Headlines

Gulf poised to move closer to China after the war

The Iran war has delivered a profound and systemic shock to the Gulf, fundamentally challenging two assumptions that have underpinned regional stability for the better part of a century. For decades, the Gulf’s economic model thrived on a perception of stability, reinforced by

Asia

Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Tuapse port kills one

MOSCOW, April 20 - A major Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse sparked a fire and killed at least one person, Russian officials said on Monday, just hours after a blaze was doused in the wake of a similar attack on April 16.

Asia

Baby America’s hegemony is no match for old worlds

When US President Donald Trump said, “A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight,” he hardly knew the profundity of his words. Iran, formerly Persia, has a history that goes back at least 7,000 years, and has a long list of great contributions to the world. Among these

Asia

Pill and pipeline: US drug supply needs a China reality check

A quiet vulnerability sits at the heart of American health care. The United States — home to the world’s most innovative pharmaceutical sector — depends heavily on China for the active pharmaceutical ingredients used to manufacture its medicines. How heavily is debated. Some

Asia

Stablecoins, RWAs and Hong Kong’s interface moment

Why the real contest is no longer about crypto enthusiasm, but about payment rails, trade finance and the architecture of cross-border liquidity The loudest reading of stablecoins is still the wrong one. They are not becoming important because cryptocurrency has finally won

Asia

Hong Kong fire victims scour scorched homes for keepsakes

HONG KONG, April 20 - Victims of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades began government-supervised visits to their ravaged former homes on Monday for the first time since the November blaze, looking to retrieve personal items that might have survived.

Asia

Iran says it won’t negotiate with ‘erratic’ Trump

Iran says it has no plans to negotiate with the US after President Donald Trump threatened Sunday that “the whole country is going to get blown up” if Iran refuses to make a deal. There are conflicting reports on what Trump subsequently described as an attack on an Iranian

Asia