Escalating Geopolitical and Technological Shiftsactive

The arrest of opposition politician Umit Erkol on corruption allegations has intensified claims that President Erdogan’s government is using the judiciary to target political rivals in a sweeping crackdown.

Online data is generally pretty secure. Assuming everyone is careful with passwords and other protections, you can think of it as being locked in a vault so strong that even all the world’s supercomputers, working together for 10,000 years, could not crack it. But last month, Google and others released results suggesting a new kind […] The post Quantum computers to break our codes faster than expected appeared first on Asia Times.

US President Donald Trump’s plan for a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to deepen an already unprecedented crisis.

The US president launches an unprecedented attack on Pope Leo XIV over the pontiff's rejection of the Iran war, accusing him of being "weak on crime" and hurting the Catholic Church.

The US announced a blockade against ships calling at Iranian ports, ramping up pressure on the Middle East nation after marathon peace talks over the weekend ended without a deal. Action was due to start Monday at 10am New York time (10pm Hong Kong), according to US Central Command. Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports won’t be affected, it said. President Donald Trump had earlier said that the blockade would cover all ships using the vital waterway. “Any Iranian...

Off the northern boundary of the Spratly Islands, winds howl and waves surge. A Japanese-flagged oil tanker ploughs through these disputed waters in the South China Sea. The Towa Maru, measuring roughly 340 metres (1,115 feet) long and 60 metres wide, rivals an aircraft carrier in sheer bulk. A Chinese satellite locks its gaze upon the vessel, 35,800km (22,245 miles) overhead. Last month, China released a series of undated radar images of the Towa Maru. It marked the first time ever that a...

Rapidly strengthening storm brings destructive winds, flooding risk and dangerous seas to western Pacific The Mariana Islands archipelago in the western Pacific, home to the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, is bracing for extreme weather early this week as Super Typhoon Sinlaku approaches. The system originated as a cluster of thunderstorms over the seas of Micronesia before strengthening into a tropical storm and then a typhoon on Friday and Saturday. Continue reading...

PM rejects claim plan is integration with EU ‘by stealth’, saying changes will happen only if parliament passes law UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer has defended plans for the UK to align more closely with some EU rules without parliamentary votes, saying a closer relationship with Europe “is in the UK’s best interest”, particularly given the international turmoil over the Iran war. Speaking to the BBC after the Guardian revealed that ministers were planning to use so-called Henry VIII powers to dynamically align with EU rules by default, Starmer argued that, nearly 10 years after the Brexit referendum, it was time to “look forward”. Continue reading...

We speak to an influential voice on European reform, the former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta, author of a landmark report on the future of the Single Market, presented in April 2024. Two years on, he says many of its recommendations remain unimplemented, warning that continued fragmentation of the Single Market – and by extension the energy market – is contributing to higher costs for the EU amid the war in the Middle East. We also ask him about the EU’s plans for a digital single currency, alongside a report on the issue from our correspondent Alix Le Bourdon.

Singapore is at the sharp end of the energy crisis. Imported natural gas accounts for an estimated 95 per cent of the city state’s electricity generation. According to Nomura, Singapore is the fourth most vulnerable Asian economy to the energy shock emanating from the war in Iran, based on a set of criteria that includes the share of fossil fuels in energy consumption and the proportion of energy imports from the Gulf. Last month, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the...

During a visit to the project, Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing stated that a mega-dam in Tibet must prioritize ecological integrity and safety. The dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River will be the world's largest hydropower facility and is a key component of China's plans to harness the potential of the Tibetan Plateau by promoting regional growth through green energy and infrastructure. India has repeatedly voiced concerns that the project could lead to water shortages and ecological damage.

PM says opening waterway is ‘vital’ as he rules out any UK involvement in US moves to blockade strait Good morning. The parliamentary recess is over, the Iran war disaster isn’t, campaigning is ramping up because the May elections are less than four weeks to go, and there will be plenty for MPs to discuss as they meet in the Commons this afternoon. The full timetable, as usual, is down below. Keir Starmer is in Greater Manchester this morning, on a visit linked to the English local elections. But he is expected to be in the Commons later giving an update on the UK response to the Iran war, and in an interview on Radio 5 Live a few minutes ago he confirmed that Britain will not join the US in enforcing the new blockade of the stait of Hormuz proposed by Donald Trump. We’re not supporting blockade. The strait is shut or not free for navigation in the way it should be. That means that oil and gas is not getting to market. That means the price is going up. That means everybody listening to this is facing higher energy bills. And I don’t want that to happen. I want their energy bills to be stabilised and lower. And so it is, in my view, vital that we get the strait open and fully open. Continue reading...

Now that the United States has failed to get Iran to accept all its demands, "unattractive options" are what remain for Washington, the TV channel noted

China’s reported decision to halt sulphuric acid exports, together with the failure of peace talks between the United States and Iran over the weekend, risks driving prices higher and disrupting global mining and fertiliser supply chains that have few readily available alternatives. Beijing had indicated it would halt shipments of sulphuric acid from May, according to reports from Acuity Commodities and Bloomberg, though no official announcement has been made. Economists said food security sat...

Trump vowed to block all vessels passing through the Strait after weekend talks with Iran broke down, causing oil and natural gas prices to climb sharply.

The world’s largest water fight erupted across Bangkok on Monday as the three-day annual Songkran festival drew a surge in tourists to a country whose bruised economy badly needed a reason to celebrate. Thailand has refused to let a fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran dampen its traditional New Year’s celebrations, even as prices spike for everything from petrol to ice during the hottest month of the year. The water festival – also known as Thingyan in neighbouring Myanmar and...

The US president accuses Leo of being "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy".

According to Business Standard, the decline in stock indices was driven by investor concerns over a potential new escalation around Iran and the resulting rise in oil prices

Burundi nominated former Senegal president Macky Sall for UN chief, but Africa's backing fractured. AU procedural disputes, objections and regional politics scuppered a united endorsement.

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Walk into a bank and you will probably hear the tapping of keyboards and see smartly dressed staff. Now, you may also catch the scent of Singapore’s renowned pandan cake. It is an unusual combination – but you are not mistaken. You have arrived at OCBC Hong Kong’s new branch in Central. In an era when banking is increasingly conducted on smartphones and laptops, physical branches might feel like relics of the past. Yet...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of being "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy" in a Truth Social post that highlights a growing divide between the White House and the Vatican. Trump's 334-word statement followed recent remarks by Leo condemning the Israeli-U.S. war in Iran, including describing a threat by Trump to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure as "truly unacceptable." "God does not bless any conflict," Leo wrote on X Friday. "Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs." In what appeared to be a response, Trump criticized the pope for "catering to the Radical Left" and failing to support the U.S. on matters of national security. "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," Trump wrote, referring to Louis Prevost, who lives in Florida. "He gets it, and Leo doesn't!" "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela," Trump said. The U.S. president, who was raised Presbyterian, followed up his comment with a post featuring an image of himself as a Christ-like figure healing a sick man while eagles and jet planes soared overhead. Trump also questioned the legitimacy of Leo's election, claiming, without evidence, that his own presidency had en...

This process could benefit both sides, Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said

"The Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who buys or sells sanctioned Iranian oil," US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said

Singapore’s central bank is poised to tighten policy, potentially becoming one of the first in Asia to adjust settings following the Middle East conflict.

Market sentiment is negative following the collapse of negotiations between the United States and Iran. In the wake of this breakdown, the American president announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Passenger flight cuts triggered by surging fuel prices could temporarily affect Hong Kong’s status as a transit hub, but the impact will be relative and depend on how long the Middle East conflict lasts, aviation experts have said. Steven Cheung King-lung, chairman of the Hong Kong Professional Airline Pilots Association, said on Monday that the city faced fierce competition in the region not only from Singapore, but also from the Greater Bay Area, as well as from Japan and South Korea. “While...

Economist and CEO Nouriel Roubini says decisive escalation can force a surrender from Tehran and bring a durable end to the Iran war, even as it risks ever higher oil prices. He speaks to Bloomberg's David Ingles at the Greenwich Economic Forum in Hong Kong. (Source: Bloomberg)

Trump has warned of a long-lasting impact from the move, saying that oil and gasoline prices may remain high through November’s midterm elections.

Trump: "Other nations are working to ensure that Iran cannot sell oil."

The yen has been hovering around 159.70, near the 160 yen level many consider to be intervention-danger zone and Japan’s trade minister said that a rate increase could be one way to bolstering the currency.

Taiwan has formally inaugurated its first national-level robotics hub. The National Center for AI Robotics, established under the National Institutes of Applied Research, is a strategic bet on converting academic research into globally competitive companies. The center is expected to anchor the island's push to build a world-class intelligent robotics industry.

In today’s newsletter: Orbán concedes defeat after 16 years in power, ushering in a new era for Hungary’s relations with the EU, US and Russia. Good morning. The people of Hungary are waking up in an unfamiliar political landscape – one in which Viktor Orbán, who has served as prime minister since 2010, is stepping aside after defeat to Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party has won an election likely to reshape the country’s ties with the EU, the US and Russia. Less than three hours after polls closed on Sunday, Orbán conceded defeat after what he described as a “painful but unambiguous” result. Magyar, who has pledged to repair Hungary’s strained relationship with the EU, crack down on corruption and channel funds towards long-neglected public services, said Tisza voters had rewritten Hungarian history and that “truth prevailed over lies”. Middle East | Donald Trump has said the US will begin blockading the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to take control of the strategic waterway from Iran in the aftermath of failed peace negotiations. Carers | Thousands of unpaid carers will continue to be hit with hefty and potentially unfair benefit repayment demands, as a government initiative gets under way to fix welfare injustices that have drawn comparison to the Post Office scandal. UK news | The Home Office is to announce the closure of 11 asylum hotels this week as part of its pledge to close all such facilities by the end of this parliament. Ireland | Police have cle…

President Donald Trump has ordered the US navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran failed in Islamabad. The Lebanese Prime Minsiter, meanwhile, said he was working to stop the Israel-Hezbollah war, ahead of talks in Washington on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US Navy would impose a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, announced after failed face-to-face talks in Islamabad, signals a perilous new phase of the Iran war, one that threatens to prolong the oil shock’s impact on the global economy and entrench US forces in a long-term conflict. […] The post Dueling Hormuz blockades push world to the brink appeared first on Asia Times.

Netflix's hit series Beef returns for season 2 while London's V&A East celebrates British Black music in a landmark new exhibition. Here's what else to look out for this week.

Southeast Asian nations called on the US and Iran to continue negotiations to end their conflict after talks over the weekend fell through.

Researchers say hardship is a direct consequence of welfare benefit cuts implemented by Conservative governments in recent years. More than a fifth of all British children, part of the so-called "austerity generation," have experienced poverty for at least half of their childhood, a direct result of welfare benefit cuts imposed by Conservative governments in recent years, research reveals. The proportion of children born after 2013 who spent at least six of their first 11 years of life in hardship increased significantly after ministers froze benefit levels for working-age adults and implemented policies such as the two-child limit, the research found.

Exclusive: MPs say profit-making levels in England are ‘scandalous’ and call for cap on amount private companies can make from NHS Private firms providing services to the NHS including healthcare and consultancy have made £1.6bn in profits over the last two years, research reveals. The findings – on the basis of contracts worth £12bn – have prompted claims of “scandalous” profiteering, concern that the health service is being “taken for a ride” and calls for ministers to impose a cap on maximum profit levels. £2bn of the £12bn of contracts went to firms with owners based outside the UK. £533m of that £2bn went to companies owned by people living in tax havens such as Jersey and the Cayman Islands. Firms, especially those owned by private equity outfits, used £353m of their £12bn NHS income to pay interest on debts. Continue reading...

The political aftershocks from Sunday's election in Budapest comes at a volatile time amid a collapsing ceasefire between the United States and Iran as Tehran re-imposes a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, back in Brussels, the 2028-2034 budget is on the table.

Coach believes there’s no limit to 18-year-old’s talent while athlete himself says he’s ‘ready for more’ Having cracked the 20-second barrier with a sizzling run over 200m – and in the process fulled comparisons with the great Usain Bolt – the question now is, how fast can Gout Gout go? “How long’s a piece of string?” said Gout’s coach and mentor, Di Sheppard, after he clocked 19.67sec at the Australian championships in Sydney on Sunday. Continue reading...

The total combat losses of Russian forces from February 24, 2022, to April 13 2026 in the war against Ukraine amount to approximately 1,312,140 personnel, including 960 over the past day.

"This conflict is no longer doing anyone any good," Nikolay Azarov said

Naval embargo designed to cut off Iran’s exports threatens to destabilise global energy markets

Pope Leo XIV on Monday begins his most ambitious trip since becoming head of the Catholic Church, travelling across four African countries with a focus on peace, inequality and interfaith dialogue.

Vice President JD Vance led the highest-level talks between the United States and Iran in nearly 50 years.

The only request received by Canberra concerned support for Gulf countries, Anthony Albanese said

China’s tea-drink market, with estimated annual sales of 370 billion yuan (US$54.2 billion), has become yet another example of involution as brutal price competition threatens to expel thousands of unprofitable small players. The dire scenario represents a rude reminder to those who hope to strike it rich by investing in a fast-growing business in mainland China’s vast consumer market, which abounds with boom-to-bust cycles. “Bubble tea is a dynamic market, and it is never easy to make money...

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Cancelling orders’ in China: Hormuz oil crisis hits transport and manufacturing 2. ‘A big deal’: military drills show Tokyo’s growing focus on deterring China 3. UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediation 4. Why has China mapped out a third new county in Xinjiang on its...

President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, saying he didn't think the U. S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is "doing a very good job." (Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The Ukrainian president will be at Palazzo Chigi this afternoon. A ceasefire is currently in effect for the Orthodox Easter holiday.

The US president believes that Leo XIV was put on the candidates list "because he was an American"

UK could make migrants wait up to 20 years before becoming settled – making it one of the longest waits in world

The Dutch king and queen are scheduled to stay at the White House on Monday night. Amidst current tensions between the Atlantic nations, the Netherlands is uncertain about how to feel about this.

A cluster of Chinese firms is poised to win big from the energy crisis set off by the war in the Middle East, building on booming investment in artificial intelligence.

The number of tickets available to win "Tête de Femme" will be limited to 120,000, and the proceeds will go to Alzheimer's research. A raffle in France is offering the chance to win a portrait by Pablo Picasso for the price of a €100 (£87) ticket, with the proceeds benefiting Alzheimer's research. Picasso painted the gouache-on-paper work "Tête de Femme" (Head of a Woman) in 1941. The raffle organizers' online sales platform states that the number of tickets will be capped at 120,000, meaning the draw could generate €12 million if all tickets are sold.

Officials grant Grade II* protection to ‘rare building that raises more questions than it answers’ It is an elite list with some of the most significant and beautiful buildings and structures in England, including Battersea power station, Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge and the London Coliseum. Now the Grade II* landmarks are being joined by a mysterious, limestone rubble “barn” on a grassy knoll in the Lake District, which was most recently used as a shelter for sheep and cows. Continue reading...

A Chinese artificial intelligence framework has autonomously resolved an open problem proposed more than a decade ago by a US mathematician, according to the Peking University-led team that developed it. The dual-agent framework solved the problem posed in 2014 by former University of Iowa professor Dan Anderson – who died in 2022 at the age of 73 – the researchers said in a preprint paper published on April 4. By synthesising decades of mathematical literature, the Chinese team’s AI framework...

In an unprecedented attack on the leader of the Catholic Church, the president said that the US-born pope is "not doing a very good job" and is "a very liberal person." President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, saying he didn't think the US-born leader of the Catholic Church is "doing a very good job" and that "he's a very liberal person," while also suggesting the pontiff should "stop catering to the Radical Left." Flying back to Washington from Florida, Trump used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticize Leo, and then continued his comments to reporters on the tarmac.

The Philippines on Monday said it confirmed that Chinese boats last year used cyanide that threatens the stability of the Southeast Asian nation’s military outpost in the disputed South China Sea, as well as the safety of its soldiers.

The U. S. military said Sunday that five people were killed in boat strikes in the Eastern Pacific, stating that “intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the” region. “On April 11, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted two lethal kinetic strikes…

US President Donald Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran collapsed over the weekend risked widening a war now entering its seventh week, lifting oil prices and raising the prospect of further economic pain around the globe.

President Trump wrote that Pope Leo XIV, the first U. S.-born pontiff, was “weak” and “terrible” on crime and foreign policy. Leo has criticized the Iran war.

According to The Times of Israel, the information was obtained as a result of a coordinated leak by Israeli defense officials to three major TV channels

Mujtaba Rahman is the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice. He posts at @Mij_Europe. The war in Iran has improved U. K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chances of remaining in office. Make no mistake, his underlying position is still weak. Yet as the tenuous ceasefire looks like it may unravel, the likelihood of Starmer facing a leadership challenge after the May 7 regional elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and English councils is falling. In fact, Labour members of parliament who previously questioned his authority are now reluctant to destabilize his government in the middle of an international war. And yet, the conflict that is helping him politically also risks undermining the economic strategy his premiership depends on. So far, Starmer’s handling of the crisis hasn’t been flawless. The U. K. was too slow to send a warship to the Mediterranean, irritating allies including Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Relations with the U. S. have also deteriorated after U. S. President Donald Trump criticized Starmer for his initial refusal to permit U. S. aircraft from flying out of U. K. bases to bomb Iran. In fact, the “special relationship” is now so strained, senior Whitehall officials worry intelligence cooperation could be affected. But domestically, the war’s political impact has been an undeniable positive for Starmer, who has found himself on the right side of both public and Labour Party opinion. Voters are wary of being drawn into another Middle East conflict, and they support a prime minister who is willing to stand up to Trump. Meanwhile, many MPs scoff at the idea of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, or any other senior figure for that matter, handling this crisis any better, and say this is no time for more instability. But while the conflict has shored up Starmer’s short-term political position, Downing Street is increasingly concerned about its economic consequences. Labour ministers had been hoping voters would begin to notice an improvement in living standards this year, and those hopes are now in doubt: Inflation is expected to remain closer to 3 percent than the Bank of England’s 2 percent target, and interest rates are unlikely to fall as much as previously forecast. Moreover, mortgage rates have already begun to rise again, creating further difficulties for a government that has made the cost-of-living crisis its central political priority. Starmer is, therefore, preparing the British public for an economic shock. In public, the government’s mantra is that the conflict’s impact will depend on how long it lasts. And in private, it’s drawing up contingency plans to help households with energy bills. But ministers are warning there is no fiscal space for universal help to limit energy bills, like the £40 billion package introduced by former Prime Minister Liz Truss in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Iran war has already pushed up government borrowing costs, consuming a substantial portion of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recently announced £23.6 billion of headroom against her fiscal rule to balance income and spending. And that means, the inevitable intervention will only be targeted at those who need it most. Reeves is likely to face pressure to respond once Ofgem — the U. K.’s energy regulator — announces an increase in the energy price cap from July 1. But holding energy bills at current levels would cost the government around £6 billion which, given the reality of the chancellor’s fiscal rules, would leave limited scope for a bigger intervention. The government will also find it difficult to proceed with a planned 1 pence-per-liter increase in fuel duty in September, particularly if petrol prices rise further due to a protracted conflict. As a result, the fear among ministers now is that voters will blame the government for higher energy and fuel costs, regardless of its international causes. If the ceasefire fully breaks down and the war continues, government insiders also worry that Reeves will be forced to deliver a more generous support package of £10 billion or more, but without tweaking her fiscal rules as many Labour MPs — including some Cabinet ministers — would like. The Treasury believes the bond markets would then punish the government by further raising its already relatively high borrowing costs. And with more borrowing off-limits, Reeves would be left with a difficult choice: cutting public spending or raising taxes. The mood among Labour MPs, coupled with Starmer’s fragile position in his own party, makes spending cuts virtually impossible — which means the chancellor’s third budget this autumn might be the third one to increase taxes. This would, in turn, revive a cabinet debate over breaking Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledge to not raise income tax rates with an earmarked “defense tax” to protect Britain in the new world. Ominously for Labour, voters have a golden opportunity to register their dissatisfaction with Starmer in the meantime, with the May 7 elections. And any boost the prime minister receives from his tougher stance against Trump could well be dwarfed by anger over rising prices. All in all, Starmer’s Iran lifeline may prove short-lived. And while he needs Trump to end the war quickly and limit the economic damage, he might also need a prolonged crisis to keep his Labour critics at bay.

The competition to deploy robotaxis across Europe is intensifying. A partnership led by European start-up Verne, alongside Uber and China's Pony.ai, has been described by industry observers as a vehicle for introducing Chinese autonomous-driving technology into Europe under a local banner. The model stands in contrast to homegrown automakers such as Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, which are pursuing more self-reliant technological strategies.

SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- A pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan on Monday...

AI and quantum computing are converging — and the geopolitical consequences are profound. At the GITEX AI Asia forum, industry experts argued that this integration goes beyond a technological breakthrough. It is reshaping national competitiveness and strategic deterrence.

Centcom says blockade of Iranian ports to begin at 10am ET; Iran’s negotiator says ‘we will not bow to threats’; oil prices rise. Follow the latest news Full report: Trump says US will blockade strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks fail Planeloads of negotiators and too little time: US and Iran’s 21 hours of talks Welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran and its consequences for the wider region, the world and the global economy. Here are the main developments: Trump said the US Navy would start blockading the Hormuz strait and would also interdict every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, the president said the US was going to start “BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”. In another post Trump also claimed Iran had “knowingly failed” to make good on its promise to open the strait, causing “anxiety” and “pain” for many countries around the world. US Central Command (Centcom) announced it would begin its blockade of the strait beginning Monday morning. “Centcom forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10am ET [1400 GMT], in accordance with the president’s proclamation.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that “approaching military vessels to the strait of Hormuz is considered a violation of the ceasefire”. Oil prices rose in early market trading after Trump’s blockade announcement. The price of US crude oil rose 8% to $104.24 a barrel and Brent crude oil – the international standard – rose 7% to $102.29. Australia’s share market dropped sharply on Monday morning. Donald Trump and his advisers are looking at resuming limited military strikes in Iran in addition to the US blockade of the strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing officials and people familiar with the situation. Trump launched a scathing attack on Pope Leo XIV, saying he was “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy” and was hurting the Catholic church. “Leo should get his act together as Pope,” the president said on Truth Social. The attack came after Leo denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” as fuelling the US-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said his government had not been asked to participate in any US blockade of the strait of Hormuz and that he wanted to see negotiations between the US and Iran continue. Trump reiterated his threat to destroy Iran’s power plants and other civilian energy infrastructure if no deal was reached to end the war, which he started with Israel in what is widely seen as an illegal and unprovoked attack. “I could take out Iran in one day,” he told Fox News on Sunday. Trump also said the US didn’t need the strait. “We don’t get our oil from there. We have so much oil,” he told Fox. “We have boats pouring up to the United States … We don’t need the strait.” Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Tehran side in the US talks, said Trump’s new threats would have no effect on the Iranian nation. “If you fight, we will fight, and if you come forward with logic, we will deal with logic. We will not bow to any threats.” He later taunted Trump on X, posting: “Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.” Continue reading...

A blockage of the Strait of Hormuz following conflict between the US and Iran is raising energy supply risks for Southeast Asia, with import-dependent economies most exposed. If the conflict continues, the region's recent gains from supply chain shifts could begin to erode.

Several spontaneous cultural initiatives, including in theaters, aim to help people driven from their homes by Israeli bombardments.

Taiwan and the US signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) on February 13, 2026, capping 10 months of negotiations. The deal set a reciprocal tariff of 15% without stacking and secured Taiwan the most favorable terms yet under Section 232 for semiconductors. But the US Supreme Court's invalidation of most of President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs has since frozen the agreement. Taiwan's Executive Yuan cannot submit it to the Legislative Yuan for review, and the prospect of zero-tariff US car imports has stalled along with it.

US President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo on social media on Sunday, saying the first American pope should "stop catering to the Radical Left." It was an extraordinary broadside against the global leader of the Catholic Church, exacerbating a feud that began over the war in Iran. "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," the president wrote on social media. He also wrote that "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon." A short time later,...

Powered by surging semiconductor investment—led by TSMC—Taiwan's science parks are nearing full capacity, accelerating government efforts to expand land, infrastructure, and next-generation industry clusters.

Touch panel maker TPK is partnering with semiconductor packaging giant ASE to enter the advanced through-glass via (TGV) packaging technology sector, focusing on developing glass substrates for high-end computing ICs. This move marks TPK's expansion into advanced semiconductor packaging, aiming to become a new long-term growth engine. TPK has invested about NT$500 million (US$15.7 million) in capital expenditure for this initiative. Its pilot production line in Zhongli is scheduled for completion in July 2026, with sample delivery and validation set to begin shortly thereafter.

Taiwan and the US are accelerating efforts to build a bilateral robot ecosystem as embodied AI converges with robotics. GeoAsia Foundation chairman C. Y. Huang says Taiwan is now assembling a large-scale robotics alliance drawing on resources from Taiwan, the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia — a platform for international collaboration across industry, academia, and research institutions designed to bridge Taiwan-based companies into the global market.

Industrial PC (IPC) maker Sysgration saw consolidated revenue reach NT$292 million (US$9.2 million) in March 2026, buoyed by its three main product lines of backup battery units (BBUs), drones, and IPCs. Although this marks a slight year-on-year decline, the company nevertheless expects monthly revenue to grow going ahead, driven by an optimized product mix and increasing high-margin applications, as demand for AI computing drives expansion in data centers and edge AI deployments.

China's aviation authorities have mobilized various resources to support the European certification of the C919, a domestically produced airliner aiming to compete with Boeing and Airbus, and steady progress has been made in recent months, according to multiple sources. Technicians and pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have been stationed in Shanghai for additional inspections and in-flight tests in recent months, according to a source who participated in some technological exchanges with the agency. "They now stay...

Rory McIlroy has once again etched his name in the annals of world golf. This Sunday, the 36-year-old player secured his second consecutive Masters title at Augusta, after a tense day in which he skillfully managed his lead to finish with a score of 71 strokes (1 under par), for a total of 276 strokes (-12). With this victory, the Northern Irishman not only defends the title he won in 2025, but also emulates a feat previously achieved by only three legends of the sport: Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90), and Tiger Woods (2001-02). He is also the first golfer to achieve the two-time championship at Augusta National in the last 24 years. A close finish and legendary figures Despite starting the final round with the pressure of being the favorite, McIlroy's path was not without difficulties. After a double bogey on the 4th hole, the Northern Irishman displayed impeccable mental fortitude, recording four crucial birdies that allowed him to keep his pursuers at bay. The victory was secured by the narrowest of margins against American Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, who put pressure on him until the last hole but finished one stroke behind the champion (-11). The podium was completed by figures such as Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose, and Cameron Young, all tied with a total of -10. This new success in the state of Georgia represents McIlroy's sixth major championship and his 30th professional title...

Taiwan's thermal management suppliers are emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in the AI hardware ecosystem in 2026, even though their absolute revenue scale remains far below that of semiconductor leaders such as TSMC and large AI server ODMs like Quanta Computer and Foxconn.

AI demand is squeezing global DRAM supply to the point where the PC market is turning back to decade-old technology. Shortages in DDR5 and DDR4 have pushed prices high enough to revive DDR3 platforms, with Fnnews reporting that Colorful Yugong Technology (formerly Seethru Co.) will restart limited production of Intel H81 motherboards in May to target low-cost PC builds.

Oil prices rise as president tells US navy to ‘interdict’ ships that pay Iran to pass through strategic chokepoint

Former CIA Director John Brennan said on Saturday that he believed the 25th Amendment “was written with” President Trump “in mind,” comments that come after multiple Democrats pushed for Trump’s ouster following his intense threats toward Iran. “I think the 25th Amendment was written with Donald Trump in mind, because allowing someone like this to continue…

Asian stocks fall as naval blockade threat injects new turmoil into financial markets.

Stock markets in Japan, South Korea and Australia lose ground following the stalemate in U. S.-Iran peace talks.

Despite the tension, communication channels between the United States and Iran remain open, and new negotiations could resume soon, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The goal of the naval operation ordered by ordered by President Trump is to deny Iran the revenues it needs to fund its military, but there are many unknowns.

Amidst stalled negotiations with Iran, U.S. media reported on December 12th that President Trump of the United States is considering resuming limited military strikes against Iran.

The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell calls them false but apologized to his supporters and family. (Image credit: Rich Pedroncelli)

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says "if you fight, we will fight," according to state media reports, as the US president also threatens to bomb Iran's water treatment facilities. JD Vance and a US delegation leave Pakistan after failing to reach a deal with Iran. Planeloads of negotiators and too little time: 21 hours of talks between the US and Iran. A post about an hour ago on the Israel Defense Forces Telegram channel claimed that overnight, the IDF "identified a rocket launcher positioned and ready to launch toward the State of Israel in the area of Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon." Shortly after the identification, the launcher was struck and dismantled in a rapid operation, preventing the launch from being carried out. Continue reading...

Joel Gilbert, who mailed anti-Barack Obama film to voters in 2012, accuses congressman of violating immigration law Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox California Democrat Eric Swalwell’s troubles deepened on Sunday as the US Department of Homeland Security announced an investigation into allegations the US representative hired “a Brazilian national as a nanny without lawful work authorization”. Swalwell has been facing a raft of calls to end his campaign for California governor and resign his seat in Congress since Friday, when the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported that four women have accused him of sexual misconduct and assault. Continue reading...

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, this measure is believed to push Tehran to make concessions

As companies like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Waymo begin rolling out autonomous vehicles across Europe and the US, the bottleneck facing robotaxis has shifted. No longer defined primarily by technological breakthroughs, the industry is now constrained by regulatory approval and the ability to operate reliably in complex, real-world conditions.

The semiconductor industry is undergoing coordinated shifts that could reshape equipment flows, corporate financing, and supplier relationships in the AI era, according to DIGITIMES analyst Luke Lin.

U. S. Central Command (Centcom) said Sunday it will begin blockading Iranian ports at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, 5:30 p.m. in Iran, following posts earlier in the day from President Trump directing the U. S. military to “clean out” the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows 21 hours of unproductive peace talks in Pakistan on Saturday,…

Ministers admit carer’s allowance penalties will continue while review of more than 200,000 cases is carried out Thousands of unpaid carers will continue to be hit with hefty and potentially unfair benefit repayment demands, it has emerged, as a government initiative gets under way to fix welfare injustices that have drawn comparison to the Post Office scandal. Ministers will on Monday launch an audit of more than 200,000 historical carer’s allowance benefit cases, with an estimated 25,000 carers issued with unlawful overpayments since 2015 likely to see their repayment debts cancelled or reduced as a result. Continue reading...