U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies during Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on fiscal year 2027 budget requests on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2026. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about allowing Nvidia‘s H200 chips…
Workers producing garments at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast fashion e-commerce company Shein in Guangzhou in southern China’s Guangdong province. Jade Gao | Afp | Getty Images China‘s factory activity topped analysts’ expectations in April, although growth slowed from the prior month when it hit a year-high, as new orders saw a…
When Meta agreed to acquire Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup with Chinese roots for roughly $2 billion last December, many saw the transaction as just another routine deal in today’s global technology economy: capital crossing borders, startups relocating to friendlier jurisdictions, and major platform companies acquiring talent and intellectual property in the race to…
Energy shipments are increasingly being used as a foreign policy tool as the Trump administration attempts to hold down two blockades on opposite sides of the globe. The U.S., under the direction of President Donald Trump, has initiated a naval blockade targeting Iranian vessels in and around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, seeking to…
Uber and WeRide are partnering to offer robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Uber Technologies, Inc. BEIJING — At least three Chinese robotaxi companies are pressing ahead with expansion plans in the Middle East despite the ongoing Iran war. Ride-hailing company Didi plans to begin its first overseas robotaxi test in the United Arab Emirates…
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Altaf Qadri | AP 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 relationships in Asia…
US President Donald Trump attends UFC 327: Jiri Prochazka vs Carlos Ulberg at Kaseya Center in Miami, on April 11, 2026. (Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) Julia Demaree Nikhinson | Afp | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to impose a 50% tariff on China,…
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kuomintang party chair Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, the first encounter between Xi and a sitting Taiwanese opposition leader in nearly a decade. In a readout released by Chinese state media, Xi said Beijing “welcomes any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.” That’s according to…
Panicked drivers lined up in long queues outside gas stations across China Monday after receiving an alert from Chinese oil giant Sinopec about a pending price hike. The state refiner issued a notice Sunday that the price of gas will be set higher by a “meaningful” amount starting March 24. “As soon as I got…
Low angle view of tall buildings in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing diverse architectural styles George Pachantouris | Moment | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to climb Wednesday as investors tracked escalating tensions in the Middle East. A fresh wave of attacks on the United Arab Emirates’ energy infrastructure has heightened fears of prolonged supply disruptions amid the…
