Author: Andrew Rogers

Shenzhen is at the forefront of an economic slowdown spreading across Guangdong, a province once seen as China’s growth engine. Streets and shopping districts in both Shenzhen and Guangzhou, normally full of shoppers and commuters, now appear empty. Videos on Chinese social media show deserted malls, quiet business streets, and transit hubs with few people. Many stores are closed, while others display “for rent” or “transfer” signs. Job seekers report rising difficulty finding work, and some residents are returning to their hometowns. One video narrator asked, “Are shopping malls in Shenzhen really this empty? You barely see anyone. Brick-and-mortar shops…

A routine check at the DeKalb County Jail, located just east of Atlanta, turned into a major manhunt on Monday after officials discovered that three inmates had escaped. DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said authorities acted immediately to locate the fugitives. “We jumped into action immediately,” Maddox stated. The three men — Stevenson Charles, Yusuf Minor, and Naod Yohannes — were all facing violent crime charges. Charles had already been sentenced to life in prison on federal murder charges and faced additional murder and armed robbery charges locally. Minor and Yohannes were charged with armed robbery and arson. Officials announced…

Two people have died and several others are missing after a fire and explosion struck a nursing home near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, prompting emergency responders, staff, and neighbors to help evacuate residents, Governor Josh Shapiro said. Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito reported that five people may be missing, though officials emphasized the numbers are preliminary. The total number of injured is not yet clear, as patients were taken to multiple hospitals. Officials believe a gas leak may have caused the explosion, though investigations are ongoing. Crews from local utility company PECO responded to reports of a gas odor at the facility shortly…

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops to the Chicago area, marking a rare setback for the administration at the high court. The ruling allows a lower court order to stand that prevents hundreds of troops from being stationed in Illinois while a legal challenge continues. The Justice Department had requested the Supreme Court to allow the deployment during ongoing litigation, but the justices said that at this preliminary stage, the government failed to identify legal authority allowing the military to enforce federal laws in Illinois. The court noted that presidential control…

China has issued a strong warning to Japan over its potential reconsideration of nuclear policy, urging Tokyo to avoid pursuing atomic weapons. The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized on Monday that Japan must refrain from taking the wrong path on this issue. North Korea also expressed concern, warning that Japan’s acquisition of nuclear weapons could lead to significant regional instability. Pyongyang stated that such a move would be a “major disaster” and could escalate tensions in East Asia. Russia added its voice to the caution, noting that Japan stepping away from its non-nuclear stance could negatively affect security in Northeast Asia.…

Venezuela has passed a strict new law to protect its maritime trade following rising tensions with the United States. The legislation comes after a series of U.S. actions that targeted Venezuelan oil tankers near the country’s coast, raising fears of escalating conflict. The new law, approved by Venezuela’s National Assembly on Tuesday, imposes severe penalties on anyone involved in blockades, piracy, or financing maritime attacks. Offenders could face up to 20 years in prison. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said the legislation would safeguard the country’s commerce and send a strong message against attacks on shipping, piracy, and crimes against international…

A plane crash near Ankara, Turkey, has claimed the lives of Libya’s top military chief, Mohammad Ali Ahmed Al Haddad, and four other senior Libyan officials. Rescue teams are working through the night amid scattered wreckage. The aircraft, a Falcon 50 jet, took off from Ankara’s SN Boga Airport at 8:10 PM local time on Tuesday, bound for Tripoli. By 8:52 PM, all radio contact with the plane was lost, according to flight radar data. Turkish authorities have suggested that the crash may have been caused by an electrical fault. Borhan Tinduran, head of communications for the Turkish president, confirmed…

Israel’s military aggression in the Middle East shows no sign of slowing down. Over the past two years, Israel has conducted repeated attacks in Gaza and extended its operations to neighboring countries, including Syria. Recent events indicate a dramatic resurgence of Israeli military activity in Syria, which could destabilize the region further. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s political landscape briefly appeared to offer a window for peace. Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Zolani stepped aside, and Ahmed al-Sara assumed the role of interim president. Initially, al-Sara signaled no hostility toward Israel, and Damascus’s new governor, Maher Marwan, emphasized a…

China has officially added its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, to its naval fleet after extensive sea trials. The new vessel is expected to strengthen Beijing’s influence well beyond its coastal waters. President Xi Jinping inspected Fujian in Sanya, located on Hainan Island, during the carrier’s commissioning. The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 representatives from China’s navy and shipbuilding teams. The Fujian is China’s first fully domestically designed and constructed aircraft carrier. Unlike the country’s earlier carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, which were based on older Russian designs and relied on ski-jump ramps for aircraft take-off, the Fujian features a…

Austrian aviation startup CycloTech has completed the first flight of its personal electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype, the BlackBird, marking a major milestone in sustainable air travel. The demonstrator aircraft, designed for urban and suburban travel, took off in a short hover during an unmanned, remotely controlled flight. CycloTech said the flight proves the capabilities of its innovative CycloRotor propulsion system, which is central to the company’s larger project, the CruiseUp. Chief Technology Officer Tahsin Kart said it took 11 months to move the BlackBird from concept to first flight. “This is not the finish line —…