Ukrainian officials reported that Russia conducted its largest aerial attack since the war began over a two-day period, striking the capital Kyiv and cities across the country with hundreds of drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Russia launched over 1,560 drones since Wednesday, with more than 670 attack drones and 56 missiles fired Thursday night. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 41 missiles and 652 drones.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has commenced closed-door talks with US President Donald Trump following an elaborate welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The reception featured military displays, a 21-gun salute, and performances of both national anthems by a Chinese military band, reflecting Beijing's high-level diplomatic preparations for the summit.
US President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping for an anticipated summit addressing rivalry between the world's two superpowers. Xi emphasizes that trade wars produce no winners, suggesting both nations should pursue cooperation over confrontation. The summit is expected to shape the future trajectory of US-China relations.
Lu Jianwang, 64, was found guilty on multiple charges in US Eastern District Court of New York for acting as an unauthorized Chinese agent. The case involved a Chinese police station established in Manhattan's Chinatown. Prosecutors argued the defendant's actions reflected Beijing's efforts to expand influence and intimidate Chinese communities overseas. The week-long trial was viewed as a significant test of Washington's ability to counter such alleged activities.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his first presidential visit in nearly a decade. The trip comes as the US-Iran conflict disrupts global energy supplies and heightens economic uncertainty, adding fresh strain to Washington-Beijing relations. Analysts expect the visit to focus on transactional cooperation while examining how rivalry, interdependence, and geopolitical crises are reshaping the two powers' relationship and redefining their key fault lines.
Statements released by the United States and China following their Thursday summit reveal significant differences in each side's priorities. Washington emphasized trade, fentanyl, and Iran, while Beijing focused on Taiwan, bilateral stability, and Trump's praise for President Xi Jinping. Trump's state visit marks the first US presidential trip to China in nine years, beginning with over two hours of talks between Xi and Trump.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity, escaped from the Philippine Senate on Wednesday night. The senator's departure followed gunfire exchanged between Senate security personnel and a government agent during an argument. Dela Rosa had previously sought refuge in the heavily guarded Senate to evade arrest.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russia conducted its largest aerial attack since the war began over a two-day period, striking the capital Kyiv and cities across the country with hundreds of drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Russia launched over 1,560 drones since Wednesday, with more than 670 attack drones and 56 missiles fired Thursday night. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 41 missiles and 652 drones.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has commenced closed-door talks with US President Donald Trump following an elaborate welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The reception featured military displays, a 21-gun salute, and performances of both national anthems by a Chinese military band, reflecting Beijing's high-level diplomatic preparations for the summit.
US President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping for an anticipated summit addressing rivalry between the world's two superpowers. Xi emphasizes that trade wars produce no winners, suggesting both nations should pursue cooperation over confrontation. The summit is expected to shape the future trajectory of US-China relations.
Lu Jianwang, 64, was found guilty on multiple charges in US Eastern District Court of New York for acting as an unauthorized Chinese agent. The case involved a Chinese police station established in Manhattan's Chinatown. Prosecutors argued the defendant's actions reflected Beijing's efforts to expand influence and intimidate Chinese communities overseas. The week-long trial was viewed as a significant test of Washington's ability to counter such alleged activities.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his first presidential visit in nearly a decade. The trip comes as the US-Iran conflict disrupts global energy supplies and heightens economic uncertainty, adding fresh strain to Washington-Beijing relations. Analysts expect the visit to focus on transactional cooperation while examining how rivalry, interdependence, and geopolitical crises are reshaping the two powers' relationship and redefining their key fault lines.
The US military strikes on Iran signaled pressure to North Korea, yet Pyongyang intensified deterrence rather than pursuing denuclearization. Recent weeks saw North Korea tighten security around its leadership and continue missile launches, reflecting sensitivity to Washington's military posture. These moves aim to assess potential US military pressure and demonstrate North Korea's commitment to maintaining nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed he made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the Iran war and met with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on March 26 in Al-Ain. The meeting marked their first confirmed encounter and resulted in what both sides described as a historic breakthrough in Israel-UAE relations.
A paediatrician at a hospital near Berlin has been charged with sexual offences in 130 cases, including serious sexual abuse of children and rape. The doctor has been in pre-trial custody since November, with prosecutors citing risk of reoffending as justification for continued detention. The full extent of the offences was previously unknown.
China's leading semiconductor foundries SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor anticipate second-quarter revenue increases driven by surging global artificial intelligence demand and memory supply constraints. SMIC forecasts Q2 revenue between US$2.86 billion and US$2.91 billion, up from US$2.51 billion in Q1. Hua Hong hopes this week's Xi-Trump meetings may help ease US export restrictions on Chinese semiconductor companies.
Ford Motor's $3 billion electric vehicle battery facility in Michigan, nearing inauguration, underscores global automakers' dependence on Chinese technology for EV transition. The plant, with annual capacity exceeding 400,000 EVs, utilizes CATL technology and highlights trade and investment as key issues during Trump's state visit to Beijing and summit with President Xi Jinping.
Samsung Electronics' largest labour union has threatened an 18-day strike from May 21 to June 7 over bonus disputes. The walkout risks production disruptions, customer losses, and broader impacts on the global technology supply chain during peak AI chip demand. The strike highlights tensions over how industry windfall profits should be distributed and raises concerns about South Korea's economic slowdown.
Hong Kong's latest quarterly economic figures exceeded expectations despite disruptions from Middle East tensions and global uncertainty. Growth remains steady, markets are buoyant, and visitor arrivals are recovering. However, conversations with overseas business leaders reveal underlying unease not yet reflected in official statistics, indicating a gap between surface economic strength and actual business confidence.
President Trump arrived in Beijing with a business delegation of 17 executives from technology, finance, aerospace, and semiconductor sectors, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The delegation members hold combined personal net worth exceeding $1 trillion, demonstrating continued American corporate interest in China's market despite ongoing bilateral tensions.
According to Citi analysts, Hong Kong's Central district office rents are forecast to accelerate upward in the second half of this year, reversing a multi-year downturn that began in late 2019. Premium office rents have risen 1.7 percent from their October trough, with further increases anticipated through 2027. Lease negotiation dynamics are shifting in favor of landlords.
The US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chairman with a 54-45 vote, replacing Jerome Powell. Warsh will lead the central bank amid concerns about its independence and as inflation remains at three-year highs. Once known as a monetary hawk against inflation, Warsh has recently shifted toward supporting lower interest rates, aligning with the Trump administration's policy direction.
Tian Yuandong, former research science director at Meta's FAIR team, co-founded Recursive Superintelligence with seven other co-founders. The startup focuses on developing AI systems capable of autonomously refining their own code and reasoning abilities. The company has raised over $4.6 billion, joining the competitive race between US and Chinese firms in self-improving AI development.
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have discovered that GLP-1 weight-loss injections combined with thrombectomy surgery may help ischemic stroke patients recover. Administering GLP-1 injections before and after the blood clot removal procedure could provide neuroprotective effects and improve neurological recovery by up to 20 percent.
Despite quarterly revenues falling short of expectations, Alibaba and Tencent announced aggressive capital expenditure increases focused on artificial intelligence. The Chinese tech giants are banking on domestically produced chips from Huawei and Alibaba's in-house laboratories reaching scale to overcome supply chain bottlenecks and advance their AI ambitions.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage, measuring 13.8 metres long and 3.7 metres wide, is expected to impact the moon in August. The debris has been drifting through Earth-moon space since launching a US commercial lander and Japanese lander in January. Experts say the impact poses no immediate danger to Chinese lunar landers but highlight the critical need for international debris management rules as lunar activity increases.
Li Hongzhi, an award-winning former head of GenAI at Microsoft Asia, has joined Tongji University, a leading Chinese institution. After earning his PhD from Columbia University, Li spent over 10 years at Microsoft Research, where he conducted research in computer science, software engineering, and hardware design before leading Microsoft AI Asia's GenAI Group.
An analysis of over 5,000 accepted papers at the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), held in Rio de Janeiro last month, reveals that Chinese universities have significantly outpaced American institutions in research output. Among the top 50 contributing institutions, mainland China accounts for approximately 44 percent, with Tsinghua University and other Chinese institutions leading the rankings.
Chinese memory module manufacturers are ramping up production of consumer and enterprise storage products using domestic DDR5 chips. ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China's leading memory chipmaker, has achieved technological breakthroughs that are now spreading through the supply chain. Major vendor Powev announced its Sinker-branded DDR5 server memory has entered mass production and delivery, with the 64GB DDR5-5600 RDIMM product passing testing by multiple major customers.
Hong Kong reported fewer technology-based crimes last year, yet financial losses from hacking surged to HK$62.6 million (US$8 million), more than doubling from the previous year. The police cybersecurity bureau attributes the increased losses to high-value cyberattacks targeting financial institutions, urging companies to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother who published a children's book about grief following her husband's death, was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for his murder. In March 2023, she was convicted of aggravated murder for poisoning Eric Richins' cocktail with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl at their Park City home in 2022. A jury also found her guilty of four additional felonies including insurance fraud, forgery, and attempted murder.
Two chief physicians at Taichung Veterans General Hospital's Neurology Center, Yang Meng-yin and Zheng Wen-yu, are accused of allowing medical device vendors to perform surgeries in operating rooms. Investigators confirmed that since 2023, medical device vendor Chen and others illegally performed partial surgeries on thirteen patients over more than two years, with the doctors receiving "public relations fees." Five patients experienced post-operative complications and deterioration, raising serious medical ethics concerns.
US President Trump arrived in Beijing on the evening of the 13th for a state visit lasting less than three days. Trump will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 14th, covering issues including Iran, trade relations, and US military sales to Taiwan. International media and experts suggest both sides may display goodwill gestures while pursuing their respective political interests.
Taiwan's Taichung Veterans General Hospital faces charges against five individuals, including neurosurgery directors Yang Meng-yin and Zheng Wen-yu. Prosecutors found the doctors allowed three unqualified medical device company employees to perform spinal endoscopy and fusion surgeries on 13 patients, then fraudulently claimed medical fees from the National Health Insurance. The case involves violations of physician regulations and fraud statutes.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Bessent, President Trump's nominee, to replace Powell as the new chair of the Federal Reserve. Known for his hawkish stance on inflation, Bessent will face multiple economic challenges including inflation management upon taking office. His leadership and policy direction are closely watched by markets, with the Senate voting 54 in favor of his confirmation.
The US Senate narrowly rejected a resolution to restrict President Trump's military authority against Iran. The vote occurred after the 60-day congressional authorization period for US-Iran military operations expired, marking the first congressional vote on this matter and reflecting divisions over presidential war powers.
US President Trump announced he will discuss American military sales to Taiwan during his meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. The statement has raised concerns among Taiwan and Asian allies, who worry Trump may delay arms sales to Taiwan under pressure from Xi Jinping.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chairman with a 54-45 vote, marking the most contentious Fed chair confirmation in history. The 56-year-old Warsh will become the 11th Fed chair in the modern banking era, succeeding Powell whose term ends this Friday. The vote revealed stark partisan divisions, with only Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman crossing party lines to support, highlighting challenges to the central bank's political independence.
According to OPEC's latest report, Saudi Arabia's crude oil production fell to 6.316 million barrels per day last month, marking the lowest level since 1990 and declining 651,000 barrels from March. Production has decreased 42% cumulatively since February 28. Disrupted Persian Gulf transport has caused record production declines in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iraq, driving up fuel prices and increasing global recession risks. Saudi Arabia's market supply stands at approximately 6.879 million barrels daily.
US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting in Beijing this morning. Xi emphasized that China and the US should avoid great power conflict and be partners rather than adversaries. Trump praised their relationship as very good and stated US-China relations will be better than ever. Both leaders made remarks before the closed-door meeting, demonstrating willingness to cooperate.
The UK AI Security Institute released a report on May 13 using the Cyber Time Horizons metric to measure AI's autonomous cybersecurity task completion capability. The research shows that since late 2024, advanced AI models' autonomous cybersecurity task duration has doubled approximately every 4.7 months, with latest models like Claude Mythos Preview and GPT-5.5 exceeding original growth trends.
US President Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening for a state visit, welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. CNN reports the visit marks a critical moment for the world's most important bilateral relationship, while BBC expects the summit to be one of the most influential meetings in years. Global trade prospects, Taiwan issues, and high-tech competition are likely to be key topics, potentially setting the direction for future US-China negotiations and relations.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve, succeeding Jerome Powell. Warsh will lead monetary policy amid elevated inflation, internal policy disagreements, and political pressure. The Fed's independence and future policy direction remain key areas of market scrutiny.
US and Chinese leaders held a summit in Beijing to set the direction for bilateral relations. The agenda focused on key issues including trade, technology, Taiwan, and Iran situation. The outcomes of this summit will significantly impact the cooperation or conflict dynamics between the two powers in coming years.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on the evening of the 13th for a three-day state visit, marking the first visit by a U.S. president to China in nine years. China dispatched Vice President Han Zheng to receive Trump, setting a record for the highest protocol level. Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of the 14th to discuss U.S.-China trade, Iran, technology, and Taiwan issues.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair with a narrow 54-45 vote, marking the most divisive confirmation vote for a Fed chair in Senate history. Warsh, nominated by President Trump, will face rising inflation driven by surging oil prices. Markets anticipate the Fed will not cut rates in the near term and may even consider rate increases.