US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States is studying a possible reduction of troops stationed in Germany, with a decision expected in the near term. The move reflects tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Iran policy. The US maintained over 35,000 troops in Germany as of 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines to restrict the use of race in drawing electoral districts. The conservative-dominated court struck down Louisiana's congressional map that created a second majority-black district, finding it constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander despite compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The decision could reshape congressional maps nationwide and affect Republican prospects in midterm elections.
Authorities filed court documents Wednesday revealing that Cole Allen, charged with attempting to storm the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and kill President Trump, took a selfie in his Washington Hilton hotel room minutes before the incident. The photo showed Allen wearing black pants, a black shirt, and a red tie, equipped with an ammunition bag, shoulder gun holster, and sheathed knife.
The Pentagon's chief financial officer testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the two-month war with Iran has cost approximately US$25 billion, with the majority spent on ammunition. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a record US$1.5 trillion military budget, which faces opposition from Democrats.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday to "get smart soon" and accept Washington's demands for strict nuclear programme controls. The US naval blockade is intensifying pressure on Iran's economy. According to officials, Trump told oil executives the blockade could extend for months, following reports he rejected Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
China submitted a strongly worded position paper to the United Nations on Thursday, warning that Japan would soon be able to produce nuclear weapons. Beijing called on the UN to make Japan's potential nuclear arms pursuit an important agenda item at an ongoing convention at UN headquarters in New York. As a permanent UN Security Council member, China will assume the monthly rotating presidency.
China's top anti-graft watchdog announced that Yi Huiman, former chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, will stand trial for allegedly taking bribes and abusing his position. He is accused of using his official authority to benefit others in job promotions, listing approvals, and loan acquisitions while illegally accepting substantial bribes.
US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States is studying a possible reduction of troops stationed in Germany, with a decision expected in the near term. The move reflects tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Iran policy. The US maintained over 35,000 troops in Germany as of 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service.
US congressional lawmakers designated China as America's most consequential threat and competitor in space, leveraging capabilities as diplomatic tools. Both nations are engaged in a high-stakes space race, with China targeting 2030 for its first crewed lunar landing while the US pursues its Artemis programme objectives.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced he will stay on the Fed's board for an undetermined period after his term as chair concludes next month. Powell cited unprecedented legal attacks by the Trump administration against the central bank, expressing concern that these attacks are damaging the institution and jeopardizing matters important to the public. The Fed simultaneously maintained its benchmark interest rate steady.
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Trump described the conversation as 'very good' and stated the US would develop a solution to the Iran situation 'relatively quickly.' The US continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Trump made these remarks during a meeting with Artemis II mission astronauts at the White House.
The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines to restrict the use of race in drawing electoral districts. The conservative-dominated court struck down Louisiana's congressional map that created a second majority-black district, finding it constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander despite compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The decision could reshape congressional maps nationwide and affect Republican prospects in midterm elections.
Authorities filed court documents Wednesday revealing that Cole Allen, charged with attempting to storm the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and kill President Trump, took a selfie in his Washington Hilton hotel room minutes before the incident. The photo showed Allen wearing black pants, a black shirt, and a red tie, equipped with an ammunition bag, shoulder gun holster, and sheathed knife.
The Pentagon's chief financial officer testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the two-month war with Iran has cost approximately US$25 billion, with the majority spent on ammunition. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a record US$1.5 trillion military budget, which faces opposition from Democrats.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday to "get smart soon" and accept Washington's demands for strict nuclear programme controls. The US naval blockade is intensifying pressure on Iran's economy. According to officials, Trump told oil executives the blockade could extend for months, following reports he rejected Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Commerce Department reported that gross domestic product grew at 2 percent in the January-March quarter, rebounding from a weak 0.5 percent expansion in late 2025 following the federal government shutdown. Government spending and investment grew 9.3 percent. However, the escalating Iran conflict presents uncertainty for the economic outlook ahead.
A report from Rhodium Group, an American research firm tracking China's cross-border investment, indicates that Chinese foreign direct investment in the United States is unlikely to recover meaningfully even if President Xi Jinping and President Trump reach a bilateral deal during their Beijing meeting next month. Chinese FDI in the US has fallen significantly from its 2016 peak and remained at low levels in recent years.
Pakistan's attempt to mediate between the US and Iran has positioned Islamabad at the centre of Middle East conflict resolution efforts, but without lasting peace in sight, its economy faces mounting pressure. Soaring oil prices and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have roiled global energy markets, with analysts noting Pakistan is especially vulnerable due to thin foreign exchange reserves and high import dependence, threatening its IMF-backed recovery programme.
Global oil prices jumped to a four-year high exceeding US$126 per barrel on Thursday, driven by concerns that escalating US-Iran conflict could disrupt Middle East oil supplies and impact global economic growth. Reports indicate US President Trump was scheduled to receive briefings on military strike plans against Iran, aimed at pushing the country back to negotiations.
US President Donald Trump suggested a potential naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could last for months, triggering a significant surge in global oil prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped 7.3 percent to surpass $126 per barrel, reaching a four-year high. Trump met with oil executives on Tuesday to discuss extending the blockade, creating challenges for global stock markets.
Ant International, the overseas division of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, announced at its MoMents 2026 forum in Kuala Lumpur that it has connected over 150 million merchants with 2 billion consumer accounts worldwide. The company is positioning its payments network as core infrastructure for the emerging AI commerce economy, leveraging its scale amid rising adoption of artificial intelligence agents.
China's three most profitable listed automakers—Geely, Chery, and BYD—all reported double-digit net profit declines in the first quarter. Geely's net profit fell 27% year-on-year to 4.17 billion yuan (US$610 million). The profit squeeze reflects reduced government purchase incentives, intensifying domestic competition and margin pressure across the sector.
Brics nations are evaluating a digital payments framework enabling cross-border transactions settled in local currencies to mitigate impacts of Western sanctions, tariffs, and US dollar volatility. India's central bank proposal aims to reduce reliance on Western-controlled payment channels while maintaining stability in the dollar-dominated global financial system.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority held its base interest rate steady at 4 percent, aligning with the US Federal Reserve's decision to keep rates between 3.5 and 3.75 percent. Analysts noted that inflationary concerns stemming from US-Israel tensions with Iran have reduced the likelihood of rate cuts in Hong Kong this year, as the central bank follows the Fed's monetary policy stance.
The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday its withdrawal from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the OPEC+ alliance, effective Friday. The UAE joined OPEC in 1971, with Abu Dhabi joining in 1967. Chinese experts warn the decision reflects widening divisions within the Gulf Cooperation Council and could trigger more serious consequences for regional stability and oil market dynamics.
Roblox announced that children under 16 in Indonesia must undergo facial scans to verify their age and comply with new government restrictions on minors' use of social media and digital platforms. Vice-president Nicky Jackson Colaco stated in a Jakarta press conference that these measures represent among the strictest age verification requirements the company has implemented globally.
China's Civil Aviation Administration has signed new partnership agreements with aviation regulators in Hong Kong and Macau to accelerate type certification for the C929 widebody airliner. The C929 is a domestically developed aircraft designed to compete with mainstream models from Boeing and Airbus. This collaboration builds on the existing cooperation framework established for the C919 narrowbody aircraft.
South Korea's two memory chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are warning of a prolonged and severe global supply crunch. During Samsung's first-quarter earnings call, the company reported its order fulfilment rate had plunged to a record low. Customers concerned about shortages are pre-booking memory capacity for 2027. Both companies have increased investments in their China wafer fabs to meet surging artificial intelligence demand.
Song Yuhang, a young scientist who led AI chip research in Britain, has returned to China this year to join Nanjing University as an associate professor at its School of Artificial Intelligence. He obtained his PhD from Oxford University in 2022 and is a recipient of the JP Morgan AI Research Award. His published AI papers have been widely cited.
The emergence of autonomous AI tools like OpenClaw, which can execute tasks independently without human intervention, has sparked legal debate about whether such AI agents should be granted legal personhood. While supporters highlight significant productivity gains, concerning incidents have also emerged, raising important questions about regulating autonomous AI systems.
Prosecutors allege that R&B artist D4vd murdered teenage girl Celeste Rivas Hernandez to prevent her from exposing their long-standing illegal relationship that began when she was 13. According to charging documents filed Wednesday, D4vd allegedly purchased chainsaws from Amazon to dismember the victim's body, used a plastic paddling pool to contain blood, and placed remains in bags stored in his Tesla vehicle's trunk.
The US NASA revealed that 39-year-old Chinese engineer Song Wu, employed by China Aviation Industry Corporation, impersonated a renowned American aerospace scholar over nearly five years to deceive US government employees and university researchers into providing sensitive defense software related to advanced missile and weapons system development. The FBI has issued a warrant for his arrest.
US President Trump spoke with Russian President Putin on the 29th. Trump stated that Putin expressed willingness to assist with US-Iran tensions, but Trump prioritizes ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump proposed a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to seek a peaceful resolution.
According to Axios, U.S. President Trump is expected to receive a briefing on January 30th regarding a new military action plan against Iran, presented by CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper. The briefing indicates the Trump administration is seriously considering military options against Iran, with potential operations possibly involving the Hormuz Strait region.
Brent crude oil prices have broken through $120 per barrel, reaching $122 at peak, driven by escalating US-Iran tensions and concerns over potential Strait of Hormuz blockade. The strategic waterway is critical for global oil transportation, and any supply disruption could significantly impact worldwide energy markets.
The United Arab Emirates announced its withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), effective this Friday, ending 58 years of membership. This marks the first time a major oil producer has exited OPEC. The UAE simultaneously withdrew from the OPEC+ alliance, which includes Russia, and plans to gradually increase oil production, significantly impacting global oil market dynamics.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a warning on April 28 that ConnectWise ScreenConnect path traversal vulnerability CVE-2024-1708 and Windows security mechanism bypass vulnerability CVE-2026-32202 are being actively exploited. CISA has added these vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and mandated that federal agencies complete patching by May 12 to prevent attacks.
The Pentagon will brief President Trump on Thursday on a military plan against Iran developed by U.S. Central Command. The plan involves a "swift and fierce" strike potentially targeting Iranian infrastructure. Trump rejected Iran's latest negotiation proposal and vowed to maintain naval blockade until Iran agrees to a nuclear deal. Iran warned of unprecedented military action in response. US-Iran tensions continue to intensify.
Premier Cho Jung-tai announced that Taiwan will allocate 1.25 trillion NT dollars in special defense budget to address escalating threats and procure modern military equipment. He emphasized that three pillars—Taiwan Shield, high-tech strike chain, and industrial autonomy—are essential and interdependent for national security, calling for cross-party support for the budget.
Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je received a 17-year prison sentence in the first trial for the Jinghua City case and political donation case. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office filed an appeal, arguing the original judgment was improper in factual findings, evidence evaluation, and sentencing basis, claiming the sentence was too lenient. Ko also filed his own appeal, and the case will proceed to the second trial.
cPanel has released a security advisory disclosing a critical vulnerability in cPanel and WHM software that allows attackers to gain administrative access without authentication, potentially enabling host takeover. As these tools are widely used for Linux server management, the vulnerability has broad impact. Users are urged to update immediately to patched versions.
US media reports that the US Central Command has prepared a plan for short-term military operations against Iran. This disclosure comes as negotiations between the US and Iran have stalled. The specific details and timeline of the operation plan remain undisclosed.
Brent crude oil rose for the eighth consecutive day, surpassing $120 per barrel, as US President Trump announced plans to maintain a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The geopolitical tensions continue to impact global energy markets, with the extended standoff potentially driving oil prices higher in the coming weeks.
Prosecutors argue that Cole Tomas Allen, charged with attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in connection with a shooting at a Washington press dinner, should remain in custody pending trial. New images show the suspect taking selfies before the incident. Authorities are seeking to maintain his detention status throughout the legal proceedings.
Brent crude oil has reached new conflict-era highs, surpassing $125 per barrel as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues. Market concerns over extended supply disruptions are driving the price surge. The geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are creating significant risks for global energy markets.
Taiwan's economy expanded at its fastest pace since 1987, driven by strong demand related to artificial intelligence. This growth performance reflects Taiwan's significant position in the global AI industry and robust performance in key sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing.