Global Pulse

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  • Trump announces US pause on Iran strikes for two weeks

    Trump announces US pause on Iran strikes for two weeks

    In a dramatic late-Tuesday announcement on his Truth Social platform, former and current U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he has authorized a two-week suspension of all U.S. bombing raids and offensive military operations against Iran, framing the move as a bilateral ceasefire that hinges on Tehran reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz to global maritime traffic. The pivot away from imminent large-scale conflict came directly after a last-minute diplomatic appeal from Pakistan’s top leadership, which had stepped in as a neutral mediator between the two adversarial nations.

    Trump detailed that the decision to hold off on a planned major offensive, which he had threatened would destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” by the 8 p.m. EST deadline earlier that day, came out of consultations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote in his post.

    The U.S. leader added that the bulk of outstanding disputes between Washington and Tehran have already been resolved, noting that a 10-point peace proposal submitted by Iran serves as a viable foundation for formal negotiations. “The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate,” he added.

    Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Iran’s Supreme Security Council confirmed that formal bilateral talks with the U.S. will kick off this Friday in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, with the negotiations scheduled to run for up to 15 days. The Iranian body noted that Tehran shared its 10-point proposal with Washington via Pakistan’s diplomatic channel, and the upcoming discussions will cover core sticking points including unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz, relief for crippling U.S. and international sanctions on Iran, and the full withdrawal of U.S. military forces from regional bases.

    In its official statement, the Supreme Security Council framed the outcome as a “historic” victory for Iran in the ongoing conflict, saying the country’s resistance forced the U.S. to accept Tehran’s 10-point framework. The council emphasized that the launch of negotiations does not mark the formal end of hostilities, and laid out key terms of Iran’s proposal: binding guarantees of non-aggression from the U.S. and its allies, permanent full Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and immediate sanctions relief. The statement also noted that Iranian forces and their allied armed groups have inflicted heavy losses on opposing forces, and urged domestic unity among Iranians as the details of a final agreement are negotiated.

    Pakistan’s push for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement came as an 11th-hour intervention, after Trump gave Iran a stark deadline to cede control of the critical waterway, which carries roughly 20% of the world’s total global energy supplies. Just days earlier on Easter Sunday, Trump issued a profane, aggressive threat against Iran on social media, writing: “Open the fucking strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in hell…Praise be to Allah.” He doubled down on that warning Tuesday morning, reiterating that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran refused to meet his demands. Prior to the ceasefire announcement, multiple independent Iranian media reports confirmed that Israeli forces had launched strikes targeting Iranian steel and petrochemical facilities, amplifying tensions ahead of the deadline.

    Before Trump’s announcement, Sharif publicly shared his appeal for a two-week negotiation window on the X social media platform, urging both sides to pause hostilities to give diplomacy a chance to resolve the crisis. “To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks,” Sharif wrote, adding that he also called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial traffic during the ceasefire period. “We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region,” he added. When the Pakistani appeal was first made public, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told AFP that Trump had been briefed on the proposal and a response would be forthcoming.

    Earlier on Tuesday, a diplomatic development at the United Nations also shaped the crisis: Russia and China jointly vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution put forward by Bahrain that would have authorized international military action to end Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple conflicting reports emerged through Tuesday about the status of Pakistan-mediated talks, leading to initial uncertainty in global markets before Trump’s ceasefire announcement. U.S. stock markets traded mixed following the news of the diplomatic breakthrough, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing down 0.2% for the day while the Nasdaq Composite posted a small 0.1% gain.

  • Old photo spurs unlikely meeting three decades on

    Old photo spurs unlikely meeting three decades on

    Across the bustling northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, two photographs separated by nearly three decades have recently gone viral, touching the hearts of millions of online users across the country. The first is a faded, candid snapshot taken in 1999; the second, a sharp modern portrait captured in early 2026. Together, they tell an extraordinary story of chance connection, the passage of time, and quiet human resilience, centered around a reunion between 49-year-old veteran fruit vendor Yang Guoping and Henan-based children’s art educator Wang Mango.

    The unlikely chain of events began when Wang, a native of Jiaozuo in Henan province, was sorting through boxes of childhood belongings earlier this year. Tucked between old drawings and hand-me-down toys, she found the 1999 photo, snapped by her father during a family trip to Taiyuan when she was just 3 years old. In the frame, a lean young vendor stands behind a fruit-heavy tricycle, his face youthful and unfamiliar to Wang decades later.

    That vendor was Yang. To Wang’s surprise, her cousin, who lives locally in Taiyuan, immediately recognized Yang in the snapshot. Even 27 years after the original photo was taken, Yang still ran his fruit business within blocks of the spot where the image was captured. Wang arranged a visit, bringing the faded old photograph with her, and Yang greeted her with a mix of shock and joy — he barely recognized his own younger self in the worn shot.

    The pair returned to the approximate location of the original photo to take a new side-by-side portrait, freezing in time both the slow march of years and the unexpected, enduring bond that linked them across a generation. After Wang shared the pair of comparison photos on Douyin, China’s leading short-video platform, the content spread rapidly, drawing thousands of comments from netizens reflecting on how much both the city and the people within it had changed.

    For Yang, however, the decades of change have simply unfolded as part of his steady daily routine. He recalled to China Daily how different life was back when the first photo was taken: “Back then, hardly anyone had mobile phones, and cameras were rare. That photo was quite a novelty.”

    Yang’s journey in Taiyuan began in the early 1990s, when he left his rural hometown in Xinzhou, Shanxi, to seek work in the provincial capital. He started out as a restaurant waiter, slowly saving every extra yuan until he could afford a secondhand tricycle, and launched a mobile fruit stall on Yijing Street. By 2009, he had worked hard enough to open his own fixed brick-and-mortar fruit shop, a milestone he had spent years working toward.

    Looking back, Yang remembers old Yijing Street as a crowded, vibrant thoroughfare, buzzing with the energy of a traditional farmers’ market. Today, the street has been reborn as a trendy culinary destination, one of the most visited spots in Taiyuan. Reflecting on the changes captured in the two photos, Yang noted: “Time has left its marks, the era has progressed, and technology has developed. The old phone booth that stood in the background back then is now a 5G service center, and the entire street has been transformed. But what remains unchanged is the simplicity and kindness of people’s hearts.”

    Today, Wang runs her own small art studio for children back in Henan. She describes the cross-decade reunion as not just a magical twist of fate, but a powerful reminder of the steady perseverance that drives ordinary people. “I hope to be like him, steadfastly pursuing what I love and doing every little thing with heart,” she said.

    A closer look at the 1999 snapshot reveals another warm, untold detail: the woman standing just behind Yang is his wife, Li Xiuying. For more than 30 years, the couple has built their life around their fruit business, raising two children and helping them put down roots in the city. Over the decades, their tiny mobile stall grew into an 80-square-meter retail shop, and the beat-up secondhand tricycle was replaced by a modern delivery van. “I’m incredibly grateful for my wife’s companionship,” Yang said. “When I had nothing and started this venture, she endured hardships without complaint. Without her, we wouldn’t have what we have today.”

    Remarkably, Yang’s shop has stayed in the same neighborhood for all these years. Many of his loyal customers are people who grew up buying fruit from him as children, and now they bring their own kids to his store — a tradition Yang cherishes deeply. Even after the story went viral and drew crowds of new curious customers to his shop, Yang has remained humble. “I’m just an ordinary fruit seller. Being noticed and appreciated by everyone is already very touching. I will continue to serve each customer with care and sell the best fruits,” he said.

    Following their heartwarming reunion, Wang and Yang have already planned a future meeting: they agreed to gather again on Yijing Street for the next Chinese New Year, continuing the connection that a 27-year-old photograph first made possible.

  • Mideast conflict exposes Taiwan’s energy reliance

    Mideast conflict exposes Taiwan’s energy reliance

    The ongoing six-week conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East has pulled back the curtain on long-simmering energy and security vulnerabilities for Taiwan, with regional and global analysts warning that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities’ overreliance on Washington for defense and energy security has left the island in an increasingly precarious position. This crisis has also amplified growing skepticism among Taiwan’s public and policy experts about the reliability of the United States as a purported “security guarantor” for the island.

    Analysts across academic and policy circles consistently trace Taiwan’s current vulnerabilities to the deliberate policy choices of the DPP administration, which has prioritized alignment with external forces and stoked regional tensions over constructive engagement. Experts uniformly argue that the only sustainable path to stable, peaceful development for Taiwan lies in open, consistent communication and cooperation with the Chinese mainland.

    The most immediate and visible impact of the Middle East conflict has fallen on Taiwan’s energy sector, a system already structurally weakened by overreliance on imported resources. Official data confirms that more than 96 percent of all energy consumed on the island is sourced from foreign markets, leaving it acutely exposed to any disruption of global supply chains. At an early April press briefing, Ho Chin-tsang, deputy head of Taiwan’s economic department, acknowledged that roughly 34 percent of the island’s oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that has become a major flashpoint amid escalating Middle East tensions. Currently, Taiwan holds approximately 150 days of strategic oil reserves, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) stockpiles can only sustain current consumption levels for around 11 days, with existing supply forecasts projecting stability only through June.

    In a belated attempt to reduce its dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies, the DPP administration has pushed to restructure its import portfolio, targeting a rise in U.S. LNG shipments from 10 percent to 30 percent of total imports, with Australia and Qatar each accounting for an additional 30 percent. Even with these adjustments, Ho admitted that significant uncertainty remains if Middle East tensions are sustained over the long term.

    Chen Guiqing, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains that Taiwan’s extreme energy vulnerability is rooted in the DPP’s longstanding ideological opposition to nuclear power, which led to the complete phase-out of all nuclear energy generation on the island. Last May, Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te formally declared the island had entered a “nuclear-free” era, a policy shift that forced the island to rapidly expand gas-fired power generation as renewable energy capacity failed to scale quickly enough to fill the resulting supply gap. Today, natural gas accounts for 47.8 percent of Taiwan’s power generation mix, followed by coal at 35.4 percent and renewables at just 13.1 percent, cementing fossil fuels as the backbone of the island’s energy system.

    Rising global energy costs triggered by Middle East tensions have already filtered through to industrial and consumer markets on the island. On March 31, Taiwan’s largest oil and gas supplier announced a 41.58 percent increase in natural gas prices for power sector users, including state-run Taiwan Power Company and independent power producers, to offset spiking global commodity costs. Chen warned that even a minor disruption to LNG shipments would cripple power generation across the island, posing catastrophic risks to Taiwan’s economy and the daily livelihoods of its residents.

    A separate analysis from global investment bank Morgan Stanley echoed these warnings, noting that any extended disruption to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz would also cut off access to critical chemical inputs required for Taiwan’s flagship advanced semiconductor manufacturing sector. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) controls more than 90 percent of the global market for cutting-edge chips, and its revenue alone makes up more than 10 percent of Taiwan’s total gross domestic product, meaning a supply disruption would send shockwaves through both the island’s economy and global tech supply chains.

    Amid growing public and political pressure, Lai has recently softened his rigid anti-nuclear stance, confirming that authorities are currently evaluating the restart of two idled nuclear power plants. He cited rising electricity demand driven by economic growth and the need to strengthen energy resilience amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, but the reversal has drawn sharp criticism from opposition legislators who decry the move as evidence of a fundamentally flawed long-term energy strategy. A March public opinion poll found that 63.2 percent of Taiwanese respondents already believe the benefits of nuclear power outweigh its risks, a level of public support that has forced the DPP to confront the failure of its core energy policy. Chen notes that any concrete move to restart nuclear facilities would effectively mark the collapse of one of the DPP’s long-held core ideological positions.

    Tightening global oil supplies have already begun to disrupt daily life for ordinary Taiwanese residents, with reports of shortages of plastic bags and other petrochemical products, alongside broad price increases for consumer goods. At an April 1 press conference, Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, dismissed the DPP’s claims of secure energy supplies as nothing more than “self-comfort” and “misleading reassurance.” She criticized the DPP authorities for lacking both the willingness and capacity to address pressing livelihood challenges, accusing them of systematically evading responsibility for the island’s current crisis.

    As energy resilience comes under growing public scrutiny amid rising geopolitical instability, the Lai administration has doubled down on its push to expand what it calls “defense resilience,” prioritizing massive arms purchases from the United States. A special $40 billion defense budget proposed by Lai in November 2025 remains stalled in Taiwan’s legislative yuan, with opposition parties raising widespread concerns over a lack of transparency in spending allocations. The budget is specifically earmarked for U.S. arms purchases, including development of the controversial T-Dome air defense system.

    However, the conflict in the Middle East has amplified longstanding concerns over the reliability and timeliness of U.S. arms deliveries, as Washington already faces a backlog of more than $20 billion in undelivered weapons to Taiwan due to limited U.S. domestic production capacity, a constraint that has been further tightened by U.S. military support for Israel amid the current conflict. Lu De-yun, a former senior official at Taiwan’s defense department, recently noted in a public online forum that U.S. weapons systems included in the proposed procurement plan, such as the Patriot missile defense system and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, have demonstrated limited effectiveness in recent Middle East combat operations. He labeled the planned purchases a misguided investment that would do little to actually improve Taiwan’s defensive capabilities, instead wasting the island’s limited financial resources.

    The underperformance of U.S. defense systems in the current conflict has also drawn widespread attention from Taiwanese media. Reports have highlighted high-profile failures, including Patriot systems failing to intercept Iranian missiles, the destruction of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar system, and the downing of multiple U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones. The penetration of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system by Iranian missiles has also sparked intense public debate on the island over the value of the proposed T-Dome system, which is modeled on the Israeli technology.

    While Lai has pushed to increase Taiwan’s defense budget to 3.32 percent of GDP, with a stated goal of reaching the 5 percent benchmark set by NATO by 2030, independent experts uniformly reject the idea that reliance on U.S. military support can deliver long-term peace and security for the island. Chen argues that the so-called U.S. security commitment to the Taiwan Strait is nothing more than a “one-sided illusion” held by a small group of separatist figures who rely on external interference to advance their political agenda. “No amount of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will alter the current military balance across the Taiwan Strait,” Chen explained, adding that these purchases only drain the hard-earned financial resources of Taiwan’s people and can never deliver genuine security for the island.

    Prominent U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs reinforced this assessment during a recent interview with Taiwanese broadcaster CTITV, arguing that viewing the United States as Taiwan’s security guarantor is a dangerous mistake, and urged the Taiwanese public to reevaluate whether U.S. arms sales can truly deliver meaningful protection. “Taiwan’s security ultimately lies in peace, understanding and dialogue with the Chinese mainland,” Sachs said. “The U.S. is not a source of security; it is a magnet for war.”

    Despite widespread criticism from both domestic and international experts, Lai has continued to prioritize military buildup and frame his policy as “pursuing peace through strength,” while repeatedly emphasizing what the DPP frames as a “threat from the Chinese mainland.” Last week, four sitting U.S. senators visited Taiwan and publicly urged the island’s legislature to approve the special $40 billion defense budget. On March 26, Raymond Greene, head of the American Institute in Taiwan, the U.S.’s de facto diplomatic mission on the island, reaffirmed that Washington would continue to support Taiwan’s efforts to acquire what it calls critical defense capabilities, according to reporting from Reuters.

    Zhang Han, the Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman, countered that the Lai administration has deliberately whitewashed what she describes as blatant exploitation by external forces, misleading Taiwanese public opinion and willingly acting as a “cash machine” for U.S. arms dealers. The Chinese mainland has consistently attributed rising cross-Strait tensions to the DPP authorities’ pursuit of a separatist political agenda and overreliance on external interference, labeling Lai Ching-te a “troublemaker” and a “warmonger.” On March 26, Jiang Bin, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, confirmed that the Chinese mainland will continue to strengthen combat readiness and use all necessary capabilities and measures to resolutely oppose “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and external interference in cross-Strait affairs.

    Growing disillusionment with U.S. reliability among Taiwan’s public is already visible in opinion polling. A January 2026 poll conducted by Taiwan’s Academia Sinica found that only 34 percent of respondents view the United States as a trustworthy partner, a sharp 11 percentage point drop from 45 percent in 2021. Recent trade policy actions have further eroded trust: after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a prior reciprocal tariff arrangement, Taiwan had pledged $500 billion in investment to secure a reduction in U.S. tariffs from 20 percent to 15 percent, only to be subsequently placed under a new Section 301 trade investigation by Washington. Despite this, Lai reaffirmed at a late March event that the U.S. is now Taiwan’s largest export market and top destination for outbound investment, and that the island will continue to deepen political and economic alignment with Washington.

    Chen notes that unconditional political and economic alignment with the United States will only invite greater demands and exploitation from Washington, adding that the only viable path for Taiwan to achieve genuine long-term security and peaceful development is to improve cross-Strait relations based on the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle. Jennifer Kavanagh, senior fellow and director of military analysis at U.S.-based think tank Defense Priorities, has also called on Washington to adopt a nonintervention policy on the Taiwan question and allow cross-Strait issues to be resolved peacefully by people on both sides of the Strait. Ahead of a six-day visit to the Chinese mainland that began April 7, Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang party, said both sides of the Strait can build peaceful, stable cross-Strait relations through dialogue and people-to-people exchanges, a step that would contribute to both regional stability and global peace.

  • Adelaide couple charged with child abuse, bestiality and running ‘brothel’

    Adelaide couple charged with child abuse, bestiality and running ‘brothel’

    A joint law enforcement operation targeting suspected online criminal activity has led to the arrest of two Adelaide residents in their 30s, who now face a series of extraordinarily serious charges including bestiality, animal cruelty, child exploitation offences, and operating an unlicensed brothel. The raid, carried out on Wednesday by South Australia Police in partnership with the Australian Federal Police and animal welfare organisation RSPCA Australia, targeted an undisclosed property in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. The operation grew out of an ongoing investigation into the distribution and possession of online child exploitation material, law enforcement officials confirmed.

    Following the entry to the property, investigators seized a number of electronic devices for forensic analysis. Initial examination of those devices uncovered what detectives describe as damning evidence: material confirming the possession of child exploitation content, plus proof linking the two suspects to acts of bestiality. Beyond the digital evidence, authorities allege the private residence was being secretly operated as an illegal commercial brothel, in violation of South Australian state regulations.

    The 39-year-old male suspect faces four separate charges: possession of child exploitation material, managing an illegal brothel, committing bestiality, and ill treatment of an animal. His 33-year-old co-accused, a woman, has been charged with two counts: bestiality and animal ill treatment. Both suspects were granted bail following their arrests, and are scheduled to make their first court appearance at Elizabeth Magistrates Court in the coming weeks.

    Detective Chief Inspector George Fenwick, the senior officer leading the joint investigation, spoke publicly about the severity of the allegations following the arrests. “These allegations represent a heinous and blatant breach of the law and a profound violation of community standards and expectations,” Fenwick said. “We will continue to work with our partners to identify, investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit or harm those in the community who cannot protect themselves.”

    Law enforcement officials are continuing to analyze additional seized electronic devices to uncover any further evidence of criminal activity, and are appealing for public assistance. Any member of the public with information about suspected child abuse or exploitation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Australia confidentially on the national hotline 1800 333 000.

  • Homegrown police dog bred for success

    Homegrown police dog bred for success

    On a sun-drenched early March afternoon at the Ministry of Public Security’s Kunming Police Dog Base in Yunnan Province, China’s leading training and research facility for this specialized working breed, senior trainer Long Ling and his 2-year-old Kunming dog Kunkun moved in flawless sync to complete three high-level training drills.

    Kunkun, a demonstration canine at the base, embodies the ideal temperament that breeders and trainers have spent decades refining in China’s indigenous police dog. Around civilians, he is even-tempered, gentle and playful, especially with children, but shifts instantly to a sharp, intimidating stance when confronting hostile suspects. Long describes this balanced demeanor as an “Eastern temperament” — naturally reserved and restrained, yet able to switch to intense focus and assertiveness when duty calls.

    A small moment during the on-site interview revealed just how attuned Kunkun is to his trainer’s feedback. When Long praised the dog for his sharp instincts and strong working capabilities, Kunkun settled calmly on the ground, wagging his tail in quiet contentment. But when Long brought up the young dog’s earlier incident of biting another dog and noted that he still required closer supervision, Kunkun instantly stood alert, ears perked straight up, clearly understanding he was being called out.

    The close bond between Long and Kunkun dates back to a puppy suitability assessment in 2024, when Kunkun was just 10 weeks old. While other puppies hesitated, the young Kunkun scampered straight over to Long and nipped playfully at his pant leg, displaying a fearless curiosity that caught the trainer’s eye. That natural confidence convinced Long to select the puppy for training, and he named him Kunkun in honor of the breed’s Yunnan origins.

    Over the past two years, Long has raised Kunkun like a member of his own family, personally overseeing his feeding and care even during national holidays, and treating the dog to a weekly reward of home-cooked beef. That consistent, attentive care and targeted training has turned Kunkun into an outstanding all-around working dog, excelling in tactical coordination, close-quarter reconnaissance, and long-distance obedience — the full range of skills modern security operations demand.

    As a homegrown breed developed exclusively in China, Kunming dogs have gained growing recognition for their superior adaptability to China’s diverse climates and terrain, as well as their well-balanced character traits that make them uniquely suited to domestic public security and law enforcement work. Kunkun’s development from a curious puppy to a top-performing police dog stands as a powerful example of the breed’s decades-long success as a working dog developed for China’s specific security needs.

  • Wallaby flanker Carlo Tizzano says ‘benvenuto’ to Italy ahead of Nations Championship match

    Wallaby flanker Carlo Tizzano says ‘benvenuto’ to Italy ahead of Nations Championship match

    When Rugby Australia set out to build hype for Italy’s long-awaited return to Australian soil, it could not have picked a better ambassador than Carlo Tizzano.

    Nine years have passed since Italy last competed in a rugby test match on Australian shores, and on July 18, the Azzurri will face off against the Australian Wallabies at Perth’s Optus Stadium as part of the newly launched World Rugby Nations Championship. This groundbreaking competition marks a historic shift in international rugby, pitting six top teams from the Southern Hemisphere against six leading Northern Hemisphere sides across a full annual calendar, with a grand final weekend scheduled for London this coming November to crown the first-ever overall champion of the new competition.

    For Tizzano, the 100-day countdown to the clash carries a uniquely personal twist. The back-row flanker, who currently plies his trade for Super Rugby’s Perth-based Western Force after a 2022-23 stint with England’s Ealing Trailfinders, was born and raised in Australia to parents of Italian origin. Back in 2018, former Italy head coach Conor O’Shea reached out to Tizzano to recruit him to the Italian national side, but the flanker ultimately chose to hold off on committing, a decision he has since reflected on by saying “Lucky I didn’t pull the trigger.” In 2024, he made his test debut for the Wallabies against South Africa, fulfilling a lifelong dream of representing the country of his birth.

    This upcoming test also comes against a backdrop of shifting momentum in the Italy-Australia rugby rivalry. Before 2022, Italy had never secured a victory over Australia across 20 previous meetings between the two sides. But Italy’s 28-27 win in Florence that year was no one-off upset: last November, the Azzurri claimed a second consecutive victory over the Wallabies, winning 26-19 in Udine thanks in part to two star players with deep Australian connections. Louis Lynagh, son of Australian rugby legend Michael Lynagh, and Melbourne-born Monty Ioane, nephew of former Wallabies winger Digby Ioane, scored consecutive second-half tries to power Italy’s comeback win.

    Italy’s recent rise in form has extended beyond matches against Australia, too. In March of this year, the Azzurri notched their first ever victory over England in international test rugby, signaling that the side has become a consistent contender at the top of the international rugby circuit.

    As anticipation builds in Perth for the historic July clash, Tizzano’s dual heritage offers a fitting symbolic bridge between the two nations set to face off on the pitch.

  • Australian sharemarket surges as US-Iran ceasefire sends gold and dollar soaring

    Australian sharemarket surges as US-Iran ceasefire sends gold and dollar soaring

    A last-minute two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan between the United States, Israel and Iran has triggered a massive upswing across Australian financial markets, after the agreement reopened the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane that had been a flashpoint for global energy instability.

    The truce came together just two hours before a previously set bombing deadline, when former US President Donald Trump announced the suspension of military operations via social media. Pakistan negotiated the deal after appealing to Trump to extend his original deadline, creating a 14-day window that clears the way for commercial shipping to resume transit through the strait, a key chokepoint for 20% of the world’s daily oil supply.

    News of the ceasefire sent the Australian Securities Exchange surging Wednesday, with benchmark indexes logging their largest single-day gains in months. The benchmark ASX 200 jumped 228.80 points, a 2.62% increase that closed the index at 8957.60, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 249.5 points, or 2.8%, to finish at 9170.70. The rally pushed the ASX 200 within striking distance of its all-time closing high of 9202 points set on March 11, hitting a fresh 20-day high in the session. Eight of the exchange’s 11 sectors ended the day in positive territory, with only consumer staples, utilities and energy closing lower.

    Market analysts note the sharp market movement was largely predictable, as weeks of rising tensions had dragged valuations lower heading into the deadline. “The moves have been large and predictable,” said Kyle Rodda, a market analyst at financial trading platform Capital.com. Still, Rodda warned that underlying geopolitical risks remain unresolved. “The risks haven’t disappeared entirely. There’s a chance the ceasefire collapses or a permanent deal doesn’t materialise before the two-week deadline. If either happens, we could see the strait closed again and markets could plunge back into crisis,” he explained.

    Beyond equities, the ceasefire triggered major shifts across commodity and currency markets. For the energy sector, the end of the strait closure eliminated fears of widespread supply shortages that had driven prices sharply higher between February and March. Brent crude oil plunged 14.07% to settle at $US93.89 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude fell 15.15% to $US95.84 a barrel.

    Precious metals, by contrast, rebounded sharply after heavy sell-offs during the height of regional tensions. Gold climbed 2.49% to hit $US4825.40 per ounce, while silver surged 5.88% to $US77.23 an ounce. Mining giant BHP recorded a more than 3% gain in local trading, while major Australian banks all posted solid upswings as investors bought back shares that had been sold off during March’s tension-fueled dip. National Australia Bank led the banking rally with a 3.85% gain to close at $44.53, while ANZ rose 2.9% to $38.34, Westpac gained 2.82% to $41.95, and Commonwealth Bank added 1.85% to finish at $180.21.

    The Australian dollar also hit its highest level against the US dollar since mid-March, climbing more than 1% to hit 70.7 US cents — marking the greenback’s weakest level against the Aussie in a full month.

  • Jet fuel supplies to take ‘months’ to recover from war disruption: IATA

    Jet fuel supplies to take ‘months’ to recover from war disruption: IATA

    The global aviation industry is facing a months-long recovery for jet fuel supply chains and pricing, even after the recent reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz following a Middle East ceasefire, the leader of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirmed Wednesday.

    For weeks, ongoing regional conflict had effectively paralyzed activity through the strategic waterway, which carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s total oil and natural gas shipments. The disruption sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving sharp upward pressure on crude oil and refined fuel prices across the board.

    Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an industry event in Singapore, IATA Director General Willie Walsh warned that restoring stable jet fuel supplies will not be a quick fix, even with crude shipments resuming through the strait. “It will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East,” Walsh said, pushing back against suggestions that normalization could happen in a matter of weeks.

    The breakthrough ceasefire between the United States and Iran, reached just one hour before a Trump administration deadline for Iran that carried a threat of military action, paved the way for a temporary two-week halt to hostilities and Iran’s commitment to reopen the strait. The news triggered an immediate sharp drop in global oil prices on Wednesday, but Walsh emphasized that refining disruptions leave lasting supply bottlenecks that will not disappear overnight.

    “Even if you have the flow of crude start again, if you’ve had disruptions in refining capacity, then the problem continues for some time,” he explained. Walsh also noted that many industry stakeholders have underestimated how concentrated global energy refining capacity is in key Middle Eastern regions, leaving the entire supply chain more vulnerable to regional conflict than many had anticipated.

    Looking ahead to the impact on air passengers, Walsh said past industry trends make one outcome inevitable: higher jet fuel costs will be passed to consumers through increased airfare prices. On the topic of shifting air traffic routes, Walsh noted that some services previously routed through Middle Eastern airspace have been redirected to non-regional carriers, but characterized this shift as a temporary arrangement. Non-Middle Eastern airlines cannot fully replace the extensive network capacity offered by major Gulf carriers, he added, predicting that Gulf aviation hubs will rebound quickly once supply and stability are restored.

  • War in the Middle East: latest developments

    War in the Middle East: latest developments

    In a last-minute breakthrough that halted an imminent escalation of conflict between Washington and Tehran, the United States and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, just an hour before a self-imposed American deadline for military action against Iran was set to expire. The deal, which also counts Israel as a signatory according to the White House, requires Iran to immediately reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint that had been closed to Gulf tanker traffic amid rising hostilities.

    The 11th-hour agreement followed diplomatic outreach by Pakistani leadership, who formally requested a pause in fighting to open space for negotiations, according to US officials. Even as the truce eases core US-Iran tensions, conflict continues unabated in southern Lebanon. Israel confirmed on Wednesday that it backs the ceasefire deal but emphasized the agreement explicitly excludes Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been engaged in ongoing clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Shortly after Israel issued its evacuation warning for residents of the Lebanese city of Tyre, the Israel Defense Forces renewed airstrikes on southern Lebanon, contradicting an earlier statement from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that claimed the truce would apply to “everywhere including Lebanon”.

    Global financial and energy markets reacted swiftly to the ceasefire news on Wednesday, with significant shifts across asset classes. European natural gas prices plummeted 20% in opening trading, while global oil prices also dropped sharply following the announcement that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. The US dollar, typically a safe-haven asset for investors during geopolitical turmoil, fell roughly 1% against the euro and British pound in early European trading. Asian stock markets surged on optimism that a broader regional conflict would be avoided, and European futures pointed to strong opening gains following the overnight agreement.

    Multiple diplomatic moves are already underway to cement the temporary truce into a long-term solution. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to travel to the Gulf region on Wednesday to meet with regional leaders, a trip Downing Street says aims to shore up the ceasefire and support diplomatic efforts. Pakistan will host US and Iranian delegations this Friday for further negotiations aimed at reaching a conclusive, permanent agreement to resolve all outstanding disputes between the two nations, Prime Minister Sharif confirmed via social media platform X. US President Donald Trump announced the US will assist in clearing the backlog of ship traffic that built up in the Strait of Hormuz during the closure, writing on his Truth Social platform that “there will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process.”

    In post-agreement comments to AFP, Trump credited China for facilitating Iran’s decision to come to the negotiating table, confirming that Beijing, a key long-term ally of Tehran, played a role in pushing for truce talks. The president also addressed ongoing concerns over Iran’s uranium program, telling reporters the issue would be “perfectly taken care of” under the terms of the ceasefire, adding he would not have agreed to the truce if that were not the case. Trump framed the agreement as a major win for the United States, calling it a “total and complete victory” that was “100 percent” successful. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that sentiment in a post on X, noting that US military pressure had created the leverage needed to open the door for a diplomatic path to long-term regional peace.

    The truce comes even as unconfirmed reports of new unrest emerged Wednesday morning, with an AFP journalist on the ground reporting hearing multiple explosions in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, just hours after the ceasefire was announced. No group has yet claimed responsibility, and no official casualty or damage reports have been released.

    Looking ahead, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet with President Trump in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the new security landscape created by the ceasefire, as well as continued Russian aggression in Ukraine. The meeting comes as anti-war protesters gathered near the White House ahead of the ceasefire announcement, demonstrating against the risk of a full-scale regional war in the Middle East.

  • Trump says he agrees to suspend bombing and attack of Iran for two weeks

    Trump says he agrees to suspend bombing and attack of Iran for two weeks

    In a major development that eases immediate regional tensions across the Middle East, former U.S. President and current U.S. political figure Donald Trump has confirmed he has approved a 14-day pause on planned bombing operations and offensive military attacks targeting Iran. The announcement, first reported by Xinhua News Agency, was updated on April 8, 2026.

    The unexpected move marks a sharp shift from escalating rhetoric and military posturing between the United States and Iran in preceding weeks, which had stoked widespread international fears of a full-scale armed conflict that could disrupt global energy supplies and drag neighboring regional powers into open hostilities. A 14-day suspension of offensive operations creates a narrow window for diplomatic stakeholders to pursue de-escalation talks and open channels for negotiation to address long-standing disagreements between the two nations.

    Global governments and international observers are currently monitoring the situation closely to see whether both parties will use this pause to advance productive dialogue. The decision marks one of the most significant U.S. foreign policy moves in the Middle East so far this year, with the potential to alter the trajectory of regional security if both sides uphold the proposed truce and move toward sustained diplomatic engagement.