HOT TOPICS
IEA to release 400 million barrels of strategic oil reserves
Members of the International Energy Agency have agreed to release 400 million barrels of strategic petroleum reserves to handle the risk of global energy supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The agency’s chief stated the move aims to stabilize global energy markets and cushion the impact of the escalating regional situation on oil supplies and prices.
Iran strikes Israeli targets and warns of Hormuz Strait blockade
U.S. President Donald Trump stated local time Wednesday that there are “almost no targets left to strike” in Iran and that U.S. military operations against the country are “almost ending,” according to CCTV. However, U.S. and Israeli officials noted no internal orders to halt operations have been received, and Israel’s defense minister said the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign has “no time limit until we achieve all our goals.” Early Thursday, Iran claimed its 40th wave of the “True Promise 4” operation struck over 50 Israeli targets, making Israel “face a new battlefield reality.” Furthermore, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted U.S. military bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia with missiles, and Iran issued a major warning that it is fully capable of blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
China calls for human control over military AI applications
In response to the U.S. military’s extensive use of artificial intelligence in its operations, China’s Ministry of National Defense stated that the unrestricted militarization of AI not only erodes the ethical and liability constraints of war but might also lead to a technological loss of control. China has always maintained that military applications of AI should be human-led and opposes using advantages in emerging technologies like AI to seek absolute military hegemony and undermine other countries’ sovereignty and territorial security.
Central bank promotes safe AI applications in financial sector
The People’s Bank of China mandated securely and systematically advancing the application of artificial intelligence in the financial sector during its 2026 technology work conference. The central bank called for focusing on preventing risks, strengthening regulation, and promoting high-quality development to unleash momentum for digital and intelligent development, while also seeking to deepen the two-way empowerment of financial standards and enhance the support capacity of standard services.
Regulators and platforms respond to OpenClaw AI risks and limits
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s National Vulnerability Database released a “six dos and six don’ts” guideline to prevent security risks associated with the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, advising users to strictly control internet exposure while using the latest official version, adhere to the principle of least privilege during deployment, and cautiously use the skills market. Meanwhile, the National Supercomputing Internet is issuing a limited-time offer to OpenClaw users, providing 10 million free tokens per person for two weeks, with subsequent token purchases priced at 0.1 yuan ($0.014) for 1 million tokens, marking a price reduction compared to the market average.
Nvidia CEO predicts AI agents will likely become mainstream
Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang stated in a rare, lengthy post that the wave of AI infrastructure is just beginning and will still require trillions of dollars in investment to build. He expects that traditional software and app formats could disappear in the coming years, with AI agents highly likely to become mainstream.
China debuts ultra-high-strength carbon fiber
China globally debuted its independently developed T1200 ultra-high-strength carbon fiber on Wednesday. The material, with a diameter less than one-tenth of a human hair, boasts a tensile strength 10 times that of ordinary steel and a density only a quarter as much, making the exceptionally light and tough material highly applicable for strategic emerging industries such as aerospace, the low-altitude economy, and humanoid robots.
Chinese mainland ranks second globally in Forbes billionaires list
Forbes released its 40th annual billionaires list, on which Elon Musk retained the top spot for the second consecutive year with a net worth of $839 billion. The total wealth of the billionaires reached $20.1 trillion, while the average net worth was $5.8 billion, higher than last year’s $5.3 billion. The U.S. continues to rank first globally with 989 billionaires, while the Chinese mainland placed second with 539, and Donald Trump’s wealth increased by 27% to $6.5 billion, ranking 645th.
NEWS SUMMARY
Domestic
Domestic automobile sales fell by more than 20% year-on-year in the first two months of the year due to factors including policy shifts.
Multiple universities required vigilance regarding the security risks of OpenClaw, with some strictly banning its use on campus.
National railway fixed-asset investment reached 72.2 billion yuan in the January-February period, growing 5.4% year-on-year.
Gasoline prices in Hong Kong surpassed HK$30 a liter, prompting airlines to raise fuel surcharges.
Companies
Tencent Holdings Ltd. Chairman Pony Ma announced a comprehensive matrix of “Lobster” AI models, consisting of self-developed, local, cloud-based, and enterprise versions, adding that another batch of products will be rolled out.
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. launched Xiaoyi Claw, the “HarmonyOS version of Lobster.”
Baidu AI Cloud launched DuClaw.
Tencent Cloud’s AI agent development platform raised prices for some models.
Chinese large language models swept the top three spots on the global OpenClaw monthly chart, with StepFun’s Step 3.5 Flash reporting the highest calling volume.
Volkswagen Group’s operating profit plunged 53% in 2025, with expectations for its profitability in the Chinese market remaining poor.
Nio Inc. achieved its first-ever quarterly profit and aims to strive for full-year profitability in 2026.
International
A leading international rare earth supplier signed a supply agreement with Japan, promising to supply 75% of its heavy rare earth production to the country. Donald Trump threatened Iran not to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Middle East conflict has disrupted the aviation industry, leading airlines to adjust their fares amid surging fuel prices.
