China has deployed the Liaowang-1 spy ship to track US military satellites and missile launches, marking a significant escalation in the country's surveillance capabilities. The move is seen as a response to the growing presence of US military assets in the Asia-Pacific region. China's advanced technology allows it to monitor and analyze satellite communications, potentially providing valuable intelligence on US military operations.
https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-deploys-liaowang-1-space-spy-shipForeign Minister Ishaq Dar will meet with think-tanks and the Pakistani diaspora in Dhaka in the evening. He is expected to visit Bangladesh in April, following a warming of relations since the fall of the Awami League-led government last year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met Yunus twice since then, including at the UN General Assembly in New York and the D-8 summit in Cairo. Bangladesh has eased visa rules for Pakistani nationals and launched direct shipping, with Pakistan seeking to boost trade, tourism, and investment.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1302263-fo-consultative-meetings-between-pakistan-bangladesh-resume-after-15-yearsNvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Beijing after the US barred the company from selling its H20 AI chip to China. The visit was at the invitation of a domestic trade group, according to a social media account affiliated with state-run China Central Television.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/nvidia-ceo-visits-beijing-after-us-bars-ai-chip-sales-to-chinaNvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Beijing, China, at the invitation of the state-backed China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, amid US restrictions on exporting H20 chips to China. The move comes after Nvidia disclosed that Washington will require a licence to export its H20 chips to China, expected to cost the company $5.5 billion.
https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3306893/tech-war-nvidia-founder-huang-visits-beijing-amid-h20-restrictions?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionThe US has imposed sanctions on a Chinese refinery and several shipping companies for allegedly working with Iran to export oil. Shandong Shenxing Chemical Co Ltd, a Chinese independent "teapot" refinery, was designated by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for purchasing over $1 billion worth of Iranian crude. This is the second case of US sanctions on a Chinese 'teapot' refinery in less than a month, amid Washington's denuclearisation talks with Iran.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3306832/us-sanctions-china-oil-refiner-shipping-companies-covert-business-iran?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu to increase military spending and assume primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense, citing the need for lasting peace in Ukraine. This message was echoed during a visit to Poland, where Hegseth stated that it is time to invest, as relying solely on American presence will not be sustainable forever. The US president has set a target of 5% of GDP for NATO countries' defense spending, with the US itself currently at 3.4%.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/965071-us-urges-france-to-increase-defense-spendingIMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva praised parts of US President Donald Trump's agenda, calling deregulation "valuable" for the US and creating a fertile environment for businesses to succeed. She also suggested that bilateral trade negotiations could lead to new trade partners, citing India as an example where tariff barriers are being reduced. Georgieva emphasized the benefits of IMF lending, noting that the US received $3.1 billion in interest payments from borrowing countries over the past two years. She warned that financial market volatility and rising trade barriers would harm economic growth, particularly for smaller countries, and encouraged emerging markets to preserve exchange rate flexibility as a shock absorber.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/largest-economies-must-reach-agreement-on-trade-issues-to-preserve-openness-says-imf-chief/article69461875.eceMalaysia is seeking ways to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on its exports, with observers like Dass suggesting potential coping mechanisms. The government continues to negotiate with the US, exploring a technology safeguard agreement to ensure compliance with Washington's requirements and regulations.
https://channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-export-fear-hope-trump-tariffs-5071391Malaysia welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping on his second official visit in 12 years, with a delegation of Malaysian ministers including Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, in attendance. The visit comes amidst challenging geopolitical and geoeconomic scenarios, as Malaysia and China have maintained diplomatic relations since May 31, 1974. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with total trade valued at RM484.12 billion in 2024, accounting for 16.8% of Malaysia's global trade.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/16/xi-hails-malaysias-progress-pledges-high-level-cooperation-with-anwars-government/173320