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  • Australia Boosts Industry to Support AUKUS Amid Rising Chinese Defense Spending

    Australia Boosts Industry to Support AUKUS Amid Rising Chinese Defense Spending

    Australia has launched a new industry initiative to strengthen its defense capabilities in support of the AUKUS pact, as China significantly increases its military budget. The move aims to enhance local manufacturing and technology sectors to meet the demands of advanced nuclear-powered submarines and other defense projects. This comes amid growing regional tensions and concerns over China’s expanding military influence. The initiative underscores Australia’s commitment to the AUKUS alliance with the US and UK, while addressing the need for self-reliance in defense production. The strategic push highlights the intensifying arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.

    (By Ziqi Qin)

    (Ref:https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/australia-launches-industry-boost-to-support-aukus-as-china-hikes-defence-spending/news-story/ee06c03f23b76e913e7e650180e05410)

  • Anthropic Valued at $61.5 Billion After Major Funding Round for AI Assistant Claude

    Anthropic Valued at $61.5 Billion After Major Funding Round for AI Assistant Claude

    Anthropic, the creator of the AI assistant Claude, has secured a massive funding round, valuing the company at $61.5 billion. This investment highlights the growing competition in the generative AI sector, as Anthropic aims to expand its capabilities and challenge rivals like OpenAI. The funding will likely accelerate development of Claude’s advanced AI models, focusing on safety and ethical AI practices. This move underscores the increasing demand for AI technologies in various industries and the fierce race among tech giants to dominate the AI landscape.

    (By Ziqi Qin)

    (Ref: https://www.afr.com/technology/claude-ai-maker-anthropic-worth-us61-5b-after-mega-funding-round-20250304-p5lgp3)

  • Trump Allies Criticize Ukraine’s Zelensky Amid Ongoing Tensions

    Trump Allies Criticize Ukraine’s Zelensky Amid Ongoing Tensions

    Allies of former U.S. President Donald Trump have intensified criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of mismanaging aid and failing to address corruption. This backlash comes amid debates over U.S. support for Ukraine, with some Republicans questioning continued funding. Zelensky has defended his leadership, emphasizing Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. The criticism reflects broader divisions in U.S. politics over foreign policy and highlights the challenges Ukraine faces in maintaining international support. As the conflict persists, Zelensky’s ability to navigate both war and diplomacy remains crucial.

    (By Ziqi Qin)

    (Ref: https://www.afr.com/world/europe/trump-allies-continue-to-lash-out-at-ukraine-s-zelensky-20250304-p5lgmi)

  • Tencent’s Yuanbao AI Surpasses DeepSeek as China’s Top iPhone App

    Tencent’s Yuanbao AI Surpasses DeepSeek as China’s Top iPhone App

    Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s Yuanbao AI chatbot has overtaken DeepSeek to become the most downloaded iPhone app in China this week, underscoring the country’s intensifying AI competition. The app, powered by Tencent’s Hunyuan AI technology and DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model, reflects surging domestic interest in artificial intelligence. Three of the top five free apps in China are now AI chatbots, including ByteDance’s Doubao.

    DeepSeek’s rapid rise has spurred major AI investments, with Alibaba committing $53 billion to the sector. Tencent has also integrated DeepSeek R1 into WeChat’s search function and its hit game Peacekeeper Elite, while launching a Hunyuan Turbo edition, claiming superior speed.

    With 1.4 billion WeChat users, Tencent is gaining ground on AI-focused rivals Alibaba and Baidu. However, questions remain over the long-term monetization of AI services, many of which are currently free or open-source.

    (By Ziqi Qin)

    (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-04/tencent-s-ai-bot-passes-deepseek-as-china-s-favorite-on-iphones?srnd=phx-ai)

  • Trump to Deliver Primetime Address Amid Economic and Political Turmoil

    Trump to Deliver Primetime Address Amid Economic and Political Turmoil

    President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime address from Capitol Hill on Tuesday night, framing his policies as the “Renewal of the American Dream.” His speech comes at a pivotal moment in his second term, as voters evaluate the impact of his aggressive economic and foreign policy agenda.

    In his first six weeks back in office, Trump has pushed rapid government overhauls, with billionaire ally Elon Musk slashing federal agencies and executive orders targeting cultural issues. His bid to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia has led to tensions with Kyiv, resulting in a freeze on U.S. aid. Meanwhile, the administration has imposed historic tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, further shaking global trade.

    Trump now faces the challenge of rallying support for his policies, including extending his 2017 tax cuts and preventing a looming government shutdown. While his hardline approach has reshaped Washington, he must convince Congress and the public that his strategy is delivering results as economic concerns grow.

    (By Ziqi Qin)

    (ref:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-04/trump-speech-to-congress-economy-tariffs-ukraine-on-agenda?srnd=phx-economics-v2)

  • China’s Manufacturing Activity Expands, but Trade Risks Pose Challenges

    China’s Manufacturing Activity Expands, but Trade Risks Pose Challenges

    March 1, 2025 — China’s manufacturing sector showed signs of recovery in February, with factory activity expanding for the first time in months, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data. The official manufacturing PMI rose above the 50-point threshold, indicating growth, as domestic demand improved and production picked up. The positive momentum suggests that government stimulus measures and industrial adjustments may be supporting economic stabilization.

    Despite the rebound, concerns remain over external risks, particularly in the global trade environment. Geopolitical tensions, potential tariff measures from major trading partners like the U.S., and weaker global demand could pose challenges for China’s export-driven economy. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at possible tariff hikes on Chinese goods, a move that could disrupt trade flows and raise costs for businesses and consumers. At the same time, a recent survey indicates that American consumers are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the economic outlook, citing inflation concerns and uncertainty about future trade policies. If U.S. demand weakens further, it could have ripple effects on China’s exports.

    （By Ziqi Qin）

    （Ref: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-01/china-factory-activity-returns-to-expansion-but-trade-risks-grow）

  • Star Entertainment Faces Market Pause Before Crucial Financial Disclosure

    Star Entertainment Faces Market Pause Before Crucial Financial Disclosure

    Star Entertainment Group has announced a trading halt on its shares as it prepares to release its half-year financial results. The company, which operates several major casinos in Australia, has faced mounting challenges, including regulatory investigations and operational disruptions. The trading halt follows a period of heightened scrutiny over Star Entertainment’s compliance with Australian laws, particularly regarding money laundering and governance issues. Analysts are eager to see how these factors have affected the company’s financial performance. The upcoming report will also be closely watched for any updates on Star’s ongoing efforts to address these challenges and return to profitability. The company has stated it will lift the trading halt once the results are disclosed, providing further insight into the group’s future prospects.

    （By Ziqi Qin）

    （Ref：https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-28/star-entertainment-trading-halt-half-year-financial-results/104993370）

  • U.S.-China Maritime Tensions Escalate Amid Economic Policy Shifts

    U.S.-China Maritime Tensions Escalate Amid Economic Policy Shifts

    China’s maritime dominance, shaped by decades of industrial policy, is now under U.S. scrutiny. President Xi Jinping often references China’s “century of humiliation,” which began with forced integration into global trade by Western powers. Learning from Japan’s 19th-century response to foreign pressure, China built a powerful shipping industry, becoming the world’s top shipbuilder and port operator.

    Now, the U.S. sees China’s maritime strength as both an economic advantage and a strategic risk. The Trump administration, following a Biden-era investigation, has introduced escalating fines on Chinese commercial ships. However, a key question remains—will Washington invest in rebuilding its long-outsourced shipping capacity? With Trump’s incoming chief economic adviser advocating for an industrial policy prioritizing national security, the U.S. approach to maritime competition is set to evolve.

    （By Angela Xie)

    (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-01)

  • Starmer Urges Europe to Boost Defense Amid Trans-Atlantic Tensions

    Starmer Urges Europe to Boost Defense Amid Trans-Atlantic Tensions

    UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will urge European leaders to confront the “brutal reality” and increase defense spending to prevent cracks in the trans-Atlantic alliance over Ukraine. Speaking at a European security summit in London, he will address longtime U.S. allies, emphasizing unity amid tensions.

    His plea follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s fallout with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy. On Saturday, Starmer met Zelenskiy at 10 Downing Street, signaling support as Ukraine faces U.S. pressure over cease-fire talks with Russia. The summit presents a critical opportunity for Starmer to navigate ongoing diplomatic challenges.

    （By Angela Xie）

    （https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-01/starmer-to-urge-europe-to-face-new-reality-after-zelenskiy-talks?srnd=homepage-asia）

  • ASX Set to Decline as Nvidia Weighs on Wall Street

    ASX Set to Decline as Nvidia Weighs on Wall Street

    Australian stocks are expected to slide in early trading on Wednesday, following a weaker performance on Wall Street. Nvidia’s disappointing earnings report, released after market hours, has sent shockwaves through global markets, dragging down US tech stocks. As one of the largest market movers, Nvidia’s struggles have raised concerns about the broader semiconductor sector. Analysts warn that this downturn could have a ripple effect on the ASX, especially in tech and growth stocks. Investors are advised to brace for potential volatility in the coming days.

    (By Ziqi Qin)

    (Ref：https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/asx-set-to-slide-nvidia-weighs-on-wall-street-20250228-p5lfu5.html)