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Nvidia and AMD are pressing the Trump administration to maintain export channels for their semiconductor products to China, according to Politico. The two US chipmakers rely heavily on Chinese sales and face uncertainty over restrictions. The issue sits at the center of the wider US-China tech rivalry, with export controls threatening billions in revenue for American semiconductor companies.

Taiwan says US arms sales to the island are continuing as normal, but a proposed $14 billion weapons package remains on hold. The statement comes amid uncertainty over the pace of American deliveries that Taiwan sees as vital to its defense against potential Chinese aggression. Officials are seeking to reassure the public that security cooperation with Washington has not slowed, even as the large package awaits approval and delivery timelines remain unclear.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is holding a live press conference at Indira Bhawan, the party's headquarters in New Delhi. The event is drawing large live audiences and heavy engagement as viewers follow his remarks in real time. The subject of the conference has not been confirmed in the available coverage.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi told former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya that relations between Beijing and Tokyo must be "normalized," during their talks. The meeting is the first high-level exchange since relations plummeted over Taiwan last year, and is being read as an early signal that both sides may be looking to stabilise a badly strained diplomatic relationship.

Some Russian families who lost sons fighting in Ukraine say they still support the war effort and want Russia to keep fighting, according to a New York Times report. Their stance highlights how grief has not translated into opposition to the Kremlin's invasion, complicating Western assumptions that mounting casualties will erode domestic support in Russia.

US national security adviser Mike Waltz says a rejected nuclear proposal showed Iran wanted sanctions relief up front while offering little in return. Iranian officials dispute that account, insisting their counterproposals were balanced. The disagreement highlights the widening gap between Washington and Tehran as diplomacy stalls over sequencing of concessions.

The European Union is moving to strengthen Operation Aspides, its naval mission protecting commercial shipping from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The reported push comes as attacks on vessels continue to disrupt one of the world's busiest trade routes, raising questions about whether European naval assets are sufficient to safeguard merchant traffic through the region.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi has delivered a high-level warning to a visiting Japanese business delegation, according to the South China Morning Post. The exact content of the warning has not been detailed in the available report. The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, and Chinese officials frequently use such encounters with Japanese business leaders to press political demands alongside economic ties.

Taiwan is accelerating investment in drone capabilities as part of a broader defence overhaul, driven by mounting military pressure from China. The push reflects Taipei's effort to build asymmetric defences, with unmanned systems seen as a cost-effective way to deter a potential Chinese attack amid ongoing cross-strait tensions.

Israel is pushing for a United States-led international force to take on the task of disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Responsible Statecraft. The proposal would shift responsibility for neutralising the armed group's arsenal away from the Lebanese state and onto an American-led mission. The idea raises questions about Lebanon's sovereignty, the role of the Lebanese army, and whether Washington would accept such an open-ended security commitment.

The EU is pressing ahead with plans to build its own payment infrastructure, reducing reliance on US-dominated networks like Visa and Mastercard. The Council of the EU is promoting the initiative, which would allow European consumers and businesses to make card and app payments within an EU-controlled system. Supporters argue it strengthens strategic autonomy and cuts fees; critics question whether it can win adoption against entrenched providers.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief who grew up in Soviet-occupied Estonia, is warning European leaders against giving Russia what it wants in negotiations over the war in Ukraine. Drawing on her personal experience of Soviet rule, she argues that yielding to Moscow's demands would only embolden further aggression. Her remarks are resonating in ongoing debates over Europe's stance toward Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is trying to leave Ukrainians without internet and mobile communications, adding that Kyiv is taking measures to counter these efforts. The statement comes as Ukraine continues to face attacks on its communications infrastructure, with officials stressing that keeping Ukrainians connected remains a priority during the war.

Iran's president has declared that the United States holds the decision on whether to end the war, putting the burden squarely on Washington. The statement came as the Russian and Iranian foreign ministers, meeting diplomatically, agreed that only a negotiated settlement could resolve the Middle East tension sparked by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The remarks underscore Tehran's positioning ahead of any potential talks and Moscow's alignment with Tehran's call for diplomacy over continued military action.

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump met officially, and Taiwan was not mentioned in any public statements from the meeting. DW reported the omission, which is notable given Taiwan is typically a central point of tension between Washington and Beijing. Observers are likely debating whether the silence reflects a deliberate diplomatic arrangement or signals a shift in how the two powers are handling the Taiwan issue.

The US government is seeking to insert itself into Elon Musk's dispute with the European Union, a fight reportedly worth €120 million. The clash with Brussels over regulatory action affecting Musk's businesses has drawn Washington's attention, raising the stakes of an already tense transatlantic standoff over tech regulation and enforcement.

US envoy claims President Trump asked Xi Jinping directly at the White House whether China would be interested in purchasing American weapons. The reported exchange, described as unusually direct, is drawing attention for what it suggests about Trump's approach to arms sales and US-China relations, with officials and analysts weighing its significance.

Taiwan's dominance in semiconductor manufacturing, led by TSMC, is being described as a 'silicon shield' that deters Chinese aggression while making the island indispensable to the United States in the AI era. As artificial intelligence drives global demand for advanced chips, control over Taiwan's chip industry has become central to both its security and US strategic interests, intensifying debate over cross-strait tensions.

Former US president Donald Trump reportedly asked China's president whether he wanted to buy American arms, according to remarks attributed to an ambassador. The claim has drawn attention for its unusual framing of US-China defence trade, given Washington's restrictions and tensions over arms exports to Beijing.

Taipei has stated that Washington understands Taiwan's defense requirements, amid ongoing concerns over the island's security. The remarks underscore the close, if unofficial, security relationship between the United States and Taiwan as cross-strait tensions with Beijing continue to shape regional diplomacy.

The race to select the next UN secretary-general is under way, with candidates framed as needing to be a 'mediator-in-chief' for a divided world. Commentary on the contest argues it highlights the multiple crises confronting the United Nations, from wars to institutional gridlock, as member states weigh who can restore the organisation's diplomatic clout.

US President Donald Trump asked China's president whether he would be interested in buying American arms, according to comments attributed to an ambassador. The unusual, informal sales pitch to a strategic rival has drawn attention given Washington's restrictions on arms exports to China and the two countries' ongoing trade and security tensions.

Reporting from Taipei frames Taiwan as the potential deciding factor in the escalating technology rivalry between the United States and China. Taiwan's tech industry produces more than 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the chips that power AI servers, giving the island outsized strategic importance as both superpowers compete for dominance in artificial intelligence.

Attention is turning to whether South Korea could avoid being drawn into a military conflict over Taiwan. The question reflects growing concern that a cross-strait clash would entangle US allies in the region, given South Korea's alliance commitments and proximity to the flashpoint. Debate focuses on Seoul's options for staying out of a war that many analysts fear could erupt with little warning.

Washington is pressing governments worldwide to align with the United States on artificial intelligence rules and technology, framing it as a choice between democratic and authoritarian models of AI development. But analysts note that China's pitch — offering affordable AI tools, infrastructure and investment without political conditions — may be more attractive to developing countries that want the benefits of AI without being forced into a superpower rivalry.