[Saudi Arabia to launch 93 utility infrastructure projects] Saudi Arabia has announced plans to launch 93 projects, mostly related to the development of the kingdom's utility infrastructure, with an investment of $2.26 billion. The projects are primarily aimed at boosting the region's environment, water and agricultural systems, according to senior government officials. They added that they will be implemented by the Brine Conversion Company, the National Water Company and the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Desertification Control in coordination with the Saudi Deputy Minister of Water. Editor/Xing Wentao

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• 2026.03.17 14:24
• [Expand cross-border trade facilitation pilot to 45 cities by 2026]
• On March 16, 2026, the General Administration of Customs, together with 24 departments including the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jointly deployed a six-month special action plan for cross-border trade facilitation in 2026. Sun Meijun, Director General of the General Administration of Customs, pointed out at the deployment meeting that this year's special action pilot cities will further expand their encirclement and capacity, adding 20 cities including Hohhot, Changchun, Suzhou, Jinhua, Quanzhou, Nanchang, Yantai, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhuhai, Nanning, Kunming, and Xi'an, bringing the total number of participating cities to 45. The action focuses on key tasks such as optimizing and upgrading goods trade, vigorously developing service trade, and innovating the development of digital trade and green trade. It has launched a new round of policies to assist enterprises, including deepening the innovation of import and export customs clearance supervision mode, optimizing the supervision and services of new foreign trade formats, improving cross-border logistics transportation efficiency, and strengthening the construction of smart export ports. Editor/Cheng Liting

• 2026.03.17 11:05
• [The US Embassy in Iraq was attacked multiple times at night]
• In the early morning of the 17th local time, the US Embassy in Iraq in the "Green Zone" of the Iraqi capital Baghdad was attacked, and some facilities inside the embassy caught fire. From the evening of the 16th to the early morning of the 17th, the US Embassy in Iraq has been attacked multiple times.Editor/Gong Ziwei