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Insights & Views

Wed, Apr 01, 2026 12:09 PM All times are UTC

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With US bombers at the ready, can Trump cut a deal with Iran and avoid a war?

| Insights & Views

The United States and Iran are once again on a collision course over the Iranian nuclear program. In a letter dated early March, US President Donald Trump urged Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to negotiate a...

Election Diary: Albanese promises 30% discount on solar batteries, in latest energy bill help

| Insights & Views

In the governments latest initiative on energy prices, Anthony Albanese on Sunday will promise that if re-elected, Labor will reduce the cost of installing a typical home solar battery by 30% from July 1. This would cut...

Do African MPs reflect the people who vote for them? We studied 17 countries to find out

| Insights & Views

By the end of 2025, 42 African countries will have held national elections in the previous 24 months. But do these elections produce parliaments that accurately reflect the societies they serve? Aside from studies of women...

We studied smallholder farming in three African countries for 10 years: why profitable irrigation is key

| Insights & Views

The world has to feed a growing population with the same area of land and less water. Irrigation is key to managing this problem. A 10-year project called Transforming Irrigation in Southern Africa focused on capacity...

Woman-to-woman marriage in west Africa: a vanishing tradition of power and agency

| Insights & Views

Marriage in west Africa has played a central role in shaping aspects of society, and has evolved over time. While traditional heterosexual unions dominate discussions, a lesser-known but significant practice ...

The Coalition has announced an even more radical plan to cut international students than Labor. Here’s how it would work

| Insights & Views

Last year, the Coalition made the surprise decision to oppose Labors plans for new international student caps. On Sunday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton proposed an even more radical policy of his own to limit the number...

Labor gains 52–48 lead in Newspoll and Redbridge as poll trend to Labor continues

| Insights & Views

A national Newspoll, conducted March 31 to April 4 from a sample of 1,250, gave Labor a 5248 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since the March 2729 post-budget Newspoll. This is Labors biggest lead in Newspoll since May...

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Economy

Oil Prices Hold Near Multi-Year Highs Amid Iran Conflict and Hormuz Supply Fears

Oil prices remained elevated during Asian trading on Wednesday as markets processed mixed signals surrounding the ongoing conflict with Iran. Brent crude futures for June climbed 0.5% to $104.47 per barrel, while West...

Asian Stocks Surge on Trump's Iran War Comments and Dip-Buying

Asian equity markets posted strong gains on Wednesday, driven by U.S. President Donald Trumps remarks signaling a potential end to military operations against Iran within two to three weeks. Renewed investor optimism,...

Japan Business Sentiment Rises as Iran War Fuels Inflation Fears, BOJ Rate Hike Looms

Japans corporate confidence strengthened for the fourth consecutive quarter through March 2026, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) may raise interest rates as early as this month. However, mounting...

Japan's Business Confidence Rises Despite Iran War Uncertainty, BOJ Rate Hike Expected

Japans large manufacturers reported improved business sentiment in the three months to March, according to the Bank of Japans closely watched Tankan survey released Wednesday. The headline index for big manufacturers...

South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Year High in March 2025 Driven by Semiconductor Demand

South Koreas manufacturing sector delivered a standout performance in March, with factory activity accelerating to its strongest level in over four years. Data from SP Globals Purchasing Managers Index showed a reading of...

Politics

U.S.-Iran War: Rubio Says Finish Line Is Visible as Diplomatic Talks Begin

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday, stating that Washington can see the finish line in its ongoing military conflict with Iran, now entering its fifth week. Speaking on Fox News...

Trump Signs Executive Order Tightening Mail-In Voting Rules Amid Legal Backlash

President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Tuesday aimed at tightening mail-in voting regulations across the United States, setting off immediate legal threats from voting rights advocates and Democratic...

Trump Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship Restrictions

President Donald Trump made a rare personal appearance at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to witness oral arguments in a landmark case centered on his executive order restricting birthright citizenship marking one of...

Rubio Calls for Democratic Transition and Free Elections in Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Tuesday that Venezuela must undergo a political transition leading to free and fair elections, while urging both patience and vigilance from Washington. Speaking on Fox News...

U.S. Senator Pushes to Permanently Block Chinese Automakers from American Market

Republican Senator Bernie Moreno announced plans to introduce legislation next month that would permanently and comprehensively ban Chinese automakers from the U.S. automotive market. The proposed bill would expand on an...

Science

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Technology

TSMC Japan's Second Fab to Produce 3nm Chips by 2028

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the worlds leading contract chipmaker, has confirmed plans to begin equipment installation and mass production of 3-nanometre wafers at its second fabrication plant in...

Apple Turns 50: From Garage Startup to AI Crossroads

In early 1976, engineer Steve Wozniak finished designing a computer circuit board he planned to share with fellow hobbyists at a local California tech club. His friend Steve Jobs recognized a commercial opportunity, and...

Rubio Directs U.S. Diplomats to Use X and Military Psyops to Counter Foreign Propaganda

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats to leverage social media platform X and collaborate with Pentagon psychological operations units as part of a broader strategy to combat foreign...

Microsoft Eyes $7B Texas Energy Deal to Power AI Data Centers

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is reportedly in exclusive negotiations with Chevron Corp (NYSE: CVX) and investment firm Engine No. 1 to develop a massive energy complex in West Texas dedicated to powering its...

California's AI Executive Order Pushes Responsible Tech Use in State Contracts

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark executive order Monday, setting new standards for artificial intelligence governance in state contracting. The directive requires companies seeking government contracts to...