Direct peace talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Islamabad, with US Vice-President J.D. Vance leading the American delegation. Iran's delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early Saturday. These are the first direct negotiations since the conflict began over five weeks ago, though deep mistrust continues to overshadow discussions.
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded Friday as four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California after nearly 10 days in space. The mission marked humanity's first crewed voyage to the moon's vicinity in over 50 years, with astronauts reaching unprecedented distances into space. The gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, named Integrity, parachuted safely into the sea shortly after 5pm.
A three-judge panel at the US Court of International Trade in New York on Friday heard arguments challenging the legality of tariffs President Trump imposed in February, following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated most of his broader tariff measures. The judges questioned both sides but offered limited indication of their ruling direction on the Section 122 tariffs. The court has previously rejected business challenges against Section 301 tariffs.
As China enters its 15th five-year plan, policymakers confront structural constraints that traditional infrastructure spending and property stimulus cannot resolve. The demographic dividend that fueled four decades of expansion is diminishing, and industrial competition has intensified. The focus shifts from growth speed to productivity. Artificial intelligence, particularly AI agent systems, offers potential solutions for achieving sustainable economic advancement through large-scale deployment.
US President Donald Trump pressed Iran to meet American demands on Friday as Vice-President J.D. Vance travelled to Pakistan to lead critical negotiations aimed at ending the month-long Middle East conflict. Talks between the US and Iran are scheduled to begin Saturday morning in Islamabad during an agreed two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed both countries' leaders have agreed to participate in the negotiations.
Britain's government has suspended its agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following criticism from US President Donald Trump. The islands host the US-British Diego Garcia military base. British media reported that planned legislation supporting the deal will not be included in the government's next parliamentary agenda. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office stated London would seek to persuade Washington to back the agreement.
The World Bank and International Monetary Fund will hold their annual meetings in Washington beginning April 13, bringing together nearly 200 member countries. The week-long gatherings will discuss global economic issues, including the impact of geopolitical tensions on the world economy. These Bretton Woods institutions will explore how to address current challenges facing the global financial system.
China's Ministry of State Security has cautioned graduating students to be vigilant against foreign intelligence recruitment disguised as high-paying remote work opportunities. The agency warned that offers such as earning 800 yuan (US$117) daily for data processing or research projects may be traps designed to recruit students to illegally collect sensitive information for foreign intelligence agencies. The warning comes as China faces a record graduation season.
The United Arab Emirates withdrew $3.5 billion from Pakistan's central bank, representing approximately 21 percent of the country's foreign exchange reserves. The withdrawal occurred days after Pakistan helped broker a ceasefire in the Iran conflict. Pakistan's foreign ministry characterized the transaction as routine financial activity, though it sparked criticism on Emirati social media platforms directed at Islamabad.
Direct peace talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Islamabad, with US Vice-President J.D. Vance leading the American delegation. Iran's delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early Saturday. These are the first direct negotiations since the conflict began over five weeks ago, though deep mistrust continues to overshadow discussions.
China has created a third new county in Xinjiang, located in the southwestern region near the Karakoram Range along vital transport corridors connecting to South and Central Asia. The new county sits strategically near Pakistan and Afghanistan borders. Analysts view this move as reflecting Beijing's emphasis on governance and security in its western frontier regions.
San Francisco police arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly throwing an incendiary device at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's North Beach residence at 4:12am Friday and making threats outside the company's headquarters. The suspect fled on foot after the attack and was detained approximately one hour later following a call reporting threatening behavior.
A three-judge panel at the US Court of International Trade in New York on Friday heard arguments challenging the legality of tariffs President Trump imposed in February, following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated most of his broader tariff measures. The judges questioned both sides but offered limited indication of their ruling direction on the Section 122 tariffs. The court has previously rejected business challenges against Section 301 tariffs.
China and Russia have expressed support for Cuba's government as the country faces mounting pressure from the United States. Russia's deputy foreign minister concluded a visit to Havana, while China signaled its willingness to increase diplomatic backing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China is willing to work with the international community to firmly support Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, and opposing external interference.
US President Donald Trump pressed Iran to meet American demands on Friday as Vice-President J.D. Vance travelled to Pakistan to lead critical negotiations aimed at ending the month-long Middle East conflict. Talks between the US and Iran are scheduled to begin Saturday morning in Islamabad during an agreed two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed both countries' leaders have agreed to participate in the negotiations.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways will cancel approximately 2 percent of its flight frequencies between May 16 and June 30 due to surging jet fuel prices driven by Middle East tensions. The cuts primarily affect regional routes, with some reductions on services to Australia, South Asia, and South Africa. The airline's budget subsidiary HK Express is implementing similar measures to manage rising fuel costs.
Following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, Asian digital entrepreneurs and investors from India, China, and Southeast Asia are reconsidering Dubai's viability as a global expansion hub. Beyond physical security concerns, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have raised questions about liquidity, credit availability, and market confidence, affecting Dubai's position as a financial and technology center.
A UN report concludes that the gap between rich and poor nations continues to widen despite commitments made by many countries last year to reform major global financial institutions. The report assesses the blueprint adopted in Seville, Spain in June to narrow the gap and achieve UN development goals by 2030, released ahead of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.
Rising fuel and fertilizer prices stemming from Middle East tensions are creating significant challenges for Southeast Asia's rice-growing regions. Tens of millions of smallholder farmers across Thailand and other countries struggle to afford diesel for tractors and irrigation systems, as well as essential crop nutrients. Some farmers are choosing to skip planting or leave harvested rice unharvested due to escalating production costs, raising concerns about regional food security.
Since 2018, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing introduced reforms allowing pre-revenue biotech firms and companies with weighted voting rights to list. Global law firm Clifford Chance has assisted over a dozen innovative companies in raising funds under the new regime. However, technology companies still find current listing requirements cumbersome, prompting Hong Kong to pursue further reforms to enhance international competitiveness.
China's real estate market continues to struggle as many homebuyers since the late 2010s face significant losses on their properties. While some cities like Chongqing saw modest sales increases during the Spring Festival period, buyer offers remain below expectations, making transactions difficult. Analysts hold divergent views on when the property market will recover, with challenges persisting in the near term.
Japan sources over 95 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, with most shipments transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in Japan's energy security. While a two-week ceasefire agreement reached this week will reopen the strait to tanker traffic, analysts note that Japan, as an archipelago nation without cross-border pipelines, faces structural challenges in diversifying its energy sources.
As China enters its 15th five-year plan, policymakers confront structural constraints that traditional infrastructure spending and property stimulus cannot resolve. The demographic dividend that fueled four decades of expansion is diminishing, and industrial competition has intensified. The focus shifts from growth speed to productivity. Artificial intelligence, particularly AI agent systems, offers potential solutions for achieving sustainable economic advancement through large-scale deployment.
US Customs and Border Protection announced that importers can begin filing tariff refund requests starting April 20. In the first phase, the CAPE system will process straightforward and recent import entries, with more complex refund scenarios to be addressed later. This move complies with the US Supreme Court's February ruling that invalidated certain duties.
A dairy farmer in upstate New York stopped planting corn in 2022 when fertiliser prices surged due to input cost pressures. Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted exports of nitrogen, urea and other key fertiliser nutrients from Russia and Belarus, major global suppliers. As the Ukraine conflict continues into its fourth year, farmers are shifting to soybean cultivation, deepening economic dependence on China.
Scientists in Xinjiang have successfully created the world's first crystal capable of producing ultraviolet light needed for thorium nuclear clocks. The fluorinated borate compound can push laser light to 145.2 nanometres wavelength, meeting key requirements for ultra-precise portable clocks. These clocks could guide submarines and deep-space probes without GPS. The research was published in Advanced Materials journal.
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded Friday as four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California after nearly 10 days in space. The mission marked humanity's first crewed voyage to the moon's vicinity in over 50 years, with astronauts reaching unprecedented distances into space. The gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, named Integrity, parachuted safely into the sea shortly after 5pm.
Film producer Li Neng-qian, husband of actress Liu Hsiang-chun, is accused of being recruited by Chinese military intelligence operatives to steal military secrets and collect personal data of over 3,000 military personnel. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Li and four others under the National Intelligence Work Act, seeking a sentence of at least 12 years. The court ordered Li to remain in custody.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Zhang Mingda, speaker of Chiayi County Council, allegedly received luxury gifts worth over 130,000 NT dollars and subsequently pressured the county health bureau to reduce a company's fine from over 6 million NT dollars to approximately 900,000 NT dollars. Prosecutors have charged Zhang with bribery and abuse of authority based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
US Vice President Harris will lead a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan on the 11th for US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. Harris expressed confidence that the talks will yield positive results while warning Tehran against attempting to deceive the United States. Analysts suggest the outcome of these negotiations could shape the global order for decades to come.
According to Bloomberg, the United States has requested European NATO allies submit concrete military plans to ensure Hormuz Strait shipping security within days, with multiple diplomats characterizing the demand as an ultimatum. The request was made during talks at the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, with President Trump discussing the matter with NATO Secretary General Rutte on the 8th. The demand reflects tensions stemming from US-Iran and Israel conflicts, further straining relations between the US and its NATO allies.
As US-Iran negotiations prepare to commence in Islamabad, both sides maintain hardline positions. Iran's delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi, has arrived and warned of strong retaliation if agreements collapse. The US insists on preventing Iran's nuclear weapons acquisition as a core red line while increasing military presence in the Middle East, creating heightened tensions before talks begin.
US and Iranian delegations have arrived in Pakistan for a two-week ceasefire negotiation, with Trump demanding progress within 24 hours. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel will hold talks in Washington next week, though Israel refuses to engage with Hezbollah and continues military operations. The Middle East situation faces critical challenges amid these two key negotiations.
US President Trump posted on social media claiming Iran's navy, air force, and air defense systems have been destroyed, with missile and drone factories demolished. He stated the US is clearing the Hormuz Strait. The post regarding Iran's military infrastructure has drawn international attention.
According to International Maritime Organization data, approximately 2000 vessels are stranded in Persian Gulf waters carrying over 20000 seafarers. Most ships have been stuck for more than one month, with fewer than 200 successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Crews face severe conditions including flammable cargo, deteriorating goods, and inability to evacuate injured or deceased crew members, leading to rising psychological health risks and incidents of crew refusal to work.
Lebanon and Israel have agreed to hold direct negotiations in Washington scheduled for next week. This marks the first direct talks between the two countries in over four decades. The talks represent a significant diplomatic development in Middle Eastern relations, with the United States hosting the negotiations.
US consumer prices hit their highest level in two years during March, with gasoline prices posting a record monthly increase. Geopolitical tensions have driven energy costs significantly higher, causing consumer sentiment to plummet to historic lows as households express growing concerns about economic prospects.
Iran's implementation of a "toll booth" system in the Strait of Hormuz is challenging the U.S.-led international maritime system that has facilitated global trade prosperity for decades. This development threatens to disrupt established shipping routes and potentially increase costs for global commerce and consumers worldwide.
BBC Middle East Correspondent Hugo Bachega reports on how Beirut residents are dealing with the aftermath of this week's airstrikes. The local community faces significant challenges as they address the destruction and casualties caused by the attacks, working toward recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Direct peace talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Islamabad, with US Vice-President J.D. Vance leading the American delegation. Iran's delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early Saturday. These are the first direct negotiations since the conflict began over five weeks ago, though deep mistrust continues to overshadow discussions.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that conflict-related energy price increases, particularly gasoline surging 21.2%, pushed March's Consumer Price Index up 0.9% month-over-month, marking a 4-year high. The annual CPI growth rate reached 3.3%, reflecting persistent inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy.
Lebanon's national security agency reported that Israel conducted an airstrike on the southern city of Nabatiyeh, resulting in 13 security force deaths. The strike is part of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with the conflict causing mounting casualties in the region.