Over the recent weekend, a series of unforeseen events unfolded in various global hotspots—specifically, the Middle East, the South China Sea, and the border shared by North Korea and Russia—significantly heightening international tensions. These developments have prompted concerns about a potential large-scale conflict erupting in Israel, with speculations suggesting China and Russia might be playing a behind-the-scenes role along with Iran. As the core force in maintaining world peace, the United States faces challenges on multiple fronts—in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East—as it grapples with increasing confrontations with China. On Oct. 7, the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas launched a large-scale assault on Israel. Meanwhile, on Oct. 4, Chinese and Philippine vessels engaged in a prolonged standoff in the disputed South China Sea, narrowly avoiding a collision by a mere one-meter margin. Lastly, on Oct. 5, numerous North Korean freight trains were sighted at a border railway station with Russia, raising suspicions of arms and ammunition transportation to support Moscow’s war with Ukraine....Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/analysis-middle-east-conflict-and-regional-standoffs-amplify-global-challenges-for-the-united-states-5507552
The Vanguard Group, one of the world’s largest asset managers, invests in Chinese military groups and companies linked to forced labor through index funds, a new report says. The report comes as the Treasury Department finalizes the rules pertaining to a White House executive order prohibiting certain outbound investments to China. Vanguard’s $70 billion flagship emerging markets index fund includes 60 companies on the Chinese military company sanction list by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the U.S. Department of Treasury, according to the report released by the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) on Oct. 13. CPA is an advocacy organization representing exclusively manufacturers that have productions in the United States.... 
A staffer for the Israeli embassy in China was stabbed by a foreign national in a brutal attack on a Beijing street. Beijing’s media mouthpiece is using the war to paint the United States and Israel in a negative light. We take a closer look at how the Chinese regime pushes different narratives within its borders. “Be ready for war.” A congressional report is warning the United States is facing a major risk of military conflict against not one, but two nuclear adversaries. How has a Chinese-American gangster’s money laundering scheme changed the game for drug cartels? A new report exposes how officials say Chinese authorities could be involved....
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has revealed the motivations behind her push to bring detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei home, saying it was a promise she made to Ms. Cheng’s children. This follows the return of the Chinese-born Australian journalist, who had spent three years behind bars in China. Ms. Cheng was working as a journalist for the China Global Television Network (CGTN), a state-owned media outlet, when she was accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas. Speaking to reporters on Oct. 12—a day after Ms. Cheng landed in Melbourne—Ms. Wong said she was “more emotional” than Ms. Cheng upon her return....