Kazakhstan, Afghanistan to build new railway link connecting Central Asia and South Asia
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport and Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Works have reached an agreement on the construction of a new railway line to c...
Taiwan’s defence ministry reported a notable increase in Chinese military maneuvers near the island’s southwestern coast on Tuesday, though officials stressed that no live-fire exercises were observed.
The activity, which included a total of 45 Chinese military aircraft and 14 navy ships—seven of which were operating within a newly established “drill zone” in the Taiwan Strait—has raised alarms in Taipei amid ongoing tensions with Beijing.
In a daily update, Taiwan’s defence ministry noted that the drill zone, located approximately 40 nautical miles off Taiwan and measuring about 70 nautical miles by 20 nautical miles, was set up for “shooting” drills. However, two senior officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that while the area witnessed significant Chinese military presence, no live ammunition or firing was detected during the exercises.
“This is extremely rare and exceeds general expectations,” one official commented, referring to the lack of prior warning from Chinese forces—an approach similar to recent military activities in the South China Sea and off Australia’s coast. Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned the actions, labeling China as the “biggest troublemaker” in the region and calling on the international community to jointly oppose what it sees as unilateral and destabilizing measures.
The increased military activity comes as tensions continue to simmer over Taiwan’s contested status. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, while Taipei steadfastly rejects this assertion and remains sensitive to what it describes as “grey zone” tactics, such as unannounced balloon overflights and sand dredging, intended to pressure the island.
Adding to the geopolitical strain, Taiwan detained a China-linked cargo vessel on Wednesday after an undersea communications cable to the Penghu Islands was disconnected. Chinese authorities dismissed Taiwan’s claims, describing such cable incidents as “common maritime accidents” and accusing the Taiwanese government of political manipulation by drawing premature conclusions.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated America’s commitment to Taiwan’s security, emphasizing that the U.S. remains opposed to any forced change in the island’s status. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump declined to comment on the matter, leaving the response of the U.S. administration on this latest escalation uncertain.
Looking ahead, Taiwan is closely monitoring the situation as China prepares for its annual parliamentary meeting next week, when its defense budget will be unveiled. Analysts note that the timing is particularly sensitive, with March marking the 20th anniversary of China’s “anti-secession law”—a statute that permits the use of force in extreme cases involving Taiwan.
As Taiwan braces for further challenges, officials have stressed that “the best preparations for the worst-case scenario” are underway, even as they criticize the recent escalation for undermining cross-strait stability. With regional security on edge, the international community is being urged to remain vigilant in monitoring these developments in the Taiwan Strait.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
On July 4, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Khankendi, reaffirming the deep-rooted alliance between the two nations.
The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was successfully held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, highlighting the region’s revival and the deepening economic cooperation among member states.
France recorded over 100 drowning deaths in just one month — a 58% rise from last year — as unusually high temperatures drove more people to water, public health officials say.
Migration offset natural decline for the fourth consecutive year, pushing the European Union’s population to an historic high of 450.4 million in 2024, according to Eurostat figures released on Friday.
Germany’s public debt is projected to climb from 62.5% to 74% of GDP by 2030, driven by record defence and infrastructure spending, according to a report by the European rating agency Scope.
The global oil market may be tighter than headline supply-demand figures suggest, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Friday, citing rising refinery activity and seasonal summer demand as key drivers of short-term market pressure.
China’s exports are expected to have grown 5% in June as manufacturers hurried goods abroad ahead of a 12 August deadline that could see the U.S. restore punitive tariffs, a Reuters survey of economists indicates.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment