Doha under Iranian missile threat: Google and emergency evacuation of university town

On the early morning of March 14, 2026 local time, the tranquility of Doha was disrupted. Due to Iran's announcement of a missile attack on the US military base in Udad, the Qatari Ministry of Interior has urgently evacuated parts of the city center's Mushleb district and Education City. Involving government office buildings, Google offices, and multiple American university campuses. The official only stated that it was a temporary preventive measure and did not disclose specific risks, causing a sudden increase in tension in the capital.Editor/Cheng Liting

CNOOC Engineering wins bid for Qatar 28.8 billion project

The consortium of CNOOC Engineering and Saipem from Italy has won the bid for the Qatar NFPS COMP5 project, with a total contract amount of 4 billion US dollars, and CNOOC Engineering's share exceeds 800 million US dollars. The project is located in the northern gas field, the world's largest single gas field, with a construction period of 5 years, and will build two compressor platforms.Editor/Gao Xue

Spain advances research on the Strait of Gibraltar tunnel

The Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Transport has approved 1.73 million euros for conducting technical research on the Secegsa railway tunnel crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. Previous research by German company Herrenknecht has confirmed that a 65 kilometer long tunnel is technically feasible, but due to significant geological challenges such as flying sand structures, seabed depth, and instability, the possibility of completion before the 2030 World Cup has been ruled out. The actual construction period is expected to be between 2035 and 2040.Editor/Cheng Liting

Fujairah oil port attacked by drones again

On the morning of March 17, 2026, the Fujairah oil industry zone was attacked by drones and caught fire again. The civil defense department is making every effort to control the fire, and there are currently no casualties. This is the fifth attack on the area since early March, driven by Iran's ongoing attacks on energy facilities in the United Arab Emirates. Fujairah holds a strategic position in the Strait of Hormuz, and the conflict has caused about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply to be blocked. Brent crude oil broke through $100 on March 9th and remained at $103.87 as of the 17th. As a key global storage and transportation hub, giants such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Saudi Aramco, Shell, and Vopak operate terminals and pipelines here, responsible for core businesses such as Murban crude oil. Geopolitical risks are seriously threatening the security of the global energy supply chain.Editor/Cheng Liting

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

Marstek launches ultra-thin plug-in home energy storage system Venus B

On March 15, 2026, Marstek launched a new Venus B plug-in energy storage system in overseas markets. This product is designed specifically for apartments and compact single family homes, with a focus on lightweight and convenient design. It is only 8.6 centimeters thick and weighs about 20 kilograms, making it known as the thinnest in the world. Venus B is capable of bidirectional energy storage directly from the household power grid, providing a storage capacity of 2kWh and equipped with a bidirectional inverter to achieve charging from the grid and supplying power to households, with a continuous output power of about 1.5kW. It has a built-in lithium iron phosphate battery with a nominal cycle life of over 6000 times, an overall service life of over 10 years, and can operate in a wide temperature range of minus 20 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius, supporting outdoor installation.Editor/Yang Meiling

The Chinese Red Cross provides emergency assistance to Iran

The Chinese Red Cross Society provides $200000 in emergency assistance to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. On March 15, 2026, a handover ceremony will be held at the Chinese Embassy in Iran to express condolences to the families of the teachers and students who died at Shajalei Tayebe Elementary School. China condemns attacks on civilians and is willing to support Iran in overcoming difficulties and implementing global security initiatives with Middle Eastern countries. Iran thanks China for its assistance, stating that it showcases the image of a great power and the friendship between the two countries.Editor/Cheng Liting

The 140MW Aurora energy storage project in South Australia has received critical approval

Recently, Australian long-term thermal energy storage company 1414 Degrees announced that its 140MW Aurora battery energy storage system project in South Australia has successfully obtained full approval for generator performance standards from the Australian Energy Market Dispatch Centre and transmission operator ElectraNet.Editor/Yang Meiling

600 billion Uzi shilling special allocation! Uzbekistan reshapes its water network

On March 5, 2026, Uzbekistan finalized a special allocation of 600 billion Uzbek shillings, focusing on the modernization of canals and efficient utilization of water resources. The funds are divided into two major sectors: 480 billion yuan for the construction of concrete canals and irrigation networks, with a focus on rebuilding 389 kilometers of high leakage channels; 120 billion for water conservation and management. This move is expected to save 206 million cubic meters of water annually, 26 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and improve water supply to 158400 hectares of farmland. As a water poor country with a per capita capacity of only 702 cubic meters, this allocation is not only a short-term emergency response to agricultural irrigation pressure, but also a key long-term strategic step in achieving the goal of 85% of the population enjoying reliable water supply by 2030. Editor/Cheng Liting

The world's strongest offshore wind turbine hoisting operator delivered

Singapore Seatrium delivers a new generation wind power installation vessel to Maersk. The ship is equipped with a 1900 ton crane and can install wind turbines of over 15 megawatts. It adopts a supply barge design to improve operational efficiency and plans to depart this month to carry out the installation task of an 810 megawatt wind power project.Editor/Gao Xue

Kyrgyzstan refinery launches upgrade

The modernization upgrade project of Kara Balta Refinery with a total investment of 193.75 million US dollars entered the accelerated stage on March 5, 2026. The Kyrgyz National Investment Agency and other departments conducted on-site evaluations of the progress, and the project is planned to be completed before July 31, 2026, with an annual refining capacity of 800000 tons to be reconstructed and upgraded.Editor/Gao Xue

Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister visits Shandong to promote industrial cooperation

Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister Basarov led a delegation to visit Shandong Province, China, and held talks with Shandong Provincial Party Secretary Lin Wu. Both sides reached consensus on deepening cooperation in areas such as mechanical manufacturing and industrialization of small and medium-sized enterprises. Kyrgyzstan has proposed a plan to build 250 new production lines, covering areas such as food processing and metal processing. Enterprises in Shandong Province will provide equipment and technical support to promote the implementation of production capacity cooperation.Editor/Gao Xue

China Africa wind power cooperation promotes green transformation

The commissioning ceremony of the Aisa wind power project in Ethiopia, constructed by a Chinese enterprise, was held, with leaders from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia in attendance. The project has a total installed capacity of 120 megawatts and has supplied power to the Eastern Power Grid, Industrial Park, and the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway. At the same time, in the DeA wind power project in South Africa, local employees have grown into technical backbone through training, with a localization rate of over 80%. China Africa wind power cooperation is extending from project construction to talent cultivation and system building.Editor/Gao Xue

Further expansion of the China Kazakhstan air channel

On March 2, 2026, with the addition of Astana Airlines, the Shanghai to Almaty route will have more than one flight per week, and the total number of regular flights between China and Kazakhstan will increase to 84 flights per week. The air channel continues to be encrypted, greatly facilitating business exchanges, investment inspections, and personnel exchanges. It is linked with railways, highways, and ports to build a comprehensive and three-dimensional interconnected network between China and Kazakhstan.Editor/Bian Wenjun

Speed up of China Kazakhstan logistics corridor

On March 2, 2026, it was reported that Kazakhstan is making every effort to enhance the capacity of the Trans Caspian International Transport Corridor, with a planned cargo volume of 5.2 million tons this year. At the same time, Kazakhstan will promote the construction and reconstruction of more than 11000 kilometers of roads, build 475 kilometers of railways, upgrade 2900 kilometers of road network, and increase the transit capacity by 60%. The logistics time from Kazakhstan China border to the Caspian Sea will be reduced from 84 hours to 55 hours, providing stronger support for the interconnection between China EU trains and the the Belt and Road.Editor/Bian Wenjun

India's Xbattery launches new scalable home storage system

Indian startup Xbattery launches XB-5K energy storage system for residential and small commercial use. The system uses lithium iron phosphate batteries with a basic capacity of 5 kWh and can be expanded to 15 kWh, weighing 37 kilograms. Supporting instantaneous switching between power grid and backup mode, it can provide stable power supply for household appliances such as air conditioning and office equipment, meeting the growing demand for integration of backup power and renewable energy in the local area.Editor/Yang Meiling

The situation in the Middle East is rapidly escalating

On February 28, 2026, the security risks in the Middle East continued to rise, with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and others withdrawing non essential personnel from Iran and Israel, and multiple countries issuing travel bans. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds citizens not to travel to Iran temporarily and to evacuate personnel in Iran as soon as possible. Regional tensions have pushed up international energy prices, and global market risk aversion has intensified.Editor/Bian Wenjun

Risk preparation for forward foreign exchange sales starting from March 2nd

The People's Bank of China announced that from March 2, 2026, the foreign exchange risk reserve ratio for forward foreign exchange sales business will be reduced from 20% to 0. This move will significantly reduce the cost of currency hedging for foreign trade enterprises, support the stable development of the real economy, promote the smooth operation of the foreign exchange market, and release the policy intention of stabilizing foreign trade and expectations.Editor/Bian Wenjun

The Hungarian section of the Hungary Serbia Railway has opened for freight transportation

At around midnight on February 27, 2026, a freight train departed from the Ferenc train station in Budapest, marking the official start of freight transportation on the Hungarian section of the Hungary Serbia Railway. The Hungary Serbia Railway is a brand project of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, which was jointly witnessed and launched by the prime ministers of China, Hungary, and Serbia in 2013. The opening of freight transportation this time is an important milestone in the construction of the project.Editor/Gao Xue

Bolivian military plane crash resulting in 15 deaths and 30 injuries

On February 27, 2026, a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff in El Alto, resulting in at least 15 deaths and 30 injuries. The Bolivian fire department has confirmed this casualty figure. After the accident, El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed. The rescue work is still ongoing at present.Editor/Gao Xue

Mauritius announces suspension of diplomatic relations with Maldives

On February 27, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade of Mauritius issued a statement announcing the suspension of all diplomatic relations with the Maldives effective immediately. This move is due to the Maldives government no longer recognizing Mauritius' sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and opposing the relevant agreements between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. This decision reflects Mauritius' commitment to safeguarding national interests and adhering to the principle of sovereignty.Editor/Gao Xue

Uzbekistan Thermal Power Company's foreign investment performance exceeds expectations

The JSC thermal power plant in Uzbekistan has disclosed its performance for 2025, with a foreign investment project execution rate of 131.7%. The company is accelerating the optimization of its energy structure, with the proportion of newly added modern units rising to 51%. Through cooperation with international capital and enterprises in China, Türkiye, Spain and other countries, 18 major projects with a total value of 3.27 billion US dollars were implemented. Fitch has confirmed its rating as "BB", which is on par with Uzbekistan's sovereign rating.Editor/Gao Xue

Chinese gas turbines win billions of orders from Russia

By the end of 2025, Russian energy giant Novatek will order 20 GT-25000 gas turbines from China, with a total contract value exceeding 10 billion yuan. The localization rate of this type of gas turbine has reached 100%, breaking the market monopoly of Europe and America that lasted for more than 80 years.Editor/Gao Xue

China Tianying Vietnam Waste to Energy Project Expansion Approved

On February 24, 2026, China Tianying Co., Ltd. announced that its controlling subsidiary, Hanoi Tianyu Environmental Protection Energy Co., Ltd., has been approved to invest in the expansion of the second phase of the Shuoshan Waste to Energy Plant in Hanoi, Vietnam. The total investment of the project is 220 million US dollars, which will add a daily processing capacity of 1600 tons and a power generation capacity of 45MW. After the expansion is completed, the total processing capacity of the power plant will reach 5600 tons/day.Editor/Gao Xue

The direct flight route from Shanghai to Tashkent will open in Marc

On February 25, 2026, it was announced that China Eastern Airlines will open a direct flight route from Shanghai to Tashkent on March 30, with 4 flights per week (1, 2, 4, 6). Departure from Pudong at 13:40 and arrival in Tashkent at 18:40; The return flight departs at 20:20 and returns to Shanghai at 06:15 the next day. This route is the second direct flight route between China and Ukraine after Xi'an Tashkent. Combined with the visa free policies of the two countries, it will significantly improve the efficiency of economic, trade, cultural and tourism exchanges between Central Asia and the Yangtze River Delta.Editor/Bian Wenjun

Kyrgyzstan's vegetable imports from China to increase by 58% by 2025

On February 25, 2026, according to data from the Kyrgyzstan National Statistical Committee, the country's imports of vegetables from China reached 7.2 thousand tons in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 58%; The import amount was 6.9 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 64%. China has become the main source of growth for Kyrgyzstan's vegetable imports, with Uzbekistan and Iran ranking second and third respectively. The data shows that the sources of vegetable imports in Kyrgyzstan are becoming increasingly diversified.Editor/Gao Xue

Egypt approves Kemet Group's 2GWh energy storage project

On February 23, 2026, the Egyptian government officially approved four large-scale renewable energy projects of Kemet, a large local integrated industrial group, including 2.72GW of photovoltaic and 2GWh of energy storage, expected to be completed by 2027. Kemet promises to implement localization plans to support the development of Egypt's local renewable energy equipment and materials industry. It is reported that on January 18, 2026, Chinese energy storage battery manufacturer Chu Neng New Energy signed a cooperation agreement with Kemet to build an energy storage battery factory in Egypt, further deepening cooperation between China and Egypt in the field of new energy.Editor/Yang Meiling

Türkiye's energy storage giant enters the Romanian market

Recently, YESS Power, an energy storage brand of Topkap ı End ü stri Group in Türkiye, announced its official entry into the Romanian market. The confidence for this expansion comes from the recently delivered Novaci 30MW/60MWh energy storage system in North Macedonia, the largest solar energy storage power station in the Western Balkans. This project is integrated with a 55MW photovoltaic power station and is the first large-scale project of its kind in North Macedonia, with an annual power generation of 85GWh, which can meet the electricity needs of 30000 households. It is worth noting that the power station is located adjacent to the traditional coal-fired power base REK Bitola, indicating that the energy structure in the region is accelerating its transition from coal to clean and flexible.Editor/Yang Meiling

The first phase of the Ma Dong Railway project is fully connected to the track

The first phase of the China Communications Construction Ma Dong Railway project (from Kota Bharu to Ermao) has completed the full track laying. The CEO of the Malaysian Railway Connection Company, Dawes, stated that this is an important milestone that demonstrates China's professional capabilities. Track laying will start in December 2023 and complete 519 kilometers in 25 months. The overall progress of the project exceeds 90% and will enter the system integration and operation preparation stage.Editor/Gao Xue

The core section of the UAE high-speed railway has been awarded the contract

The civil engineering and station design and construction contract for the first phase of the UAE high-speed rail network has been officially awarded. The total investment of the project is about 57 billion yuan. Several international consortia led by enterprises from the United Arab Emirates, India, Türkiye and other countries have won the bid for Abu Dhabi and Dubai sections respectively. The project is scheduled to be completed and opened to traffic by 2030, marking a crucial progress in the construction of the Middle East high-speed rail network.Editor/Gao Xue