The US-China relationship faces unprecedented dangers amid artificial intelligence supremacy competition. Experts warn that AI advantage competition will reshape bilateral relations across all dimensions in the coming decade, surpassing trade friction, tariffs, and Taiwan issues in significance. Both nations need dialogue mechanisms to manage potential risks from AI military applications in the nuclear age.
A rare Ebola virus strain outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 130 lives, according to the World Health Organization. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the epidemic's scale and speed of transmission. The international community is accelerating vaccine and treatment development efforts to rapidly test and deploy interventions to control the outbreak and save lives.
Samsung Electronics' trade union announced an 18-day strike beginning Thursday, involving approximately 48,000 workers. Union leader Choi Seung-ho stated that management failed to concede on key sticking points in government-mediated negotiations regarding bonus payments. The strike threatens South Korea's economy and global semiconductor supply chains.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting China to advance oil and gas cooperation agreements. This follows US President Trump's recent China visit, where despite claiming a "fantastic deal," China did not announce the anticipated massive purchasing spree. Putin aims to secure significant energy sector collaboration with China during his trip.
The US Department of Justice charged seven Chinese executives and four major shipping container manufacturers with conspiring to restrict supply and fix prices. The companies collectively produce approximately 95 percent of the world's standard dry shipping containers and allegedly coordinated to limit output and manipulate prices between November 2019 and January 2024, driving up container costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US-China relationship faces unprecedented dangers amid artificial intelligence supremacy competition. Experts warn that AI advantage competition will reshape bilateral relations across all dimensions in the coming decade, surpassing trade friction, tariffs, and Taiwan issues in significance. Both nations need dialogue mechanisms to manage potential risks from AI military applications in the nuclear age.
A rare Ebola virus strain outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 130 lives, according to the World Health Organization. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the epidemic's scale and speed of transmission. The international community is accelerating vaccine and treatment development efforts to rapidly test and deploy interventions to control the outbreak and save lives.
Norway has revoked export licences for a naval missile system sold to Malaysia, highlighting the United States' ability to block arms deals between other sovereign nations by restricting components supplied by American industries. Analysts suspect US-made components, including a gyroscope in the guidance system of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's Naval Strike Missile, prompted the cancellation. Malaysia's navy will not receive the weapons system it contracted for despite having paid nearly USD 147 million.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting China to advance oil and gas cooperation agreements. This follows US President Trump's recent China visit, where despite claiming a "fantastic deal," China did not announce the anticipated massive purchasing spree. Putin aims to secure significant energy sector collaboration with China during his trip.
As Iran tensions, trade tariffs, and Taiwan disputes escalate, President Trump's Beijing visit highlights how the Hormuz crisis extends beyond military conflict into energy markets and currency politics. The US seeks to anchor Gulf and Asian partners to the dollar system, while China promotes wider renminbi use in trade. The Malacca Strait, a critical global shipping route, risks becoming the next geopolitical pivot point if regional tensions continue to rise.
The US government has agreed to permanently drop tax claims against President Donald Trump as part of a settlement resolving Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. According to a Justice Department document, the US is "forever barred and precluded" from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization regarding current tax matters.
The United States is expected to unseal criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro on Wednesday, according to multiple US media outlets citing Justice Department sources. The indictment, prepared by federal prosecutors in Miami, relates to Cuba's 1996 shooting down of two civilian aircraft operated by a Miami-based exile group. This move is anticipated to deepen tensions between Washington and Havana and further strain the volatile regional relationship.
US President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the state's Republican Senate primary shortly after early voting began. Trump posted on social media that Paxton has his "Complete and Total Endorsement" to become the next US Senator from Texas. The endorsement came as a surprise, as Paxton is engaged in an increasingly personal and expensive runoff against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, avoided taking responsibility for an attack on an Iranian school that killed 155 people during congressional testimony. Cooper claimed the school is located on an active Iranian Revolutionary Guard cruise missile base, complicating the investigation. The probe remains ongoing.
Following the deadly blaze at Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court in November 2025, the Hong Kong government has submitted three amendments to the legislature on Tuesday to improve fire safety at construction sites. The amendments include a comprehensive smoking ban at all construction sites effective July 17, reflecting strong community consensus to reduce fire risks. The government aims to strengthen fire safety measures across the construction industry.
A report from the influential Centre for European Reform identifies the China shock as the most significant factor behind Germany's industrial slump. The analysis urges Berlin to support stronger EU measures against China. In recent years, the German government has focused on deregulation efforts to revive its struggling economy, but the report suggests that Chinese trade pressures represent the core challenge facing German industry.
President Prabowo Subianto announced a new policy requiring palm oil, coal, and ferroalloys exports to pass through a state-appointed enterprise. The regulation aims to reduce revenue leaks, strengthen oversight of natural resources, and retain more foreign exchange earnings domestically. Producers must sell these commodities to the designated state enterprise, affecting three major export sectors of Southeast Asia's largest economy.
China's rare earth permanent magnet exports to Japan rose 2.5 percent in April, according to Chinese customs data, but only partially recovered from March's 17.3 percent decline. Japanese firms warn of facing severe shortages as the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo continues to disrupt supply chains.
Chinese investment in Europe hit a seven-year high of €16.8 billion (US$19.5 billion) in 2025, driven by strong rebound in mergers and acquisitions and record greenfield completions, according to a report published by Rhodium Group and the Mercator Institute for China Studies. However, the study cautioned that the investment pipeline may be thinning, with newly announced projects facing pressure from Beijing's push to retain industrial capacity domestically and Europe's rising trade protectionism.
China's oil imports from Gulf nations dropped significantly in April amid the US-Israeli conflict affecting Iran. Russian crude shipments to China rose 11.3 percent year-on-year to nearly 9 million tonnes, providing a partial buffer for Beijing's energy demands. However, the traditional price discount on Russian oil has diminished, raising cost concerns for Chinese importers.
Samsung Electronics' trade union announced an 18-day strike beginning Thursday, involving approximately 48,000 workers. Union leader Choi Seung-ho stated that management failed to concede on key sticking points in government-mediated negotiations regarding bonus payments. The strike threatens South Korea's economy and global semiconductor supply chains.
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po reported a marked shift in French investor sentiment toward the city, noting significant improvement compared to his visit two years ago. The renewed interest is driven by Hong Kong's robust market performance and improved geopolitical conditions, particularly following US President Donald Trump's recent Beijing visit.
Indonesia's total stock market capitalisation has declined over 30 percent from its January peak to US$618 billion, while Singapore's has risen to US$645 billion, according to Bloomberg data. This marks Indonesia's loss of its position as Southeast Asia's largest stock market. Investor sentiment has deteriorated in recent months amid various uncertainties affecting the market.
Middle East conflict is disrupting aluminium and nickel production, posing supply-chain risks to Asia's clean energy expansion. Countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines have accelerated installation of rooftop solar panels and green infrastructure due to high oil and gas prices. However, production disruptions could increase costs for solar panels, wind turbines, and grid upgrades, jeopardizing the region's renewable energy transition.
The US Department of Justice charged seven Chinese executives and four major shipping container manufacturers with conspiring to restrict supply and fix prices. The companies collectively produce approximately 95 percent of the world's standard dry shipping containers and allegedly coordinated to limit output and manipulate prices between November 2019 and January 2024, driving up container costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meta and Standard Chartered's recent layoff announcements have sparked urgent debate in Singapore about AI's impact on employment. The city-state faces a critical challenge: can its workforce retraining programs keep pace with companies' accelerating adoption of AI and automation? The layoffs highlight the tension between Singapore's goal to prepare workers for redesigned roles and the rapid pace of corporate headcount reductions driven by technological advancement.
China and Europe successfully launched their first jointly developed satellite, the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), on Tuesday. The mission will investigate how Earth's magnetosphere defends against solar wind. This scientific collaboration demonstrates continued cooperation between Beijing and Brussels despite escalating trade and geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding the EU's significant trade deficit with China.
Chinese researchers assert they are outpacing international competitors in developing stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease, citing higher efficiency and faster clinical trial timelines. Parkinson's is a movement disorder caused by the brain's failure to produce sufficient dopamine due to death or dysfunction of specialized neurons. Researchers worldwide are pursuing treatment solutions.
An international law enforcement operation spanning 10 jurisdictions uncovered cross-border fraud totaling US$752 million in losses. Hong Kong accounted for over 40 percent of the total, exceeding US$300 million. The largest single case involved a Singaporean company whose funds were transferred to multiple bank accounts in Hong Kong and Macau. Hong Kong police coordinated with authorities from Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
Two years after severe turbulence caused one fatality and dozens of injuries on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, investigators have released their final report. The aircraft, en route from London to Singapore, was diverted to Bangkok for medical treatment. The report addresses the causes of the incident, with analysts attributing it primarily to clear-air turbulence, invisible atmospheric pockets occurring at high altitudes.
Mung Chiang, a former top scorer in Hong Kong's public examinations, has been named the 18th president of Northwestern University, becoming the first Asian American to lead the institution in its 175-year history. He will assume the position on July 1, succeeding Michael Schill. Chiang moved to Hong Kong from Tianjin at age 11, attended Queen's College, and studied at Stanford University.
Liu Xinju, 32, competed in the 20th Bodybuilding Competition held on May 10 in Jinan, Shandong province, despite having only one arm and one leg. His impressive muscular physique and stage performance earned thunderous applause from the audience. Videos of his performance went viral on social media, earning him the nickname "Encouraging Brother" and inspiring many viewers with his determination and achievement.
US President Donald Trump announced a pause in planned military operations against Iran while indicating that further action may still be necessary. Trump stated he came within one hour of ordering the attack, underscoring the heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. The statement reflects ongoing uncertainty in US policy toward Iran and potential escalation risks in the region.
US President Donald Trump paused military action against Iran and issued an ultimatum to Tehran today. Trump emphasized that if both sides fail to reach an agreement, the United States will not rule out resuming military strikes within two to three days or early next week. The move reflects the highly tense US-Iran relations.
U.S. President Trump disclosed on the 19th that the U.S. military had planned a major military strike against Iran, with only one hour remaining before issuing the order. The operation was postponed after Middle Eastern allies in the Persian Gulf urgently called to request restraint. Trump warned that U.S. forces are fully armed and ready to resume military action within days if negotiations fail.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Putin on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of China-Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of their friendship treaty. Both leaders agreed to extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, and committed to deepening political mutual trust and strategic cooperation.
The World Health Organization has designated the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The virus strain has a fatality rate of approximately 40%, with no specific vaccine or treatment currently available. Initial misidentification of the virus strain caused testing delays, complicating outbreak control efforts.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) discovered on May 20 that AWS GovCloud keys and internal system credentials were accidentally exposed on GitHub. The incident involves sensitive access credentials for the government cloud environment, potentially affecting federal government systems. CISA has initiated emergency response procedures to assess risks and implement remediation measures.
Since mid-May, major developed nations' bond markets have experienced synchronized selling pressure. U.S. 30-year Treasury yields reached 5.18%, the highest level since before the 2007 financial crisis. Japan's 30-year government bond yields surpassed 4%, marking the highest since 1999. Long-term bond yields in the UK and Germany also rose to multi-year highs. Wall Street analysts have expressed heightened concern about the developments.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan voted on President Lai Ching-te's impeachment on the 19th, with 56 votes in favor and 50 against. Since the affirmative votes fell short of the two-thirds majority required among all 113 legislators (approximately 76 votes), Taiwan's first-ever presidential impeachment case definitively failed to pass.
Russian President Putin visited Beijing on the 20th to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. On the same day, the US Air Force successfully conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, demonstrating America's strategic deterrence capabilities.
Central Africa is facing hundreds of suspected Ebola cases, with WHO medical experts warning that actual infection numbers may be significantly higher than official reports. Experts express concern that the outbreak is spreading at a faster pace than anticipated, calling for strengthened containment measures to prevent further transmission.
Russian President Putin arrived in Beijing for key talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The visit comes days after Xi hosted former US President Donald Trump. The high-level meeting underscores Russia-China strategic partnership amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and reflects the two nations' close coordination on international affairs.
Iran expanded its atomic program following the Trump administration's withdrawal from the nuclear deal, then accelerated its nuclear work during the Biden presidency. The progression of Iran's nuclear capabilities spans three U.S. administrations, reflecting the complexity of Middle East nuclear policy.
President Trump's characterization of an arms package as a negotiating chip with China has raised concerns about the reliability of U.S. military support for Taiwan. Taiwan is actively pressing its case to ensure continued American commitment to its defense.
The World Health Organization reports 139 suspected deaths and 600 confirmed or suspected cases in its latest update. The WHO warns that death numbers will continue to rise as the outbreak spreads, urging countries to strengthen prevention and control measures to contain the epidemic.
US President Trump stated he is negotiating with Iran while reiterating the possibility of resuming military action. He indicated he would observe Iran's response over the coming days. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister countered that US statements constitute threats and vowed to respond with a firm stance.