With the US, China Must Choose Constructive Power over Destruction
An op‑ed argues that both the United States and China must abandon zero‑sum tactics and pursue constructive engagement to preserve global stability. It highlights China’s economic achievements and its recent UN veto on a Hormuz security resolution, warning that deeper ties with Iran could damage its credibility. The piece also critiques past U.S. missteps—from Syria to Afghanistan—and urges Washington to balance pressure on Beijing with cooperation on shared interests like trade and non‑proliferation.
China Defies Strait of Hormuz Crisis with Record Monthly Export Value in April
China’s export sector posted a record‑breaking month in April, with total outbound shipment value climbing 14.1% year‑on‑year, far exceeding market forecasts. The surge came despite the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, which has driven up energy prices and shipping costs...
Investors Have Worries About Trump’s Pick for Fed Chair. Should They?
President Donald Trump nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as his next Federal Reserve chair, prompting a wave of investor anxiety about possible political meddling. Warsh told the Senate he would not act as a "human sock puppet," but markets...
Chinese EV Maker Leapmotor Taps Stellantis’ Spanish Plant for EU Production
Leapmotor, backed by a 21% stake from Stellantis, will add a production line at the Stellantis‑owned Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza to build Opel‑branded electric SUVs and its B10 model for Europe. The joint venture, Leapmotor International, gives Leapmotor a 49%...
China’s Shipping Firms Brace for a New ‘Era of Chaos’ as Iran War Drags On
Chinese state‑backed shippers are confronting a prolonged disruption of the Strait of Hormuz as the US‑Israel conflict with Iran drags on. Cosco Shipping Holdings has shifted to longer, multimodal routes and doubled down on digital integration, but its first‑quarter net...
Pentagon Releases New Files on UFOs, Praises Trump’s ‘Transparency’ Push
The Pentagon announced a new wave of declassified UFO files, inviting the public to draw its own conclusions on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). The release follows a 2022 congressional mandate and a 2024 Pentagon report that documented hundreds of incidents...
Why Iran’s Ambassador to China Thinks the US Can’t Turn Beijing Against It
Iran’s ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, warned that Washington lacks the leverage to sway Beijing against Tehran. His comments came as U.S. officials speculate about offering China trade concessions to pressure Iran into a peace deal during President Donald Trump’s...
Chinese Health Authority Says No Need to Worry About Latest Hantavirus Outbreak
China’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced that no human infections have been recorded from the Andes‑origin hantavirus linked to the recent outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius. The virus, primarily carried by rodents, rarely spreads between...
Thailand Targets 6 Million Chinese Visitors via ‘Authentic’ Content on RedNote, WeChat
Thailand is targeting more than 6 million Chinese visitors in 2024, up from 4.5 million in 2025, by leveraging the RedNote travel app and WeChat. After a 30 percent drop in Chinese arrivals last year due to safety scares and economic concerns, the...
Handle with Care: Chinese Study Finds Aquatic Virus Can Infect Human Eyes
Chinese researchers have identified the covert mortality nodavirus (CMNV), a pathogen long known in shrimp, as the cause of a newly described eye disease, persistent ocular hypertensive viral anterior uveitis (POH‑VAU), in humans. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, linked...
Malaysian King’s Visit to Russia Expected to Smooth Path for Oil Deal
Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim arrived in Moscow for a state visit that doubles as a diplomatic push for energy cooperation. The trip coincides with Malaysia’s urgent search for alternative crude after Iran‑linked disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have tightened...
South Korean Court Cuts Former Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo’s Jail Term to 15 Years
South Korea’s appeals court cut former prime minister Han Duck‑soo’s prison term from 23 to 15 years, maintaining most of his convictions related to the December 2024 martial law declaration by ex‑president Yoon Suk‑yeol. The decree, which suspended civilian rule for...
Italy PM Meloni Warns over AI Deepfakes After False Photos of Her Circulate
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that AI‑generated fake images of her have been circulating online, including a fabricated photo of her in underwear. She posted the deepfake herself to illustrate the threat and warned that such manipulations can deceive...
Takaichi Signs Australia Deals to Boost Japan’s Energy Security
Japan and Australia announced a comprehensive partnership to strengthen Japan’s energy security, focusing on critical minerals, defence cooperation, and stable fuel supplies. The deal targets China’s dominance in rare‑earth markets and aims to mitigate supply shocks from the Iran‑related fuel...
HSBC Profit Flat as Middle East Provisions Offset Wealth Growth
HSBC reported first‑quarter 2026 net profit of $6.94 billion, essentially flat year‑on‑year and below the $7.07 billion consensus. The bank’s earnings were weighed down by a 49% jump in credit‑impairment charges to $1.3 billion, including a $300 million provision linked to the Middle East...
EcoCeres to Invest HK$10 Billion in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plants in Greater Bay Area
EcoCeres, backed by Peter Lee Ka‑kit's family office, announced a HK$10 billion ($1.3 billion) investment to build sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants in Dongguan, part of a broader Greater Bay Area green‑energy push. The project aims to produce 450,000 tonnes of SAF and...
Drones Shatter Months of Relative Calm in Sudan’s Capital as International Airport Targeted
Sudan’s armed forces blamed the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia for a coordinated drone strike that hit Khartoum International Airport on May 6, ending months of relative calm in the capital. The army said the drones were launched from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar...
‘Golden Week’: Hong Kong Draws More Mainland Chinese Visitors but Spending Uneven
During the first three days of Hong Kong’s Labour Day “Golden Week,” mainland Chinese arrivals rose 4.8 % to 714,765, bringing total visitor numbers to 854,929. Hotel occupancy is expected to approach 90 % thanks to flexible travel patterns and high‑speed rail...
Wall Street Dips, Oil Prices Rise on Reports of Strike on US Navy Vessel Near Iran
Wall Street futures slipped on Monday as S&P 500 futures fell 0.2% and the Dow lost 0.5% amid conflicting reports that Iran struck a U.S. Navy vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices jumped, initially spiking 5% before settling...
‘Made in Europe’ Law Sets Stage for an Economic Showdown with China
The European Union is advancing a “Made in Europe” Industrial Accelerator Act to shield its industries from Chinese competition, following the imposition of up to 35.3% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Beijing condemns the legislation as discriminatory, citing foreign‑investor, local‑content,...
What’s Behind the KMT’s Internal Splits over Taiwanese Defence Spending?
The United States is pressuring Taiwan’s ruling DPP to approve a special defence budget of NT$1.25 trillion (≈US$40 billion) for U.S. arms purchases and domestic weapons development. Within the opposition KMT, a split has emerged between a leadership‑backed plan of NT$380 billion (≈US$12 billion)...
Hong Kong Puts Its Own Spin on DeepSeek with China-Chip AI Push Abroad
Hong Kong's government-backed AI lab, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre (HKGAI), is set to launch HKGAI‑V3, a DeepSeek‑based large language model that runs entirely on Chinese‑made chips such as Huawei’s Ascend 910C. The model, fine‑tuned for...
Yan Huichang to Step Down as Head of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra After 30-Year Run
Yan Huichang will relinquish his role as artistic director of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in July 2027 after a 30‑year tenure, the longest in the ensemble’s history. He will remain as honorary artistic director, chairman of the artistic committee and head...
Singapore’s Safe-Haven Status Draws More Chinese Capital Into Property Sector
Chinese developers have become the second‑largest source of fixed‑asset investment in Singapore, contributing 21% of the S$14.16 billion (≈US$11.07 billion) invested in 2025. High‑profile residential land purchases—including a S$951 million (≈US$704 million) Dover Drive lot and a S$918 million (≈US$680 million) Telok Blangah site—highlight the surge in...
Trump Says He’s Reviewing New Iran Proposal to End War
President Donald Trump said he is reviewing a new Iranian 14‑point proposal delivered via Pakistan, following a previous nine‑point U.S. offer. Trump expressed skepticism, noting Iran has not yet paid a sufficient price for its actions over the past 47...
Beyond Subsidies: What’s Really Driving China’s Industrial Climb
China’s industrial ascent is entering a second wave—dubbed “China shock 2.0”—as the nation pivots from traditional textiles, furniture and appliances to electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels, and now to AI, industrial robots and innovative medicines. State funding has poured roughly...
Why India’s Logistics Pact with Russia Signals Its Arctic ‘Footprint’ Ambition
India and Russia have activated the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), granting two‑way access to each other’s airbases and ports for military exercises, training and humanitarian missions. The pact allows up to five warships, ten aircraft and 3,000 troops...
Durian Express? New Southeast Asia Rail Service Cuts Fruit Prices in China
A new cold‑storage rail line linking Thailand, Laos and Yunnan province in China now moves durians at scale, reducing transit time from weeks to under two days. Operated by a joint venture of regional rail operators, the service lowers logistics...
US Telecoms Agency Votes to Expand Tech Crackdown on China
The FCC voted unanimously to advance a proposal that would bar all Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices destined for the United States. The agency says about 75% of U.S. electronics are currently tested in China and will streamline approvals...
Oil Surge on Trump Blockade Warning Tests Stocks’ Resilience
Crude oil prices leapt to a four‑year peak after President Donald Trump suggested a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could endure for months. Brent crude surged as much as 7.3%, breaking the $126 per barrel mark. The...
How China Can Avoid a Repeat of Japan’s ‘Lost Decades’, in Eyes of Top Economist
Chinese President Xi Jinping will make his first overseas trip this year, visiting North Korea on Monday and Tuesday, his first visit to the hermit state since 2019. The trip underscores Beijing’s effort to revive a strategic partnership with Pyongyang...
Ikea to Open First Small-Format Beijing Store to Tap China’s Changing Consumer Trends
Ikea will launch its first small‑format store in Beijing’s Tongzhou district, a 1,500 sqm outlet aimed at convenience and efficiency. The move follows the closure of seven large stores in China as demand for new‑home furnishings wanes amid a sluggish property...
In a Fragmenting Global Order, Former Japanese Leader Urges Pivot to China
Former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama called on Beijing and Tokyo to cooperate against what he described as US “arrogance” and to prevent a collapse of the world order. He argued that joint coalitions with like‑minded nations would boost bargaining...
Rights Groups Hail Indonesia’s ‘New Chapter’ for Domestic Workers, Warn of Long Road Ahead
Indonesia’s House of Representatives approved a long‑awaited domestic‑worker protection law, granting 14 rights such as social security, universal health care and mandatory vocational training. The legislation caps domestic duties at ten specific tasks and requires placement agencies to register and...
Youth Hostel Scheme Falls Short as only 44% of Expected Flats Offered: Audit
Hong Kong’s Youth Hostel Scheme, launched in the 2011‑12 policy address to deliver 3,000 affordable flats for young workers, has fallen far short of its goals. An Audit Commission report shows only 1,326 flats – just 44% of the target...
Hong Kong Surplus Hits HK$11 Billion as Finance Chief ‘Monitors’ Mideast War
Hong Kong’s financial secretary Paul Chan announced a revised fiscal surplus of HK$11 billion (about US$1.9 billion) for the 2025‑26 year, roughly four times the original forecast. He stressed that the ongoing Middle‑East conflict has only a limited effect on the city’s...
As Hong Kong Recalibrates, the Blue Economy Offers an Anchor
Hong Kong completed its first green methanol bunkering operation, signaling a push to decarbonise global shipping. The city is positioning the blue economy—valued by the UN at $3‑$6 trillion annually—as a strategic growth anchor amid a shifting regional maritime landscape. With...
Will Asean’s Scramble for Russian Oil Fuel Shift in Regional Alliances?
Southeast Asian nations are turning to Russian oil to fill shortages caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockage. Countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Myanmar have secured U.S. sanctions waivers and signed energy deals with Moscow. The move...
China Faces a France-Sized Demographic Loss that Threatens Coastal Growth: Analysts
China is projected to lose about 60 million people over the next decade, a decline roughly equal to France’s entire population. The shrinkage will hit the affluent coastal provinces that have driven most of China’s growth, reducing labor productivity and household...
Trump’s Golden Dome Aimed at Combating China’s ‘Hypersonic Weapons, Cruise Missiles’
The Pentagon told Congress it currently lacks any defense against hypersonic weapons or advanced cruise missiles, prompting President Donald Trump to push the $185 billion Golden Dome missile‑shield program. The initiative, originally budgeted at $175 billion through 2035, was raised by $10 billion after...
Scientists in China Create a Predator-Like Material to Hunt for Uranium in the Ocean
An international team at China’s CAS Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes has created a light‑powered metal‑organic framework micromotor that swims through water and selectively captures uranium ions. The 2‑micron particles propel themselves using hydrogen peroxide and double their speed under...
Can Parents and Children Playing Video Games Together Level up Their Relationship?
A Hong Kong survey by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong found that parents who play video games with their children report relationship scores about 20 percentage points higher than families that don’t. The study sampled 2,271 youths and 1,283...
Middle East Shipping Crisis Elevates China-Europe Railway’s Profile
The China‑Europe railway network has transformed from a niche experiment into a commercial freight alternative, linking 235 cities across 26 European nations with more than 120 Chinese hubs. Driven by pandemic‑induced air‑freight shortages and maritime congestion, annual train trips doubled...
China Is Poised to Reap Rewards as Energy Shock Heats up the Race for Renewables
China’s renewable‑energy footprint is expanding as the global oil crisis accelerates demand for clean power. In Cuba, Chinese‑made solar panels lifted solar’s share of generation from 6% to over 20% within a year, and the country expects 2 GW of Chinese‑financed...
Syria Begins Long-Awaited First Trial of Assad-Era Officials
Syria opened its first public trial of officials tied to the Assad regime in Damascus, featuring former army brigadier general Atef Najib, a cousin of the ousted president. Najib faces charges of crimes against the Syrian people for his role...
China Warns EU to Remove Firms and Citizens From Russian Sanctions List
China’s Ministry of Commerce demanded the EU drop 27 Chinese firms and individuals from its latest sanctions list tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine, warning that the bloc would bear the consequences of non‑compliance. The EU justified the measures, accusing...
China’s Li Auto Targets BMW and Mercedes with Premium SUVs in Middle East, Asia-Pacific
Li Auto, the Chinese EV maker known for its extended‑range premium SUVs, announced distribution deals in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as part of a broader push into the Middle East and Asia‑Pacific. President Ma Donghui said the...
New Israeli Strikes Reported in Lebanon After Netanyahu Orders Attacks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a forceful campaign against Hezbollah after accusing the group of breaching a recently extended ceasefire. Israeli strikes hit the Lebanese towns of Yohmor al‑Shaqeef and Safad al‑Battikh, killing six civilians and injuring dozens. Hezbollah...
Germany’s Merz Says No ‘Immediate’ Ukraine EU Membership, Floats Kyiv Joining Meetings
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told an EU summit that Ukraine cannot join the bloc immediately, but could attend European Council meetings without voting rights. The statement comes as Hungary’s nationalist opposition eases after Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat, reviving hopes for faster progress....
Changes to Fire Services Law with Tougher Penalties Set for Public Consultation
Hong Kong's Security Bureau announced a public consultation on sweeping amendments to the Fire Services Ordinance, prompted by the deadliest fire in decades. The proposals would make six‑month fire‑alarm testing mandatory, require prior approval before deactivating firefighting systems, and impose...