Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit China this week for talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, arriving Wednesday. The visit occurs less than 10 days before US President Donald Trump's scheduled Beijing visit. The two diplomats have held multiple calls since late February's US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Wang Yi has consistently advocated for a ceasefire to ease regional tensions.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Canberra to agree on enhanced collaboration in critical minerals, defence, and energy security. The agreement aims to counter China's dominance in rare earth elements and mitigate fuel supply disruptions caused by regional conflicts, protecting both economies from future economic shocks.
The US Secret Service reported that a suspect opened fire on Monday on the National Mall after being confronted by officers. Officers returned fire in response. A bystander was struck by the suspect's gunfire. Vice-President J.D. Vance's motorcade had transited through the area shortly before the shooting, but authorities found no indication it was the intended target. The incident occurred Monday afternoon near 15th Street and Independence Avenue.
The article argues that the US-China 'tech race' is not genuine competition but rather suppression, as Washington uses sanctions, export controls, and diplomatic pressure to hinder China's technological advancement. The commentary contends this approach reflects deliberate efforts to maintain American tech hegemony, creating unfair constraints that disadvantage developing nations in the Global South.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday a two-day ceasefire on May 8-9 to commemorate Russia's World War II victory anniversary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky countered with an alternative ceasefire proposal starting earlier, from the night of May 5 to May 6. Russia's defence ministry stated that Moscow expects Ukraine to comply with the May 8-9 truce and that Russian forces will take necessary measures to ensure safety.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit China this week for talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, arriving Wednesday. The visit occurs less than 10 days before US President Donald Trump's scheduled Beijing visit. The two diplomats have held multiple calls since late February's US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Wang Yi has consistently advocated for a ceasefire to ease regional tensions.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Canberra to agree on enhanced collaboration in critical minerals, defence, and energy security. The agreement aims to counter China's dominance in rare earth elements and mitigate fuel supply disruptions caused by regional conflicts, protecting both economies from future economic shocks.
China's state broadcaster CCTV revealed the first export variant of the J-35A, the country's second land-based fifth-generation fighter jet, during a May 1st Labour Day special programme. The aircraft, bearing serial number 001 and manufactured by China's largest military aircraft producer, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, suggests Pakistan is the most probable recipient according to analysts and reports.
An explosion at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, Hunan province occurred Monday at approximately 4:40 PM, resulting in 21 deaths and 61 injuries. Liuyang, a county-level city under provincial capital Changsha, is renowned for fireworks production. President Xi Jinping has directed all-out rescue and medical efforts for the unaccounted and injured.
The US Secret Service reported that a suspect opened fire on Monday on the National Mall after being confronted by officers. Officers returned fire in response. A bystander was struck by the suspect's gunfire. Vice-President J.D. Vance's motorcade had transited through the area shortly before the shooting, but authorities found no indication it was the intended target. The incident occurred Monday afternoon near 15th Street and Independence Avenue.
The article argues that the US-China 'tech race' is not genuine competition but rather suppression, as Washington uses sanctions, export controls, and diplomatic pressure to hinder China's technological advancement. The commentary contends this approach reflects deliberate efforts to maintain American tech hegemony, creating unfair constraints that disadvantage developing nations in the Global South.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday a two-day ceasefire on May 8-9 to commemorate Russia's World War II victory anniversary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky countered with an alternative ceasefire proposal starting earlier, from the night of May 5 to May 6. Russia's defence ministry stated that Moscow expects Ukraine to comply with the May 8-9 truce and that Russian forces will take necessary measures to ensure safety.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China Monday to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, while asserting that the US maintains absolute control over the strategic waterway. In a Fox News interview, Bessent emphasized that Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and noted that China purchases 90 percent of Iran's energy exports, effectively funding terrorist activities.
The 2022 China Eastern Airlines crash that killed all 132 people on board involved a deliberate fuel supply cutoff during flight, according to investigative findings released by the US National Transportation Safety Board. Evidence shows fuel control levers to the aircraft's engines were switched to off position, supporting the theory of intentional downing. China has not yet released its final accident report.
A car struck a crowd in central Leipzig, eastern Germany on Monday, resulting in two deaths and two severe injuries. Police reported that the vehicle hit multiple people on Grimmaische Street before fleeing the scene. The driver has been arrested and poses no further danger. Leipzig's mayor confirmed the fatalities, though the driver's motive remains unknown at this time.
British-born investor Simon Sadler faces trial at District Court for alleged insider dealing in Hong Kong fashion company shares. Prosecutors claim he exploited a bank's failure to prevent illicit trading, making HK$1.7 million in a single day nine years ago using confidential information. Co-defendants include the now-defunct Segantii Capital Management and former employee Daniel Anthony La Rocca Jnr.
Hong Kong recorded 8,692 property transactions in April, up 12.3% from March's 7,737 deals, marking a four-month high. Home sales value and volume reached their highest levels in 24 months, demonstrating resilience in the real estate sector despite uncertainties surrounding interest rates and geopolitical tensions.
Indonesia announced an 8% cap on ride-hailing platform commission fees and revealed the state has acquired stakes in app companies. President Prabowo aims to increase driver earnings and control commission costs, marking a significant shift in one of Southeast Asia's largest on-demand economies. Millions of drivers for platforms like Gojek and Grab have become a major labor force and political constituency.
Hong Kong's first-quarter economic growth reached 5.9%, marking the strongest performance in nearly five years, significantly exceeding the 4% growth recorded in the fourth quarter of last year. According to advance estimates released by the Census and Statistics Department, the growth was primarily driven by robust exports and increased private consumption, despite ongoing uncertainties in the Middle East.
As China's economic influence in Africa expands, employment opportunities for locals who speak Mandarin Chinese are increasing. Smaller Chinese companies prefer hiring local staff rather than deploying workers from China, while African firms' growing role in trade further drives this trend. Many Chinese executives and workers in Africa lack proficiency in local languages, making Mandarin speakers valuable for bridging communication gaps.
As Middle East conflict creates supply chain uncertainty for farmers worldwide, Chinese spring ploughing proceeds normally. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs confirmed ample chemical fertilizer supplies with domestic prices significantly lower than international rates. This positions Chinese agrochemical products advantageously in global market competition amid geopolitical disruptions.
China has introduced Lingsheng (LineShine), a supercomputer built entirely with home-grown CPUs, designed to achieve 2 exaflops of computing power—surpassing the current world record holder El Capitan at 1.8 exaflops from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. The CPU-only architecture helps circumvent US export restrictions on advanced computing technology.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed a world-first nasal spray that delivers neurotherapeutic powder directly to the brain for ischemic stroke patients. The treatment is intended for paramedics as first aid, with clinical trials expected by 2030. It will eventually be rolled out to high-risk groups in care facilities and the general public through pharmacies.
The United States maintains dominance in artificial intelligence, with private investment reaching US$109 billion in 2024, approximately 12 times China's total, according to the Stanford Institute for Human-Centred AI. American institutions continue producing high-impact AI research. Meanwhile, AI economics are rapidly improving as training and deployment costs decline significantly, potentially determining future competitive dynamics.
WeRide CEO Tony Han Xu believes fully autonomous vehicles may arrive on streets by 2035, as global carmakers and tech companies accelerate self-driving technology deployment. However, Chinese regulators tightened autonomous driving licenses after a March 31 incident in Wuhan involving Baidu's Apollo Go fleet system failure, which stranded passengers and disrupted traffic flow.
China has introduced an autonomous mining truck weighing nearly 100 tonnes with advanced maneuvering capabilities, including sideways movement and on-spot pivoting. This technology enables operation in narrow pits and on complex sloped terrain, demonstrating China's commitment to modernizing its mining industry through automation and improving operational efficiency and safety.
Southeast Asia's largest ride-hailing and delivery platform Grab reported first-quarter profits exceeding analyst estimates despite regional economic and political headwinds. The company has been leveraging artificial intelligence features integrated into its superapp and bundling core services including ride-hailing, delivery, and financial offerings to boost platform spending.
China is accelerating its adoption of embodied artificial intelligence, with robots increasingly handling everyday tasks in real-world settings. These robots can sense their environment, make decisions, and take action, with applications ranging from home cleaning and traffic direction to equipment repair in hazardous factory environments. A cleaning service launched in March on 58.com, a Chinese classifieds platform, pairs human cleaners with robots, demonstrating practical integration of robotic technology in daily services.
Shenzhen-based ZYT, a spin-off from drone maker DJI, is advancing toward mass production of semi-autonomous trucks designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce logistics costs. The company has partnered with China's top six heavy-truck manufacturers to produce vehicles equipped with its navigation on autopilot (NOA) systems, with first deliveries expected to begin this year.
US President Donald Trump stated that American forces sank seven Iranian speedboats after Iran opened fire on multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident highlights escalating maritime tensions in the region, which serves as a critical global energy transit route and has drawn international attention.
Taiwan's stock market rose 1778.51 points, or 4.57%, yesterday, marking the largest single-day point gain in history. Led by technology and weighted stocks, the index closed at 40705.14 points, breaking the 40000 threshold for the first time. Trading volume exceeded 1 trillion New Taiwan dollars.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the eastern region was targeted by a drone attack, resulting in three people injured. The industrial zone is a critical petroleum facility for the UAE. Authorities are investigating the source of the attack and gathering details about the incident.
US President Trump announced on March 3 the launch of the Freedom Operation starting March 4 to assist vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency later claimed to have struck a US warship, which the US denied. The operation increases risks of direct US-Iran confrontation in the strategic waterway.
On Monday, Iran intensified attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Persian Gulf shipping, including strikes on vessels and oil facilities, marking the most serious escalation since the April ceasefire. International oil prices surged in response, with Brent crude futures rising USD 6.27 to USD 114.44 per barrel (5.8% increase) and WTI crude climbing USD 4.48 to USD 106.42 per barrel (4.4% increase), reflecting heightened supply disruption risks.
International oil prices surged Monday as the UAE issued its first missile threat alert since the US-Iran ceasefire, while Iran warned of military action if US forces enter the Strait of Hormuz. A fire broke out at Fujairah's oil industrial zone, raising global energy supply concerns. Brent crude briefly exceeded $114 per barrel, marking a recent high amid escalating regional tensions.
The United States and Iran engaged in armed conflict in the Persian Gulf on the 4th. The US claimed Iran fired missiles at American military vessels and commercial ships, while the US military stated it sank several Iranian boats. This incident tests the fragile ceasefire agreement between the two nations, as their relationship faces renewed tensions.
A major explosion occurred at Huaisheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Launching Company in Liuyang, Hunan on the afternoon of the 4th, resulting in 21 deaths and 61 injuries. The blast produced smoke visible kilometers away and shock waves that shattered windows 600 meters away. Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have issued directives demanding a swift investigation into the cause and accountability measures.
Security firm Theori disclosed the Linux kernel vulnerability Copy Fail on April 30, registered as CVE-2026-31431. The flaw affects Linux kernel 4.14 released in 2017 and all Linux distributions, enabling local privilege escalation attacks. Researchers successfully gained root access on Ubuntu, Amazon Linux, RHEL, and SUSE using a 732-byte Python proof-of-concept. Multiple distributions have issued security advisories urging users to apply patches immediately.
A critical vulnerability with CVSS score 9.9 has been discovered in Wazuh, a widely-used open-source security monitoring platform. The flaw allows attackers to perform lateral movement across victim networks, overwrite system files, and execute arbitrary code. Wazuh provides threat detection, prevention, and response capabilities across on-premises, virtualized, containerized, and cloud environments, offering intrusion detection, log analysis, file system monitoring, vulnerability detection, and compliance features.
A major oil industrial zone in the United Arab Emirates came under attack Monday by drones and missiles. Iran claimed to have struck a U.S. military vessel, a claim denied by the U.S. military. The attack disrupted flight operations in Persian Gulf airspace, forcing multiple commercial aircraft to circle or divert to alternate airports. The United Nations issued a warning against activities that could trigger large-scale military confrontation.
Xu Xixiang, the nominated candidate for prosecutor general, failed to pass the Legislative Yuan's confirmation threshold. The Ministry of Justice stated that the prosecutor general nomination is within the president's authority. To maintain operations at the Supreme Prosecutors Office, it will follow procedure by requesting the Executive Yuan to submit a recommendation to the president for appointing an acting prosecutor general.
Progress Software released a security advisory addressing two vulnerabilities in MOVEit Automation, an enterprise file transfer automation tool. CVE-2026-4670 is a critical authentication bypass flaw, while CVE-2026-5174 is a high-risk privilege escalation vulnerability. If exploited, attackers could gain unauthorized access, compromising system administration controls and data security.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te secretly traveled on Eswatini's presidential aircraft to break through China's aviation blockade, pioneering an "Arrival Then Announcement" (ATA) diplomatic approach. While this represents a diplomatic breakthrough, it raises concerns about Beijing's potential response, national security risks, and potential impacts on international aviation order.
Military confrontation erupted between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran targeting the UAE and the US striking Iranian fast boats. The incident triggered significant market volatility, with crude oil prices surging to $115 per barrel and US Treasury bonds experiencing a sell-off, reflecting market concerns over rising regional tensions.
A survey by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society reveals that 20% of Hong Kong residents feel lonely, with approximately 520,000 self-isolating and unwilling to confide in family, friends, or AI chatbots. The survey, conducted between January and February, randomly polled 2,112 residents aged 18 and above living with family members. The city's family well-being index stands at 6.09, slightly up from 6.06 in 2024.