The United States and Iran will hold their first direct negotiations in six weeks on Saturday in Islamabad. The US delegation will be led by Vice-President J.D. Vance, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran's team will be headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss ceasefire arrangements.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held his first meeting in nearly a decade with Taiwan's Kuomintang party leader. Xi expressed being "fully confident" about closer ties between both sides of the strait, stating that convergence between compatriots is a historical certainty. The KMT leader called for a "systemic solution" to prevent war. The meeting represents a significant political interaction across the Taiwan Strait.
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang party, held a press conference in Beijing on Friday following a historic meeting with Communist Party chief Xi Jinping. This marks the first leadership meeting between the KMT and the Communist Party in nine years, occurring amid heightened cross-strait military tensions. Cheng emphasized the importance of peace and highlighted the choice between war and peace in her remarks to media.
Communist Party chief Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing on Friday. This marks the first meeting between a sitting KMT chairperson and Communist Party leadership since November 2016, when then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu visited mainland China. Cheng described her six-day trip, which began in Shanghai on Tuesday, as a journey of peace.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance will travel to Islamabad for the first round of talks with Iran on Saturday to address the Middle East conflict. The US Secret Service has already arrived in Pakistan to arrange security for the visit, marking the most significant high-level US-Iran face-to-face contact since 1979. The American delegation is expected to arrive Friday local time.
Iran's threat to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has raised international concerns about using a critical maritime chokepoint as political leverage. Nearly one-fifth of global oil passes through the waterway. Asia, heavily dependent on Middle East energy supplies, faces significant exposure to potential disruptions. Analysts warn the move could transform geopolitical tensions into economic threats affecting global energy security.
The United States and Iran will hold their first direct negotiations in six weeks on Saturday in Islamabad. The US delegation will be led by Vice-President J.D. Vance, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran's team will be headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss ceasefire arrangements.
Military operations involving the United States and Israel have escalated tensions in the Middle East concerning Iran. The coordinated actions reflect US-Israel alignment on regional security concerns and Iran's nuclear program. International observers are monitoring the situation closely as developments continue to unfold. Specific details regarding the scope and timeline of operations remain under clarification.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held his first meeting in nearly a decade with Taiwan's Kuomintang party leader. Xi expressed being "fully confident" about closer ties between both sides of the strait, stating that convergence between compatriots is a historical certainty. The KMT leader called for a "systemic solution" to prevent war. The meeting represents a significant political interaction across the Taiwan Strait.
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang party, held a press conference in Beijing on Friday following a historic meeting with Communist Party chief Xi Jinping. This marks the first leadership meeting between the KMT and the Communist Party in nine years, occurring amid heightened cross-strait military tensions. Cheng emphasized the importance of peace and highlighted the choice between war and peace in her remarks to media.
Communist Party chief Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing on Friday. This marks the first meeting between a sitting KMT chairperson and Communist Party leadership since November 2016, when then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu visited mainland China. Cheng described her six-day trip, which began in Shanghai on Tuesday, as a journey of peace.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance will travel to Islamabad for the first round of talks with Iran on Saturday to address the Middle East conflict. The US Secret Service has already arrived in Pakistan to arrange security for the visit, marking the most significant high-level US-Iran face-to-face contact since 1979. The American delegation is expected to arrive Friday local time.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in May, presenting contrasting visions for global order. Xi advocates a "community with a shared future," while Trump pursues competitive and divisive policies. Trump postponed an April summit to address the Iran conflict, though swift resolution before their meeting appears unlikely. The two leaders represent fundamentally different approaches to international relations.
A Chinese observer suggests that US-Israel military actions against Iran could push NATO toward becoming a nominal alliance, though disbandment remains unlikely in the near term. Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for free-riding on US security protection and demanded increased military and financial contributions. Recent weeks have seen intensified criticism from the Trump administration, accusing NATO of failing to meet security challenges effectively.
Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is currently in the United States meeting with Trump administration officials to discuss a peace deal for Ukraine and US-Russia economic cooperation. The visit comes ahead of a US decision on whether to extend sanctions relief on Russian oil, set to expire on April 11, which may also be on the agenda.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority has awarded stablecoin issuer licences to HSBC and a consortium led by Standard Chartered, marking a significant milestone in the city's digital asset hub development. Stablecoins, the most-traded cash substitute in cryptocurrency, will bridge traditional and digital finance. Both recipients bring extensive experience in traditional financial services and risk management, aligning with stablecoin objectives.
China's healthcare sector is attracting offshore capital to Hong Kong-listed stocks as investors seek safe havens during global market uncertainty. The Hang Seng Healthcare Index, which tracks innovative pharmaceutical companies including Akeso and Innovent Biologics, has surged approximately 13 percent since March 23, outpacing the Hang Seng Index's 6 percent gain over the same period. The Middle East conflict has prompted investors to view healthcare stocks as defensive assets.
Billionaire Prajogo Pangestu has begun divesting small stakes in his listed companies to comply with tightening ownership rules. He sold a 0.56 percent stake in coal and mining holding Petrindo Jaya Kreasi to increase the company's free float. His affiliated Green Era Energy also reduced its stake in Barito Renewables Energy this week. Regulators are accelerating implementation of these stricter requirements.
The Asian Development Bank cautions that the Middle East conflict will significantly impact Asian economies, with regional GDP growth expected to moderate to 5.1 percent this year from 5.4 percent in 2025, even if oil prices stabilize. The conflict's effects ripple across multiple industries including manufacturing and tourism.
Three solid-state battery developers from China and the US are advancing toward initial public offerings as geopolitical tensions and elevated oil prices increase demand for energy-efficient technologies. Qingtao (Kunshan) Energy Development Group filed for Hong Kong listing on April 8, while Beijing WeLion New Energy undergoes pre-listing tutoring for Shenzhen Stock Exchange application, and US-based Factorial also prepares for public markets.
Japan is investing approximately 1 trillion yen ($6.3 billion) to revitalize its shipbuilding sector and reclaim control of this strategic industry. However, analysts caution that funding alone cannot restore Japan's former prominence, as the sector is now dominated by China and Japan faces challenges including higher costs, labor shortages, and years of lost production capacity.
Brazilian industry officials report the country will deplete its annual beef export quota to China by early May. Benchmark finished cattle prices reached R$365 (US$71.57) per arroba on Wednesday, up 12.5 percent over the past 12 months, marking a nominal record. China's import restrictions are forcing South American exporters to seek alternative markets for their beef products.
US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 20 percent tariff on all cars imported from the European Union unless the trade bloc promptly removes import duties and trade barriers on US goods. Trump cited long-standing EU tariffs and barriers against American companies and workers, further escalating global trade tensions.
Tencent's WeChat updated its content governance policies Thursday, prohibiting official and service accounts from using AI, scripts, APIs, and other automated methods to replace human involvement in content creation and distribution. The move addresses the growing surge of AI technologies that can substitute human creators, aiming to maintain content quality and platform integrity.
Alibaba Group's HappyHorse 1.0 video generation model has surpassed ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 to become the world's highest-ranked AI video tool according to benchmark evaluation. Developed by Alibaba's Innovation Business Unit under the newly formed Alibaba Token Hub, the model remains in internal beta testing, highlighting the intensifying competition for AI talent among Chinese tech companies.
Alibaba Cloud's Qwen model series captured more than 50 percent of global open-source AI model downloads as of March, according to a new report. Qwen achieved nearly 1 billion cumulative downloads, significantly surpassing competitors like Meta's Llama and DeepSeek. The finding highlights the dominance of Chinese models in the global open-source AI landscape, though US companies including OpenAI and Nvidia are also making early gains in the market.
Thai Anti-Money Laundering Office has seized 8.3 billion baht ($260 million) in assets linked to a money-laundering network connected to transnational cyber scam operations in Cambodia. The confiscated assets include cash, vehicles, bank deposits, and securities. The total value of assets seized in the ongoing investigation has exceeded 20 billion baht.
Taiwan's largest fake withdrawal fraud ring, Meile Company, defrauded victims through over 2,000 fake investment platforms, with illegal proceeds totaling 15.8 billion NT dollars. Ringleader Ou Yu-tong received a 24-year sentence in first trial, 8 core members received sentences exceeding 20 years, and 51 other suspects received sentences of 10 years or more. Prosecutors identified the mastermind as Wang Jing-qi, with searches conducted at 6 locations including his residence and company.
Just one day after the United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, Israel conducted its largest-scale airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon since the Iran conflict began on August 8th, resulting in at least 254 deaths and 1,165 injuries. The Israeli military subsequently ordered evacuations in southern Beirut suburbs and announced plans for new military operations. These actions prompted warnings from Iran and others that Israel violated the ceasefire agreement, pushing negotiations toward collapse.
The US-Iran ceasefire agreement broke down less than 12 hours after being reached. Iran accused Israel of launching large-scale attacks on Lebanon, violating the ceasefire terms, and announced it would close the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump stated that US military forces would remain deployed in and around Iran until Iran fully complies with the agreement.
Saudi Arabia's official media reported that recent attacks on energy facilities, pipelines, and refineries have reduced the country's daily oil production by approximately 600,000 barrels, killing one civilian. The reduction represents less than one-tenth of Saudi Arabia's normal crude oil exports but carries significant impact amid geopolitical tensions. State-owned Saudi Aramco switched to alternative pipelines toward the Red Sea for exports, though these pipelines were also attacked this week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel is seeking direct negotiations with Lebanon, following the most intense bombing campaign since the war began, which killed over 300 people. The escalation threatens Trump's brokered six-week Iran ceasefire agreement announced Tuesday. Despite the ceasefire taking effect, tensions remain high as Iran maintains a near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway handling approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Iranian media reported that former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi was injured during an airstrike by the United States and Israel on April 1st and subsequently died from his injuries. Kharazi previously served as Iran's Foreign Minister and played a significant role in Iranian diplomatic affairs.
Saudi Arabia's critical oil pipeline to the Red Sea was attacked recently, reducing daily oil shipments by 700,000 barrels. The pipeline is a vital energy transport route for the kingdom, and the output decline will impact global oil supplies. The Strait of Hormuz simultaneously faces control risks, intensifying uncertainty in global energy markets.
KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wen met with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping on April 10 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This marks the first meeting between KMT and CCP leaders in a decade, following Hung Hsiu-chu's meeting with Xi in 2016. Notably, the same venue hosted the Ma-Xi meeting two years prior, symbolizing continuity and succession in cross-strait relations.
On the same day the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered massive airstrikes on Lebanon, killing at least 254 people and injuring 1,165. Iran quickly condemned Israel for violating ceasefire terms and restricted oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening the newly established ceasefire and casting doubt on upcoming US-Iran negotiations.
Iran's control of the Hormuz Strait has intensified global oil market concerns. North Sea Brent Forties crude spot prices approached $147 per barrel on Thursday, surpassing pre-2008 financial crisis peaks. The Forties crude, considered the world's most important physical oil price indicator, shows a premium of nearly $50 compared to Brent futures, reflecting severe physical supply shortages.
Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed over 300 people in a single day, threatening a US-Iran brokered two-week ceasefire agreement. Under US mediation, Israel and Lebanon will hold direct negotiations in Washington next week. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Mujtaba reaffirmed that Iran will not relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz, as US-Iran talks are scheduled in Pakistan.
Taiwan's Ministry of Finance announced March exports reached 80.18 billion US dollars, setting an all-time monthly record with 61% month-on-month growth and 61.8% year-on-year growth, marking the third-largest monthly increase on record. First-quarter exports totaled 195.74 billion dollars, up 51.1% year-on-year. Exports to the United States accounted for 33.5% of total exports, the highest share in 36 years. Exports have maintained positive growth for 29 consecutive months.
Six US agencies including FBI, CISA, and NSA jointly warned that Iranian hacker group CyberAv3ngers is attacking American critical infrastructure. The group targets programmable logic controllers (PLCs) exposed on the internet, including devices from Rockwell and Allen-Bradley manufacturers, threatening energy, environmental protection, and other critical sectors.
Saudi Arabia reported that Iranian attacks caused the loss of over 500,000 barrels per day of crude oil production capacity. A critical east-west pipeline's pumping station was also damaged, reducing daily throughput by 700,000 barrels. Missile and drone strikes have damaged Saudi refineries, oil fields, and petrochemical facilities. The capacity reduction represents nearly one-tenth of Saudi Arabia's pre-conflict crude exports, with facility recovery time becoming a key market concern.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.9% month-over-month in March, the largest gain since June 2022. The annual inflation rate rose to 3.3%, up from 2.4% in February and marking the highest level in 2024. The data reflects the impact of rising energy prices driven by geopolitical tensions in Iran. Markets showed relatively muted reactions, with S&P 500 futures maintaining gains and the US dollar weakening.
International animal rights organizations and a veterinary association have called for a public boycott of HKTVmall after its parent company revealed life science experiments testing detached animal heads and limbs. The groups staged a one-hour protest Friday outside the HKTVmall building in Tseung Kwan O, demanding the company disclose more details and cease animal testing.