分类： world

China has officially launched the Institute of Global Development (IGD) at Zhejiang University, marking a significant step in strengthening international development cooperation. The inauguration ceremony took place on Sunday in Hangzhou, positioning the institute as a pivotal platform for translating development theory into practical solutions.

The newly established institution will operate under the joint policy guidance of China’s Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Education, and the Zhejiang Provincial Government. Its primary mission involves advancing the practical implementation of the Global Development Initiative while accelerating progress toward the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and subsequent post-2030 planning frameworks.

IGD will specifically target mid-to-senior-level government officials and business leaders from across the globe for specialized training and academic programs. According to Huang Xianhai, the institute’s dean, IGD will leverage Zhejiang University’s strengths in applied economics and public administration disciplines to offer comprehensive degree programs. “We aim to provide long-term, strategic talent support for global sustainable development,” Huang stated.

The institute has already initiated global recruitment efforts, with the first cohort of doctoral students expected to commence studies in September 2026. The concept for IGD originated from China’s proposal during the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Chinese representatives advocated for creating a dedicated institution to enhance multilateral cooperation among nations.

The launch ceremony highlighted IGD’s commitment to fostering global partnerships, evidenced by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Zhejiang University and the United Nations Population Fund. This agreement establishes a collaborative framework for joint research on population and development issues, creating a shared global research platform.

Additional international organizations have expressed strong interest in collaborating with the new institute. Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China, emphasized the potential for partnership: “UNICEF hopes to explore cooperation with IGD to advance sustainable development outcomes for children. Platforms such as the Institute of Global Development can help translate development experience into shared knowledge, South-South Cooperation, and practical solutions for countries seeking to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.”

A Palestinian family’s joyful pre-Eid shopping trip ended in tragedy when undercover Israeli special forces opened fire on their vehicle in the West Bank town of Tammun, killing both parents and two of their children in a controversial shooting that has drawn international condemnation.

On Saturday evening, Ali Bani Odeh, 37, was driving home with his wife Waad, 35, and their four children after purchasing new Eid al-Fitr clothing in Nablus. The children were enthusiastically describing their new outfits to their visually impaired brother Othman when Israeli forces, traveling in an unmarked civilian vehicle, intercepted their car and unleashed a barrage of gunfire near the western entrance of Tammun.

The shooting resulted in the immediate deaths of both parents and two children—Mohammad, 5, and Othman, 7—each sustaining fatal head wounds. Survivors Mustafa, 8, and Khaled, 12, both suffered shrapnel injuries to their faces and heads during the incident.

Eyewitness accounts and survivor testimonies describe disturbing aftermath treatment by Israeli soldiers. The two surviving children were forcibly removed from the vehicle, made to lie on the cold, wet ground for interrogation, and subsequently subjected to physical abuse and psychological torment. Khaled recounted to reporters how one soldier punched him in the face when he questioned why they killed his parents.

Medical personnel faced significant obstacles in responding to the incident. Palestinian ambulance crews were prevented from reaching the scene for approximately thirty minutes despite the critical condition of the survivors. When finally permitted access, paramedics discovered the vehicle riddled with dozens of bullet holes, with all fatal wounds concentrated in the head and upper torso regions.

The Israeli military and police issued a joint statement claiming the vehicle “accelerated toward the forces, who perceived an immediate threat to their safety and responded with gunfire.” This explanation has been met with skepticism by local authorities and human rights observers.

The incident has drawn parallels to the June 2024 killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, highlighting what Palestinian officials describe as a pattern of excessive force against civilians. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed 44 Palestinians in the Tubas district alone, including numerous children.

Local municipality member Najeh Bani Odeh, who also serves as a paramedic, emphasized the particular danger posed by undercover Israeli units: “They operate in civilian vehicles, so people don’t notice them and behave normally when they pass by. If the soldiers inside feel threatened, they open fire immediately.”

The tragedy has left the community of Tammun, home to approximately 15,000 Palestinians, in mourning as they prepare for Eid celebrations under the shadow of what local residents describe as an ongoing occupation marked by frequent military raids and settler violence.

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian government confirmed Monday that a fifth member of the Iranian women’s national football team has departed the country after initially accepting refugee status, further reducing the number of athletes remaining from a group that sought humanitarian protection. This latest departure occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday, according to officials from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office.

The development follows Saturday’s exit of two additional players and a support staff member who traveled from Sydney to Malaysia. These departures mark a significant reversal from the initial wave of asylum seekers that saw six players and one staff member from Iran’s 26-person squad accept humanitarian visas following the Women’s Asian Cup tournament last month.

The team’s arrival in Australia preceded the February 28 outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, creating a complex geopolitical backdrop for their stay. On March 10, the majority of the Iranian contingent returned to Kuala Lumpur, while the remaining individuals pursued refugee status.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency characterized the returning athletes as ‘returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland,’ framing their departure as a failure of Western influence. The situation gained international attention when players declined to sing Iran’s national anthem during tournament matches, raising concerns about potential repercussions upon their return home.

The case drew high-profile attention, with Iranian diaspora groups in Australia and former U.S. President Donald Trump urging the Australian government to provide protection for the athletes. Iranian state media subsequently portrayed the athletes’ return as a ‘disgraceful failure of the American-Australian project.’

With the latest departures, only two squad members remain in Australia under humanitarian protection, marking a dramatic shift from the initial seven who sought refuge.

The strategic waters of the Persian Gulf have become the epicenter of a rapidly escalating military confrontation between Iran and the United States, with critical oil infrastructure emerging as primary targets in a conflict that shows no signs of abating.

Fresh cross-border attacks were reported across Gulf states on Sunday, following Iran’s explicit warning for civilians to evacuate three major United Arab Emirates ports that Tehran has designated as “legitimate targets.” The Iranian government claims these facilities are being utilized by US military forces to launch strikes against Iranian territory.

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Washington has dramatically raised the stakes by directly targeting Iran’s most crucial oil export channel. Recent US military operations have focused on Kharg Island, the strategic chokepoint responsible for processing approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. American forces have conducted strikes on more than 90 Iranian military targets on the island, marking a dangerous new phase in the three-week-old conflict that also involves Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with Al Araby Al Jadeed that no specific peace initiatives have been proposed to end the hostilities. “The end of the war depends on guaranteeing that it will not be repeated and on paying compensation,” Araghchi emphasized, indicating Tehran’s conditions for ceasefire negotiations.

The minister earlier accused the US of launching attacks on Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island from two locations within the UAE—Ras Al-Khaimah and a site “very close to Dubai.” He characterized the situation as “extremely dangerous” while asserting Iran’s commitment to exercise restraint to avoid striking civilian-populated areas in the UAE.

Behind the scenes, diplomatic sources reveal growing resentment among Gulf Arab states who find themselves unwilling participants in a conflict they neither initiated nor endorsed. These nations are now bearing significant economic and security costs as the violence spills across their borders.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, articulated this delicate balancing act on social media, acknowledging his country’s right to self-defense while emphasizing that “still prioritizes reason and de-escalation, and continues to exercise restraint.”

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain all activated defense systems to intercept incoming projectiles. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed responsibility for launching 10 missiles and an unspecified number of drones against US forces stationed at al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE.

Despite Tehran’s threats, there was no immediate evidence of attacks on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port—the Middle East’s busiest commercial hub—or Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa port. However, debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility at Fujairah port, with television footage capturing plumes of thick black smoke rising into the air. Authorities confirmed that civil defense teams were managing the situation and urged the public to rely solely on official updates.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump declared in an NBC News telephone interview that Washington is not prepared to strike a deal with Iran because “the terms are not good enough.” The president revealed that initial attacks had “completely demolished” most of Kharg Island and suggested additional strikes might be conducted “just for good measure.”

In a separate development, Iran’s joint military command accused the United States and Israel of utilizing replica Iranian drones to attack neighboring countries and shift blame onto Tehran. State media reported that copies of Iran’s Shahed-136 drone, designated LUCAS, were allegedly used to hit “unrelated targets in regional states,” including attacks in Turkiye, Iraq, and Kuwait, though no evidence was provided to support these claims.

The IRGC further escalated rhetoric by vowing to hunt down Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A statement carried by state media declared: “If this criminal, the killer of children, remains alive, we will spare no effort to track down and eliminate him with all our strength.”

Since the conflict began on February 28, more than 2,000 people have been killed, with the majority of casualties occurring in Iran. The ongoing hostilities have caused major disruptions to global oil supplies, driving international prices higher and creating economic ripple effects across world markets.