The invitation, extended personally by US President Donald Trump and coordinated through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), framed Marcos as the first Asean head of state to meet Trump in his second term.
tirsdag 22. juli 2025
Calculated urgency: Marcos Jr.’s Washington visit
The sudden official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington, D.C. from July 20-22, should not be mistaken for an improvised diplomatic gesture. Rather, it is a deliberate, calculated move signaling the Philippines’ deepening pivot toward the United States amid intensifying geopolitical currents in the Indo-Pacific. Beyond ceremonial optics, the visit brings the US-Philippines relationship into sharp strategic focus, touching on trade diplomacy, military entrenchment under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and the Philippines’ emerging role in US deterrence architecture — particularly concerning the Taiwan Strait and China’s expanding regional assertiveness.
The invitation, extended personally by US President Donald Trump and coordinated through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), framed Marcos as the first Asean head of state to meet Trump in his second term.
The invitation, extended personally by US President Donald Trump and coordinated through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), framed Marcos as the first Asean head of state to meet Trump in his second term.
How Huawei ascended from telecoms to become China’s ‘jack of all trades’ AI leader
Despite being beaten down by years of U.S. trade restrictions, China’s telecom giant Huawei has quietly emerged as one of the country’s fiercest competitors across the entire AI landscape. Not only does the Shenzhen-based firm appear to represent Beijing’s answer to American AI chip darling Nvidia, but it has also been an early adopter of monetizing artificial intelligence models in industrial applications.
“Huawei has been forced to shift and expand its core business focus over the past decade… due to a variety of external pressures on the company,” said Paul Triolo, partner and senior vice president for China at advisory firm DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group.
“Huawei has been forced to shift and expand its core business focus over the past decade… due to a variety of external pressures on the company,” said Paul Triolo, partner and senior vice president for China at advisory firm DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group.
Clout wars: Jensen Huang eclipses Elon Musk and Tim Cook in Washington
The China-U.S. trade war in the first Donald Trump administration saw Apple CEO Tim Cook go on a charm offensive with the president while maintaining strong relations with Beijing. Apple avoided U.S. tariffs and continued to grow in China, while Cook earned the reputation as a skilled policy navigator and prominent American business envoy to Beijing.
But, in Trump 2.0, not only has Apple lost its crown to Nvidia as America’s most valuable company, several tech pundits say the AI darling’s charismatic leader, Jensen Huang, has left Cook far behind in political influence. “Huang has become a global figure and taken on a new role politically due to his success in the AI revolution,” said Wedbush’s Dan Ives, adding that the importance of Nvidia’s AI chips has “vaulted him ahead of Cook.”
But, in Trump 2.0, not only has Apple lost its crown to Nvidia as America’s most valuable company, several tech pundits say the AI darling’s charismatic leader, Jensen Huang, has left Cook far behind in political influence. “Huang has become a global figure and taken on a new role politically due to his success in the AI revolution,” said Wedbush’s Dan Ives, adding that the importance of Nvidia’s AI chips has “vaulted him ahead of Cook.”
China is catching up to the US in brain tech, rivaling firms like Elon Musk’s Neuralink
“I want to eat” popped up in Chinese characters on a computer at a public hospital in central Beijing. The words were formed from the thoughts of a 67-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, who is unable to speak.
The demonstration, captured on video in March by Beijing Radio and Television Station, was part of a clinical trial involving five patients implanted with a coin-sized chip called Beinao-1, a wireless so-called brain computer interface (BCI) – a technology led by scientists in the US, but in which experts say China is quickly catching up.
Luo Minmin, director of the Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and the chief scientist behind the trial, said there was a “very strong” need for BCI technology, saying they had been “overwhelmed” by requests from potential patients.
The demonstration, captured on video in March by Beijing Radio and Television Station, was part of a clinical trial involving five patients implanted with a coin-sized chip called Beinao-1, a wireless so-called brain computer interface (BCI) – a technology led by scientists in the US, but in which experts say China is quickly catching up.
Luo Minmin, director of the Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and the chief scientist behind the trial, said there was a “very strong” need for BCI technology, saying they had been “overwhelmed” by requests from potential patients.
China bans Wells Fargo banker from leaving the country
An Atlanta-based banker working for Wells Fargo has been prevented from leaving China, the latest incident that threatens to amplify concerns among Western executives about the potential consequences of visiting the world’s second-biggest economy.
Chinese authorities said Monday the exit ban placed on Wells Fargo executive Chenyue Mao is part of a criminal investigation. “Ms. Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case being handled by Chinese authorities, who have lawfully imposed exit restrictions on her,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Monday following a regular press conference.
It’s not clear the target of the criminal case, nor how Mao is believed to be linked to it.
“According to Chinese law, the case is under investigation, and Ms. Mao is temporarily unable to leave the country and is obligated to cooperate with the investigation,” the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “During the investigation, the authorities will ensure that her legal rights are protected.”
Chinese authorities said Monday the exit ban placed on Wells Fargo executive Chenyue Mao is part of a criminal investigation. “Ms. Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case being handled by Chinese authorities, who have lawfully imposed exit restrictions on her,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Monday following a regular press conference.
It’s not clear the target of the criminal case, nor how Mao is believed to be linked to it.
“According to Chinese law, the case is under investigation, and Ms. Mao is temporarily unable to leave the country and is obligated to cooperate with the investigation,” the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “During the investigation, the authorities will ensure that her legal rights are protected.”
US House passes bill banning any map that shows Taiwan as part of PRC
The US House of Representatives on Friday passed an amendment banning the US Department of Defense from creating, buying or displaying any map that shows Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The “Honest Maps” amendment was approved in a voice vote on Friday as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits using any funds from the act to create, buy or display maps that show Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Wuciou, Green Island or Orchid Island (Lanyu) as part of the PRC.
China begins building world's largest dam, fuelling fears in India
Chinese authorities have begun constructing what will be the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory, in a project that has sparked concerns from India and Bangladesh. Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over a ceremony marking the start of construction on the Yarlung Tsangpo river on Saturday, according to local media. The river flows through the Tibetan plateau. The project has attracted criticism for its potential impact on millions of Indians and Bangladeshis living downriver, as well as the surrounding environment and local Tibetans.
Beijing says the scheme, costing an estimated 1.2tn yuan ($167bn; £125bn), will prioritise ecological protection and boost local prosperity. When completed, the project - also known as the Motuo Hydropower Station - will overtake the Three Gorges dam as the world's largest, and could generate three times more energy.
Beijing says the scheme, costing an estimated 1.2tn yuan ($167bn; £125bn), will prioritise ecological protection and boost local prosperity. When completed, the project - also known as the Motuo Hydropower Station - will overtake the Three Gorges dam as the world's largest, and could generate three times more energy.
China finds cover-up in lead poisoning of 200 children
Dozens of provincial officials and hospital staff attempted to cover up a lead poisoning case that made hundreds of children sick in north-west China and sparked widespread outrage, an official investigation has found. The officials tampered with the blood tests of students who were poisoned at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city, Gansu provincial authorities said in a report on Sunday.
City officials also accepted bribes from an investor in Peixin while neglecting food safety inspections across several pre-schools, the report said. In an attempt to attract more students, Peixin chefs had used inedible paint to "enhance the look" of its meals, the report said. Food samples were later found to contain lead 2,000 times in excess of the national safety limit.
City officials also accepted bribes from an investor in Peixin while neglecting food safety inspections across several pre-schools, the report said. In an attempt to attract more students, Peixin chefs had used inedible paint to "enhance the look" of its meals, the report said. Food samples were later found to contain lead 2,000 times in excess of the national safety limit.
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