Global Instability and Domestic Strainactive

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...

Chinese carmakers are rapidly gaining ground in Europe, squeezing out Asian rivals such as Japan and South Korea as exports to the region surge past 1 million units for the first time, according to an industry report. Imports of Chinese-made cars into the European Union in 2025 jumped 30.7 per cent from a year earlier to 1.006 million vehicles, according to the report published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, known as the ACEA, on April 2. The value of those imports,...

Representatives of the two countries will meet in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

Regarding the negotiations between the United States and Iran, a U.S. government official revealed that there were six non-negotiable conditions, or "red lines," including the cessation of uranium enrichment activities. On the other hand, the Iranian side claims that the failure to reach an agreement is the responsibility of the United States and is demanding concessions.

Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales may be expelled from Congress amid serious misconduct allegations.

Earlier, CENTCOM said its forces would begin a naval blockade of Iran at 2:00 p.m. GMT, on April 13

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on Monday in the Asian market, as the U.S. Navy prepared to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following the failure of negotiations between Washington and Iran to reach an agreement that would end the war. Brent crude futures rose $7.11, or 7.47%, to $102.31 per barrel, after closing on Friday with a 0.75% decline. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was trading at $104.43 per barrel, up $7.86, or 8.14%, after falling 1.33% in the previous session. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. Navy would immediately begin to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating the situation after negotiations with Iran failed to produce an agreement to end the war, jeopardizing a fragile two-week ceasefire. Subsequently, the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced that a blockade of Iranian ports would begin on Monday at 10:00 AM Eastern Time (9:00 AM in Argentina). Centcom stated that the blockade would be applied "impartially against ships of all nations" entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas. Developing story.

On the New York oil market on the 12th, the futures price of WTI, a benchmark for international trading, temporarily rose to the $105 per barrel range. This was a significant increase from the previous Friday, when it closed at around $95 per barrel, representing an approximate $10 rise. With negotiations between the United States and Iran failing to reach an agreement, and President Trump announcing plans to implement a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, tensions between the two countries have escalated once again. This has heightened concerns about a further negative impact on the supply of crude oil.

The White House is considering a menu of options in addition to blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

Trailing significantly in the polls, Quebec's governing party has selected Christine Fréchette to succeed François Legault and to lead the party in an upcoming vote this fall.

Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Alexandre Vautravers, Expert in Strategy and Security, Editor in Chief of The Swiss Military Review (RMS) and Associate Fellow in Leadership in Conflict Management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). According to Vautravers,Donald Trump's fiery rhetoric threatening US withdrawal from NATO remains largely performative chest-thumping. HE argues the real challenges lie elsewhere, in the technical, logistical, and strategic underpinnings of the alliance, particularly regarding troop deployments, infrastructure access, and interoperability across European and American forces. All the while, Europe is entering a phase of cautious autonomization, not as a rejection of NATO, but as a pragmatic response to deep uncertainty with an unpredictable US ally that has increasingly adopted aggressive, adversarial and highly confrontational policies and positions across the globe

Also in today’s newsletter: Trump announces naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz, and China open to Taiwanese TV and imports

Michael Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., said Sunday that there could be a "potential" for "continued talks" with Iran about the U.S.-Israeli conflict against the country, after Vice President Vance said no progress was made towards a peace agreement in recent negotiations. "When you said the talks are still going…

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced this Sunday that it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports starting this Monday at 10:00 AM Eastern Time in the United States, which is equivalent to 11:00 AM in Chile and 5:30 PM in Iran. "In accordance with the President's announcement, the blockade will be applied impartially to ships of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all ports in the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf) and the Gulf of Oman," CENTCOM stated in a press release. U.S. military forces "will not impede the freedom of navigation of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz that are traveling to or from ports that are not Iranian," it explained. The U.S. contingent will provide more information to the commanders of affected commercial vessels "before the blockade begins" and urges them to communicate via channel 16 "ship to ship" when navigating the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.

Government seeks to shore up Australia’s supply of diesel, fertiliser and other critical goods. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Prime minister Anthony Albanese and foreign minister Penny Wong will visit Brunei and Malaysia this week as the government seeks to shore up Australia’s supply of diesel, fertiliser and other critical goods in the wake of shortages ccaused by the US-Israel war on Iran. Albanese will travel first to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei on Tuesday for a meeting with the sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, to discuss “energy, food security, and the flow of essential goods between our countries,” according to the PM’s office. Continue reading...

The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries entered into force this Sunday, a partnership 'at the service of the French and the Portuguese, and of a Europe that decides for itself'.

Media reports detailing sexual assault allegations against US Representative Eric Swalwell prompt resignation calls.

The move sets off a high-stakes war of attrition that will test who has the higher threshold for pain—Tehran or global markets.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was instrumental in taking the U. S. to war with Iran. Now, he is trying to prolong the fighting.

"Drone attacks also originating from the United Kingdom and other countries." Pasdaran (Iranian Revolutionary Guard): "You will end up trapped." Putin offers mediation.

Vice President JD Vance's negotiations in Pakistan with Iran failed to end the war, but progress was reported in building positive relationships.

The U.S. President, Donald Trump, warned this Sunday that he will impose a 50% tariff on imports from any country that helps Iran with shipments of military material, specifically mentioning China as a target of this retaliation. "I've heard reports, although I don't always believe the news, that China is providing shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. I don't know if that's accurate. I doubt they would do that. Maybe they did it at the beginning," Trump stated in an interview with Fox News. "If we catch any country, including China, providing military material to Iran, they will face a 50% tariff," the U.S. President emphasized. Trump also suggested that if China wants oil, it can send its ships to the United States to buy it from them. "As for China, China can send its ships. China can send its ships to Venezuela... We have a lot of excess production, and we would probably sell it to them even for less money," he indicated. In fact, Trump highlighted that he has a "very good relationship" with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. "We work very well together," he emphasized before arguing that they have been "tough, but fair" with Beijing. He then recalled the tariffs imposed on Chinese cars and argued that if he hadn't done so, it would be like in Europe, where "they are destroying Europe because they are taking a large share of the business from Mercedes, BMW,..."

Will the Iran-US truce lead to peace, or more war?

DUBLIN — Ireland’s government announced more than €500 million in tax cuts on motor fuel on Sunday in an attempt to placate protesters snarling key ports and roadways. Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced the cuts hours after police successfully cleared protesters from the ports of Galway and Foynes in western Ireland as well as on Dublin’s central boulevard, O’Connell Street, which tractors and trucks had blocked since Tuesday. The clearances came a day after police backed by soldiers broke a similar blockade of the country’s only oil refinery at Whitegate in County Cork. But Martin rejected suggestions that the package, worth an estimated €505 million, represented a reward for the wildcat protesters, who had rejected the diplomatic approach advocated by Ireland’s official trucking and farming organizations. Martin stressed he had negotiated Sunday’s benefits in cooperation with those officials — and would not speak directly to “unelected” protest leaders. “It’s beyond comprehension that we were on the precipice of losing oil refining capacity in the country in the middle of an unprecedented global supply shortage of energy,” Martin said. “It makes absolutely no sense what was going on.” But the premier conceded that the package might not end the protests, which have been organized largely on social media apps and platforms. Several scattered road blockades, largely targeting rural motorways, continued Sunday. “We haven’t any guarantees of what protesters may or may not do,” Martin said. The government’s advisory National Emergency Coordination Group warned Sunday that much of the economy and public services, including health care, would face heightened disruption this week even if the protesters end all road obstructions now. Sunday’s package will be subject to the passage of emergency legislation Tuesday — the same day the main opposition Sinn Féin party will bring a motion of no confidence in the government over its handling of fuel taxes and the past week’s street standoffs. The new government plans further excise tax cuts of 10 cents per liter on gasoline and diesel effective midnight Tuesday, Martin said at his press conference. Those reductions come on top of cuts introduced last month — before any street disorder — of 15 cents on gasoline and 20 cents on diesel. Those initial cuts had been supposed to expire at the end of May, but like Sunday’s additional cuts will now run until the end of July — by which time, the government hopes, the current spike in oil prices over the Iran war will have eased. The government also agreed to delay the next scheduled hike in carbon taxes, which are levied on fuel alongside excise charges. The planned May 1 hike now won’t happen until November, Martin said. Foreign Minister Simon Harris, who spoke alongside Martin, said Ireland would seek, and expected to receive, European Commission approval for the temporary higher discount on diesel excise tax. Farmers and truckers have been particularly exposed to higher diesel costs, triggered by the U. S.-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial thoroughfare for oil.

“This is not our war.” That phrase, used by some European leaders to explain why they have refused to send forces to join America and Israel in their attacks on Iran, has become notorious in Donald Trump’s White House and has put the future of the transatlantic alliance in fresh danger. The Iran conflict is […] The post Five emerging themes for the Indo-Pacific from Trump’s Iran war appeared first on Asia Times.

Pressure mounts on Californian, who denies rape claims, and on Texan Tony Gonzales, who had affair with staffer who died by suicide Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A growing number of Congress members from both parties have called for Eric Swalwell, a Democratic US representative and candidate for California governor, to resign his seat this weekend, following reported allegations of inappropriate behavior, sexual assault and rape. Swalwell has denied the allegations, but he may not get the chance to quit before his colleagues expel him. Polarized Congress members appear to be eyeing an opportunity to rid themselves of both Swalwell and disgraced Republican US representative Tony Gonzales of Texas, who acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Continue reading...

During a prisoner exchange, Yevhenii Demchuk, a marine from the village of Lvove in the Kherson region, has returned to Ukraine after spending four years in captivity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces had eliminated the threat of an invasion by Hezbollah militants during a visit to troops in southern Lebanon. His visit comes two days before officials from Lebanon, Israel and the United States are due to hold direct talks in Washington. “The war continues, including within the security zone in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, which showed him wearing a flak jacket and surrounded by masked...

US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as Vice President JD Vance’s negotiating team failed to gain the trust of Iranian counterparts, who have been burned by the United States before and are loath to surrender sovereignty over their nuclear program. Trump announced in an early morning post on his Truth Social network […] The post Trump announces closure of Hormuz Strait as Iran talks falter appeared first on Asia Times.

Iranian officials stated that while Iran had approached the negotiations in good faith, the U.S. team had failed to earn the trust of the Iranian delegation.

Iran warns move would breach ceasefire as US president also repeats threats to strike critical infrastructure 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 between the countries in Pakistan. The US president also threatened to bomb Iran’s water treatment facilities as well as its power plants and bridges, repeating an earlier threat, if Tehran did not agree to abandon its nuclear weapons programme – the key sticking point between the two sides. Continue reading...