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1. US assesses mainland China not planning to attack Taiwan in 2027

   China does ⁠not currently plan to attack ⁠Taiwan in 2027 and seeks to ⁠control the island without the use of force, the US intelligence community said on Wednesday, striking a measured tone on one of the world’s biggest potential flashpoints. The assessment in the intelligence agencies’ annual report on global threats comes as Beijing has stepped up ‌pressure on Taiwan with frequent military...

2. Iran threatens Gulf energy targets after Pars gas field struck, sending oil prices higher

   Iran’s ⁠huge Pars gas field was hit on Wednesday in the first reported strikes on Iran’s Gulf ⁠energy infrastructure of the US-Israeli war, prompting Tehran to announce it would respond with attacks on oil and gas targets throughout the Gulf. Oil prices shot up after the attack, a major escalation in a war that has already halted shipping from the world’s most important energy-producing region...

3. Trump allows foreign ships between domestic ports to stabilise petrol costs amid Iran war

   US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary 60-day suspension of the Jones Act, the century-old law that mandates cargo moving between domestic ports be transported on vessels built, operated and staffed by American citizens or permanent residents. The move comes in response to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a key chokepoint – amid the escalating US-Israeli war against Iran,...

4. Pakistan to pause Afghan strikes for Eid at request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey

   Pakistan announced on Wednesday a pause in strikes against Afghanistan, saying the decision was made ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. In a statement, Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar said the pause in strikes on “terrorists and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan” would take effect at midnight on Wednesday and...

5. 2 Hongkongers held after raids on 3 illegal fuel stations amid oil price spike

   Hong Kong authorities have raided three illegal fuelling stations and arrested two men, seizing more than 1,800 litres (475.5 gallons) of petrol with an estimated market value of HK$54,000 (US$6,891) as oil prices continue to spike amid the widening conflict in the Middle East. The joint crackdown by the Fire Services Department and the Customs and Excise Department in the past week also led to...

6. Chaos over Donald Trump’s China trip likely to further test Beijing’s patience with US

   Visits to China by foreign leaders are tightly choreographed and meticulously planned affairs, even by the usual standards of international diplomacy. But the chaotic nature of Donald Trump’s White House and his request to delay a planned visit to China in the wake of his decision to attack Iran are widely believed to be causing increasing frustration in Beijing. The South China Morning Post has...

7. Hong Kong securities watchdog urges stock exchange to tighten listing, compliance rules

   Hong Kong’s securities regulator on Wednesday recommended strengthening the stock exchange’s regulations to better protect investors following a review of 2024 compliance and enforcement cases. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) submitted its findings after vetting listed companies’ internal control reviews, their handling of late auditor resignations and the processes of the Hong Kong...

8. Zelensky urges EU to bypass Hungary’s ‘blackmail’ veto on vital US$103 billion loan

   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday urged the European Union to overcome a veto by Hungary on a €90 billion (US$103 billion) loan vital for his country. Zelensky, during a visit to Madrid to meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, said he considered that the “main issue” of an EU summit to be held Thursday and Friday in Brussels. “We are really counting on the countries and...

9. Why tariffs aren’t the biggest factor holding back US-Asean trade

   When the Trump administration rolled out sweeping tariffs on “Liberation Day” in April 2025, the reaction across Southeast Asia was swift: markets dipped, supply chains scrambled and governments went into damage control. Governments had a choice: retaliate or negotiate. They negotiated. Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia have signed Agreements on Reciprocal...

10. Red Sea fix? China-bound oil tankers tap Saudi plan to bypass Strait of Hormuz

    Saudi Arabia is activating its Red Sea “Plan B” to divert crude via the port of Yanbu, allowing tankers – including Chinese very large crude carriers (VLCCs) – to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, though analysts warn the route has limited capacity. The move comes after Iran effectively closed the strait in response to United States and Israeli military strikes, a conflict now in its third week that...