CHINA STATS BUREAU: LONG-TERM NEW ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ENHANCED ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND ENERGY SECURITY

CHINA MARCH NATIONWIDE SURVEY-BASED JOBLESS RATE AT 5.4%, HITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE FEB 2025

The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East as the Trump administration escalates pressure on Iran amid a fragile ceasefire, according to U.S. officials. The deployment includes about 6,000 sailors and Marines aboard the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group and roughly 4,200 troops from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group. The forces will reinforce a maritime blockade targeting Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials said the buildup is intended to increase leverage in negotiations but also provides options for further strikes or potential ground operations if diplomacy fails.