A Chinese military court has convicted former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu of corruption. Wei was found guilty of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes. Both received suspended death sentences with a two-year reprieve period. The specific amounts of bribes involved were not disclosed in the official statement released by Xinhua.
A trial began Wednesday in US Eastern District Court of New York against Lu Jianwang, 64, accused of establishing a secret police station in Manhattan. He faces three charges: acting as an unauthorised agent of China, conspiracy to act as a foreign agent, and obstruction of justice. The US government alleges this case reflects Beijing's efforts to expand its overseas influence.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet next week, with expected statements on cooperation and mutual respect. However, trade experts warn that major trade conflicts are building beneath the surface. While China previously accepted US tariffs and export restrictions, Beijing has quietly taken countermeasures, as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to escalate.
US military forces attacked an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday as it attempted to breach an American naval blockade of Iranian ports. A US fighter jet disabled the vessel by targeting its rudder, according to US Central Command. The strike occurred amid apparent progress toward a tentative agreement to end the two-month conflict between Washington and Tehran. President Trump warned that renewed bombing could resume if Iran rejects the proposed deal.
Israel conducted an airstrike on Beirut on Wednesday, marking the first military action since the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah last month. Israeli officials stated the strike targeted a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force in southern Beirut suburbs. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz issued a joint statement confirming the operation. Israeli media reported the commander was killed, though neither the Israeli military nor Hezbollah has officially confirmed the claim.
A Chinese military court has convicted former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu of corruption. Wei was found guilty of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes. Both received suspended death sentences with a two-year reprieve period. The specific amounts of bribes involved were not disclosed in the official statement released by Xinhua.
Hong Kong's Housing Bureau Independent Checking Unit faces scrutiny for inadequate risk assessment of Wang Fuk Court renovation works. A government-appointed independent committee will continue questioning unit members regarding insufficient oversight preceding the fire. This hearing relates to one of Hong Kong's deadliest fires in decades.
A South Korean appeals court on Thursday reduced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's sentence from 23 years to 15 years for his involvement in ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol's illegal martial law declaration in December 2024. Yoon's decree briefly suspended civilian rule and caused chaos, but lasted only about six hours before opposition lawmakers voted to overturn it.
A trial began Wednesday in US Eastern District Court of New York against Lu Jianwang, 64, accused of establishing a secret police station in Manhattan. He faces three charges: acting as an unauthorised agent of China, conspiracy to act as a foreign agent, and obstruction of justice. The US government alleges this case reflects Beijing's efforts to expand its overseas influence.
During President Trump's visit to China, the Iran war disrupts global energy supplies and strains US-China relations. The Arctic emerges as a new arena for geopolitical competition as warming accelerates and sea ice diminishes. Experts examine how Arctic climate change and energy uncertainty are reshaping the complex relationship between the two powers, balancing rivalry and interdependence.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced last month that no single country can independently ensure peace and security in an increasingly severe environment, signalling a major shift in Tokyo's defence strategy. Japan will strategically promote equipment transfers under a new system while making more rigorous assessments of transfer permissions, confirming speculation that Tokyo will relax decades-old restrictions on arms exports.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet next week, with expected statements on cooperation and mutual respect. However, trade experts warn that major trade conflicts are building beneath the surface. While China previously accepted US tariffs and export restrictions, Beijing has quietly taken countermeasures, as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to escalate.
US military forces attacked an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday as it attempted to breach an American naval blockade of Iranian ports. A US fighter jet disabled the vessel by targeting its rudder, according to US Central Command. The strike occurred amid apparent progress toward a tentative agreement to end the two-month conflict between Washington and Tehran. President Trump warned that renewed bombing could resume if Iran rejects the proposed deal.
Israel conducted an airstrike on Beirut on Wednesday, marking the first military action since the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah last month. Israeli officials stated the strike targeted a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force in southern Beirut suburbs. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz issued a joint statement confirming the operation. Israeli media reported the commander was killed, though neither the Israeli military nor Hezbollah has officially confirmed the claim.
The FBI has launched a criminal leak investigation targeting a journalist who wrote a critical article about FBI Director Kash Patel. Patel filed a $250 million lawsuit last month against The Atlantic magazine and author Sarah Fitzpatrick, claiming the article was a malicious and defamatory piece. The Atlantic story alleged Patel frequently drank excessively.
The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is planning to relaunch gold futures in the coming months as mainland China's appetite for the metal continues to grow. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026 that Hong Kong will introduce new gold products and facilities to capture expanding market opportunities. The exchange will seek market feedback to refine the products following the relaunch.
Indonesia's economy grew 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026, marking its fastest pace in over three years. The Statistics Bureau attributed the growth to robust household consumption, which comprised 54.36 percent of GDP and increased 5.52 percent year-on-year, alongside a surge in government spending. However, analysts caution that coming months will present significant challenges for Southeast Asia's largest economy.
Australia's Reserve Bank raised interest rates on May 5, continuing its monetary tightening cycle to reverse last year's easing measures. The RBA cited higher fuel prices as a key driver of inflation, with potential second-round effects on broader goods and services prices. This decision reflects how the energy crisis is shaping monetary policy across Asia, signaling a hawkish shift among regional central banks.
Bai Bing, a top food influencer with over 40 million followers, was fined 18.91 million yuan (US$2.6 million) for tax evasion. China's State Tax Administration revealed in late April that between 2021 and 2024, Bai underpaid 9.11 million yuan in personal income tax. The case has attracted significant attention on social media.
China's electric vehicle market slowdown is widening the profit divergence between vehicle assemblers and battery producers. Leading battery manufacturers like CATL benefit from strong energy-storage demand and improved profitability, while automakers struggle with flat vehicle prices and declining new car sales. Analysts expect battery industry leaders to attract continued investor interest due to enhanced earnings prospects.
Chinese technology billionaire Chen Tianqiao's artificial intelligence start-up MiroMind is suspending its services in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The company notified select users via email on Wednesday that its MiroThinker services would cease operations in these regions. This move reflects a broader trend of China's globally ambitious firms retreating from the domestic market amid geopolitical tensions and recent industry developments.
Shanghai-based Tongji University has taken disciplinary action against prominent cancer researcher Wang Ping following the discovery of academic misconduct in a 2025 Nature publication. The study claimed that restricting valine, a protein building block, could trigger DNA damage and slow tumor growth. However, the university found that 14 of the study's 15 figures contained problematic data. The research was led by Wang Ping, dean of the School of Life Sciences.
Chinese AI start-up Moonshot AI has secured approximately US$2 billion in new funding, bringing its valuation to over US$20 billion. The round was led by Long-Z Investments, Meituan's venture arm, with participation from China Mobile. Over the past six months, Moonshot AI has raised a total of US$3.9 billion as it navigates Beijing's new listing regulations for overseas-registered companies.
TikTok announced a US$25 billion investment in digital infrastructure projects in Thailand, marking the company's largest investment in Southeast Asia to date. The funds will be used to install additional servers and expand data storage and processing infrastructure across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao provinces to meet growing demand for digital services.
A recent Chinese study reports the first known case of a pathogen from aquatic animals infecting humans, with a virus found in shrimp and fish potentially causing eye disease. Researchers warn that individuals who handle dissected aquatic animals daily without adequate protection or consume raw aquatic animals face elevated risk. They recommend protective measures such as wearing gloves when handling such animals.
A new study from the University of Chile indicates that common artificial sweeteners may trigger biological changes that are passed down to future generations. The research examined sucralose and stevia, two widely used non-nutritive sweeteners, and found they could alter gut microbiota, gene expression, and metabolism in mice. Some effects persisted in first- and second-generation offspring who were never directly exposed to these additives.
A well-known aesthetic medical chain called Ellie has been embroiled in a hidden camera scandal. Police conducted searches across ten branches in northern, central, and southern Taiwan and seized servers. A pinhole camera disguised as a smoke detector was discovered in a Banqiao branch consultation room, with evidence of camera removal found in other locations. Taiwan's Taichung Health Bureau inspections revealed surveillance equipment in consultation rooms, injection rooms, and treatment areas. Seven victims have filed complaints so far.
Former China Times TV anchor Lin Chen-yu was reportedly exploited by a Chinese intelligence infiltration network starting in 2023. Through social media, the network contacted ROC military personnel, offering financial incentives to produce pro-China videos and recruit intelligence assets. Lin allegedly used personal bank accounts to transfer bribes over three years, facilitating the recruitment of 11 military and government officials in exchange for classified information.
New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office is investigating Aileili beauty chain's Banqiao branch for allegedly installing pinhole cameras disguised as smoke detectors. Prosecutors discovered that a vendor surnamed Hsieh allegedly removed surveillance system equipment along the route from Taipei to Taichung after the case was exposed, suspected of destroying evidence. The prosecution launched a second wave of action, detaining CEO Chang Ju-shan and searching eight locations including Aileili's Taipei office, four branches in New Taipei, and residences and offices of related parties.
A major breakthrough emerged in US-Iran military tensions as President Trump announced suspension of the "Freedom of Navigation" escort operations. Trump stated significant progress has been made toward reaching a comprehensive agreement with Tehran authorities. According to media reports, the US and Iran are approaching a fourteen-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict and advancing subsequent nuclear negotiations.
US President Trump will visit Beijing next week for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump indicated they may discuss the Iran conflict and described Xi as having great respect for the United States. US Secretary of State Rubio expects Taiwan to be among the topics discussed during the summit.
The renowned Ellie medical aesthetics chain faces a hidden camera scandal with spy cameras discovered in all 18 clinics nationwide. Prosecutors brought back four individuals including CEO Chang Ru-shan for investigation. After re-examination, prosecutors determined a camera vendor surnamed Hsieh has serious suspicions and requested the court for detention and no-contact order. The investigation is ongoing.
US President Trump stated Wednesday that Iran has agreed not to possess nuclear weapons. Trump indicated that the US and Iran conducted productive talks over the past 24 hours with a likely possibility of reaching an agreement. He emphasized Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and reported good progress in negotiations, while denying any fixed deadline for a deal.
US President Trump stated that the US and Iran conducted "very good" dialogue over the past 24 hours, with both sides "very likely" to reach an agreement. Trump simultaneously warned that if Iran refuses to accept conditions, the US will launch higher-intensity bombing campaigns. Should Iran agree to existing commitments, the US-Israel military operation launched since late February would end, and the blockade on Iranian ports and waterways could be lifted.
A U.S. Navy fighter aircraft opened fire on a tanker attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports, destroying the vessel's rudder and rendering it immobile. The U.S. military confirmed the incident today.
Taiwan's drone exports to Europe have increased significantly, with over 100,000 units transited through Czech Republic and Poland to Ukraine. Taiwan and Ukraine are deepening cooperation through civilian channels, with Taiwan supplying drones and components while Ukraine shares battlefield experience and technical expertise to help Taiwan develop asymmetric warfare capabilities, creating a mutually beneficial non-official exchange.
Taiwan's National Security Bureau tested the Chinese Amap application and found nine security vulnerabilities among 15 test items. The issues include collecting users' call records and personal information transmitted to Chinese servers, with data transmission continuing even after closing the app. The Digital Development Department has prohibited government agencies from using the application.
Taiwan's domestically-built Hai Kun submarine conducted its eighth diving test yesterday and successfully completed torpedo testing. Taiwan Ship Corporation released footage showing the submarine firing two torpedoes in offshore waters during the test. The Dajian (Tachiang) vessel was deployed to recover the test torpedoes. This milestone represents significant progress in Taiwan's submarine development program.
Node.js sandbox library vm2 has a critical sandbox escape vulnerability (CVE-2026-26956) affecting version 3.10.4. Attackers can execute specially crafted code through VM.run() to escape the sandbox and execute arbitrary commands on the host. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8. Proof-of-concept code is publicly available on GitHub. Users are advised to upgrade to version 3.10.5 or later immediately.
North Korea's UN ambassador issued a statement at the NPT Review Conference, asserting that North Korea is not bound by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in any circumstances. The statement came in response to international criticism of North Korea's nuclear development program and emphasized the country's commitment to advancing its nuclear capabilities despite international opposition.
US military forces attacked an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday as it attempted to breach an American naval blockade of Iranian ports. A US fighter jet disabled the vessel by targeting its rudder, according to US Central Command. The strike occurred amid apparent progress toward a tentative agreement to end the two-month conflict between Washington and Tehran. President Trump warned that renewed bombing could resume if Iran rejects the proposed deal.
On August 10, 2025, a powerful landslide in Tracy Arm Fjord, southeastern Alaska, triggered a tsunami reaching 481 metres (1,578 feet) in height—the second-highest ever recorded. The wave exceeded the height of New York City's Empire State Building. Located within Tongass National Forest, the fjord is characterized by granite cliffs, waterfalls, and glaciers.