The United States is pursuing a strategy designed to push Iran towards “capitulation,” former US national security official Robert Harward has said, pointing to a coordinated military and economic campaign he claims is already straining Tehran. Donald Trump has a plan that will force Iran to capitulate, the military official said. (AI-generated image) Harward told…
Financial markets got quite excited after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tweeted at 8:45am New York time on Friday (10:45pm Friday AEST) that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open”, followed by a series of jubilant posts by US President Donald Trump and a triumphant, if bellicose, speech. Oil futures fell 10 per cent and…
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…
By Victoria Waldersee and Joan Faus BARCELONA, April 19 (Reuters) – From reforming the UN Security Council to taxing billionaires, thousands of leftists gathered in Barcelona over the weekend to brainstorm ways to halt the rise of authoritarianism and win back voters who have drifted rightwards. The gathering, which drew more than 6,000 people from…
The US is more coordinated with China than many assume, former Israeli Navy commander Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eliezer Marom told 103FM on Wednesday. “I think the fuel problem has been completely solved, because the Chinese will get supplies from the Russians,” he said, claiming that alternative energy arrangements are already reducing the impact of regional disruption…
A sort of tug of war has been going on between the United States and Iran as the two countries negotiate to end their ongoing conflict in West Asia. And at the centre stage is a term that US President Donald Trump has used multiple times: Nuclear dust. Iran was believed to have more than…
By John Irish and Parisa Hafezi PARIS/DUBAI, April 19 (Reuters) – European allies fear an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline‑grabbing framework deal with Iran that could entrench rather than resolve deeper problems, diplomats with past experience dealing with Tehran said. They worry Washington, eager to claim a diplomatic win for…
April 19 (Reuters) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he would be ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump once a “big deal” between the two countries has been prepared. “We are ready for a deal, but it needs to be prepared in a way that reflects the interests of both the United States and…
Iran fended off the United States using asymmetric warfare and planning, Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said on Saturday. The Iranian leader’s message comes as tensions simmer over the US-Israeli war on the West Asian country, currently paused under a fragile ceasefire. Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. (AFP) “We fought an asymmetric war in…
For the first time in its history – and in a striking departure from its long-standing doctrine of minimal economic intervention – Hong Kong is preparing to draw up a five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has asked all policy bureaus to help draft proposals by the end of the year. To lead the…