Newswire

On August 23, it was reported that India has extended the closure of its airspace to all flights from Pakistan, effective until September 24, 2025.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that creating a fully reusable orbital rocket is one of humanity's most challenging engineering problems, even harder than landing on the moon. He expressed cautious optimism about Starship achieving full reusability next year.

NATO Baltic member states report an increase in radio and satellite interference, expressing concerns over Russia's electronic warfare activities.

On the 23rd, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Ukraine will not hand over its land to Russia. He emphasized that only through cooperation with Ukraine can the security of democratic nations be ensured. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also reported that Zelensky is willing to discuss territorial issues only in a meeting with Putin.

According to Nikkei News, leaders from Japan and South Korea are set to meet on Saturday, aiming to enter a new phase of cooperation amid slow economic growth and declining exports. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for breakthrough economic collaboration.

On August 23, German authorities revealed that the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines were allegedly destroyed by at least four timed explosives delivered by a sailing boat to the Baltic Sea. A Ukrainian man has been arrested in Italy for allegedly coordinating the attack.

Huatai Securities' fixed income research indicates that the current U.S. situation suggests downside risks to job growth, necessitating policy adjustments. Following Powell's remarks, market trading anticipates Fed easing, with a higher probability of a soft landing for the U.S. economy. A 25bp rate cut in September is expected to be the baseline scenario, with two additional cuts likely in Q4.

Due to the U.S. ending the small package tariff exemption policy, Korea Post announced it will suspend accepting postal packages to the U.S. This change impacts both personal shipments and South Korea's e-commerce business targeting overseas consumers.

Dan Ives, Managing Director and Senior Analyst at Wedbush Securities, stated that the U.S. government's investment provides Intel with a safety net and some positive momentum, but does not change the reality of its years-long competitive lag. He added that it is a small positive step in a dark situation for Intel.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived at Tokyo's Haneda International Airport to begin a six-day visit to Japan and the U.S., during which he will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He will hold discussions with Korean residents in Japan and participate in both small and large meetings with Ishiba.

Venezuelan President Maduro publicly accused the U.S. of trying to achieve regime change in Venezuela through "terrorism and military means," in response to the recent deployment of military forces near Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking in Latin America.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, announced that Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion, scheduled for August 26. He criticized Germany's investigation delays and lack of transparency to the Council.

A spokesperson for Hunter Oil U.S. Company announced that operations in Kurdistan will be restored, with normal production expected to resume by the end of August.

On August 22, CBS reported that attacks on police officers in the U.S. are increasing. According to data from the Fraternal Order of Police, gun violence against officers has risen 60% since 2018, with ambush-style attacks also steadily increasing.

On August 22, a bus overturned in New York State, resulting in five deaths and multiple injuries. The Chinese Consulate in New York confirmed that six Chinese citizens were on board, with five sustaining minor injuries and one in serious condition undergoing surgery. The consulate is in contact with the family of the seriously injured individual to provide consular assistance.

Huatai Securities' report reiterates the view that "the off-season is not dull, and coal prices are not just a short-term rebound." Current factors such as sustained high loads and reduced imports are improving coal fundamentals, with potential supply shocks from overproduction possibly supporting price rebounds.

Following the far-right Freedom Party's exit from the coalition government, the Dutch government crisis escalated as ministers from the New Social Contract Party collectively resigned. Prime Minister Rutte expressed regret over the resignations and emphasized the need for further discussions on the current situation.

Bitcoin has fallen below $116,000 per coin, declining by 0.86% during the day.

On August 22, a U.S. judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot refuse federal funding to Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and over 30 other cities and counties for implementing policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that on the 19th, some North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line in the central front's demilitarized zone, prompting warning shots from South Korea. Following the warning, North Korean soldiers moved north of the line. The South Korean military is closely monitoring North Korean movements.

According to the Ningbo Shipping Exchange, the India-Pakistan route experienced significant fluctuations this week, with the freight rate index rising by 12.7%. The overall Ningbo Export Container Freight Index (NCFI) closed at 1035.8 points, down 1.6% from last week.

Sources indicate that ExxonMobil (XOM) plans to conduct a comprehensive overhaul of its small crude unit at the Beaumont refinery in Texas in February 2026.

CITIC Securities' research report indicates that although U.S. GDP data rebounded in the second quarter, this was mainly due to a slowdown in imports following tariff implementation, revealing an unsatisfactory GDP growth structure. Current core economic indicators show a slowdown in U.S. economic momentum, with continued downward pressure expected on consumer spending and private investment growth due to Trump's tariff policies.

According to the Syrian National News Agency, the extremist group "Islamic State" carried out a suicide attack on a checkpoint in the city of Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor province, resulting in the death of one security personnel. One attacker was shot dead, while the other detonated explosives.

According to Japan's Kyodo News, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Marles is scheduled to visit Japan in early September.

1. The Israeli military claims to have struck Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon. 2. Yemen's Houthi forces confirmed missile launches towards multiple locations in Israel. 3. Iran will discuss nuclear negotiations and sanctions with European powers. 4. The Israeli military detected incoming missiles from Yemen, triggering air defense alerts in central Israel. 5. An Israeli Defense Forces official stated that operations in Gaza will be expanded in the coming days. 6. Dutch Foreign Minister Kasper Feldkamp resigned due to a deadlock in cabinet discussions on sanctions against Israel. 7. A German government spokesperson stated that recognizing Palestine should be part of the final stage of two-state negotiations, and the timing is not yet right. 8. Sources indicate that talks between E3 foreign ministers and the Iranian foreign minister made no progress, with no new proposals on Iran's nuclear program. 9. EU foreign ministers urged Israel to withdraw settlement plans, stating that the decision to establish new settlements is unacceptable and violates international law.

A report released by UN agencies indicates that over 500,000 people in the Gaza Strip are facing famine, marking the first official famine recognition in the Middle East in over 20 years. The report warns that hunger and poverty are widespread, with conditions expected to worsen in the coming weeks.

On the evening of the 21st, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on the Unetcha oil pumping station of the "Friendship" pipeline, causing a fire and explosion. Hungary's Foreign Minister Szijjarto confirmed that crude oil supplies to Hungary have been interrupted due to the attack on the pipeline near the Russia-Belarus border.

The central bank will conduct a 600 billion yuan medium-term lending facility (MLF) operation next week, with a net injection of 300 billion yuan in August, marking six consecutive months of increased operations. This signals a continued loose monetary policy aimed at supporting credit and market expectations.

On August 22, Mexican President Obrador reiterated that Mexico is a free, independent, and sovereign nation, rejecting any foreign interference in response to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's support for actions against Mexican drug cartels.