Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and General Gholam Reza Soleimani, head of Tehran's Basij paramilitary force, were struck in an overnight operation. Katz announced the information was confirmed by the Chief of Staff. The Basij is described as Iran's central repression apparatus.
Chinese scientists have developed a novel rare earth alloy with extremely low temperatures and high efficiency. A compact cooling device built with this alloy achieves temperatures approaching absolute zero without moving parts. The technology could reduce long-term dependence on helium-3 and significantly impact quantum computing and ultra-sensitive detector development. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is actively seeking such technological solutions.
The US Trade Representative (USTR) has announced two new investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, covering at least 60 economies. One investigation targets alleged excess manufacturing capacity and opened for public comment today. These investigations follow the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Trump administration's previous tariffs and may result in the imposition of new tariffs.
Early Tuesday, the US embassy in Baghdad came under attack from drones and rockets. An explosion occurred within the embassy complex, producing heavy smoke, while air defences intercepted another drone. A separate strike killed four people at a house reportedly housing Iranian advisers. Hours earlier, air defences had thwarted a rocket attack on the embassy, and a drone ignited a fire at a luxury hotel frequented by foreigners. These incidents demonstrate Iraq's deepening involvement in the broader Middle East conflict.
Cuba's grid operator UNE announced a nationwide power grid failure on Monday, leaving approximately 10 million people without electricity. This blackout is the latest in a series of widespread outages lasting hours or days. The US-imposed oil embargo has severely impacted Cuba's aging power generation infrastructure. The operator is investigating the causes of the outage, which follows rare violent protests triggered by power cuts over the weekend.
Asian spot LNG prices have doubled to three-year highs due to geopolitical tensions affecting Middle East shipping. The Strait of Hormuz disruptions and Qatar's halted shipments have created the second major supply shock in four years. Asian utilities are increasing coal-fired power generation to reduce costs and secure energy supplies amid soaring LNG prices that threaten to suppress demand.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and General Gholam Reza Soleimani, head of Tehran's Basij paramilitary force, were struck in an overnight operation. Katz announced the information was confirmed by the Chief of Staff. The Basij is described as Iran's central repression apparatus.
Early Tuesday, the US embassy in Baghdad came under attack from drones and rockets. An explosion occurred within the embassy complex, producing heavy smoke, while air defences intercepted another drone. A separate strike killed four people at a house reportedly housing Iranian advisers. Hours earlier, air defences had thwarted a rocket attack on the embassy, and a drone ignited a fire at a luxury hotel frequented by foreigners. These incidents demonstrate Iraq's deepening involvement in the broader Middle East conflict.
Researchers from China's top defence university suggest that large-scale projects including passenger aircraft, advanced semiconductors, BeiDou satellites, and the Tiangong space station may support accelerated weapons development. Over the past decade, China's military modernization has progressed at a pace that concerns Washington analysts. The research indicates China is mobilizing nationwide resources to advance defence technology capabilities.
Cuba's grid operator UNE announced a nationwide power grid failure on Monday, leaving approximately 10 million people without electricity. This blackout is the latest in a series of widespread outages lasting hours or days. The US-imposed oil embargo has severely impacted Cuba's aging power generation infrastructure. The operator is investigating the causes of the outage, which follows rare violent protests triggered by power cuts over the weekend.
US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that his planned Beijing visit, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2, may be postponed. Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump cited the need to remain in Washington to manage ongoing military operations against Iran as the reason for the potential delay. The visit was expected to include talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The postponement adds uncertainty to this significant diplomatic engagement.
The Afghan government accused Pakistan on Monday of conducting air strikes on Kabul that killed civilians, while Islamabad claimed precision strikes targeted military and terrorist facilities. Explosions struck the capital at 9pm local time, with smoke visible from Shahr-e-Naw and Wazir Akbar Khan areas. Anti-aircraft defences activated as residents, many observing Ramadan, sought shelter.
The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit voted 2-1 on Monday to lift a lower court block on third-country deportations, allowing the Trump administration to temporarily resume deporting undocumented migrants to countries other than their origin. District Judge Brian Murphy had ruled the policy unlawful last month but stayed his decision to permit government appeal, which has now been partially granted by the appellate court.
US Consul-General Kevin Murakami stated on March 5 that Washington does not want a Chinese company to win the concession for a major container terminal at Santos, Latin America's largest port. The comments, made at an industry event in Sao Paulo, reflect how competition for Brazil's prized infrastructure assets has become a focal point in the broader US-China strategic rivalry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the UK on Tuesday, according to British Defence Secretary John Healey's announcement to parliament. Healey stated that Britain will welcome Zelensky and emphasized the country's steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he will meet with the Ukrainian leader. Zelensky is expected to travel to Madrid, Spain the following day. The visit underscores continued allied support for Ukraine.
China and Russia are considering deeper logistics cooperation to address global shipping disruptions caused by heightened Middle East conflict. At the inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum held in Moscow, officials and business leaders discussed strengthening transport and infrastructure ties, including potential use of Arctic shipping routes. Participants emphasized that such cooperation is essential for building a more resilient supply chain as geopolitical tensions reshape global logistics networks.
Chinese contract drug manufacturers, including major players in the sector, face uncertain long-term revenue prospects as US pharmaceutical companies shift production in-house and reconfigure supply chains amid US-China tensions. While near-term earnings remain largely secured, visibility beyond 2025 is limited according to healthcare analysts. Revenue momentum for 2026 and 2027 shows strength, but longer-term outlook remains unclear.
Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation projects 143.9 million trips during this year's mudik, the annual Eid ul-Fitr exodus involving roughly half of the nation's 288 million people. This massive migration, one of the world's largest annual human movements, coincides with rising oil prices, creating fiscal challenges for the government. The mudik is a traditional ritual marking the end of Ramadan, with travelers using trains, buses, ferries, and cars to return home.
Malaysia has emerged as an attractive investment destination in Southeast Asia due to political stability and strategic investments in high-value manufacturing and data centres. While neighbouring countries face leadership transitions and financial challenges, Malaysia's advantages are becoming more pronounced. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have further enhanced its appeal as investors seek markets with greater resilience to external shocks.
Hong Kong welcomed 9.95 million visitors in January and February 2026, representing an 18 percent increase year-on-year, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Mainland Chinese visitors accounted for 7.89 million arrivals, a 22 percent rise, comprising 79.3 percent of total visitors. The surge was primarily driven by mainland travellers during the Chinese New Year holiday period.
China has launched a pilot programme to broaden industrial hydrogen energy adoption. The initiative comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate, with Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global oil and gas supplies. The crisis has prompted multiple nations to reassess their energy portfolios, with renewable energy sources emerging as a potential buffer against market volatility. China's move reflects growing global concerns about fossil fuel dependency risks.
The US Trade Representative (USTR) has announced two new investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, covering at least 60 economies. One investigation targets alleged excess manufacturing capacity and opened for public comment today. These investigations follow the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Trump administration's previous tariffs and may result in the imposition of new tariffs.
Vietnamese authorities have cautioned the aviation industry to prepare for possible flight reductions starting in April due to jet fuel supply constraints. China and Thailand have halted exports of jet fuel following developments related to Iran. Vietnam imports over two-thirds of its jet fuel requirements, with 60 percent sourced from China and Thailand, according to documents from aviation regulators and importers. The shortage risk poses potential operational challenges for Vietnamese airlines.
South Korea and Japan have experienced the steepest stock market declines globally following Middle East tensions, reflecting the vulnerability of fuel-import-dependent economies. Seoul's Kospi index has fallen 12 percent since late February, while Tokyo's Nikkei 225 has declined nearly 9 percent. South Korea implemented measures last week to cap oil price increases and control inflation. Rising crude costs pose significant challenges to economic growth in both nations.
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to regional tensions have exposed vulnerabilities in global energy and maritime sectors. Rising oil prices and freight rates underscore energy security concerns for Asia and Hong Kong. Beyond immediate market impacts, experts emphasize the need to strengthen shipping risk management resilience and accelerate the maritime industry's transition to greener practices to address both geopolitical risks and long-term climate challenges.
Nvidia unveiled the Groq 3 Language Processing Unit at GTC 2026 in San Jose, featuring fast memory and low latency capabilities. The chip addresses the growing market for AI agents and marks a new frontier in the AI inference arms race. Analysts note this development creates both challenges and opportunities for China's semiconductor industry as the market dynamics shift.
According to UK-based intellectual property law firm Mathys & Squire, China leads the world in patent applications for anti-drone technology. Anti-drone system patent applications increased 27 percent over the past year, with China submitting 82 applications compared to 22 from the United States, which ranks second. South Korea placed third with six applications. The technology has gained heightened attention due to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, as well as suspicious drone sightings in Western countries.
Shanghai-based start-up Carbonology announced it has developed a process to extract carbon dioxide from air and water, converting it into synthetic fuel using solar and wind energy at low cost. The company disclosed the development through Chinese media on Tuesday. This reflects China's efforts to develop alternatives to traditional fossil fuels amid the global energy transition.
Chinese scientists have developed a novel rare earth alloy with extremely low temperatures and high efficiency. A compact cooling device built with this alloy achieves temperatures approaching absolute zero without moving parts. The technology could reduce long-term dependence on helium-3 and significantly impact quantum computing and ultra-sensitive detector development. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is actively seeking such technological solutions.
Hong Kong travel agencies announced the suspension of all Middle East tours this month on Monday evening, including those requiring transfers through the region. The decision follows Iranian drone strikes on Dubai International Airport and UAE infrastructure in retaliation for US-Israeli military operations that began in late February. Travel operators including Wing On Travel have cancelled scheduled tour groups as a precautionary measure amid regional security concerns.
American actor Sean Penn won his third Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another on Sunday. Rather than attending the ceremony, he traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. Witnesses spotted Penn arriving in central Kyiv, where he subsequently met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to demonstrate support for the war-affected nation. Penn, a longtime advocate for Ukraine, has made multiple visits to the country.
Cuba's national power system experienced a widespread failure today, leaving approximately 11 million people without electricity. The state-owned Union Electric Company confirmed the incident. The outage resulted from fuel shortages caused by the US oil embargo, combined with the aging infrastructure of Cuba's electrical grid. The system-wide failure highlights the ongoing energy crisis facing the island nation.
U.S. President Trump stated that Iran's new Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei was reportedly injured in an airstrike, with his condition unknown. Trump indicated that due to uncertainty regarding Iran's leadership situation, the U.S. faces difficulty identifying which Iranian party to negotiate with, complicating diplomatic efforts.
According to Reuters, citing two sources, the Iran conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have forced the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a state-owned enterprise of the United Arab Emirates, to implement significant production cuts. The company's daily output has decreased by more than 50%, reflecting the direct impact of geopolitical tensions on global energy supply.
NVIDIA announced the Vera Rubin AI chip at its 2026 GTC conference. The new processor reduces single token processing costs by 90% compared to previous generations, designed to support agentic AI applications. This advancement represents significant progress in AI chip performance and cost efficiency, providing more economical computing infrastructure for next-generation AI applications.
US Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that the United States is allowing Iranian oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. As tensions in the Iran region persist, international oil prices have experienced volatility. Reports indicate that President Trump may seek to control key channels for Iran's oil exports. This move involves geopolitical considerations regarding global energy supply chains and impacts international oil market trends.
The United Arab Emirates military reported intercepting an attack from Iran early today as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Explosions were heard over Dubai airspace, prompting the country to temporarily close its airspace. The UAE military is responding to the aerial threat, with details on casualties and damage still being assessed.
An Iraqi security official reported that the US Embassy in Baghdad came under attack early today involving unmanned drones and rocket fire. The attack resulted in smoke rising from the embassy compound. This marks another armed assault on the diplomatic facility. Such incidents targeting US installations in Iraq have occurred periodically, reflecting the complex security situation in the region.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a warning that a vulnerability in Wing FTP Server file transfer software is being actively exploited in cyberattacks. CISA has added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and urges organizations and users to apply updates promptly to patch the flaw and mitigate potential security risks.
US medical technology company Stryker experienced a cyberattack on March 11. Hacker group Handala exploited the company's remote device management platform to remotely wipe approximately 80,000 employee laptops and mobile devices across multiple countries. Stryker confirmed no malware infection or ransomware encryption occurred, though internal Microsoft environments were disrupted. The attack utilized device management tools rather than traditional malware methods.
An explosion occurred in Baghdad's Green Zone on the 17th day of Middle East tensions, affecting the area where the US Embassy and other diplomatic missions are located. Iran recently launched missiles at Israel and warned the United States against deploying troops on its territory. Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport, which was targeted by drone strikes, is gradually resuming flight operations.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced a new AI supercomputer system composed of 7 advanced chips at the 2026 GTC conference. The company also previewed the next-generation architecture codenamed "Vera Rubin," set to launch in the second half of 2026. Huang expressed optimism about global data center transformation, projecting approximately 1 trillion dollars in business opportunities, with Taiwan's supply chain partners fully included. The announcement boosted U.S. stock markets, with all four major indices closing higher.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported on the 17th that 21 Chinese military aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait centerline starting at 8:01 a.m., intruding into airspace in northern, central, southwestern, and eastern Taiwan. Chinese naval vessels simultaneously conducted joint combat readiness patrol exercises, disrupting surrounding air and sea areas. Taiwan's military closely monitored the activities using integrated surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
The ransomware group INC Ransom has launched cyberattacks against healthcare facilities in the Oceania region. Ransomware attacks on medical institutions pose serious risks, potentially threatening patient safety and lives. The threat has prompted warnings from multiple governments, urging healthcare organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and implement protective measures against such attacks.
Middle East conflict threatens global helium supply, creating risks for semiconductor manufacturing. Helium is a critical, irreplaceable material for chip production. Taiwan and South Korea's semiconductor companies primarily import helium from Qatar, but damage to Qatar's natural gas facilities has halted production. Helium prices have doubled, and Samsung and SK Hynix have lost over 6 trillion won in combined market value since the conflict began.
Three American girls have filed a lawsuit against xAI, owned by Elon Musk, alleging that its Grok image generator created inappropriate content from their photos without consent. According to reports, the system generates such images at an average rate of one every 41 seconds. The incident has drawn significant attention from regulatory authorities in the European Union and Australia. xAI and Musk have not yet issued an official statement regarding the allegations.
A government report released this week reveals that approximately 94 percent of Hong Kong students do not engage in adequate daily physical activity, with 17.5 percent classified as overweight. The Department of Health's findings, based on surveys and health assessments from the 2024-25 school year, also highlight concerns including insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, poor vision health, and excessive recreational screen time among students. Authorities are calling for coordinated efforts between schools and parents to address the growing fitness crisis.