Ethan Zhao
Senior Reporter
The Latest
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Hong Kong Tai Po Fire Leaves 44 Dead, Nearly 300 Missing as Police Arrest Construction Executives
Hong Kong's deadliest residential fire in decades burned through a second day on Thursday, leaving at least 44 people dead, nearly 300 unaccounted for and three construction executives in police custody as authorities investigate whether unsafe renovation materials fueled the catastrophe. The blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, a dense northern district near the mainland border, engulfing seven of eight towers sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh. 
Hong Kong's deadliest residential fire in decades burned through a second day on Thursday, leaving at least 44 people dead, nearly 300 unaccounted for and three construction executives in police custody as authorities investigate whether unsafe renovation materials fueled the catastrophe. The blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, a dense northern district near the mainland border, engulfing seven of eight towers sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh. -
Taiwan Unveils $40 Billion Defense Surge as Lai Warns 'There Is No Room for Compromise' With China
Taiwan moved to dramatically expand its military readiness on Wednesday, announcing a $40 billion supplemental defense package as President Lai Ching-te warned that "there is no room for compromise on national security" amid mounting pressure from China and increased expectations from the United States. The eight-year spending plan would boost Taiwan's capabilities in missiles, drones and air-defense systems at a moment when Beijing's military activity near the island continues to intensify. 
Taiwan moved to dramatically expand its military readiness on Wednesday, announcing a $40 billion supplemental defense package as President Lai Ching-te warned that "there is no room for compromise on national security" amid mounting pressure from China and increased expectations from the United States. The eight-year spending plan would boost Taiwan's capabilities in missiles, drones and air-defense systems at a moment when Beijing's military activity near the island continues to intensify. -
Hong Kong High-Rise Inferno Kills at Least 36, With 279 Missing as Fire Exposes Scaffolding Risks
Hong Kong's deadliest urban fire in nearly three decades has killed at least 36 people and left 279 others missing, prompting a city-wide emergency mobilization as flames raced across high-rise residential towers wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and renovation mesh. The blaze, which erupted Wednesday afternoon in the Tai Po district, engulfed multiple blocks of the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, one of the territory's largest residential complexes. 
Hong Kong's deadliest urban fire in nearly three decades has killed at least 36 people and left 279 others missing, prompting a city-wide emergency mobilization as flames raced across high-rise residential towers wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and renovation mesh. The blaze, which erupted Wednesday afternoon in the Tai Po district, engulfed multiple blocks of the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, one of the territory's largest residential complexes. -
Hong Kong High-Rise Inferno Kills 14 as Wind-Driven Flames Spread Across Seven Towers
A catastrophic fire ripped through a cluster of high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than a dozen others as firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that intensified after nightfall. Authorities raised the incident to a No. 5 alarm-the city's highest severity rating-after flames spread across bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting encasing much of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, home to nearly 2,000 apartments. 
A catastrophic fire ripped through a cluster of high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than a dozen others as firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that intensified after nightfall. Authorities raised the incident to a No. 5 alarm-the city's highest severity rating-after flames spread across bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting encasing much of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, home to nearly 2,000 apartments. -
MH370 Breakthrough? New Witness Claim Fuels Fresh Push Ahead of Nov. 2025 Search Relaunch
Fresh claims surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have reignited the long-stalled search for the missing Boeing 777, as 2025 expeditions prepare to resume operations in the southern Indian Ocean. The disappearance of MH370 on 8 March 2014, carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, remains one of aviation's most enduring mysteries and has drawn renewed attention after a resurfaced account from a New Zealand oil rig worker who says he witnessed the aircraft burning in the sky. 
Fresh claims surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have reignited the long-stalled search for the missing Boeing 777, as 2025 expeditions prepare to resume operations in the southern Indian Ocean. The disappearance of MH370 on 8 March 2014, carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, remains one of aviation's most enduring mysteries and has drawn renewed attention after a resurfaced account from a New Zealand oil rig worker who says he witnessed the aircraft burning in the sky. -
China Warns Japan of 'Disaster' as Missile Deployment Near Taiwan Triggers Flight Cancellations, Economic Retaliation
Tensions between China and Japan escalated sharply this week after Beijing condemned Tokyo's plan to deploy missile units to a remote island near Taiwan, warning that Japan's actions were designed to "create regional tension and provoke military confrontation." The criticism marks the latest development in what officials on both sides describe as the worst diplomatic rupture in years, deepening an already volatile strategic environment in East Asia. 
Tensions between China and Japan escalated sharply this week after Beijing condemned Tokyo's plan to deploy missile units to a remote island near Taiwan, warning that Japan's actions were designed to "create regional tension and provoke military confrontation." The criticism marks the latest development in what officials on both sides describe as the worst diplomatic rupture in years, deepening an already volatile strategic environment in East Asia. -
Xi Tells Trump Taiwan’s 'Return to China' Is Core to Post-War Order in Tense Phone Call
U.S.-China relations returned to the forefront of global diplomacy after President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call Monday that touched on Taiwan, trade policy and the Ukraine conflict, according to U.S. and Chinese officials. The call came amid heightened tensions in East Asia and renewed debate over Beijing's view that Taiwan's political future is inseparable from the post-World War II order. 
U.S.-China relations returned to the forefront of global diplomacy after President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call Monday that touched on Taiwan, trade policy and the Ukraine conflict, according to U.S. and Chinese officials. The call came amid heightened tensions in East Asia and renewed debate over Beijing's view that Taiwan's political future is inseparable from the post-World War II order. -
Netherlands Suspends Nexperia Takeover as China Lifts Export Block and Global Carmakers Brace for Impact
The Dutch government has stepped back from its emergency intervention at chipmaker Nexperia, easing a months-long confrontation with China that disrupted global automotive supply chains and raised questions about Europe's handling of foreign ownership in strategic industries. Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans said he suspended an order that effectively transferred control of the company to the state, citing "constructive" discussions with Chinese officials and consultations with partners across Europe and beyond. 
The Dutch government has stepped back from its emergency intervention at chipmaker Nexperia, easing a months-long confrontation with China that disrupted global automotive supply chains and raised questions about Europe's handling of foreign ownership in strategic industries. Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans said he suspended an order that effectively transferred control of the company to the state, citing "constructive" discussions with Chinese officials and consultations with partners across Europe and beyond. -
China Suspends Japan Seafood as as Takaichi’s Taiwan Remarks Trigger Retaliation
China's latest warning that there is "no market" for Japanese seafood has deepened an already volatile diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Tokyo, adding economic pressure to a dispute triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent comments about Taiwan. The tensions, now among the most serious between the two Asian powers in years, have sent ripples through regional markets, disrupted travel and trade, and sharpened geopolitical anxieties across East Asia. China's latest warning that there is "no market" for Japanese seafood has deepened an already volatile diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Tokyo, adding economic pressure to a dispute triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent comments about Taiwan. The tensions, now among the most serious between the two Asian powers in years, have sent ripples through regional markets, disrupted travel and trade, and sharpened geopolitical anxieties across East Asia. -
China–Japan Tensions Wipe Out Billions in Travel Stocks as Nasdaq, Nikkei Slide
Nasdaq travel stocks fell sharply this week as rising geopolitical tensions between China and Japan rattled global tourism markets and triggered a broader pullback across travel-related shares. The selloff began after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that a military attack by Beijing on Taiwan would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan-comments that prompted China to issue a travel ban and denounce Tokyo for "seriously damaging bilateral ties and challenging post-war international order." Nasdaq travel stocks fell sharply this week as rising geopolitical tensions between China and Japan rattled global tourism markets and triggered a broader pullback across travel-related shares. The selloff began after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that a military attack by Beijing on Taiwan would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan-comments that prompted China to issue a travel ban and denounce Tokyo for "seriously damaging bilateral ties and challenging post-war international order."
