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Iran’s IRNA agency rejected a U.S.-backed ceasefire, insisting on a permanent end to the war and a framework that includes Hormuz safety, sanctions relief and reconstruction. President Donald Trump responded with an ultimatum, warning that Iran’s bridges and power plants could be destroyed by Tuesday night if Tehran does not comply. The threat comes as Tehran continues to control the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly one‑fifth of global oil flow. Meanwhile, Pakistan is mediating a ten‑clause proposal, but both sides remain entrenched.
Artificial intelligence’s soaring energy demand threatens to raise the tech sector’s carbon footprint beyond 3 % of global emissions. Neutral‑atom quantum processing units, such as Pasqal’s Orion system, consume only a few kilowatts and emit kilograms of CO₂ per hour, dramatically...
Social media influencers have promoted testosterone therapy as a cure‑all for perimenopausal women, promising energy, sharper cognition, and a revived libido. Medical experts caution that the only proven benefit is a modest increase in sexual satisfaction for postmenopausal women, and...
Adrian Wooldridge argues that the resurgence of charismatic personalities in business and politics is eroding the objective, managerial structures that once underpinned American greatness. He contrasts Alfred Sloan’s push for anonymous, process‑driven management at General Motors with today’s celebrity CEOs...
Japan relies on Middle‑Eastern crude for 94% of its oil, with 93% transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A closure of the strait has forced the government to tap its strategic reserves, now covering roughly 230 days—about eight months—of consumption. Because...
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) is set to receive unchecked access to corporate and financial databases starting April 1, allowing it to copy any organization’s data without a court order. The agency also mandates banks to install surveillance tools by 2027...
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto met in Tokyo to deepen cooperation on energy security amid soaring oil and gas prices caused by the Middle East conflict. The two leaders agreed to coordinate closely, including Indonesia’s...
Japan is experiencing a nationwide shortage of Concerta, the primary stimulant used to treat adult ADHD, as demand surges. The shortage, first noted in late 2023, persists despite Janssen Pharmaceutical’s promise of a two‑month fix, with officials now estimating several...
While jazz originated in the United States, Tokyo now boasts more than 100 live jazz clubs—more than New York—and Japanese consumers purchase the most jazz recordings worldwide. The genre arrived in the 1920s, was banned during World II, and re‑emerged after the...
One month after the U.S.-Israeli strike campaign against Iran, President Donald Trump is wrestling with two stark choices: negotiate a rapid exit or intensify military action that could drag the United States into a prolonged conflict. Iran’s missile and drone...
A boutique sake brewery in Kumagaya, Saitama, has begun using a little‑known shuzō kōteki‑mai rice variety for its premium line. While Japan registers roughly 1,000 table‑rice strains, only about 100 are classified as ideal brewing rice, featuring larger grains with higher...
Russia is pouring roughly $11.8 billion into transport and trade infrastructure across the four Ukrainian regions it occupies, building over 2,500 km of railways, highways and roads between 2022 and 2025. The centerpiece projects include the 525‑km Novorossiya Railways line, a 1,400‑km...
ASEAN+3’s energy systems face mounting pressure from climate‑driven disasters, soaring electricity demand and geopolitical volatility. In 2024, natural catastrophes in the Asia‑Pacific cost roughly $320 billion, while the International Energy Agency projects Southeast Asia’s power demand to double by 2050. The...
India’s multialignment strategy is under strain as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran triggered a domestic LPG shortage, exposing the country’s energy fragility. Simultaneously, New Delhi’s decision to reopen critical sectors to Chinese foreign direct investment deepens its reliance on a...
Germany and Japan’s defence ministers agreed to deepen military cooperation, including a prospective visiting‑forces pact that would allow reciprocal troop deployments. The talks in Yokosuka covered regular defence consultations, joint exercises across land, sea and air, and expanded defence‑industrial collaboration...
