A 58% jump in TSMC’s quarterly profit, announced on April 16, should change how investors think about the AI economy. Those numbers are not speculative, […]
Category: Asia
News from Asia
Iran shuts down Strait of Hormuz again, accusing US of ‘piracy’
The ceasefire between the US and Iran is in grave peril after Iran announced on Saturday that, in response to the continued US blockade, it […]
Don’t hold your breath on a truly European NATO
Every few years, like clockwork, the idea resurfaces from the salons of Brussels and the op-ed pages of Le Monde and Der Spiegel: Europe must build its own […]
North Korea taking its nuclear threat to the high seas
North Korea’s missile test from its new Choe Hyon destroyer signals a shift toward a more flexible sea-based nuclear deterrent, as the regime compensates for […]
Token inequality: AI haves and AI have-nots
Gemini was my preferred model for research a few months ago. So, was Grok. Recently, I asked one of them for serious research, accompanied by […]
Strategic autonomy or ambiguity? India’s Gulf dilemma
There is a lively and, at times, sharply divided discourse in India today on its foreign policy choices over the Iranian crisis. At the center […]
Democrats shouldn’t follow Republicans into the extremist swamp
The other day on X, leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker got into an argument with a commentator known as Swann Marcus. Marcus had scoffed at […]
New Australia defense strategy ignores US elephant in the room
Sometimes new government strategies really aren’t newsworthy. The 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) is like that. The biggest headline from the document is the additional […]
Hormuz standoff sets a tense tone for Trump-Xi meet
The Trump administration’s decision to carry out a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has raised tensions in the Persian Gulf to new and […]
Hershey blasted by Reese’s family over core ingredient changes
Reese’s founder’s grandson accuses Hershey of lowering ingredient quality, sparking debate over brand integrity, authenticity and the future of the iconic confectionery…See More
Iran War Hurts ASEAN, But It Still Needs the US
By: Manuel L. Quezon III Moribund markets roared back to life in Southeast Asia with the news on April 7 of a US-Iran two-week ceasefire. […]
Recalibrating the India-South Korea strategic partnership
The impending three-day visit of President Lee Jae-myung to India is not routine diplomacy – it is a strategic inflection point for both countries and […]
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire won’t end the death and suffering
After weeks of bombardments in southern Lebanon that have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million residents, Israel has announced a […]
Congressional Dems probe envoy Jared Kushner’s Arab money ties
The ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee on Friday morning announced a “sweeping” probe into alleged self-enrichment by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald […]
Manacled Manus: the limits of ‘Singapore washing’ for China AI
On March 25, Manus co-founders Xiao Hong and Ji Yichao were barred from leaving China after a meeting with the National Development and Reform Commission […]
Iran, not US, cancels Hormuz blockade after Israel-Lebanon truce
Iran said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to international shipping following an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement, prompting thanks from President Donald Trump […]
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire no tidy end to fighting, Hormuz shutdown
After weeks of bombardments in southern Lebanon that have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million residents Israel has announced a […]
Will Russia attack Ukraine’s European drone suppliers?
Former Russian president and incumbent deputy chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned on X that “the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement must be taken […]
China carefully navigating Iran’s tighter Hormuz grip
The Trump administration claims its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is working, with nine ships complying with orders to turn around. One of those […]
China Shock 2.0 jolts global economy as Trump does Xi’s work
TOKYO — On top of the tariffs, wars and inflation upending the global economy, US chieftains are grappling with a new question: which tech companies […]