Recent reports of Japan exploring the feasibility of using the remote Pacific island of Minamitorishima as a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste have raised concern at home and abroad. An official request to carry out a survey assessing the island’s suitability for the facility was presented to the mayor of Ogasawara village, which nominally administers the island some 1,900km (1,...
Recent reports of Japan exploring the feasibility of using the remote Pacific island of Minamitorishima as a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste have raised concern at home and abroad. An official request to carry out a survey assessing the island’s suitability for the facility was presented to the mayor of Ogasawara village, which nominally administers the island some 1,900km (1,200 miles) southeast of Tokyo, earlier this month. Similar requests have been made of two towns in...
In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities. Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention. The 42-year-old audi...
In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities. Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention. The 42-year-old auditor said his son, diagnosed with autism at the age of two, had yet to speak in full sentences and...
Every violation of international law invites the next. From Afghanistan to Iran, and across Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela, the line between what is permitted and what is prohibited has been steadily blurred by the complicit inaction of the United Nations Security Council. Wielding the veto as both a shield and a weapon, its permanent members act without grounding in the UN Charte...
Every violation of international law invites the next. From Afghanistan to Iran, and across Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela, the line between what is permitted and what is prohibited has been steadily blurred by the complicit inaction of the United Nations Security Council. Wielding the veto as both a shield and a weapon, its permanent members act without grounding in the UN Charter. They play with the fate of millions, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Until recently,...
If you have a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA), you probably own some Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock -- either directly or through ownership of a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). Therefore, just about everyone has a reason to be concerned about Apple's performance, because its poor performance could cost you money. So, let's explore why Apple is poised to underperform its big...
If you have a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA), you probably own some Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock -- either directly or through ownership of a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). Therefore, just about everyone has a reason to be concerned about Apple's performance, because its poor performance could cost you money. So, let's explore why Apple is poised to underperform its big tech peers and what investors can do to prepare themselves. Image source: The Motley Fool. Continue reading
US president tells Financial Times his ‘preference would be to take the oil’ but that ‘some stupid people back in the US say: “why are you doing that?”’ Full report: Iran accuses US of plotting ground assault while publicly seeking talks Analysis: what the Houthis’ entry into the Iran war means for the conflict and the wider region Hello and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the Iran war ...
US president tells Financial Times his ‘preference would be to take the oil’ but that ‘some stupid people back in the US say: “why are you doing that?”’ Full report: Iran accuses US of plotting ground assault while publicly seeking talks Analysis: what the Houthis’ entry into the Iran war means for the conflict and the wider region Hello and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the Iran war and its impact on the region, the world and the global economy. Donald Trump has said his “preference would be to take the oil” in Iran and that US forces could seize the regime’s export hub on Kharg Island, the Financial Times is reporting, as the US sends thousands of troops to the Middle East. To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.” The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) said a peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded at one of its positions near the southern Lebanese village of Adchit al-Qusayr on Sunday . Another peacekeeper was critically injured, it said early on Monday. The Israeli air force intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Yemen , the IDF has posted online . Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon as his forces target Hezbollah. “I have just instructed to further expand the existing security buffer zone. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north,” the Israeli PM said in a video statement from the Northern Command. Israeli forces are currently occupying the area south of the Litani River, and its destruction of key bridges connecting to the rest of Lebanon and forced displacement of residents have stoked fears of a protracted occupation. Pakistan will soon host talks between the US and Iran, its foreign minister said , as top diplomats from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt met in Islamabad to discuss ways to de-escalate th...
Israel’s parliament approved the country’s 2026 budget early Monday, providing for a significant increase in military spending as the country remains engaged in wars on multiple fronts. Lawmakers passed the budget with 62 votes in favour and 55 against. The vote averted an automatic government collapse and snap election that would have followed failure to pass the budget by March’s end, under Isra...
Israel’s parliament approved the country’s 2026 budget early Monday, providing for a significant increase in military spending as the country remains engaged in wars on multiple fronts. Lawmakers passed the budget with 62 votes in favour and 55 against. The vote averted an automatic government collapse and snap election that would have followed failure to pass the budget by March’s end, under Israeli law. The proposed total expenditure budget for 2026 amounts to around 850 billion Israeli...
Michael H/DigitalVision via Getty Images Asian equities collectively trade near 13x forward EPS estimates. After reaching the mid-teens just a month ago, stocks in the Far East are attractive on valuation, in my view. Hence, I reiterate a buy rating on the Vanguard Pacific Stock Index ETF. I was bullish on the fund back in July of 2025, and it has returned 19.4% since then, total return, outperfor...
Michael H/DigitalVision via Getty Images Asian equities collectively trade near 13x forward EPS estimates. After reaching the mid-teens just a month ago, stocks in the Far East are attractive on valuation, in my view. Hence, I reiterate a buy rating on the Vanguard Pacific Stock Index ETF. I was bullish on the fund back in July of 2025, and it has returned 19.4% since then, total return, outperforming the S&P 500 by almost 20 percentage points. Shares arguably turned frothy in late February, but now in a 13% drawdown off the 52-week high, a buy-the-dip strategy appears to be a favorable risk/reward play. Today, I’ll provide an updated fundamental look at VPL and refresh the technical outlook. Asian Stocks Pulling Back on Valuation Goldman Sachs Higher Oil Has Weighed on VPL in March StockCharts.com According to the issuer, VPL tracks the performance of the FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index, which measures the investment return of stocks issued by companies located in the major markets of the Pacific region. The fund holds stocks of companies located in Japan (the major index component), Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Singapore, and employs a passively managed, full-replication approach. VPL is a medium-sized ETF, with $8.9 billion in assets under management as of March 27, 2026. That’s surprisingly down from $10.8 billion at the time of my previous analysis. Its annual expense ratio is low at just 7 basis points, while the trailing 12-month dividend yield is high at 3.82%--more than 2.5 percentage points more than that of the S&P 500. Share-price momentum is decent right now, but it has certainly trended weaker over the past four weeks, currently with a B ETF Grade in that category by Seeking Alpha’s quantitative scoring system. Risk levels are in check, but we have seen a notable uptick in volatility. In fact, current VPL implied volatility is 31% (close to that of the SPX). Finally, on liquidity , VPL’s average daily volume is high at 1.9 million s...
(RTTNews) - Aroa Biosurgery Limited (ARX.AX) announced the completion of its randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating Symphony, with preliminary results indicating that the study achieved its primary endpoint. Symphony is AROA's Cellular, Acellular and Matrix-like Product (CA
(RTTNews) - Aroa Biosurgery Limited (ARX.AX) announced the completion of its randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating Symphony, with preliminary results indicating that the study achieved its primary endpoint. Symphony is AROA's Cellular, Acellular and Matrix-like Product (CA
Former US Associate Deputy Energy Secretary Randa Fahmy warns that the ongoing Middle East conflict could extend for a prolonged period. She speaks after Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen entered the conflict over the weekend. (Source: Bloomberg)
Former US Associate Deputy Energy Secretary Randa Fahmy warns that the ongoing Middle East conflict could extend for a prolonged period. She speaks after Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen entered the conflict over the weekend. (Source: Bloomberg)
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong Observatory has issued an amber rainstorm warning, with heavy rains falling across the city. The warning, issued at 10am on Monday, means that heavy and persistent rain exceeding 30mm (1.2 inches) an hour is expected to fall over Hong Kong. “An ar...
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong Observatory has issued an amber rainstorm warning, with heavy rains falling across the city. The warning, issued at 10am on Monday, means that heavy and persistent rain exceeding 30mm (1.2 inches) an hour is expected to fall over Hong Kong. “An area of intense thundery showers is affecting the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta. Meanwhile, a...
New Zealand will offer futures based on the S&P/NZX 20 stock index starting in late April, addressing a longstanding gap in the nation’s capital markets. The contract will open on April 28 backed by a group of fund managers who are willing to support liquidity, exchange operator NZX said Tuesday in Wellington. Subject to final regulatory approval, NZX has appointed BNP Paribas to serve as the desi...
New Zealand will offer futures based on the S&P/NZX 20 stock index starting in late April, addressing a longstanding gap in the nation’s capital markets. The contract will open on April 28 backed by a group of fund managers who are willing to support liquidity, exchange operator NZX said Tuesday in Wellington. Subject to final regulatory approval, NZX has appointed BNP Paribas to serve as the designated market maker, it said. “New Zealand has been an outlier among comparable developed economies in not having a liquid equity derivatives market,” NZX Chief Executive Officer Mark Peterson said, noting that similar developed economies such as Poland, Portugal and Sweden offer similar products. NZX expects investors, including those who manage funds for the KiwiSaver worker pension scheme, to use the product to manage their exposures. That will support trading activity and liquidity in NZX-listed companies and potentially provide an entry point to the New Zealand equity market for large offshore institutions. New Zealand effectively shifted derivatives trading to the ASX in the early 2000s when the former New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange closed. NZX attempted to offer equity futures via the ASX but they failed to generate any liquidity. The new futures contract will be an important step in NZX’s strategy to build a local derivatives platform that supports efficient portfolio construction, improved liquidity management and greater investment choice for market participants, Peterson said.