Natural gas prices in Europe rose by 34% due to uncertainty regarding exports from the world's largest LNG plant in Qatar. The plant's shutdown followed an Iranian drone attack.
Iran is trying to sow chaos in the Middle East by shelling US allies and influencing the global economy. The US has likely destroyed the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran.
The US Supreme Court canceled emergency tariffs, which eased trade pressure on China. This decision improves Beijing's negotiating position ahead of Trump's visit.
Slovakia plans to acquire four more F-16V Block 70/72 Viper fighter jets to strengthen its air defense. This decision is related to the transfer of its entire fleet of MiG-29s to Ukraine.
The US and Japan are strengthening their strategic partnership, modernizing their economic security relationship. This comes amid a diplomatic standoff with Beijing, which has blocked the supply of components to Japan.
The United States and Taiwan have signed a trade agreement that provides for the reduction of customs duties and the expansion of access for American goods to Asian markets. Taiwan undertakes to purchase billions of dollars worth of American goods and invest in energy equipment.
Chinese J-16 fighter jets performed dangerous maneuvers near Taiwanese F-16 aircraft during military exercises in December. One J-16 fired decoy flares, another flew in a firing-ready position.
US President Donald Trump will visit Beijing in the first week of April 2026 to discuss a new trade agreement, the situation around Taiwan, and coordinate positions on Russia's war against Ukraine. The meeting aims to reduce tensions between the countries.
Taiwan rejected a US proposal to relocate 40% of its semiconductor manufacturing capacity, calling it impossible. Taiwan's Vice Premier stated that the island's semiconductor ecosystem would develop domestically.
HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus are considering purchasing memory chips from Chinese manufacturers like CXMT due to the global supply crisis. This could help address rising prices and the threat to new product launches.
The US President believes that many positive results related to President Xi Jinping and the People's Republic of China will be achieved within the next three years.
Asia is experiencing outbreaks of the highly lethal Nipah virus. Experts note that the virus is transmitted from bats to animals, and then to humans through contact.
The hands of the Doomsday Clock were moved forward by four seconds, marking the closest to midnight in history. The reasons for this were the aggressive behavior of nuclear powers, the violation of nuclear arms control, and conflicts.
Ten Russian postal services, cooperating with operators from Germany and France, are part of a network through which sanctioned goods enter Russia. This was confirmed by Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the President of Ukraine's authorized representative for sanctions policy. Foreign components manufactured in 2024-2026 have been found in Russian Kh-101 missiles.
A number of Asian countries, including Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan, are implementing medical screening for air passengers due to the Nipah virus outbreak in India. The virus is transmitted from bats and pigs, as well as between humans, causing severe complications.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has initiated a wave of arrests among the top generals, removing influential figures from the army. This is happening amid rumors of an attempted coup and preparations for a conflict over Taiwan.
In 2026, Ukraine ranked 20th in the global military power rating among 145 countries, according to Global Firepower. The rating takes into account over 60 indicators, including army size and economic potential.
The Pentagon plans to reduce its role in deterring North Korea, transferring primary responsibility to South Korea. This could lead to a reduction in American troops on the Korean Peninsula.
A Taiwanese expert called on Ukraine to apologize for helping China build up its military power. This was in response to Zelenskyy's criticism of the supply of Taiwanese microchips to the Russian Federation.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te initiated talks with Kyiv on strengthening technology export controls after Zelenskyy's statement. Taiwan seeks to establish intelligence sharing to prevent microchips from reaching the aggressor.
The document states that the award was bestowed "for significant services in strengthening Ukrainian statehood, courage and selflessness shown in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a significant personal contribution to the development of various spheres of public life, and diligent performance of professional duty. "
China's population decreased by 3. 39 million in 2025, reaching 1.405 billion, while the birth rate fell to 7.92 million, an all-time low. The death rate rose to 11.31 million, the highest since 1968.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that Taiwan and South Korea would face 100% tariffs if they do not invest in semiconductor manufacturing in the US. This applies to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and TSMC.
The global gold market is correcting after reaching historical highs, with prices falling by more than 1%. Investors are taking profits, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have eased.
The US Department of Commerce and Taiwan have reached an agreement on tariff reduction and investment. Taiwan has pledged to invest $500 billion in the US technology sector.
China, which has the world's largest navy, is increasing its fleet of large Type 055 destroyers. This comes amid a strengthening of the US fleet and could threaten US forces in the Pacific.
This refers to fifty foreign machine tools that are operating for the Russian military-industrial complex. Among them are equipment of Czech, American, and Chinese production, which is used for manufacturing weapons.
The Trump administration is finalizing negotiations with Taiwan to reduce tariffs by 5% in exchange for expanding semiconductor production. TSMC commits to building five new factories in Arizona.
Asian tech giants started 2026 with a strong surge, outperforming American competitors in the field of artificial intelligence. The region's key technology index rose by 6%, three times more than the Nasdaq 100.
The leaders of China and South Korea have agreed to intensify trade cooperation and protect regional stability. The visit of South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung took place against the backdrop of North Korea's ballistic missile tests.
