North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a test of a high-thrust solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles. The composite carbon-fiber engine achieved a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, an increase from 1,971 kilonewtons recorded in a similar test last September. State media reported the development as elevating the country's strategic military capabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country has signed decade-long defense agreements with Gulf states facing Iranian drone and missile attacks, claiming this has altered Middle Eastern geopolitics. Zelensky is conducting a regional tour to strengthen defense partnerships. Over four years into the Russian invasion, Ukraine seeks international military cooperation amid ongoing military, economic, and diplomatic challenges.
Israel aims to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in the Middle East conflict, yet the international community's different standards applied to both nations' nuclear programs are unsustainable long-term. Israel began developing nuclear weapons in the 1950s and achieved full operational capability by the late 1960s. Although Israel neither confirms nor denies possession, arms control organizations have assessed it maintains a substantial nuclear arsenal. The sustainability of this double standard remains questionable.
Following Israel and US attacks on Iran on March 1, Amazon Web Services reported drone strikes damaged data centre facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, disrupting cloud services. Iran warned that US tech companies with Israeli connections, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, Nvidia, and Oracle, are legitimate targets for retaliation. The incident highlights critical infrastructure vulnerabilities amid geopolitical tensions affecting the region.
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, arrived in the Middle East on Friday, according to US Central Command. The vessel serves as flagship for approximately 3,500 Marines and sailors, and carries transport aircraft, strike fighter aircraft, and amphibious assault and tactical assets. The deployment has sparked speculation about potential US ground operations in Iran.
Ukraine claimed responsibility for a drone strike on Russia's major Baltic port of Ust-Luga, triggering a fire. The port was hit for the second time in recent days. Ukraine has intensified retaliatory attacks on Russian infrastructure including refineries, oil depots, and ports, stating these operations aim to reduce revenues funding Russia's military offensive. Russian regional officials confirmed damage at the port with no reported casualties.
Chinese state media reported that a hybrid propulsion system has successfully completed flight tests. The system combines fuel-powered electricity to enhance stealth capabilities and extend range for small battlefield drones. By integrating the advantages of traditional fuel systems with electric power, the hybrid approach represents a new direction in unmanned aircraft technology development.
The European Union, though not directly involved in the Iran war, faces a critical predicament. European public opinion opposes the conflict as it circumvents international law principles. However, Europe remains heavily dependent on the United States for energy and security. Taking a definitive anti-war stance risks alienating President Trump, leaving Europe strategically vulnerable and caught between conflicting pressures.
Iran launched attacks on Saturday against Aluminium Bahrain and Emirates Global Aluminium facilities. Two employees at Aluminium Bahrain were injured in the strikes, with the state-controlled company assessing damage to its operations. Emirates Global Aluminium's site sustained significant damage from missile and drone strikes. Both companies are major global aluminium producers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a test of a high-thrust solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles. The composite carbon-fiber engine achieved a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, an increase from 1,971 kilonewtons recorded in a similar test last September. State media reported the development as elevating the country's strategic military capabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country has signed decade-long defense agreements with Gulf states facing Iranian drone and missile attacks, claiming this has altered Middle Eastern geopolitics. Zelensky is conducting a regional tour to strengthen defense partnerships. Over four years into the Russian invasion, Ukraine seeks international military cooperation amid ongoing military, economic, and diplomatic challenges.
Israel aims to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in the Middle East conflict, yet the international community's different standards applied to both nations' nuclear programs are unsustainable long-term. Israel began developing nuclear weapons in the 1950s and achieved full operational capability by the late 1960s. Although Israel neither confirms nor denies possession, arms control organizations have assessed it maintains a substantial nuclear arsenal. The sustainability of this double standard remains questionable.
As Cambodia's deadline for cracking down on scam operations approaches, criminal networks are facing increased pressure. Young Indonesian victims like Abdul and Hafiz have been exploited and abandoned in Phnom Penh after their passports were stolen by Chinese gang leaders. Left penniless on the streets, they await embassy assistance for new travel documents and repatriation. The case highlights the widespread transnational scam operations plaguing Southeast Asia.
Following Israel and US attacks on Iran on March 1, Amazon Web Services reported drone strikes damaged data centre facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, disrupting cloud services. Iran warned that US tech companies with Israeli connections, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, Nvidia, and Oracle, are legitimate targets for retaliation. The incident highlights critical infrastructure vulnerabilities amid geopolitical tensions affecting the region.
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, arrived in the Middle East on Friday, according to US Central Command. The vessel serves as flagship for approximately 3,500 Marines and sailors, and carries transport aircraft, strike fighter aircraft, and amphibious assault and tactical assets. The deployment has sparked speculation about potential US ground operations in Iran.
Chinese biotech firms' cross-border outlicensing transactions reached US$60 billion in Q1 2026, up 73% year-over-year and representing nearly half of 2025's total US$135.7 billion in deals. Multinational pharmaceutical companies' growing interest in China's promising drug candidates is driving the record transaction value.
Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) is developing a two-tier surcharge mechanism to penalize employers who fail to pay outstanding pension contributions on time. Data reveals only one in six employers settled arrears within the prescribed two-week deadline. The MPFA plans to present the proposal to the government by mid-year.
A cyclone in Western Australia knocked out power to thousands and forced the closure of one of the world's largest LNG processing facilities. Woodside Energy's Karratha plant remained offline on Sunday as the company began remobilizing its workforce for offshore facility inspections. The outage exacerbates existing fuel supply constraints caused by Middle East tensions.
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stated that authorities are closely monitoring Middle East developments and resulting global oil price volatility, though immediate economic impact on the city remains limited. Despite geopolitical instability affecting international investor sentiment, Hong Kong's financial markets continue operating in an orderly and smooth manner.
After decades of US leadership in brain-computer interface technology, a Chinese research team has achieved the first commercially approved product using a semi-invasive approach. This breakthrough marks a significant shift in a two-decade competition, as China's middle-path methodology between extreme approaches demonstrates a different strategic direction in neurotechnology development.
Multiple Chinese analogue chipmakers including Novosense Microelectronics, SG Micro, Fortior Technology, Halo Microelectronics, Silan Micro, and Kiwi Instruments have announced price increases in line with global leaders such as Texas Instruments. Analysts suggest this global pricing wave presents a rare opportunity for China's mature-node semiconductor producers to gain competitive ground and market share.
ByteDance announced enhanced watermarking and intellectual property protection measures for its video-generation model Sora 2.0 ahead of global rollout. The move addresses concerns from Hollywood studios regarding alleged IP infringement after videos featuring famous actors and characters generated by the model went viral in February. ByteDance stated it has strengthened global safety safeguards.
A leading Chinese AI researcher stated in January at a Beijing industry summit that Chinese companies have less than a 20 percent chance of surpassing a leading US AI firm within three to five years. Lin Junyang, formerly a technical leader on Alibaba's Qwen open-source AI model, made the remark that garnered headlines, though much commentary overlooked the more fundamental question he raised.
Chinese researchers have unveiled a new methodology for evaluating medical and life science journals globally, moving away from the traditional impact factor system. The Dongbi Index lists cover 4,027 medical journals and 3,064 life-science journals selected from over 40,000 journals worldwide, launched in Shanghai on March 21. Experts view this as part of China's efforts to strengthen its academic discourse power.
Iranian hackers sent text messages to Israeli Android users during a missile strike, offering links disguised as bomb shelter information apps. The links instead downloaded spyware granting access to device cameras, locations, and data. The sophisticated operation represents the latest tactic in ongoing cyber conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran with its digital proxies.
As US-Iran conflict enters its second month, Yemen's Houthi-affiliated Houthis formally joined the fighting on the 28th by launching a ballistic missile at Israel. On the 27th, Saudi Arabia's Sultan Prince Air Base, which hosts US military personnel, was struck by Iranian airstrikes, leaving at least 15 injured and destroying two tanker aircraft. The escalation heightens concerns about potential Red Sea shipping disruptions with broader global economic implications.
The Iran-US-Israel conflict escalated as the United States and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and steel plants, prompting Iranian retaliation across the Persian Gulf. On the 28th, Yemen's Houthi movement confirmed attacking Israel for the first time since the US-Israel campaign against Iran began, expanding the conflict to the Red Sea region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on the 27th at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris that American military operations against Iran will conclude within several weeks without requiring ground forces to achieve war objectives. According to reports, Rubio indicated the conflict will continue for two to four more weeks, extending beyond the initial four to six week timeline estimated at the war's outset.
The United Arab Emirates-based EGA, the Middle East's largest aluminum manufacturer, reported that its major production facility was struck by Iranian missiles and drones. The Middle East accounts for approximately 9% of global aluminum supply. The attack on this critical facility could disrupt global aluminum supply chains and potentially impact market prices.
The United States and Israel have launched airstrikes against Iran's capital, Tehran, marking the largest military operation in two decades. The action involves significant troop deployment and has drawn international attention. Further details on casualties and damage remain to be confirmed.
The Washington Post reports that the Pentagon is planning potential ground operations against Iran lasting several weeks. However, President Trump has not yet approved any ground troop operations. The plan remains in the planning phase, with no specific implementation timeline confirmed at this time.
North Korea's state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un recently supervised a ground test of an upgraded solid-fuel rocket engine. The test reflects North Korea's continued advancement in rocket and missile technology development, marking part of the country's strategic weapons modernization program.
Approximately 2,500 US Marines from Okinawa arrived in the Middle East on the 27th to support ongoing operations. The US military's "Epic Fury" operation against Iran has reached one month, striking over 11,000 targets within Iranian territory and damaging or destroying more than 150 vessels. Yemen's Houthi-affiliated Houthis continue attacks on Israel amid escalating regional tensions.
The US Central Command announced that over 3,500 American military personnel have arrived in the Middle East, including approximately 2,500 Marines aboard the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship. The vessel, a latest-generation large-deck amphibious warship, can accommodate F-35 fighter jets, Osprey transport aircraft, and other aircraft types. Previously stationed in Japan, it was recently ordered to the Middle East region for operations.
According to the Washington Post, the US Department of Defense is preparing for potential ground operations in Iran lasting several weeks. Sources indicate that if President Trump approves the plan, it would mark a new phase in the Iran conflict with risks potentially significantly higher than previous weeks. Currently, thousands of US military personnel and Marines have been deployed to the Middle East region.
Yemen's Houthi rebel group launched missile strikes against Israel on the morning of the 28th, announcing a second wave of attacks on the 29th. The Israeli Defense Forces stated they are prepared for multi-front military operations. The escalation heightens tensions in the Middle East region.
The Israeli military confirmed it killed Ali Shoeib, a journalist from Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV, in a military operation. According to Lebanese broadcasters, three journalists were killed in the strike. The incident has drawn international attention amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, arrived in the Middle East on Friday, according to US Central Command. The vessel serves as flagship for approximately 3,500 Marines and sailors, and carries transport aircraft, strike fighter aircraft, and amphibious assault and tactical assets. The deployment has sparked speculation about potential US ground operations in Iran.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a test of a high-thrust solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles. The composite carbon-fiber engine achieved a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, an increase from 1,971 kilonewtons recorded in a similar test last September. State media reported the development as elevating the country's strategic military capabilities.
A bipartisan US Senate delegation visited Taiwan on the 28th, led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat Shaheen and Republican Senator Cornyn, along with Republican Senator Tillis and Democratic Senator Rosen. The delegation expressed support for Taiwan and called on the Legislative Yuan to expedite approval of a special defense budget in response to escalating Chinese military pressure.
International demand for ants is driving an illegal smuggling trade in East Africa, potentially threatening local ant populations and ecosystems. In early March, Kenyan authorities arrested a Chinese national at Nairobi's airport with over 2,200 live queen ants in his luggage. Thai authorities simultaneously seized ant shipments from Kenyan ports. The trade poses significant environmental risks to the region.