Typhoon Wipha strengthens, set to impact south China and beyond

Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, has strengthened and is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to south China and surrounding regions in the coming days, according to the China Meteorological Administration on Friday.

In the early hours of Friday, a tropical depression east of the Philippines strengthened into Typhoon Wipha at the level of tropical storm. As of 11:00, Wipha's center was located approximately 505 kilometers northeast of Manila, with maximum sustained winds around the center estimated at 62 to 74 kilometers per hour.

The tropical storm is moving northwestward at a speed of 20 to 25 kilometers per hour and is expected to intensify, possibly reaching typhoon or severe typhoon status in the coming days. Forecasts indicate that Wipha will enter the northern South China Sea between the early morning and late morning of Saturday, and then continue toward coastal regions from central Guangdong to eastern Hainan Island.

In response, the China Meteorological Administration issued a yellow typhoon warning Friday morning, the third-highest in its four-tier alert system.

From Friday through Tuesday, northern parts of China are also expected to see increased rainfall, with some areas experiencing heavy precipitation. In addition, some parts of south China will embrace strong winds and rain brought by the approaching typhoon.

Typhoon Wipha strengthens, set to impact south China and beyond

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"