Iran US Tensions Escalationactive

In the Philippines, surging fuel prices have forced a rethink of energy policy and even relations with China

The pause - framed as both a strategic recalibration and an opening for negotiations - came just hours before the deadline Trump imposed for Iran.

Hong Kong authorities will set up a company this year to accelerate the development of an innovation hub near the border, with firms already expressing interest in moving into the San Tin Technopole, a senior tech official has said. Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi Kit-ming also told the South China Morning Post that some companies might soon be able to transfer data and biological samples across the border once tailor-made measures were introduced later...

U.S. President Trump announced early Tuesday morning, Japan time, that the United States would halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, on the condition that Iran agrees to an immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed. He stated that this would be a ceasefire on both sides. Furthermore, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, who is acting as a mediator, posted on social media before 9:00 AM Japan time on Tuesday, stating, "I am pleased to announce that Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire that will take effect immediately in all regions, including Lebanon." This confirmed that the United States and Iran had agreed to an immediate ceasefire. We will continue to provide updates on the reactions within Japan to these developments.

Recently, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) has made a series of unusually high-profile appearances at promotional events for US automakers such as Jeep and Ford. The rare visibility has drawn intense attention from both industry insiders and market observers alike — and for good reason. With the first quarter of 2026 marking the official conclusion of automotive tariff negotiations under the Taiwan–US trade agreement, these diplomatic gestures now carry significance far beyond simple brand endorsement. They signal a new era of "structural transformation" in Taiwan–US automotive cooperation.

On August 8th, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian posted a statement on his social media accounts, stating that "for a period of two weeks, safe navigation will be possible in the Strait of Hormuz through coordination with Iranian authorities."

The journalist warns that the world is at a "pivot point" after which "nothing is the same"

Moscow has been benefitting from the higher oil prices while its ally is under attack.

The US can do a lot of damage to civilian infrastructure but military experts say it's not feasible to carry out all Trump's threats.

According to the report by Fars, the Karish and Tanin gas fields "play a key role in the energy supply" of Israel

⁠Iraqi armed group ⁠Kataib Hezbollah, which is aligned with Iran, said on Tuesday it would release abducted US journalist Shelly Kittleson, adding that she must leave Iraq immediately. Kittleson ‌was abducted in late March in Baghdad. Middle East news site Al-Monitor said Kittleson was a US freelance journalist based in Rome who had covered several wars in the region and had contributed articles to ⁠the outlet. A video purporting to show Kittleson was shared ‌by a social media outlet close to...

Baghdad doesn’t control much of its own territory.

Kittleson, a freelancer for several U. S. outlets, was seized last week in Baghdad by Kataib Hezbollah, a Shiite militia aligned with Iran.

U. S. journalist Shelly Kittleson was released on Tuesday afternoon a week after she was abducted in Baghdad at the end of March, an Iraqi official told The Associated Press. Iraqi militia group Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement earlier Tuesday that it would free Kittleson but mandated that she “leave the country immediately” after her…

The official euro rate was increased by 2.45 kopecks to 91.0279 rubles

Like many freelancers, Shelly Kittleson often worked on a shoestring budget and without the protections afforded by large news organisations to staff.

An Iran-backed Iraqi armed group says it will release an American journalist abducted in Baghdad last week, calling the move a gesture of goodwill toward Iraq’s outgoing prime minister. The announcement marks the group's first admission of responsibility for the kidnapping.

The Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, commented that the current context, marked by the economic effects of the war in Iran, should not alter the expectations regarding the achievements of President José Antonio Kast's government. "Things have been a bit slow, but the direction remains the same. That is my main message today: the direction remains the same, and the Pacific Ocean always provides a strong southern wind in the second half of the year. With that southern wind, we will harness the sails and reach where we need to go," he said at the beginning of his presentation at the seminar organized by the Society for Industrial Development (Sofofa). Along these lines, the Secretary of State pointed to achieving results based on specific milestones. "The first significant, positive shift in supply that we will have seen in the last 25 years," he said as an example of measures. "That is the direction we are heading. That is the main message. Let's raise our spirits, let's raise our hearts, as a beloved former president of ours used to say. And there are good technical, political, and national reasons for that," he commented. Following his message of optimism, the Secretary of State dedicated a significant portion of his presentation to reiterating his criticisms of the fiscal management of the former President Gabriel Boric's government. "In order to gain some understanding from the public regarding the difficult decisions we have had to make. And those difficult decisions, which have sometimes been poorly understood, are based on the fact that..."

Following President José Antonio Kast's signing of the bills aimed at combating school violence, the Minister of the Secretariat of the Presidency, José García Ruminot, addressed the processing of these initiatives. "The bills have already been submitted. We are doing this with a great sense of urgency, which means a 15-day timeframe in each chamber," he explained. He added, "Some people may think that this is too demanding or too fast, but we will naturally have the flexibility to adjust if necessary, should either the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate request more time." "We wanted to expedite the process because the situation we have witnessed in recent weeks within educational institutions in various parts of the country requires a swift response," he argued. Furthermore, the head of the Secretariat of the Presidency also addressed the postponement of the submission of the major reform, or the "National Reconstruction Plan," a package of more than 40 measures that will include tax adjustments, reconstruction following fires, permitting processes, educational benefits, and even public safety issues. Initially, the bill was to be submitted to Congress on the same day, but given that there are still some pending items in its review, the initiative will be submitted next week. This was indicated by García Ruminot. "Submission of the Reconstruction...

The First Sale valuation method has helped companies lower their tariff costs for decades, but renewed scrutiny claims it harms U. S. production.

Seoul's unification minister has urged Brussels to act as mediator in North-South discussions, but Pyongyang still seems to show little appetite for interaction.

According to the publication, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has risen by 52% since the beginning of the conflict

Judge Naime Krasniqi-Jashanica has been transferred to a lower division of the Pristina Basic court after BIRN reported on her involvement in undermining the victim in a domestic violence trial.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s conservative evangelical religious beliefs drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. He is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – CREC – whose beliefs have been influenced by a 20th-century movement called Christian Reconstructionism. Many CREC leaders call for the implementation of biblical law and […] The post The church behind Hegseth’s crusading religious rhetoric appeared first on Asia Times.

Alexander Stepanov opined that the rescue operation was primarily a public relations effort, driven by the Trump administration’s desire for some form of victory

The person released is believed to be Japanese broadcaster NHK's Tehran bureau chief, Shinnosuke Kawashima.

The yuan exchange rate was down by 5.05 kopecks at 11.427 rubles

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he was “not at all” concerned about the risk of committing war crimes in Iran if he carried out his threat to bomb bridges and power plants. However, according to experts in military law, deliberately bombing civilian infrastructure is a violation of international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime.

With polls suggesting that Plaid Cymru, the SNP, and Sinn Féin could be in power after the May vote, constitutional challenges may lie ahead. In four weeks, the shape of British politics is likely to change dramatically. For the first time, nationalist parties that aspire to break up the UK are expected to be in control of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland simultaneously. "The change will be seismic," said Angus Robertson, a senior minister in the Scottish government. Opinion polls consistently suggest that after the elections on May 7, England will be flanked by countries run by restless center-left nationalist parties: Plaid Cymru in Cardiff, the Scottish National party in Edinburgh, and, in Belfast, Sinn Féin, which shares power with the Democratic Unionists. Continue reading...

The last weekend saw the US carrying out a high-risk rescue operation to recover two aviators after their fighter jet — an F-15 — was shot down in Iran

Iran has experienced meaningful attrition in a war it entered already weakened by international sanctions and a five-year drought. These operating constraints nevertheless leave Iran with a rare window of opportunity to realize a postwar reality that leaves it in a relatively better position and its opponent in a relatively worse one compared to the […] The post How Iran wins the war on its own terms appeared first on Asia Times.

Political analyst Trita Parsi says that no one should be surprised that Iran has rejected the idea of a US ceasefire deal.

A Filipino taxi driver who attempted to overcharge a member of K-pop group TXT has been suspended from operating, after the incident sparked backlash both in South Korea and the Philippines. According to a report aired on Monday on JTBC’s Chief Investigator, TXT member Choi Soo-bin, known mononymously as Soobin, was targeted in a taxi fare scam while travelling in Cebu, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines. The incident was originally revealed on Wednesday through the group’s...

At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshitaka Kimura addressed reports regarding the release on bail of the NHK Tehran bureau chief who had been detained by Iranian authorities. He confirmed that a Japanese national who was detained in January had been released on bail, and stated, "For privacy reasons, I will refrain from providing further details."

A ⁠Japanese national ⁠detained in Iran has been released on bail, Tokyo said on Tuesday. The person, believed to be the Tehran bureau chief of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, is the second to be released after the Japanese government announced last month that two of its citizens had been detained. “The Japanese embassy in Iran has confirmed that a Japanese national who was detained by Iranian authorities on January 20 was released on April 6 local time,” government spokesman Minoru Kihara...

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 10 people and wounded several others near a school sheltering displaced Palestinians on Monday, health officials said, as violence strains a fragile US-backed Gaza ceasefire. The World Health Organisation announced it was suspending evacuations from Gaza after a worker contracted to help them was killed.

Trump claims Iranians welcome US strikes and lower court judges challenge Trump’s ‘war on rule of law’ – key US politics stories from Monday 6 April at a glance Donald Trump was asked at a press conference Monday if his war on Iran was winding down or ramping up. His response: “I can’t tell you.” The US president’s comments came as diplomatic negotiations aimed at halting the war in the Middle East appeared to be faltering. Continue reading...

A Chinese online influencer known as the "Godmother of Sexual Intelligence," who was banned from social media earlier this year, has reappeared online to sell her controversial courses. Zhou Yuan, who lives in central Hunan province, teaches women how to enhance their sexual appeal. She is alleged to have earned 24 million yuan (US$3.5 million) from selling her online and offline courses, according to Red Star News. Zhou's account, with 200,000 followers, was banned in January for promoting "vulgar..."

DEAR EDITOR: I am concerned about the situation faced by nearly 300,000 migrant individuals in Chile. Despite having entered through unauthorized channels and being in an irregular situation, many have effectively integrated into Chilean society. Many of them participated in registration processes and self-reporting initiatives promoted by the government itself, possess temporary identification numbers, work formally, and contribute to health and social security systems, precisely as part of efforts to regularize their legal status according to current laws. I appreciate the immigration measures aimed at strengthening border control and deporting foreign nationals with criminal records, which align with a significant public demand. However, it is possible and desirable to implement these measures rigorously while simultaneously advancing mechanisms for regularization for those who are already part of the country, seeking residency legally, and are willing to fulfill their tax, labor, and social security obligations. In fact, many of these individuals are already part of the workforce and perform various jobs honestly and diligently. It is contradictory that the state turns its back on individuals whom it has partially recognized by allowing them to work, contribute, and benefit the country. Providing an opportunity for regularization to these registered individuals, who have no criminal records, is an exercise in realism, humanity, and...

On March 12th, the day after President José Antonio Kast took office, the First Lady, María Pía Adriasola, was seen in the casino of the Palacio de La Moneda, serving lunch to some officials. The scene quickly went viral and soon caught the attention of several people in the government building. The performance was seen as unnecessary, caused discomfort among some of the residents of La Moneda, and reflected the prominent role that Adriasola has begun to assume. Furthermore, the incident led a group of socialist deputies, led by Daniel Manouchehri, to file a complaint with the Comptroller General of the Republic and the Regional Ministerial Secretary of Health, accusing the First Lady of violating health regulations in the handling of food. "Handling food requires gloves, a mask, and a hairnet. These are basic health protocols. They must also be followed at La Moneda," the parliamentarian posted on his X account at the time. Following the request filed with the regulatory body – presented by Manouchehri, along with the deputies Daniela Cicardini and Juan Santana – it was announced today that the Comptroller General has given the government 10 days to provide the relevant documentation. The document, issued by the Legal Division of the Comptroller General, requests that a copy of the complaint filed by Deputy Daniel Manouchehri Lobos be sent to the Administrative Directorate of the Presidency of the Republic, to…

Impacted by the conflict in the Middle East, Taiwan has recently reported a shortage of plastic bags, raising questions about whether Formosa Plastics Group deliberately reduced production and stockpiled raw materials to drive up prices in the plastic pellet market.

When Chileans elected José Antonio Kast as President, many did so hoping for a better future and greater stability. However, just 27 days into his administration, public sentiment has significantly shifted away from that aspiration. According to the latest Cadem poll, 52% of Chileans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, a 26-point increase compared to when the new administration took office. The planned communication strategy employed by the presidential palace, which aimed to dominate the news cycle with announcements, the exaggeration of the idea of a crisis, criticism of the previous government, the shock of rising fuel prices, and a series of subsequent errors, have contributed to one of the most abrupt declines in public expectations ever recorded for a newly elected government. Any new administration, whether in government or in a company, requires a period of adjustment. The problem in this case is that a "campaign-style Kast" created the illusion that this adjustment period would not exist, promising that under his leadership, Chile would enter a new era, thanks to a disciplined narrative surrounding the crisis and a straightforward, unnuanced diagnosis. Right-wing governments typically promise more order and better management. The Republican party doubled down on this promise. In his first speech, Kast was clear: his battle was between the chaos he inherited and the order his administration would bring. However, that promise is already showing signs of strain. At the most basic level, the off-script moments and mistakes...

U. S. and Iraqi officials believe freelancer Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped last week by Kataib Hezbollah, a paramilitary group with links to Iran.

According to Tasnim News Agency, aircraft were hit at the Ali Al Salem Airbase, troops were targeted in Petah Tikva, and factories were struck in Beersheba

"The international audit would have been enormously expensive for the State, and given the current fiscal constraints we are facing, we decided to use the internal resources available to the State." With these words, the Secretary General of the Government, Mara Sedini, explained the government's decision to abandon the idea of conducting an external international audit that had been planned as part of President José Antonio Kast's agenda. This decision came after the President's team, during the campaign, had pledged to conduct a comprehensive and independent audit of the State from the first day of the government. The plan announced in April of last year included inviting the Comptroller General of the Republic and leading international auditing firms to review each ministry, sub-secretariat, agency, and public company. The stated objective, according to the campaign promises, was to identify overpricing, networks of political operators, and improper contracts. This Sunday, the General Sub-Secretariat of the Presidency confirmed to La Tercera the decision to abandon the planned external international audit, due to the financial constraints facing the country. In this way, the government opted to continue using the existing internal resources within the State. At a press conference at La Moneda, the Executive spokesperson stated that "we have over a thousand auditors working...

Originally published by Pacific Forum, the article is republished with permission. What happens when North Korea demonstrably acquires an operational, reliable capability to strike the US mainland with a nuclear weapon? For two decades, this question has lingered at the margins of policy debates. Today, North Korea is steadily approaching that threshold. Meanwhile the United […] The post When North Korea can strike America: a dangerous policy gap appeared first on Asia Times.

Regarding the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East, Prime Minister Koichi Hoshi is coordinating a phone call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The aim is to directly appeal for an early de-escalation of the situation and to ensure the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House briefly published — then deleted — a video from Donald Trump’s private Easter luncheon in which the US president made a series of inflammatory remarks, and repeated false claims about several public figures. These extraordinarily candid comments were likely never supposed to be heard by the public. However, the closed-door footage was downloaded by a journalist before it was removed and later circulated online.

Iranian Red Crescent footage shows damage in Iran, as rescuers search for survivors after US-Israeli strikes hit homes.

President Donald Trump revisited his grievances with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization over Greenland as he expressed fresh frustration with the security alliance’s stance on the Iran war.

The US Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for Steve Bannon, a former adviser to US President Donald Trump, to overturn his conviction in a case linked to the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Bannon, a leading figure on the far-right, served four months in prison in 2024 for defying a subpoena to testify before a congressional panel investigating the 2021 attack. But he appealed to the Supreme Court to have the conviction overturned, a legal challenge the Trump administration joined in...

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to find and jail the journalist who first reported that a U.S. troop was awaiting rescue after his plane was shot down in Iran last week, unless that journalist revealed their source. Speaking from the White House, Trump said a “leak” told an unidentified reporter that while one pilot had been rescued shortly after an F-15 fighter jet crashed in Iran on Friday, a second officer had not yet been found. Multiple news organizations had reported on the crash, and Trump on Monday vowed to find the leaker. “We’re going to go to the media company that released it and we’re going to say, ‘national security, give it up or go to jail,’” Trump said. He added that the person who shared the information is “a sick person.” Two crew members of the F-15E Strike Eagle had self-ejected from the cockpit on Friday after Iranian military forces struck their plane. Though the pilot was quickly rescued, the weapons systems officer was not immediately found, and a large-scale rescue mission began. When the officer was finally found, Trump said, he was “injured quite badly” and was “bleeding rather profusely” and had treated his own wounds before contacting American forces to transmit his location. His rescue involved 155 aircraft — including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers and 13 rescue aircraft, Trump added. Trump called both rescues “extraordinary” but added that “we’re working very hard to find th…

South Korea says Pyongyang is wary as it seeks to renew diplomatic dialogue with the US.

BancoEstado announced this Monday the elimination of the $300 fee for electronic transfers from CuentaRut users to other banks, a measure that will take effect starting April 16th. However, the state-owned bank clarified that the following fees will remain in place: withdrawals from ATMs of other banks ($300), balance inquiries at ATMs of other banks ($100), card replacement due to loss, theft, or robbery ($1,000), and duplicate statements at branches (0.05 UF + VAT). In addition, fees will continue to be charged for international withdrawals and purchases (1.90% of the amount of each transaction, with a minimum of US$0.5), and for international purchases made from Chile via the internet (1.90% of the amount of each transaction, with a minimum of US$0.5).

U.S. President Trump has announced that he will hold a press conference at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on June 6th, which will be 2:00 AM Japan time on June 7th. We plan to broadcast the press conference live.

The country's economic agenda seems to have entered a sort of waiting room. It's that feeling of alertness where time passes, but medium-term decisions are postponed while attention is focused on immediate urgencies. Today, the focus is dominated by the evolution of the conflict with Iran, its potential duration, and its eventual medium-term consequences, as well as the volatility of oil prices and its impact on inflation and the dynamism of the local economy. These phenomena, while unavoidable given our status as a small, open economy, are monopolizing the attention of public debate. The risk is evident: that the temporary shock of fuel prices could lead us to once again delay the structural reforms that the country needs to return to growth. After several years of dealing with emergencies that shook our economy, at the beginning of 2026, the roadmap seemed finally drawn with an unusual clarity. The focus was clear: it should be on "permitting" (that bureaucratic maze that keeps investment on hold), on finding a tax system that balanced revenue with competitiveness, and on how to finance it through a more efficient state. However, the recent increase in energy costs has forced a tactical shift, pushing these fundamental issues further down the list of legislative priorities; or at least...

The official euro exchange rate was lowered by 1.1881 rubles to 91.0034 rubles

As MWM notes, this scale of losses demonstrates the significant risks associated with operating aircraft over Iranian territory

The US Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for the Justice Department to drop a criminal case against Steve Bannon, a one-time chief ally of President Donald Trump, who had been convicted of defying a congressional subpoena issued during the investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed its investigation into Tesla’s “actually smart summon” feature after finding that incidents occurred infrequently and were not particularly severe. The agency opened an investigation into the feature, which allows Tesla users to summon their cars to a particular location without a driver, in January 2025 after…

Israeli strikes killed the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, as the Islamic republic on Monday defied threats from US President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran on Monday executed a 23-year-old man, Ali Fahim, who was convicted in connection with January's nationwide protests, marking the latest in a wave of politically charged hangings. Rights groups say Fahim and others faced torture, unfair trials and lack of access to legal counsel, as the country's judiciary accelerates killings amid Iran’s escalating conflict with Israel and the US.

Global leaders are struggling in their efforts to find a way to end the American-Israeli war on Iran, and they are spooked about what President Trump might do next.

The virtual standstill of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is not only impacting the global price of crude oil, but it is also affecting Iran's ability to import food and fertilizers.

The Iran war has resulted in the highest level of regional conflict seen since America’s 1991 Operation Desert Storm against Iraq, with more than a dozen countries targeted by Iranian drone or missile barrages. Intense missile defense operations by the US, Israel and the Gulf states offer valuable lessons for Indo-Pacific countries that could face […] The post Iran war giving US Pacific allies a missile defense wake-up call appeared first on Asia Times.

South Korea will send five Korean-flagged ships to the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port of Yanbu to help establish alternative oil supply routes to avoid the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a ruling MP said on Monday. Oil prices have surged amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, raising growth and inflation risks for South Korea, which relies on Middle Eastern crude for around 70 per cent of its imports. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz – a critical route for global crude oil and gas –...

Sales of Chinese electric vehicles and solar panels have surged since the start of the Iran war, companies say.

Residents of Khasab, a sleepy exclave that depends on fishing and tourism, are frustrated by the war in Iran and fearful of what’s next.

A doctor who posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a Hong Kong public hospital is no longer employed by the Hospital Authority, following an outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. The Kowloon West Cluster of the Hospital Authority on Monday confirmed the doctor’s departure but did not say whether he had resigned or been dismissed. “The cluster had previously conducted a serious investigation and a comprehensive review of the incident. It confirmed that the individual...

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, “platforms” dominated nearly every keynote. From AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm to Google, global tech leaders conveyed a unified message: AI is extending beyond

The yuan exchange rate was down by 8.45 kopecks at 11.416 rubles

Despite enemy strikes, "neither scientific progress nor the desire to serve peace and health globally will stop" in Iran, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated

North Korea appears to be distancing itself from long-time partner Iran and carefully managing its public messaging to preserve the possibility of a new relationship with the US after the Iran war, South Korean lawmakers have said, citing the spy agency. Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said North ‌Korea had not sent weapons or supplies so far to Iran since the conflict started on February 28, and did not issue public condolences upon the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali...

President Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, to be the next governor of California from a wide field of candidates competing to replace Gavin Newsom.

The Japanese government is arranging summit talks with Iran, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday, as tensions rise in the Middle East with the approach of US President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. "We are preparing for dialogues at the leadership level at an appropriate time," Takaichi told a parliamentary committee when asked by an opposition lawmaker about Japan's diplomatic efforts regarding the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. "Japan will make every effort...

The government will launch a political initiative this Monday, designed to simultaneously address three key areas: foreign policy, internal coordination of government operations, and the legislative agenda. Javier Milei will receive the President of Chile, José Antonio Kast, at the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace), followed by a meeting with all the ministers, along with Karina Milei. He will also closely monitor the preparations for Wednesday's session in the Chamber of Deputies, where the ruling party hopes to pass the glacier protection bill, which has already received preliminary approval from the Senate. The Casa Rosada views these actions as part of a unified strategy: to demonstrate initiative, streamline government operations, and project the ability to build political consensus at various levels of power. President Kast's visit represents the first element of this strategy. The Chilean president chose Argentina as the destination for his first international trip since taking office on March 11th, a decision rooted in political tradition, but also carrying contemporary significance. "As has been customary in the history of our country, the first trip is made to the sister Republic of Argentina," he stated before departing, recalling that Sebastián Piñera and Gabriel Boric also followed the same tradition. President Kast arrived in Buenos Aires last night, where he was received with honors, and will have a brief but focused agenda. The bilateral meeting with Milei, scheduled for…

Long concerned about geopolitical crises, China redoubled efforts to secure energy security when President Trump started raising the stakes in his first term.

Regarding the situation in Iran, Prime Minister Koichi Hagiuda stated at a session of the House of Councillors' Budget Committee that the government is coordinating to determine the appropriate timing for a meeting with Iranian leaders, and expressed his strong desire to make it happen.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has launched an academy to nurture the next generation of female medical scientists, aiming to bridge a sex gap in which women make up just one-third of researchers globally. The Women in Science and Medicine Academy (Wise) aims to attract 100 early-career female researchers from the city and overseas in five years, supporting them with mentorship, leadership training and global exposure. Professor Siew Ng, an associate dean of CUHK’s medical school and...

Repeat short-haul visits by Chinese travellers to South Korea are expected to rise after Seoul eased multiple-entry visa rules, but analysts say the immediate impact may be limited because of growing competition from Southeast Asia and higher airfares linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran. The South Korean embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese nationals who had previously visited South Korea would now be eligible for a five-year multiple-entry visa. Those holding residency status in 14 major...

Since the change of leadership on March 11th, Natalia González, the president of the Council for Transparency (CPLT), has met with President José Antonio Kast and the ministers Claudio Alvarado (Interior) and José García Ruminot (Secretariat General of the Presidency). The reason? To advocate for the swift discussion of improvements to the Transparency Law – colloquially known as "Transparency 2.0" – which are currently included in a bill that has been stalled in the Senate since 2018. González is pushing for the bill to be expedited, but also for improvements to be incorporated, as she argues that the current legislation has become outdated with the advent of new technologies, particularly in areas such as the transparency of algorithms used by government institutions. This is happening in a context where, she explains, the number of information requests from the public has been increasing, as well as the number of legal challenges filed with the CPLT when these requests are denied. What does she hope will happen with the new Transparency Law? The Transparency Law was quite revolutionary for its time. It imposed an obligation on the executive branch to publish certain information and respond to information requests from third parties. However, it has been 17 years since the law was enacted, and a lot has changed in the meantime, including technological advancements and the enactment of a Digital Transformation Law. The state is now using new technologies and public algorithms to make decisions. Furthermore, there have been various cases of corruption, which have highlighted…

A US clampdown on visas for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students last May led to year-on-year declines of 42 per cent and 35 per cent in the number of permits granted, but a consultant has said the impact has been short-lived. One PhD student from the mainland said US President Donald Trump’s actions had led to him giving up an offer to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enrol at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) last year after he found America’s once-vibrant...

Andrew Tilton, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Goldman Sachs, speaks to the South China Morning Post about the long-term future of China’s economy after the “two sessions” in Beijing and ahead of an expected Xi-Trump summit – all during an oil crisis sparked by the US-Israel war against Iran. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. What impact will the oil shock arising from the Iran war have on the growth of Asian economies this year? Asia is greatly affected by the war...

French and Japanese vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz last weekend des...

The operation to extract him from the ground in hostile territory was hugely complex and involved multiple US government agencies.

Iran did not deny that the US operation was successful. However, it responded with a barrage of memes and taunts, and referenced an American failure from 46 years prior.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he believes he can get a deal with Iran by Monday and added that he is considering ‘blowing everything up.'

In a letter to the United Nations, Iran foreign minister Aragchi has warned of “severe radioactive contamination risk” resulting from the strikes on the plant.

Shares of Dow, LyondellBasell and others have gotten a significant boost as war blocks competitors’ supply route.

President Donald Trump says he will have a news conference “with the Military” at the Oval Office at 1 p.m. on Monday.

Just days before the preliminary report on the comprehensive review of the state is submitted to the government, the new administration of José Antonio Kast has decided to abandon plans for an external international audit that was included in the design of the new government. During the campaign, Kast's team pledged to conduct a comprehensive and independent audit of the state from the first day of government. The plan, announced last April, involved inviting the Comptroller General of the Republic and top-tier international auditing firms to review each ministry, sub-secretariat, agency, and public company. The stated goal was to identify overpricing, networks of political operators, and improper contracts. Several of the country's leading international auditing firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG) were closely monitoring the situation, as they were expecting an international tender to participate in the later stages of the process, which had already begun with the government's internal auditors. However, sources within the "Big Four" acknowledged their discomfort with participating in the process, given the potential political implications for their corporate reputation. The General Sub-Secretariat of the Presidency confirmed to La Tercera the decision to abandon the planned external international audit, citing…

He remained connected to the financial industry, but only a couple of weeks ago, he officially returned to banking after a decade without holding an executive position in the sector. Mario Farren became the president of BancoEstado three weeks ago, after being nominated by the current government of José Antonio Kast. "It has been an honor, a responsibility, and a pleasure, because I have found an institution that functions well, with people who are motivated and who care about it. So, honestly, I am very enthusiastic, and I believe we can achieve many things," he commented. Farren spent 27 years at Citi. His last position there was as president and general manager of Citibank Peru, where he worked from 2016 until he decided to resign to return to Chile in 2018, when he took on the role of Superintendent of Banks (Sbif). Most recently, he worked on the economic team of Kast's presidential campaign, which was led by the current Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz. This week, as head of BancoEstado, he announced measures to mitigate the economic impact caused by the increase in fuel prices, offering loans with up to six months of grace for small and medium-sized enterprises and transportation companies, along with preferential financing to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the country. In addition, in the coming days, the payment of the subsidy for taxis and buses will begin, through the "Combustible Wallet" program announced by the government. But that's not all...

On Monday, March 16th, the leaders of the ruling party met for a working lunch. This was the first meeting hosted by the Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, with members of parliament to align positions. The simple menu – meat and salad – was accompanied by a stark assessment of the rising fuel prices, a consequence of the war in Iran, along with a brief mention of the reconstruction bill that President José Antonio Kast had announced two days earlier in Lirquén. This key piece of legislation from President Kast – referred to by some as an "omnibus bill," in the style of Argentine President Javier Milei, and in which Quiroz has played a leading role – was, until that point, in the draft stage, and everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. In fact, the plan was to introduce it to Congress on April 1st. However, the shock announcement on Monday, March 23rd, regarding the significant increase in fuel prices – 370 pesos per liter for 93 octane gasoline and 580 pesos for diesel, with no gradual implementation – communicated by Quiroz himself through various television channels, completely changed the situation. This not only caused a sharp decline in presidential approval ratings – with some polls showing drops of up to 17 points – but also reignited street protests and heightened tensions within the opposition, who were already unhappy with a series of measures that had reversed the policies of former President Gabriel Boric. The most challenging aspect for the presidential palace was that…

A proposed cap on the ground rents paid by leasehold homeowners in England and Wales is seen as favouring foreign property investors, including those from Hong Kong and mainland China, but another measure tightening rules in setting rents is dampening demand ahead of its implementation, according to analysts. An estimated 203,000 homes in England and Wales are registered to owners with an overseas address. Hongkongers hold 14 per cent, making them the largest group of foreign investors in the...

American and Israeli strike targets have expanded to include bridges, steel plants and structures linked to the health sector, all of which are essential for the population.