China's new energy vehicle sales surge by over 28% in May
Sales of electric and hybrid vehicles in China saw a strong year-on-year growth in May, boosted by government-backed trade-in programs designed to stimulate domestic consumption.
A cargo ship carrying around 800 electric vehicles caught fire off Alaska, forcing its 22 crew members to abandon the vessel amid rising concerns over maritime EV fires.
A fire broke out aboard the Morning Midas, a Liberia-flagged cargo ship transporting approximately 3,000 vehicles—including 800 electric vehicles (EVs)—prompting the full evacuation of its 22-member crew off the coast of Alaska. The ship’s operator, Zodiac Maritime, confirmed the crew had to abandon the vessel after unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the blaze.
The incident occurred roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue, with crew members evacuated by lifeboat and transferred to a nearby merchant vessel. Coast Guard aircrew and a cutter were dispatched to assist, and three ships are currently on the scene.
According to Zodiac, the fire originated on a deck loaded with EVs. EV fires are notoriously difficult to manage due to the high heat they produce and the persistent risk of reignition. The brand of the vehicles onboard has not been disclosed.
The Morning Midas had departed from Yantai, China, on 26 May and was en route to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, according to data from LSEG.
Fires on car carriers and container vessels remain a growing issue for the maritime industry. Allianz Commercial, in its 2025 Safety and Shipping Review, noted that fire incidents reached their highest level in a decade this year, attributing the rise to larger ship sizes and complex salvage and firefighting challenges.
Insurer Steamship Mutual, reportedly one of the insurers of the Morning Midas, did not respond to a request for comment.
The maritime sector remains alert to fire hazards aboard EV-carrying ships, following high-profile incidents like the 2022 fire that sank a ship loaded with luxury vehicles off the Portuguese Azores.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Senior Russian officials have condemned the United States’ recent military strikes on Iran, warning of a spiralling regional conflict and accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of igniting a "new war" that could backfire by strengthening Iran's leadership.
The United States has clarified that its recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were not intended to overthrow the Iranian government, but to neutralise what it described as urgent threats to national security, amid rising tensions and fears of broader regional conflict.
The Pentagon concluded a high-stakes press briefing Saturday afternoon following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, outlining the scale and success of the mission while stressing the door remains open to diplomacy.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
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