron’s criticism appears to be mostly aimed at the US following a series of Washington’s actions, although he also criticized Russia and made…
the Hong Kong Globe
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” has continued the franchise’s unbeatable winning streak. James Cameron’s latest “Avatar” film has grossed over $1 billion at the global box office, making the franchise the highest-grossing trilogy in history, and is one of only four films in 2025 to cross the worldwide billion-dollar mark. It will likely not break the records of the first or second film. But even so, you cannot argue that the series is anything short of a colossal success. One of the things few people discuss about the “Avatar” films is…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported Wednesday that a woman shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis has died. Homeland Security officials have described the shooting as an act of self-defense, while Minnesota governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey have pushed back on this account. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the shooting occurred when ICE officers fired “defensive shots” in response to the woman “attempting to run over our law enforcement officers” with her vehicle. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem…
WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the 2027 U.S. military budget should be $1.5 trillion, significantly higher than the $901 billion approved by Congress for 2026, boosting defense stocks, but sparking skepticism among budget experts. Any such increase in the military budget would require congressional authorization, which could pose a challenge, although Trump’s Republicans, who hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, have shown little appetite for objecting to Trump’s spending plans. rump said in a Truth Social post that he…
When Karyna Kovalevska, an 18-year-old from Ukraine, first visited China in 2019 as part of a Confucius Institute summer exchange program, she never imagined the country would one day become her second home. The program began in Anhui province, where she eagerly took on the challenge of learning an entirely new language. Chinese wasn’t easy — but it was exciting. “It’s so different from Ukrainian or Russian,” she said. “It felt like stepping into a whole new world.” Kovalevska was amazed by the kindness and generosity she encountered, even though…
PARIS/BERLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Allies including France and Germany are working closely on a plan on how to respond should the United States act on its threat to take over Greenland, as Europe seeks to address U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitions in the region. A U.S. military seizure of Greenland from a longtime ally, Denmark, would send shock waves through the NATO alliance and deepen the divide between Trump and European leaders. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the subject would be raised at a meeting with the foreign…
The Swiss government has frozen any assets held in Switzerland by Nicolas Maduro and people close to the Venezuelan president. The order is to ensure that potentially illegally acquired assets cannot be transferred out of Switzerland, the government said in a statement on Monday. The freeze comes into force with immediate effect and will remain valid for four years, until further notice. A total of 37 people are currently affected by the freeze, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in an emailed reply to questions. It declined to given any indication…
Britain faces widespread snow today as an Arctic freeze grips the country for up to a week amid fears over travel chaos and temperatures plummeting to -10C. Yellow warnings for snow and ice were activated this morning for London, southern England, the Midlands and North West as well as Wales and Northern Ireland. Snow has been falling since yesterday in Scotland but significant accumulations are set to build up from midday there when an amber warning comes into force. The Met Office expects daytime temperatures across the UK will struggle…
Veteran actor and martial arts choreographer Yuen Cheung-yan from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region died of illness at the age of 69 on January 1 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, local media reported on Friday morning, citing an obituary notice issued by Yuen’s wife. The funeral service will be held on February 1 at the Universal Funeral Parlour, Hong Kong Economic Times reported. News of Yuen’s passing prompted tributes from netizens on social media platforms, with many expressing condolences and recalling his iconic performances. Born in Hong Kong in 1957,…
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned a new Type 052D guided missile destroyer, which features upgraded radar, weapon and network systems, leading to enhanced regional air defense, sea attack and task force command capabilities, official media reported. The newly commissioned Type 052D is named Loudi, with the hull number 176, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Thursday. Official media reports show that China’s first Type 052D destroyer, the Kunming, entered service with the PLA Navy on March 21, 2014. Since then, multiple hulls…