🔥 Top Stories
Zhu Feng, dean of Nanjing University's School of International Studies, has warned that the era when three joint communiques shaped US-China relations may have "completely come to an end." He also stated it might be "unrealistic" to expect Beijing and Washington to reach comprehensive political understanding on Taiwan, citing US domestic politics. The assessment follows President Xi Jinping's summit with President Donald Trump.
A gas explosion at Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province killed at least 82 people, marking China's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade. The incident left two missing and 128 hospitalized, including two in critical condition. Miners and industry insiders attribute the blast to systemic safety failures across multiple stages of the production chain.
Researchers at Westlake University in Hangzhou have developed a handheld cancer detection device that shrinks a refrigerator-sized system into a palm-sized instrument. The technology achieves approximately 10,000 times greater accuracy than conventional methods and can screen for early-stage cancer using just one drop of blood. The findings were published in Nature Photonics on May 13.
Russian President Putin's visit to China resulted in signing approximately 40 documents strengthening Beijing-Moscow partnership. Occurring shortly after US President Trump's Beijing trip, the visits demonstrate that global order is increasingly shaped by a fluid China-US-Russia triangle, with Beijing assuming a more central role in international relations.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced on Sunday that Ukraine is requesting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and a gathering of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in response to massive Russian air strikes. The overnight attacks primarily targeted the Kyiv region and involved the deployment of medium-range Oreshnik ballistic missiles. Ukraine is calling for an appropriate and strong international response to the aggressor.
🏛 Politics
Zhu Feng, dean of Nanjing University's School of International Studies, has warned that the era when three joint communiques shaped US-China relations may have "completely come to an end." He also stated it might be "unrealistic" to expect Beijing and Washington to reach comprehensive political understanding on Taiwan, citing US domestic politics. The assessment follows President Xi Jinping's summit with President Donald Trump.
A gas explosion at Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province killed at least 82 people, marking China's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade. The incident left two missing and 128 hospitalized, including two in critical condition. Miners and industry insiders attribute the blast to systemic safety failures across multiple stages of the production chain.
Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Lithuania have jointly pushed Brussels to adopt a tougher trade regime targeting Chinese-style industrial overcapacity. The coalition's position paper advocates for faster emergency tariffs, broader safeguards, and new anti-circumvention powers to address systemic and structural overcapacity issues. The initiative comes ahead of a major China-focused policy debate in Brussels.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has long advocated destroying Iran's Islamic Republic to achieve Middle East peace and stability, expecting this would normalize Israel's relations with the Arab-Islamic world and establish Israel as the region's dominant power. However, President Trump's Iran peace agreement draft announced Saturday may undermine Netanyahu's Middle East strategy.
Russian President Putin's visit to China resulted in signing approximately 40 documents strengthening Beijing-Moscow partnership. Occurring shortly after US President Trump's Beijing trip, the visits demonstrate that global order is increasingly shaped by a fluid China-US-Russia triangle, with Beijing assuming a more central role in international relations.
A chemical tank containing methyl methacrylate in southern California has posed explosion risks since Friday. A fire official reported Sunday that experts discovered a potential crack in the container that may be releasing pressure and reducing explosion danger. The tank could leak 26,500 litres of toxic material or trigger a chain reaction explosion threatening other tanks at GKN Aerospace.
The U.S. Department of Justice has acknowledged removing news releases from its website documenting criminal cases related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, characterizing the prosecution information as "partisan propaganda." This deletion of materials detailing charges, convictions, and sentences represents the latest step by the Trump administration in rewriting the history of the Capitol assault, when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the building.
Turkish riot police deployed tear gas and forced entry into the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters on Sunday to remove its ousted leadership. The intervention saw police breach makeshift barricades while occupants resisted by shouting and throwing objects. No injuries were reported. The court-ordered eviction deepens concerns about Turkey's democratic institutions and internal party governance.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced on Sunday that Ukraine is requesting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and a gathering of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in response to massive Russian air strikes. The overnight attacks primarily targeted the Kyiv region and involved the deployment of medium-range Oreshnik ballistic missiles. Ukraine is calling for an appropriate and strong international response to the aggressor.
An Israeli airstrike on a building in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Sunday killed three people, including six-month-old Osama and his parents Mohammad Abu Mallouh and Alaa Zaqlan, according to health officials. Later that day, Israeli gunfire killed a Palestinian man near a UN-run medical clinic in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
💰 Finance
Hong Kong-based investment company Jardine Matheson announced the acquisition of Australian diagnostic and teleradiology group I-MED Radiology Network for A$3.4 billion (US$2.4 billion). The acquisition encompasses 215 diagnostic imaging clinics across Australia and New Zealand, marking one of Jardine Matheson's largest deals in recent years.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers including BYD and Xpeng are aggressively expanding into European markets to pursue higher profit margins. According to Vulcan Energy Resources, a German lithium and renewable energy producer, European automotive suppliers stand to benefit from this influx due to growing EV demand and local protectionist measures. Despite EU efforts to protect domestic manufacturing amid slower electrification rates, Chinese carmakers continue their aggressive European expansion strategy.
Singapore's economy expanded 1 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter, significantly exceeding the government's prior estimate of a 0.3 percent contraction and market forecasts. The global artificial-intelligence boom lifted the nation's manufacturing and services sectors, offsetting headwinds from higher crude oil prices. The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced the data on Monday.
XCMG Group, China's largest construction machinery manufacturer, aims to achieve 100 billion yuan (US$14.7 billion) in annual overseas sales. Chairman Yang Dongsheng stated the company will enhance its excavators, cranes, and specialized vehicles with greener and more automated technologies to attract international clients and establish itself as a world-class machinery producer.
Hong Kong's airport faces a shift in passenger volume this summer as airlines adjust aircraft configurations and reduce scheduled flights to manage rising jet fuel costs triggered by the Middle Eastern conflict. Multiple carriers told the South China Morning Post they will maintain all scheduled flights beyond June following initial consolidation efforts. The adjustments come as economy fares to Europe have increased, reflecting broader industry responses to the global fuel crisis.
Southeast Asia has pursued a unified electricity grid since 1997, with regional leaders renewing their commitment at a recent summit in Cebu. The initiative aims to enable seamless energy flow across borders and seabeds, strengthening the region's resilience against future energy crises. The ambitious project involves complex cross-border and submarine infrastructure development to enhance ASEAN's energy security and regional integration.
Oil prices fell as the US and Iran moved closer to reaching an agreement. Brent crude dropped 5.7 percent to $97.64 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell below $92. President Trump stated he would not rush into a deal that remains under negotiation, and confirmed the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would continue until an agreement is finalized. Final approval may take several days.
💻 Technology
Da Bo, a semiconductor prodigy whose research underpins TSMC's 3-nanometre chip production line in Japan, has returned to China. He is now listed as a chair professor at the School of Engineering Science at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). During his time in Japan, Da Bo received top awards and led the development of core components for the world's most advanced production line. He has returned with his research team.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, known for rapid project execution, visited Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou to accelerate his nation's digital economy. During his meeting with Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai, Sharif was impressed by the company's AI tool Qwen and proposed a comprehensive strategic agreement to leverage Chinese firms' expertise in advancing Pakistan's digital transformation.
China introduced the Humanoid Full Lifecycle Management Service Platform on Friday, assigning unique digital identification codes to humanoid robots manufactured domestically. The initiative aims to promote industry growth by establishing standards and strengthening regulation, enabling tracking of robots throughout their operational lifecycle.
Researchers at Westlake University in Hangzhou have developed a handheld cancer detection device that shrinks a refrigerator-sized system into a palm-sized instrument. The technology achieves approximately 10,000 times greater accuracy than conventional methods and can screen for early-stage cancer using just one drop of blood. The findings were published in Nature Photonics on May 13.
Xiaomi is making significant investments in artificial intelligence to maintain competitive advantage in an AI-driven market for its smartphones and electric vehicles. The company's latest AI model, MiMo-V2.5-Pro, launched last month, was ranked as the world's top open-source model for agentic capabilities by third-party benchmark platform Artificial Analysis. Through open-source model investments, Xiaomi is establishing a foundation for next-generation hardware development.
🎬 Entertainment
Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying, a 43-year-old police superintendent, blasted off on Sunday for a six-month space mission. According to her elder sister Lai Ka-man, leaving her family behind is the most difficult aspect of the mission. When Lai Ka-ying was selected as a payload specialist in 2024, her three children were still in primary school and are now being cared for by both sets of grandparents and other family members.
Toshifumi Suzuki, former chairman of Seven & i Holdings and credited with the global success of 7-Eleven convenience stores, died on May 18 at age 93 from heart failure. Known as the "father of the convenience store" in Japan, Suzuki played a pivotal role in expanding 7-Eleven worldwide. The company released a statement expressing gratitude for his lifetime contributions.
A viral video showing a blind woman being hit by an electric bike on a tactile pavement has garnered over 100 million views online. The video, released on May 9 by blogger @baobaomangtu, was later revealed to be staged, triggering widespread public anger. The incident has raised concerns about similar scams involving visually impaired individuals and fears it may erode public trust in the blind community.
The annual haj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, officially commenced on Monday. According to the commander of haj passport forces, more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country. The faithful continue to arrive for the haj despite the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict and related regional tensions and uncertainty in the Middle East.
Siranudh Scott, a fourth-generation member of Thailand's billionaire Singha beer family, posted a video this month accusing his older brother Sunit of repeatedly abusing him during his teenage years. Sunit, in his thirties, subsequently denied the allegations. The high-profile case has prompted a wave of survivors from unrelated abuse incidents to come forward in the conservative country, highlighting longstanding issues of sexual violence in Thai society.
🌏 International
US President Trump announced on the 23rd that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been "largely finalized," with the Hormuz Strait set to reopen and an official announcement expected shortly. Secretary of State Rubio stated on the 24th that good news regarding the Hormuz Strait situation is expected within hours, leading markets to anticipate a breakthrough in the three-month-long Iran-related situation.
Deutsche Welle obtained test data from China's police system showing authorities can integrate high-speed rail seat numbers, facial recognition, and mobile payment records to track foreign journalists in real-time. The leaked backend system marked specific reporters as "trackable," raising concerns about privacy and press freedom.
According to the Washington Post, the US and Iran have reached agreement on a memorandum of understanding framework. The framework includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, Iran's commitment to forgo nuclear weapons, and full restoration of Hormuz Strait shipping within 30 days. The two sides will discuss implementation mechanisms over the next two months, though no formal agreement was signed as of the 24th.
A gas explosion at Qinyuan coal mine in Shanxi Province resulted in 82 deaths. Official reports stated 124 workers entered the mine, but actual figures reached 247 workers—more than double the announced number. Inconsistent death toll data and the significant discrepancy in worker numbers have raised concerns about underreporting and major regulatory violations by the enterprise.
Russia conducted its largest-scale bombing campaign against Ukraine's capital Kyiv in over four years of war, deploying Hazel Tree missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, resulting in at least four deaths. The escalation follows a Ukrainian airstrike on a Russian-occupied university dormitory that killed 21 people. The intensification comes after the United States paused mediation efforts in the conflict.
According to the Washington Post, the United States and Iran have drafted a peace agreement. Iran commits to immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz upon signing and ensuring shipping returns to pre-war levels within 30 days. Washington is currently awaiting Tehran's approval of the agreement.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to expand, with authorities reporting over 900 suspected cases and approximately 210 suspected deaths, marking the third-largest outbreak in history. Response efforts face significant challenges as medical facilities have experienced three attacks within a week. On the 23rd, residents set fire to a treatment tent, causing 18 suspected infected individuals to escape and remain unaccounted for.
A gas explosion at Liushenyu Coal Mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province on the 22nd resulted in 82 deaths, 2 missing persons, and 128 injured hospitalized. A surviving miner disclosed that many workers are outsourced contractors who must purchase their own work clothes, safety helmets, and water shoes, with the coal company failing to provide even basic protective gloves, raising serious concerns about workplace safety management.
Security firm Aikido discovered on May 22 that Laravel Lang, a third-party language package for PHP framework Laravel, was breached. Attackers compromised three packages: laravel-lang/lang, laravel-lang/attributes, and laravel-lang/http-statuses, releasing malicious version tags with credential-stealing code injected. The malicious code executes through Composer's automatic loading functionality.
Peru's Emergency Early Warning Message System (SISMATE) was hacked on May 20 evening. Attackers gained unauthorized access through supplier Consorcio Everbridge's account between 7-8 PM, sending false earthquake and tsunami alerts to the public. The incident triggered panic and highlighted critical infrastructure supply chain security vulnerabilities.
National prosecutors have simultaneously initiated comprehensive oversight for the year-end nine-in-one elections. The investigation focuses on four major areas: vote-buying and violence, election gambling, AI-generated disinformation, and foreign interference, to ensure election integrity and transparency.
A chemical storage tank at an aerospace facility in Orange County, California malfunctioned, causing abnormal temperature increases and posing risks of explosion and toxic gas release. Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency state and ordered the evacuation of approximately 50,000 nearby residents. Firefighters continuously spray water to cool the tank and discovered a crack to relieve internal pressure and prevent potential explosions.
A baseball coach at a Taichung elementary school faces allegations of sexually abusing 53 students. The Control Yuan has criticized the school and education bureau for inadequate hiring procedures and management failures that enabled the abuse. Mayor Lu Hsiu-ying questioned the system allowing the coach to clear his criminal record despite prior indecent conduct convictions and obtain a certificate of good conduct.
Russia conducted a large-scale military attack on Ukraine, resulting in at least four deaths and dozens of injuries. Russia confirmed the use of the Oreshnik missile, which travels at speeds exceeding Mach 10. This attack represents a significant military operation in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced on Sunday that Ukraine is requesting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and a gathering of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in response to massive Russian air strikes. The overnight attacks primarily targeted the Kyiv region and involved the deployment of medium-range Oreshnik ballistic missiles. Ukraine is calling for an appropriate and strong international response to the aggressor.