Category: World

Zhang Xuefeng, a leading Chinese education influencer with more than 30 million followers, died on March 24 at 41 after suffering cardiac arrest following a run, his studio and CCTV reported.

A Chinese military magazine argues the Iran war exposed limits in current missile-defence systems and urges Beijing to pursue air-based interceptors amid rising threats.

Rescue teams recovered 24 bodies, including five children, after a bus sank into the Padma river at a ferry crossing in Goalanda, Bangladesh; around 50 people were on board and many escaped.

Al Jazeera reports that restrictions are hindering repairs to Gaza’s damaged water system, leaving supplies contaminated and worsening the territory’s health risks.

Iran will play two friendly matches in Turkiye as part of its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, a move made amid heightened regional tensions.

Hong Kong Baptist University will spin off its School of Continuing Education into a private university of applied sciences next year, aiming for greater agility to meet societal and labour-market needs.

Cathay Pacific will raise its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34% from April—its second increase in two weeks—citing higher oil prices linked to conflict in the Middle East. The long‑haul fee jumps to HK$1,560.

China’s environment ministry estimates about 93 million pieces of surface debris in the South China Sea after a 26‑site survey combining ship monitoring and satellite remote sensing.

Pakistan has quietly become a back-channel mediator between Tehran and Washington amid the Iran war, a move that could sideline India despite its strengthened ties with the US, Israel and Gulf states.

Brazil and France will meet in a glamour friendly in Boston ahead of the World Cup, with attention on whether stars Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will play. The match offers both teams a final tune-up and a high-profile preview of their tournament form.

Mega Cat Studios has reimagined the blockbuster God of War series as a 2D Metroidvania prequel, Sons of Sparta, following a young Kratos and his brother into Spartan manhood and marking a milestone for the studio.

Hesai and RoboSense are expanding from automotive lidar into robotics, with Hesai committing 200 million yuan to develop robotic “eyes and muscles” as China’s supply chain gains international praise.

Cuban authorities say Raul Castro was involved in talks with the U.S. as Cuba faces an oil blockade, a development that follows Donald Trump’s remark he would be “honoured” to take over Cuba.

At the Boao Forum, Chinese government advisers urged Beijing to set clear “red lines” for AI use to address job displacement and data security concerns, warning against deploying AI solely to cut labour costs.

At the Boao Forum, Singapore PM Lawrence Wong called on China to lead plurilateral cooperation in Asia, highlighting AI governance and regional prosperity and offering Singapore’s collaboration.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a U.S. court months after an abduction, accused of plotting to traffic cocaine — allegations he denies as an “imperialist plot.”

Al Jazeera reports that a potential US‑Israel war on Iran could tighten global helium supplies, risking MRI scan delays and broader disruption to medical, research and industrial users.

A new U.S. disarmament proposal for Gaza is being criticized by analysts as a push for Hamas’s political surrender, exploiting the regional war to enforce an inequitable plan focused on security over political solutions and humanitarian needs.

Hong Kong cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing won gold in the elimination race at the Asian Track Championships in Tagaytay, upgrading from last year’s silver and adding to a season that included national titles and a national-record bronze in team pursuit.

A South China Morning Post analysis says Asia remains exposed to global shocks for a second year, warning that external trade dependencies still dim the region’s outlook despite recent policy shifts.