Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called US State Secretary Marco Rubio on Monday at President Putin's request, advising the evacuation of American diplomats and citizens from Kyiv. Russia stated it would conduct systematic and sustained strikes against facilities in the Ukrainian capital. The move reflects escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and heightened security concerns for the US embassy.
US Central Command reported that American forces conducted defensive strikes against missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran on Monday to protect troops from Iranian threats. The strikes occurred as senior Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for talks aimed at ending the conflict. The US military provided no operational details but confirmed targets included missile facilities and naval assets engaged in mine-laying activities.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr will undertake a four-day state visit to Japan, the first by a Philippine leader in over a decade. The trip aims to strengthen defense and other ties between Manila and Tokyo in response to China's growing maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea. Analysts view this visit as Manila's latest effort to counterbalance Beijing's influence in the disputed region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered military escalation of strikes in southern Lebanon. The offensive occurs as the United States and Iran negotiate terms for a Middle East conflict agreement that could address the Lebanon front. Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been at war since March 2. Despite a ceasefire effective April 17, tensions remain unresolved between the parties.
Industrial experts report that China is rapidly advancing an 'AI Plus' revolution in electronic warfare by integrating artificial intelligence with radio wave propagation physics. According to their published research, this fusion could enable faster, smarter, and more resilient communications and radar systems, potentially redefining modern military conflict and electromagnetic spectrum dominance.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called US State Secretary Marco Rubio on Monday at President Putin's request, advising the evacuation of American diplomats and citizens from Kyiv. Russia stated it would conduct systematic and sustained strikes against facilities in the Ukrainian capital. The move reflects escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and heightened security concerns for the US embassy.
US Central Command reported that American forces conducted defensive strikes against missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran on Monday to protect troops from Iranian threats. The strikes occurred as senior Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for talks aimed at ending the conflict. The US military provided no operational details but confirmed targets included missile facilities and naval assets engaged in mine-laying activities.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr will undertake a four-day state visit to Japan, the first by a Philippine leader in over a decade. The trip aims to strengthen defense and other ties between Manila and Tokyo in response to China's growing maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea. Analysts view this visit as Manila's latest effort to counterbalance Beijing's influence in the disputed region.
The United States plans to deploy the Typhon mid-range missile launcher system in southwestern Japan next month for joint US-Japan military exercises at Kanoya Airbase in Kagoshima prefecture. Chinese military analysts warn the deployment could directly threaten China's coastal cities and potentially block crucial naval routes to the Pacific.
Reported delays in US delivery of hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles could slow Japan's plans to develop long-range strike capabilities, analysts warn. This exposes a potential gap between Tokyo's new defence ambitions and Washington's ability to supply weapons. The missiles are central to Japan's counterstrike capability, enabling it to strike enemy bases if threatened, aligning with Tokyo's defence posture adjustments amid growing security uncertainties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered military escalation of strikes in southern Lebanon. The offensive occurs as the United States and Iran negotiate terms for a Middle East conflict agreement that could address the Lebanon front. Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been at war since March 2. Despite a ceasefire effective April 17, tensions remain unresolved between the parties.
Industrial experts report that China is rapidly advancing an 'AI Plus' revolution in electronic warfare by integrating artificial intelligence with radio wave propagation physics. According to their published research, this fusion could enable faster, smarter, and more resilient communications and radar systems, potentially redefining modern military conflict and electromagnetic spectrum dominance.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the reopening of international internet access, according to Iranian state media on Monday. This decision ends a nearly 90-day internet blackout that followed escalating tensions with the US and Israel. The Communications Ministry's public relations head confirmed the decree aims to restore internet to pre-January conditions, though specific implementation timelines remain unclear.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled leader of Belarus's opposition, visited Kyiv on Monday as Ukrainian officials continue warning of Russian plans to deepen Belarus's involvement in the war. Her arrival followed one of the war's largest strikes on the Ukrainian capital, which killed four people and damaged historical sites. The visit occurs amid Russian threats of further heavy attacks on Kyiv.
US President Donald Trump stated that any agreement with Iran should require additional countries, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to join the Abraham Accords. These US-brokered agreements, first signed in 2020 during Trump's first term, aim to normalize relations with Israel. Trump indicated on social media that negotiations are proceeding well but tied any eventual agreement to expanded participation in the accords.
Jonathan Andic, son of Mango founder Isak Andic, announced on Tuesday he is temporarily stepping down as vice chair of the fashion group after being named a suspect in an investigation into his father's death. In an open letter to staff, Andic asserted his innocence and stated that his judicial defence requires significant focus, preventing him from maintaining the commitment level demanded by his vice-chair position.
Hong Kong's CLP Power announced its June fuel cost at 42.6 HK cents per kilowatt-hour, up 5.4 percent from May's 40.4 HK cents. This marks the fourth consecutive monthly increase since March. CLP serves over 80 percent of Hong Kong's population, and customers will face higher electricity bills next month due to rising fuel costs.
Chinese billionaire Leaf Li lost US$1.7 billion of his fortune on Friday following Beijing's announcement of a crackdown on online brokerages offering unauthorised cross-border trading. His wealth declined to US$4.7 billion, with the decline attributed to a stock rout for Futu Holdings, the US-listed company he founded and leads as CEO. Li's fortune has halved since October, primarily derived from his stake in Futu.
Unitree Robotics, a prominent player in China's humanoid robot sector, disclosed a significant first-quarter profit plunge just days before its crucial IPO review. The Shanghai Stock Exchange's listing committee is scheduled to examine the Hangzhou-based company's application on June 1. Rising operational expenses and intense price competition in the industry are creating headwinds for its Star Market IPO prospects.
Student housing has become a top investment choice in mainland China's property market as demand continues to exceed supply for university accommodation. According to property consultancy CBRE, investor interest in the student housing segment has risen significantly across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Australia. The surge in mainland China is driven by steady demand, positioning student housing and offices as leading property investment options amid the broader market downturn.
The 3.8 million square foot 11 Skies commercial complex adjacent to Hong Kong International Airport is struggling with occupancy issues. Originally scheduled to open last year, the development currently has all 800 retail shops vacant and only 2 of 120 food outlets operational. Recent inspections reveal widespread closures with storefronts boarded up, presenting significant challenges to the project's viability.
Huawei introduced a new chip scaling law and architecture on Monday aimed at delivering products equivalent to advanced 1.4-nanometre processing nodes by 2031. The innovation seeks to circumvent US sanctions and reduce dependence on Dutch ASML lithography equipment. However, analysts caution that China's path to semiconductor independence remains constrained by significant manufacturing challenges and technical hurdles.
Industry professionals in China's space sector are expressing skepticism about whether SpaceX's Starship rocket can overcome its engineering and financial challenges. The latest test flight experienced engine failures in both the first and second stages, though SpaceX characterized it as "mostly successful." Concerns persist regarding the project's technical feasibility and commercial viability.
A University College London survey reveals that Chinese people hold a "strikingly positive" attitude toward artificial intelligence. Fewer than 10 percent of Chinese respondents worry that AI will make finding jobs more difficult, while about one-third believe the technology will create more high-skilled employment opportunities. The survey also found that 96 percent of Chinese respondents use AI at work every week, indicating widespread AI adoption in the Chinese workplace.
China Mobile International is developing a new terrestrial cable route to connect Central Asian cables with Hong Kong's submarine cable network, aiming to improve data transmission efficiency between Central Asian countries and the rest of the world. The company's head of carrier business stated that the developing telecommunications sector in Central Asia presents significant opportunities and the company is ready to provide support.
A Hong Kong woman lost more than HK$1 million after being lured through a Facebook advertisement into a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme disguised as an AI-powered trading application. Police reported over 70 similar scams in the past week alone, with total losses exceeding HK$50 million. Authorities issued warnings on their CyberDefender page.
Shinnosuke Abe, 47-year-old manager of the Yomiuri Giants, Japan's oldest professional baseball team, resigned on Tuesday following his arrest by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of assaulting his 18-year-old daughter. Abe apologized for tarnishing the proud tradition of Giants managers. The incident has prompted his immediate resignation from the position.
Legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins passed away on Monday at age 95. Rollins spent over two years practicing in solitude on New York's Williamsburg Bridge starting in summer 1959 to reinvent his playing style and become one of jazz's greatest musicians. Despite recording the confidently titled Jazz Colossus album in 1956, Rollins remained plagued by self-doubt throughout his career.
Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin apologized publicly eight days after Starbucks Korea's 'Tank Day' marketing event sparked controversy for allegedly inappropriately referencing South Korea's 1980s pro-democracy movement. During a press conference, Chung stated that regardless of intentions, hurting citizens' feelings represents a serious responsibility and pledged to take full accountability without excuses.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that he has ordered the military to intensify operations in Lebanon to weaken Hezbollah's political and military capabilities. Netanyahu accused the armed group of using drones to attack Israeli forces. The directive reflects ongoing tensions between Israel and the militant organization operating within Lebanese territory.
Russia issued a warning to foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel in Kyiv, demanding their immediate evacuation. Russian authorities stated plans to conduct additional military operations against the Ukrainian capital, targeting decision-making centers. The warning reflects the ongoing escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The US Central Command confirmed on the 25th a self-defense operation in Iran's southern port, striking missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to deploy naval mines. According to the New York Times citing US officials, Iranian air-defense missiles threatened approximately 20 US Navy vessels deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, including 2 aircraft carriers and escort ships.
Security firm Socket has disclosed a supply chain attack campaign called TrapDoor targeting cryptocurrency, DeFi, Solana, and AI community developers. Attackers compromised 34 packages across NPM, PyPI, and Crates.io platforms, uploading at least 384 malicious package versions. The attack aims to steal developers' sensitive data including cryptocurrency wallets, SSH keys, cloud credentials, browser data, and environment variables.
Russia conducted a major air assault on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, deploying approximately 600 unmanned drones and 90 missiles, including hypersonic weapons. The strikes resulted in civilian casualties. Russian officials warned foreign personnel to evacuate the area and stated they would continue targeting Kyiv's decision-making centers.
The US Central Command confirmed on the night of the 25th that American forces conducted defensive strikes in southern Iran near Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz, destroying multiple missile launch positions. Iran subsequently announced it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The incident occurs amid escalating military tensions in the Middle East region.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected North Korea launching several short-range ballistic missiles toward the West Sea from the Jeongju area in North Pyongan Province today afternoon, accompanied by an unprecedented simultaneous launch of multiple rocket launcher systems. The combined operation represents an escalation in North Korea's recent military activities, raising regional security concerns. South Korean military is conducting detailed analysis and assessment.
According to Iranian state media, US and Israeli warplanes attacked multiple Iranian vessels south of Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in casualties. The military action contradicts Trump's earlier statement that negotiations with Tehran on a temporary ceasefire agreement were progressing smoothly. The incident highlights the fragility of the current ceasefire, as disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global energy transport route—have driven up energy prices and inflation pressures worldwide.
Former TSMC engineer Chen Li-ming allegedly conspired with three current TSMC engineers to steal 2-nanometer chip manufacturing secrets and transfer them to Japanese company Tokyo Electron. The court sentenced Chen to 10 years, Wu Bing-jun to 3 years, Ge Yi-ping to 2 years, and Chen Wei-jie to 6 years, with Tokyo Electron fined 150 million NT dollars. Chen, Chen Wei-jie, and Lu Yi-yin appealed to the Supreme Court, while Wu, Ge, and Tokyo Electron did not appeal, making their sentences final.
An Iranian delegation arrived in Doha, Qatar on the 25th to negotiate ceasefire agreement details with Qatar's prime minister. On the same day, Israel intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, while the US conducted defensive strikes against a missile base near Abadan in southern Iran and destroyed a vessel attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional tensions are rising, raising concerns about potential impact on US-Iran negotiations.
Ten individuals from Absolute Energy Group, including a person surnamed Chiu, were indicted for operating a decentralized lending platform and issuing virtual currencies "EGT" and "TBT" to defraud at least 1,570 people of over 5.7 billion NTD. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office charged them with fraud and violations of the Organized Crime Prevention Act, seeking sentences of 8 to 20+ years imprisonment.
Following one of the war's largest aerial assaults on the Ukrainian capital overnight Saturday, Russia has threatened further strikes on Kyiv and called for foreign nationals to leave. The attack represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with the Russian military signaling its intent to continue intensive operations against Ukraine's capital city.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced plans to intensify military operations against Hezbollah. The Israeli military has conducted strikes on targets in eastern Lebanon. This marks an escalation of Israeli military activity in the region, reflecting ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
The United States announced a self-defence military operation targeting missile facilities in southern Iran. The strikes occurred while peace talks between the two nations continue, drawing international attention. US officials characterized the action as defensive in nature, though specific details and Iran's response remain to be clarified.
The US Central Command announced that American forces have launched strikes targeting Iranian missile launch sites and boats in southern Iran. The military operation was characterized as a self-defence action. The strikes focused on Iranian military infrastructure, with US officials emphasizing the defensive nature of the operation.
A heat dome originating from northern Africa is causing extreme temperatures across Europe this week. The United Kingdom and France recorded record-high temperatures for May on Monday, with forecasters warning of prolonged extreme heat throughout the week. Spain's temperatures are expected to peak at 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) later this week, while parts of Italy have implemented response measures to the unusual early-summer heat conditions.