• 

  Iran Warns US To Drop "Excessive Demands", Says Ending War Is Its "Priority"

  "At this stage, our priority is to end the war," he said during a televised briefing. "The other side must commit to a reasonable approach and abandon its excessive demands regarding Iran."

• 

  Over 300 Families Evacuate Philippines Due To Ashfall From Volcano

  No deaths or injuries were reported, but massive clouds of ash scattered over 87 villages in 3 towns, slowing down motorists due to poor visibility.

• 

  Iran War, Oil Crisis Has 'Enormous Impact' In Asia-pacific: Japan PM

  Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been throttled by Iran since its war with the US.

• 

  China Invokes First-ever "Blocking Order" Against US Sanctions: Report

  The move specifically protects five major Chinese petrochemical firms recently targeted by Washington for their alleged involvement in the Iranian oil trade.

• 

  Pokemon Event Cancelled In South Korea After 40,000 People Flood Seoul Forest

  The crowd had started lining up since early morning to get hold of the rare Magikarp Pokemon promo card, one of the franchise's characters.

• 

  'Fully Prepared For American Foolishness': Iran Warns Of Possible Renewed War

  According to Iran's Fars News, Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in the Iranian military's central command, said, "a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely."

• 

  "We're Like Pirates": Trump On US Seizing Iranian Oil From Ships In Hormuz

  "We ... land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It's a very profitable business," Trump said on Saturday while addressing a rally in Florida.

• 

  Pakistan's Map Faux Pas In Peace Talks Meeting With Afghanistan

  The map was shown at a meeting held in Istanbul earlier this week, which aimed to ease military tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

• 

  Major Human Rights Event Cancelled After Chinese "Pressure" On Zambia Over Taiwan Attendees

  RightsCon was scheduled to be held in Lusaka, Zambia.

• 

  "Why Would I Tell You That?" Trump Evades Reporter's Question On Iran Strikes

  Trump said that negotiations were ongoing but inconsistent. "They get close, and then a new group of people comes in," he said, pointing to shifting positions within Iran's leadership.

• 

  Iran Using Ceasefire To Dig Out Weapons It Had Hidden Underground: Report

  The effort is part of a broader push to rebuild its drone and missile arsenal quickly, allowing Tehran to be ready if US President Donald Trump decides to restart military action, a US official and two sources familiar with the situation told NBC.

• 

  Israel Sent UAE Laser Weapon Called 'Iron Beam' That Can Vapourise Iranian Drones

  Tel Aviv sent a version of its Iron Beam laser defence system to the UAE, which vaporises short-range rockets and drones. It was first used by Israel against Hezbollah projectiles from Lebanon.

• 

  'Concerned': Taiwan After China Calls Taipei Biggest Risk In Ties With US

  In a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged United States to "make the right choices" on Taiwan.

• 

  Chinese Court Rules AI Automation Is Not Valid Reason For Firing Employees

  Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court ruled in favour of an employee who was fired by a tech company to be replaced with cost-saving AI.

• 

  US Expert Compares Pakistan's Oil Shock vs India's Fuel Stability Amid Iran War

  Kiyosaki noted that India has widened its oil supply network over the years, leaning on Russia as a key source while bringing back shipments from Venezuela in 2026.

• 

  Iran's Supreme Leader Vows To Protect Nuclear, Missile Capabilities

  Mojtaba Khamenei's remarks come as Iran's economy is reeling and its oil industry is being squeezed by a US Navy blockade halting its tankers.

• 

  "He Is Proof Of God On Earth": Mojtaba Khamenei's Aide Amid Health Concerns

  Ayatollah Mohsen Qomi said that despite his injuries, Iranian officials were now focused on preserving the Supreme Leader's life.

• 

  Trump's Mineral Reserve Plans To Buy Rare Earths From China

  The project aims to build an immediate buffer against critical mineral supply shocks while using future purchases to send a stronger demand signal to US and friendly-nation producers.

• 

  China Building 'Super Soldiers' With Help From Harvard Scientist Convicted Of Lying To US

  Charles Lieber, 67, was convicted of making false statements to US officials about his ties to a Chinese state program to recruit overseas talent.

• 

  Aung San Suu Kyi Moved From Prison To House Arrest In Myanmar

  Aung San Suu Kyi was detained February 1, 2021, when the army seized power from her elected government.