Taiwan Pressure: A senior Taiwanese security official says China is leaning harder on “hybrid warfare” around the island—using coast guard deployments, research vessels, legal claims, and propaganda rather than direct escalation. Maritime Claims: China also plans more surveys east of Taiwan as it expands maritime claims, with state media pointing to new data-collection activity near sensitive areas. Hong Kong as Tech Hub: Hong Kong’s financial secretary says the city is becoming a strategic foothold for mainland “hard-tech” firms seeking overseas expansion and listings. Consumer Snapshot: China’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday kept consumer markets steady, with stable prices and strong trade-in and retail activity. Flood Watch: China’s emergency and flood authorities urged tighter monitoring and early warnings as heavy rain and mountain-torrent risks are forecast across multiple regions. Battery Push: Chinese sodium-ion battery research highlights performance that could rival lithium-ion benchmarks, while FAW Jiefang reports long real-world truck tests in extreme cold. AI & Health: A Beijing hospital-backed brain-computer interface helped a patient regain walking after spinal injury, and a study links adolescent screen time and BMI with poorer sleep quality. Geopolitics Abroad: Satellite imagery claims a completed Chinese-linked spy base in Cuba, raising new concerns for the Caribbean and U.S. region.