AI boom ignites stock market rally
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh Taiwan’s stock market has surged past India’s to become the world’s fifth‑largest, propelled by a powerful wave of investment tied to the global artificial intelligence boom and the dominance of its semiconductor industry. At the center of the rally is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s leading contract chipmaker and…
Who Wins With the Iran Peace Deal? No One
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh The United States and Iran have announced a preliminary peace agreement aimed at extending a fragile ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but with key terms still undisclosed and tensions escalating across the region, the deal is already facing skepticism from multiple sides. Officials say a formal signing could take…
Israelis react with anger and anxiety to new Iran deal
Brian Lupus, Tel Aviv After more than three and a half months of fighting and intense back-and-forth negotiations, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington and Tehran, under Pakistani mediation, have reached a final agreement to end hostilities between them. The deal is expected to be signed in Geneva on June 19. According to reports, the…
Trump praises Putin and Xi over Iran peace deal
Francis Tuschek, Taipei US President Donald Trump has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping for their roles in bringing about a settlement with Iran. Moscow has repeatedly offered its mediation services and urged all sides to de-escalate. Trump made the remarks on Sunday in an interview with the New York Times, hours…
Taiwan test-fires US-supplied missiles towards mainland China
Frank Williams, Kampot Taiwan has launched approximately 36 US-supplied missiles into the water off the coast of mainland China, in a first-of-its-kind live-fire drill on the self-governing island’s west coast. The exercise comes amid mounting tensions between Taipei and Beijing, which considers Taiwan sovereign Chinese territory. The drills took place on Wednesday and involved the firing…
Pentagon boosts Israeli spying threat to ‘critical’ – media
Frank Williams, Kampot The Pentagon’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has elevated the threat posed by Israeli espionage to the highest level as tensions over Iran and Lebanon grow, NBC News and the New York Times have reported. The assessment, which was circulated internally in recent weeks, includes a seven-page document and a chart rating Israel’s human…
China launches ‘special maritime operation’ off Taiwan
Francis Tushcek, Okinawa China has launched a ‘special maritime law enforcement operation’ east of Taiwan in response to the announcement of maritime border talks in the area by Japan and the Philippines. China – which views the self-ruled island as its own sovereign territory – protested the negotiations, saying they infringe on its sovereignty. The…
Cognitive Warfare May Be More Rebrand Than Revolution – With Taiwan in the Crosshairs
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh As the U.S. military embraces AI and prepares for large-scale war, cognitive warfare is emerging as a favored concept for disrupting enemy decision-making. Supporters say it could help deliver faster, sharper battlefield choices and a decisive information edge. Critics, however, argue the idea is largely a rebranding of older psychological and…
Five Eyes network warns of fake recruiter ploy
Frank Williams, Phnom Penh Chinese intelligence operatives are posing as recruiters online to lure UK government and military-linked personnel into revealing sensitive information, according to a warning issued by the Five Eyes network. In a joint security bulletin, the intelligence partnership – comprising the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand – said covert agents…
China bans four New Zealand MPs after Taiwan visit
Clockwise from top left: Duncan Webb, Laura McClure, Maureen Pugh and David Wilson Dave Chamberlain, Honiara China has imposed a one-year entry ban on four New Zealand MPs after they travelled to Taiwan, a decision one of the lawmakers says is meant to intimidate elected representatives. The MPs – Maureen Pugh, Duncan Webb, Laura McClure,…
