Author: Isla

The U.S. military struck a cargo vessel that Washington said was trying to violate a U.S.-imposed blockade of Iranian ports, according to a report issued by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on May 30.According to the U.S. military, the Gambia-flagged cargo ship LIAN STAR (IMO 9072692) ignored more than 20 warnings and continued moving toward an Iranian port. “A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,“ CENTCOM’s statement read.A U.S. official told The Associated Press that the vessel was left drifting in the…

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For years, Western commentators have viewed India’s foreign policy with shared frustration and bewilderment. They watch New Delhi seamlessly dance across diplomatic aisles — tightening ties with Washington through the QUAD, purchasing discounted oil from Moscow, and signing massive trade and technology agreements in Europe — and hastily label it as “opportunistic” or “sitting on the fence.”This is a classic, simplistic Western paradigm that insists on viewing the world as a zero-sum game: You are either with us or you are against us. However, the past few weeks has provided undeniable proof that this paradigm is obsolete.Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s…

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Four months after the UK–Indonesia Economic Growth Partnership was signed, attention has shifted from policy ambition to operational reality, with logistics execution now seen as the real test of whether modern trade agreements can still deliver growth under sustained geopolitical and supply chain disruption. FedEx is cited as playing a practical role in keeping cross-border flows moving, particularly for high-value, time-sensitive exports between the two markets. The agreement is increasingly framed around “high-velocity trade”, where value sits in compact, high-value goods such as semiconductors and healthcare products rather than bulk tonnage. This shift places greater emphasis on speed, visibility and…

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HSBC Holdings HSBC is trying to claw back ground in Hong Kong investment banking, and the push is now coming from the top. CEO Georges Elhedery and senior executives have been meeting clients directly, while Elhedery has also sent tailored video messages to key Greater China customers as the bank presses executives to re-engage roughly 400 major clients across buyout firms, hedge funds, and other large accounts.The timing matters. HSBC’s investment bank went through a major restructuring that triggered senior departures and left the lender fighting to regain momentum in one of Asia’s most important financial hubs. The missed lead…

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Bill Perrins has enjoyed the sort of aviation career that most pilots can only dream about. Vulcan bomber pilot, Falklands veteran, Tornado F3 pilot, airline captain on the 747 and 787, display pilot on Vulcan XH558, Mustangs and Spitfires — on paper alone, the story sounds almost implausible. The temptation with a CV like that would be to write a book filled with self-congratulation. Fortunately, Bill does precisely the opposite. What makes this book work so well is the complete absence of ego. The tone throughout is warm, self-deprecating and refreshingly honest. He writes not as a heroic aviator looking…

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Uzbekistan recorded further declines in the production of key energy resources during the first four months of 2026, even as output of fuel products, electricity and construction materials increased, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Committee. Hydrocarbon production continues to fall Between January and April, Uzbekistan produced 12.6 billion cubic metres of natural gas, down 16% year-on-year. Oil production declined by 2.5% to 209,000 tonnes, while gas condensate output fell by 19.2% to 319,300 tonnes. Compared with the first four months of 2024, the declines were even more pronounced. Natural gas production decreased by 17.6%,…

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Anadolu staff01 June 2026•Update: 01 June 2026China Monday highlighted renewed military engagement to “avoid miscalculation” with the US following last month’s summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Beijing.The latest contacts between Chinese and US military officials form part of broader efforts to implement understandings reached during the Xi-Trump meeting, which was aimed at stabilizing bilateral ties and improving communication between the two countries.The working group meeting of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement between the two militaries was held for two days in Hawaii last week, according to details shared by China Bugle, an official…

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A Bugatti Centodieci has popped up for sale at a Dubai dealership with an asking price of AED 60,000,000. Only 10 examples were built, and rarely does one come up for sale, which kind of justifies the $16.3 million price tag. RM Sotheby’s offered a low-mileage example of the Centodieci last year at their Paris auction. To everyone’s surprise, it went unsold. The highest bid it received was around $9 million, about the same as its MSRP. The Centodieci was built to celebrate Bugatti’s 110th anniversary. It pays tribute to the legendary Bugatti EB110, which is evident from the exterior…

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The Asia-Pacific Aviation Training Summit (APATS) will return to Bangkok in 2026 with a conference programme heavily focused on artificial intelligence, competency-based training and the growing workforce pressures facing the aviation sector. Taking place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) from 31 August to 2 September 2026, APATS is expected to attract over 700 airline training professionals, regulators, aircraft manufacturers and aviation technology providers from across the region. Widely regarded as the largest aviation training event in Asia-Pacific, the summit’s 2026 agenda reflects the rapid transformation underway across pilot, cabin crew and maintenance training. Among the headline themes…

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