U.S.–Iran Conflict and Energy Strategy

Justin Wong, staff writer The war that erupted on February 28, 2026, following U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure, has rapidly escalated into a global energy crisis. Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, halting nearly 20 million barrels per day of oil shipments—about a quarter of global seaborne trade. In response, President Trump ordered…

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From Hoax to Reality: How Snowden’s Revelations Revive Fears of Māori Surveillance in New Zealand

Francis Tuschek, Taipei In 2004, New Zealand was shaken by claims that the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) was spying on Māori organizations under a covert program known as Operation Leaf. The allegations, which suggested surveillance of Māori political movements, were later exposed as a hoax. Yet the controversy left a deep scar, fostering mistrust among…

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