ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTThe plan, submitted to the White House last week at Trump's request, targets nuclear material stored mainly at facilities in Isfahan that were struck by US airstrikes in June. According to the plan, US forces would need to fly in heavy excavation equipment to break through concrete, lead shielding, and other reinforced structures. Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran, April 19, 2024. ReutersMilitary analysts said the operation would go beyond a typical special forces raid. Experts also warned that moving the material could easily trigger radioactive leaks, posing severe health risks to personnel and surrounding areas.

We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong," Trump said in a Wednesday evening speech. Trump said the war could escalate if Iran did not give in to Washington's terms, with strikes on its energy and oil infrastructure possible. He told countries that rely on fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to "just grab it". However, European and other states have said they will only help secure the strait if there is a ceasefire. IRAN THREATENS TOOIran's armed forces responded to Trump with a warning of "more crushing, broader and more destructive" attacks in store.

Sales of Tesla's China-made electric vehicle grew 8.7 percent from a year earlier to 85,670 vehicles in March, extending gains for a fifth month, as the U.S. automaker navigated intensifying competition and increasingly pivoted beyond EVs. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTSales of Model 3 and Model Y cars made in its Shanghai factory, including exports to Europe and other markets, increased 46.2 percent from February, data from the China Passenger Car Association showed on Thursday.

Hong Kong taxi drivers began offering electronic payment options on Wednesday (Apr 1) under a new requirement, but the rollout was quickly overshadowed by controversy over a reported 3 percent surcharge. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTA photo circulating online showed a notice inside a taxi stating that passengers would be charged a 3 percent “handling fee” for using electronic payment platforms. Some industry insiders said the charge is imposed by certain payment platforms rather than drivers, adding that drivers still receive the full metered fare. Some also compared taxis with other public transport, noting that electronic payments on trains and buses do not incur extra fees. It added that since the fee is collected by the payment platform rather than the driver, it does not amount to overcharging.

ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTWall Street's main indexes opened lower ​on Thursday, in ‌the last session of a holiday-truncated week, after ​President Donald ​Trump signaled more aggressive attacks ⁠on Iran, dampening ​expectations for a ​swift end to the Middle East conflict. The Dow Jones ​Industrial Average fell ​96.4 points, or 0.21 percent, at ‌the ⁠open to 46,469.36. The S&P 500 fell 62.7 points, or ​0.95 percent, ​at ⁠the open to 6,512.61, while ​the Nasdaq Composite ​dropped ⁠368.4 points, or 1.69 percent, to 21,472.523 at ⁠the ​opening bell.

Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday, as the war in the Middle East drives up oil prices globally. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTAir China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they will increase surcharges on flights of up to 800 kilometres (500 miles) by 60 yuan ($8.70), and 120 yuan for longer flights. Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines also announced fuel surcharge hikes. Many global airlines have implemented fuel surcharges in response to the increase in oil costs. Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific ramped up its fuel surcharge on all flights last month as a result of the conflict, while carriers globally have changed flight paths to avoid the war-torn region.

Four eateries in Wan Chai were splashed with red paint in a series of suspected targeted attacks on Thursday morning (Apr 2). ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTThe affected outlets — a hot pot restaurant, noodle shop, stir-fry restaurant and a diner — are believed to belong to the same group. The first case was reported at around 10.31am at a hot pot restaurant on Jaffe Road, where red paint was found splashed across the storefront and windows. At around 11.18am, a noodle shop on Matheson Street was also targeted, with red paint covering its entrance and shutter. Two other eateries — a stir-fry restaurant on Lockhart Road and a diner on Tin Lok Lane — were similarly vandalized.

This agreement is designed to enhance bilateral cooperation across several key sectors, including economic trade, human resources development, and sustainable industrial growth. Anthony Lam, Chairman of FHKI, emphasized that Uzbekistan represents a vital market as the most populous nation in Central Asia. They noted that Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to act as a primary link between mainland China and Central Asian markets. The Governor of the Syrdarya Region, Erkinjon Turdimov, highlighted his district's ambition to become a leader in innovation by drawing on successful development strategies used in China. Beyond industrial advancement, the partnership is expected to open doors for collaboration in culture and tourism, offering a multifaceted approach to regional development.

Iran on Thursday threatened "crushing" attacks on the US and Israel, firing missiles at Tel Aviv after US President Donald Trump vowed to bomb the Islamic republic "back to the Stone Ages". In a prime-time White House address, Trump said the US was "very close" to achieving its objectives but warned attacks would intensify if Iran did not reach a negotiated settlement. A day earlier, Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander, two sources told AFP, in a Beirut strike that the Lebanese health ministry said killed seven people. Authorities in Lebanon say Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,300 people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2. Trump vowed the United States would not allow allies in the region -- Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain -- to "get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form".

An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck in Indonesia's Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, killing one person, damaging some buildings and triggering tsunami waves, authorities and witnesses said. BMKG chief Teuku Faisal Fathani told a press conference its modelling indicated there was tsunami potential for waves of 0.5 m to 3 m (1.6 ft to 9.8 ft) high. The Philippines’ seismology agency Phivolcs said there was no destructive tsunami threat to the country based on its latest data, while Malaysia's meteorological department said there was no immediate tsunami threat to the country but it was monitoring developments. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of the risk of waves less than 0.3 m (1 ft) over tide levels for the coasts of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan. Japan may see waves of up to 0.2 m (8 inches), but no damage is expected, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, as it warned a tsunami could occur in the Pacific.

The sight and sound of Iranian rockets arcing overhead have become near-daily for the Palestinian Ghanem family, expelled by the Israeli military from a refugee camp and now living in a rickety shack with a thin metal roof offering little protection. More than 270 pieces of missile debris have fallen on the West Bank since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence rescue service. Unlike in Israel, where bomb shelters are widely available, the West Bank has virtually no shelters, giving the Ghanem family nowhere to hide. While Iran has not been reported to deliberately target Palestinian territories, four Palestinian women were killed last month when an Iranian missile hit the West Bank town of Hebron. Areej Ghanem, Madleen's sister-in-law, says Israeli soldiers broke into their family's home without warning in the middle of the night last year.

"Is Netanyahu real or AI?" So how do you prove what's real is real when the line between reality and fabrication has blurred so much in the fog of the Middle East war? According to the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a network of X accounts posting AI content about the Middle East war has amassed more than one billion views since the conflict began. In another viral example, an X account posted an AI video appearing to show Dubai's Burj Khalifa skyscraper collapsing in a cloud of dust. Social media is rife with fabricated satellite imagery, heatmaps and other pseudo forensic visuals used to cast doubt on genuine evidence from the war, researchers say.

ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTPolice said guides allegedly added baking soda to food, causing severe gastrointestinal distress with symptoms mimicking altitude sickness or food poisoning. When trekkers fell ill, the suspects pressured them to accept emergency helicopter evacuations, then submitted fraudulent medical and flight documents to claim insurance payouts, which were shared among guides, helicopter companies, trekking agencies, and hospitals involved. One company allegedly fabricated 171 of 1,248 rescue claims, fraudulently obtaining over US$10 million. Another allegedly faked 75 cases for about US$8 million, while a third submitted 71 false claims worth over US$1 million. Nepal's tourism industry has been plagued by similar scandals in recent years, with some international insurers ceasing coverage for trekkers in the country.

TXT’s Soobin reports taxi overcharging attempt in CebuMANILA, Philippines — K-pop group TXT member Soobin almost fell victim to overcharging by a taxi driver in Cebu. Soobin and a companion are seen checking taxi fares to their destination and found that the estimated fare was only around P300. A taxi driver told them the fare was P500. “It’s because the gas is very expensive,” the taxi driver was heard telling them. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Vigor Mendoza II on Thursday said they are now looking for the taxi driver who attempted to overcharge TXT’s Soobin.

Logistics, healthcare lead 7% online hiring growth in FebruaryOverseas Filipino Workers applicants gather infront of a manning agency located along Agoncillo in Paco on March 19, 2026, hoping to secure overseas jobs. MANILA, Philippines — Online recruitment activity in the Philippines rose 7% year on year in February, signaling a stronger start to hiring as companies activated new budgets and resumed recruitment after the year-end slowdown. Data from the Foundit Insights Tracker showed hiring momentum accelerating from a 4% increase in January, with recruitment activity over the past three months rising 10%. Among the 13 sectors tracked, logistics, courier, freight, transportation and shipping posted the largest annual gain at 12%. The Foundit Insights Tracker is a monthly measure of online job posting activity cited in a report by Staffing Industry Analysts.