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President Donald Trump has nominated former California congresswoman Michelle Park Steel as the US ambassador to South Korea, a post vacant since January 2025. South Korea's presidential office welcomed the nomination, expressing hope it will strengthen bilateral ties. If confirmed, Steel would be the second Korean American to hold the ambassadorship.
The United States has initiated a naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas, enforcing restrictions on maritime traffic as tensions between Washington and Tehran persist. President Trump has warned that any Iranian vessels challenging the blockade will be destroyed, while Iranian officials downplay the impact on their economy and food supplies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Moscow for talks focused on strategic partnership, energy cooperation, and trade, amid scrutiny of Prabowo's extensive foreign travel and Indonesia's non-aligned diplomatic posture.
Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said Japan no longer considers itself bound by post-World War II restrictions, citing its military build-up and new unmanned weapons unit. He accused Tokyo of pursuing a policy of militarization that violates the 1945 Instrument of Surrender and Japan's constitution. TASS reported his remarks from an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Cathay Pacific and HK Express are cutting a small percentage of flights due to surging jet fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Aviation experts say the impact on Hong Kong's hub status will depend on the conflict's duration. Despite the cuts, Cathay reported stronger passenger numbers in March, aided by mega-events.
Nikolay Azarov, Ukraine's prime minister from 2010 to 2014, told TASS that European support for President Zelensky is wavering due to financial pressures, and that the West will continue funding Ukraine with 5-6 billion euros monthly, dismissing the possibility of Kiev's financial collapse. He also claimed the EU, Britain, and the US staged a coup in Ukraine, a charge not verified by other sources.
Oil prices have surged past $103 a barrel after US President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of ceasefire talks between the US and Iran. The move has injected turmoil into financial markets, with Asian stocks falling and analysts warning of sustained high energy prices.
The US has begun a naval blockade of Iran, announced by President Trump after failed talks in Islamabad. Trump warned that Iranian ships approaching the blockade would be 'immediately eliminated.' The move has drawn international concern, with Saudi Arabia urging a return to negotiations, and comes amid rising oil prices and regional tensions.
Hundreds of journalists gathered at Islamabad's Jinnah Convention Centre, which was transformed into a media hub for the US-Iran talks. Pakistan provided visa-on-arrival and extensive facilities, though local media reported limited access to direct information, relying on updates from foreign counterparts. The event was marked by elaborate branding and high security, with journalists experiencing a mix of hospitality and frustration over the lack of direct access.
US Central Command says two guided-missile destroyers have transited the Strait of Hormuz to start clearing Iranian-laid mines, but Tehran denies the crossing and threatens to attack unauthorized vessels. The operation coincides with US-Iran ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad.
BTS kicked off its massive world tour in Goyang, South Korea, marking their return after a four-year hiatus for military service. The tour spans 85 shows across 34 cities, with a record-breaking number of dates. Amid celebration, police reported the theft of about 500 admission wristbands at the venue.
Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh has won a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, extending his 27-year rule. The election was boycotted by most of the opposition, and Guelleh's sole challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, received just 2.19%.
Djiboutians voted on Friday in a presidential election expected to hand a sixth term to 78-year-old Ismail Omar Guelleh, who faces a single little-known opponent. Turnout appeared low at many polling stations, and Guelleh's long rule and the country's economic challenges were central themes. Official results are expected shortly.
Russia's steel production dropped 10.4% year-on-year in Q1 2026 to 15.6 million tons, according to preliminary data from Chermet Corporation. Global steel output in March fell 4.2% to 159.9 million metric tons, as reported by the World Steel Association, with notable declines in China and the Middle East.
Indonesian authorities are investigating a torpedo-shaped device found by a fisherman near the Lombok Strait, which analysts identify as a Chinese undersea monitoring system. The discovery highlights the strategic importance of the waterway and raises concerns over China's naval expansion in the region.
President Trump has threatened NATO allies with punitive measures, including troop redeployments and halted military support, over their refusal to back U.S. military actions in Iran. Several European nations have resisted, leading to tensions within the alliance. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is attempting to bridge the divide.
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a fraction of normal levels days after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced. Tracking data shows only a handful of vessels transiting daily, with Iran asserting control through tolls and routing requirements, while the US accuses Tehran of not honoring the agreement.
Djibouti holds a presidential election on Friday, with incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh expected to secure a sixth term amid limited opposition and international focus on the country's strategic location at the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The vote takes place against a backdrop of foreign military presence and criticism from rights groups over political repression and press freedom.
Russia has summoned Japan's ambassador to protest a Japanese firm's investment in a Ukrainian drone maker, warning of a 'hostile act' and falling relations. The move underscores Moscow's concerns over Tokyo's potential defense cooperation with Kyiv, though analysts question the severity of the protest.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Singapore seeking to shore up Australia’s fuel supplies amid Middle East tensions, with a further stop planned in Brunei. Defence leaders say Australia could deploy a warship to the Strait of Hormuz if the government asked, while confirming a Wedgetail aircraft is already in the region and foreshadowing billions more for drones in a new defence strategy due this week.