Seagulls are pictured at the Baltic Sea beach in Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, on a sunny Sunday, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

    China Flexes Energy Leverage as the Philippines, US Start Annual War Games

    BEIJING, April 21 (Reuters) – China on Tuesday implied energy assistance for the Philippines ⁠could ⁠be tied to Manila holding military drills with the ⁠U.S. and other allies, as its top newspaper showed Beijing’s readiness to leverage its reserves in diplomatic disputes. In an ​editorial headlined “The Philippines should create conditions for deepening cooperation,” the ruling…

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    Prediction market platforms in the US, like Polymarket, allow customers to bet on binary outcomes of future events and overlap with sports betting. Photo: AP

      Opinion | Why Hong Kong is hitting pause on basketball betting

      Many Hongkongers would have been surprised last week that the government was postponing the introduction of basketball betting. It was only months ago that the bill had been enacted by the Legislative Council. So clearly it was a matter that fell within our high degree of autonomy. And the Hong Kong Jockey Club was known…

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      China will increasingly take center stage in the U.S.-Iran negotiations: Atlantic Council

        Trump’s Hormuz blockade tests U.S. ties with China and India

        The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is adding strain to Washington’s relations with China and India, as Beijing hardens its rhetoric and New Delhi faces rising energy risks. Getty The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not only squeezing Iran but also ratcheting up pressure on two of its most consequential…

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        Evening news wrap: AAP defends Raghav Chadha’s ouster from Rajya Sabha role; India-bound Iran oil tanker diverted to China & more

          Evening news wrap: AAP defends Raghav Chadha’s ouster from Rajya Sabha role; India-bound Iran oil tanker diverted to China & more | India News

          Quick catch-up for today Bhagwant Mann defended Raghav Chadha’s removal as a routine party decision and accused him of going against AAP’s line. An Iranian crude tanker bound for India rerouted to China amid payment and sanction-related challenges. A French ship crossed Hormuz after signalling nationality, hinting at a possible shift in Iran-France dynamics. BJP…

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            China’s chip challenge to Nvidia

            Plus: SK Hynix’s US IPO Image: China’s chip challenge to Nvidia Welcome to Computing’s weekly roundup of tech news in Asia. This time we look at Nvidia’s plummeting market share in China, SK Hynix’s plans for an IPO in the USA, and Australia mulling punitive action against social media companies. Chinese semiconductor firms are rapidly…

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