China set its growth target at 4.5 to 5 percent for this year on Thursday. This comes after Beijing's two sessions kicked off on Wednesday. The lower end of the growth target is the least ambitious since 1991. Watch the video to know more on this!


China sets growth target of 4.5-5% for 2026

Rising geopolitical tensions in west Asia are pushing global oil prices higher, raising fresh concerns for China’s economy. The military confrontation in the gulf has heightened risks to a region critical for global energy supplies and maritime trade.


China Economy Crisis: Oil Spike Raises China’s Stagflation Risk 

Global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical trade route handling about one‑fifth of the world’s crude and gas exports—has faced one of its most serious disruptions in years as the U.S.–Iran conflict escalates. Major carriers including COSCO, Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag‑Lloyd have halted new bookings or suspended transits due to security concerns and traffic restrictions, effectively pausing movement through the strait.

Can Shipping Resume Through the Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Conflict?

Russia and China have harshly criticized recent U.S. and allied military strikes against Iran, calling them violations of international law and urging an immediate halt to hostilities. Both nations emphasized respect for Iran’s sovereignty, a ceasefire, and renewed diplomatic talks to prevent wider regional escalation amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.


Israel-Iran War: Russia Calls To Defuse West Asia Tensions

Beijing is reportedly preparing a diplomatic roadmap ahead of potential talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The move signals China’s effort to manage tensions and reset key issues amid strained bilateral ties.


US-China ties: Beijing maps strategy for possible Trump-Xi Jinping talks

China’s rare earth exports to the US remain low as Beijing continues to tighten control over critical minerals vital for technology and electronics manufacturing. The move affects the supply chain for American tech companies, raising concerns about dependency on Chinese resources and global trade tensions. Analysts warn that restricted exports could impact production of electronics, electric vehicles, and defense technologies in the US.


China's Rare Earth Exports to US Still Low | China Curbs Squeeze US Tech Supply

Google says it has disrupted a Chinese-linked cyber espionage group known as Gallium, accused of targeting telecom and government organisations across at least 42 countries. The hackers allegedly used a Linux backdoor and even Google Sheets to steal sensitive data. Who is Gallium? Where did they strike? And what does this mean for global cybersecurity? We decode the operation and China’s response.


Google Reportedly Busts China-linked Gallium Hacking Network Which Targeted 42 Countries 

China’s consumers are back on the move. Lunar New Year data shows travel demand just hit record levels, and spending is ticking higher. But beneath the surge, there is a signal policymakers and investors cannot ignore. Is stimulus finally working, or is something still holding shoppers back?


China Holiday Spending Signals Recovery After Lunar New Year | World Business Watch

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited China’s iconic Forbidden City during his official state visit, highlighting diplomatic ties between Germany and China. The visit included discussions on trade, economic cooperation, and international relations, reflecting both countries’ interest in strengthening bilateral engagement. Chancellor Merz’s tour of the historic landmark symbolized cultural appreciation alongside strategic dialogue on global and regional issues.


German Chancellor Merz Tours China’s Forbidden City During Official Visit

#Gravitas The United States has reportedly allocated an additional 12.6 billion dollars specifically to sharpen America’s surveillance of China’s military manoeuvres, submarines and satellites.   


US targets China’s Submarines, Satellites in Massive Surveillance Push

China’s currency has climbed to its strongest level against the US Dollar in nearly three years.


China Pushes for Multi-polar Currency Order

China is redrawing its energy playbook, putting security, self-sufficiency and large-scale infrastructure at the centre of its next five-year plan. But the global energy story is also becoming a tale of two strategies. While China accelerates new energy and climate targets, the united states is leaning more on oil, gas and coal to secure supply and manage cost, this highlights a widening divide in how the world’s largest economies power growth. Take a look at this next report for more.


China launches new energy framework in 2026

Japan plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island amid rising regional security concerns. The move aims to bolster Japan’s defense capabilities against potential air threats in the East China Sea, particularly given tensions with neighboring countries over territorial disputes. Authorities say the deployment strengthens early-warning and deterrence measures, enhancing the nation’s overall military preparedness in the region.


Japan To Deploy Chu-Sam Missiles on Yonaguni Island Within Next Five Years

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time Wednesday, expressing optimism that the two countries can overcome disagreements on trade and geopolitics to forge a strategic partnership.


German Chancellor Merz Meets Xi For First Time

The Chinese military faces turmoil as President Xi Jinping’s ongoing political purge has left key leadership positions vacant, raising concerns about command efficiency and operational readiness. Analysts warn that the leadership vacuum could weaken strategic decision-making amid regional security challenges. The developments highlight tensions within China’s armed forces and the broader implications of political consolidation on military effectiveness and national defense.


Chinese Military in Crisis, Xi's Purge Leaves it Leaderless 

Japan to Deploy Surface-To-Air Missiles On Yonaguni Island 

Japan has confirmed that it will deploy its Type-03 Chu-SAM medium-range surface-to-air missile system on Yonaguni Island by March 2031, marking the first time Tokyo has attached a concrete deadline to the plan announced in 2022. Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, lies just 110 kilometres from Taiwan and sits along critical sea and air routes that would be central in any Taiwan Strait contingency. The deployment follows remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in 2025, suggesting Japan could activate its Self-Defence Forces in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Beijing has strongly condemned the comments, calling them interference in China’s internal affairs and a violation of the One-China principle. The move reflects Japan’s evolving defence posture, transforming Yonaguni from a remote outpost into a hardened air defence node at the edge of the Taiwan Strait.


Japan to Deploy Chu-Sam Missiles Within Next Five Years

A shift in Lunar New Year travel timing has impacted tourist flows across Asia, with Japan witnessing a dip in visitor numbers while Thailand sees a surge in arrivals. Analysts say holiday scheduling and travel patterns redirected regional tourism demand, benefiting Thailand’s hospitality and retail sectors. The trend highlights how seasonal festivals and travel timing can significantly influence tourism economies and visitor distribution across major Asian destinations.

Lunar New Year Timing Dents Japan Visitor Count | Thailand Gains as Japan Loses Visitors

Once the largest source market for Japan’s tourism industry, Chinese visitor numbers have plunged dramatically, reshaping travel flows and revenue patterns across the region. The sharp decline is forcing Japan’s hospitality sector to diversify toward other markets while recalibrating its post-pandemic recovery strategy. Watch the full video to know more on this!


China-Japan tourism:  Chinese arrivals to Japan drop over 60% year-on-year 

AI safety firm Anthropic has publicly accused three Chinese AI labs—DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax—of orchestrating "industrial-scale" campaigns to illicitly copy the capabilities of its Claude AI model. The operation involved using approximately 24,000 fraudulent accounts to conduct over 16 million exchanges with Claude, violating Anthropic’s terms of service and bypassing regional access restrictions. 


Claude Misuse Allegations: Fake Accounts Used To Tap AI Capabilities

China blacklisted 20 Japanese entities and tightened scrutiny on a raft of other firms, signaling Beijing won’t drop its pressure campaign against Tokyo even after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent landslide victory.


China Tightens Export Controls Citing National Security Concerns 

While China leads airport spending, retail slowdown is now hitting one of the most visible parts of the economy...Its shopping streets. New data shows rents along major commercial strips have fallen back to levels last seen in 2018, as cautious consumers rein in spending and landlords struggle to fill empty storefronts.

China's Commercial Streets Feel the Slowdown 

In China’s Anhui Mountains, drones and robots are being deployed to fight severe ice and snow, ensuring electricity keeps flowing to affected regions. High-tech machines inspect power lines, remove ice, and perform precision tasks in harsh winter conditions, showcasing the growing role of robotics in infrastructure maintenance.

China Deploys Drones and Robots to Protect Power Grid

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling complicates the U.S.-China trade negotiations, curtailing one of President Trump’s key negotiating tools just ahead of his anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will this legal shift affect trade strategy, tariffs, and international diplomacy? Experts weigh in on the implications for global markets and U.S. economic policy.

US-China Trade: Supreme Court Ruling Resets US-China Trade Dynamics | Trump Negotiation Challenge

British exporters are facing a potential hit of up to 4 billion dollars after US President Donald Trump raised baseline tariffs on foreign imports to 15 percent. According to the British chambers of commerce, around 40,000 UK businesses outside protected sectors could be affected.


UK-US Trade: UK Exports Face Up to $4 Billion Tariff Hit 

Moscow marked the Lunar New Year with vibrant celebrations featuring panda-themed events, cultural performances and festive displays highlighting Chinese traditions. The festivities reflected growing cultural ties between Russia and China, drawing crowds to public venues decorated for the occasion. The celebration showcased music, dance and symbolic elements associated with the Lunar New Year, as visitors welcomed the new year with themed activities and cross-cultural exchanges.


Chinese New Year: Moscow Celebrates Lunar New Year With Pandas 

Indian social media influencer Sachin Awasthi alleged that he and his wife were detained in South Korea and China for nearly 38 hours and denied entry on their international trip. Awasthi claimed that he was treated like “criminals” during the detention and was “blackmailed” to book a return ticket costing ten times the normal price. He recalled that they were “mentally drained” and “just wanted to get out safely”.&nbsp;In a post on Instagram, Awasthi detailed his distressing experience during his trip to South Korea, “We landed in Jeju Island, South Korea excited and ready for our trip. Within a few hours, everything changed. We were denied entry and taken to a holding area. No proper explanation just told to wait. And we waited.”“Hours passed without clarity. They kept us in their detention centre (it was similar to a jail with no sunlight &amp; no access to outside) and also gave us jail food. Nobody told us what was going to happen. They blackmailed us to booking a really expensive return ticket,” he added.&nbsp;He added that he was later moved through China, where they did not have access to phone and food, with limited water. He described the sleeping conditions as “worst” and said that even use of restrooms was monitored by police official, who wore a bodycam and accompanied them.“Later, during transit through China, it continued. More waiting. More supervision. Communication was restricted. No use of phone and no food and limited water. sleeping conditions were worst. Even the use of restrooms was monitored with a police official who had a bodycam and went to washroom with us.”The Indian influencer said that he is not sharing the incident for “sympathy or drama,” adding that “Immigration decisions are their authority. But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS.”He cautioned travellers that “Travel looks glamorous online. But sometimes, things change in a few hours and test you emotionally in ways you never expect.”

Indian influencer Sachin Awasthi alleged he and his wife were detained for 38 hours in South Korea and China, denied entry, restricted from phones or food, and forced to buy costly return tickets.

Indian social media influencer Sachin Awasthi alleged that he and his wife were detained in South Korea and China for nearly 38 hours and denied entry on their international trip. Awasthi claimed that he was treated like “criminals” during the detention and was “blackmailed” to book a return ticket costing ten times the normal price. He recalled that they were “mentally drained” and “just wanted to get out safely”. In a post on Instagram, Awasthi detailed his distressing experience during his trip to South Korea, “We landed in Jeju Island, South Korea excited and ready for our trip. Within a few hours, everything changed. We were denied entry and taken to a holding area. No proper explanation just told to wait. And we waited.” “Hours passed without clarity. They kept us in their detention centre (it was similar to a jail with no sunlight & no access to outside) and also gave us jail food. Nobody told us what was going to happen. They blackmailed us to booking a really expensive return ticket,” he added. He added that he was later moved through China, where they did not have access to phone and food, with limited water. He described the sleeping conditions as “worst” and said that even use of restrooms was monitored by police official, who wore a bodycam and accompanied them. “Later, during transit through China, it continued. More waiting. More supervision. Communication was restricted. No use of phone and no food and limited water. sleeping conditions were worst. Even the use of restrooms was monitored with a police official who had a bodycam and went to washroom with us.” The Indian influencer said that he is not sharing the incident for “sympathy or drama,” adding that “Immigration decisions are their authority. But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS.” He cautioned travellers that “Travel looks glamorous online. But sometimes, things change in a few hours and test you emotionally in ways you never expect.”

Indian influencer Sachin Awasthi alleged he and his wife were detained for 38 hours in South Korea and China, denied entry, restricted from phones or food, and forced to buy costly return tickets.

‘Treated like criminals’: Indian influencer claims being detained for 38 hours in South Korea, China for ‘no reason’

The United States has revoked the visas of three Chilean officials in an unusual diplomatic move linked to Chile’s expanding trade relations with China.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that the officials risked compromising critical telecommunications infrastructure through a proposed undersea cable project connecting Chile to Hong Kong.

Chile’s government dismissed the allegations, with Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren saying the project is still in its early stages and that no final decision has been taken. The development comes weeks before President-elect José Antonio Kast is due to assume office.


US Cancels Visas of Chilean Officials Over China-Linked Undersea Cable Proposal

Fresh scrutiny has emerged over reports that British-made components may have surfaced in Russian weapons systems, raising questions about supply chains and sanctions enforcement. The developments have triggered debate over whether Western technology continues to reach Russia despite sweeping restrictions. The issue highlights broader concerns around export controls, dual-use goods, and the challenges of preventing sensitive technology from entering conflict zones.


Russia-Ukraine War: Is Britain Fueling Russia's War Machinery? | Gravitas

China has showcased the CJ-1000, a land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic missile, during a military parade in Beijing. A Chinese military magazine claims the system gives Beijing an edge over the United States in operational scramjet weapons. But Is China truly ahead in the hypersonic race? Watch the full breakdown.


China Unveils CJ-1000 Scramjet Missile, Hypersonic Race With US Intensifies | Gravitas

#Gravitas In a phone call earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly urged U.S. President Donald Trump to tread carefully on weapons sales to Taiwan. Trump later confirmed he discussed the issue with Xi and said he would decide on the issue soon.  


US-China: Wary of Xi, Trump Holds Back Weapons Sale to Taiwan? 

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