Japan plans to enhance military presence on Iwo Jima amid concerns over Chinese military activity in the Pacific
Japan is reportedly moving forward with plans to enhance its military capabilities on Iwo Jima, a volcanic island situated approximately 1,207 kilometers south of Tokyo. According to recent reports from the Asahi newspaper, the Japanese Defence Ministry is set to increase its presence on the island and is contemplating the establishment of a Pacific defence initiative office. This strategic decision comes amid growing concerns regarding increasing Chinese military activity in the Pacific region. Analysts have underscored the strategic importance of Iwo Jima, noting that its geographical positioning contributes significantly to Japan’s expansive exclusive economic zone. Masayuki Masuda, an expert from... [Continue Reading]
‘More dim sum, more often’: Hongkongers cash in as war triggers gold rush
Rising gold prices amid the Middle East war have boosted trade in the precious metal in Hong Kong, with residents lining up to sell valuables for cash and retailers reporting that twice as many people are buying bars and pellets. Spot gold stood at US$5,165 per ounce on Thursday, below January’s peak of US$5,594.82, but still near historic high levels as US-Israel strikes in Iran stoked safe-haven demand. The conflict has spread rapidly across the Middle East, drawing in Iranian-backed militias... [Continue Reading]
Meta Platforms Inc. executives discuss child safety challenges during legal trial in New Mexico
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of popular social media applications including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is currently involved in a significant legal trial in New Mexico. During this trial, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram leader Adam Mosseri addressed the challenges concerning child safety on their platforms. In depositions played earlier this week, Zuckerberg expressed that some level of criminal behavior among users is an unavoidable consequence of having a vast user base of billions. He stated, “the unfortunate reality is that some very small percent of them are going to be criminals,” emphasizing the company’s commitment to mitigating such... [Continue Reading]
Trump sued in bid to undo approval of TikTok’s US sale
Donald Trump and his attorney general were sued on Thursday by retail investors in two social media rivals of TikTok seeking to reverse the US president’s approval of a deal by the company’s Chinese owner ByteDance to form a majority American-owned joint venture. The lawsuit, the first legal challenge to the deal, argues that Trump’s approval last year violated requirements set out in a 2024 divestiture law. Two California residents who hold shares in Alphabet and Meta Platforms sued, backed by... [Continue Reading]
Mark Zuckerberg says criminal behavior on Facebook inevitable
Meta CEO, grilled about children’s safety, says in taped deposition a user pool of billions will include bad actorsHarms to children, such as sexual exploitation and detriments to mental health, are inevitable on Meta’s platforms, the company’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram leader Adam Mosseri said in taped depositions played at a trial in New Mexico on Tuesday and Wednesday.“I just think if you’re serving billions of people, the unfortunate reality is that some very small percent of them are going to be criminals, and we should work as hard as we can to stop that activity from happening,” said... [Continue Reading]
Customs seizes record HK$230 million in gold and silver hidden in air cargo
Hong Kong customs officers have discovered HK$233 million (US$29.81 million) worth of gold and silver hidden in two air cargo shipments of household cleaning machines destined for Japan, making the largest seizure of precious metals on record. Senior Investigator Ho Ting-chun of the Customs and Excise Department’s syndicate crimes investigation bureau said on Thursday officers intercepted 168kg (370lbs) of suspected gold foil and 285kg of suspected silver foil worth HK$233 million in an... [Continue Reading]
Russian LNG tanker sinks in Mediterranean after alleged Ukrainian drone strike
A significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea, where the Russian LNG tanker, Arctic Metagaz, has sunk following an alleged drone strike by Ukraine. Sharing the incident details, Moscow claimed that Ukrainian drones targeted the ship late on a recent Tuesday night while it was approximately 150 miles (240 km) off the coast of Libya, carrying 61,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Although there were no fatalities reported among the crew of 30, the vessel went ablaze before ultimately sinking. The Russian government has strongly condemned this alleged act, with... [Continue Reading]
Police investigate alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old man in Sydney, two men charged in connection with the case
In a disturbing incident that has rocked Sydney, police are investigating the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his home in North Ryde on February 13. Law enforcement authorities believe this case may have stemmed from a case of mistaken identity, marking what they describe as a highly unusual event in Australia. Two men have been charged in connection with the crime and made an appearance in court where they did not apply for bail, further heightening the public's anxiety regarding safety and crime in the region. The abduction took place in the early... [Continue Reading]
