Asia Pacific

The election of the US president has sparked geopolitical shifts in the Middle East, leading to Saudi Arabia and Iran engaging in rapprochement efforts partially influenced by Beijing. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman criticized Israel's actions and expressed support for Iran, signaling a shift from previous alliances. Riyadh's move towards Iran aims to strengthen its position in negotiations with the Trump administration, as they anticipate pressure to revive the Abraham Accords. Full Article

In Bavaria 147 million years ago, a new pterosaur species, Skiphosoura bavarica, was discovered, bridging the evolutionary gap between early and later pterosaurs. This well-preserved fossil with a 7-foot wingspan had a bony crest, sharp teeth, and a short tail, providing insight into pterosaur evolution. Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight, played crucial roles in ecosystems until their extinction 66 million years ago, preceding birds and bats in the evolution of flight. Full Article

Lim Oon Kuin, founder of Hin Leong, a now-defunct oil trader in Singapore, has been sentenced to 17-and-a-half years in prison for cheating HSBC and abetting forgery, involving $111.7m. The collapse of Hin Leong in 2020, one of Asia's biggest fuel suppliers, led to a fleet sell-off, with Lim and his children agreeing to pay $3.5bn to liquidators and HSBC, while facing bankruptcy applications. Full Article

Prominent Australian broadcaster and former rugby coach Alan Jones, 83, has been arrested in Sydney on charges related to alleged "sexual touching offences" dating back to 2001. Known for his conservative political commentary and influential media presence, Jones has faced controversy for his remarks and has been sued for defamation multiple times. Police are conducting an ongoing investigation and encourage other potential victims to come forward, with further updates expected. Full Article

Hong Kong police arrested a 54-year-old man in the Western police district for breaking into a store on Chung Ching Street and stealing HK$60,000 worth of cash, watches, and red wine. The arrest occurred less than 12 hours after the incident was reported, with officers reviewing surveillance footage to apprehend the suspect for burglary, a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Theft Ordinance. Full Article

Indonesia is facing significant financial losses due to the prevalence of online gambling, with government officials from the Communications and Digital Ministry found to be protecting illegal gambling operations instead of combating them. The police have arrested several individuals, including Komdigi employees, who were involved in shielding thousands of gambling-related websites, leading to public outrage and calls for further investigations into high-ranking officials. The arrests have also raised questions about the previous administration's commitment to addressing online gambling, with millions of Indonesians, particularly low-income individuals, engaging in these illicit activities. Full Article

Nvidia's new Blackwell AI chips, facing delays, are causing issues with overheating servers, affecting customers like Meta Platforms, Google, and Microsoft. The graphics processing units overheat in custom server racks, prompting Nvidia to ask suppliers to redesign them multiple times. The Blackwell chip, announced in March, combines two silicon squares into a single component that is significantly faster, but ongoing overheating problems are hindering their shipment. Full Article

"Interpreneur" is a new term coined to describe individuals with a global mindset, agile problem-solving skills, and company support to drive international success. These professionals can effectively translate business models for global markets, foster innovation, and navigate diverse cultural environments. Companies seeking Interpreneurs should focus on developing cultural awareness and international experience within their talent pipeline to promote global growth. Full Article

The Trump transition team is considering a former Uber executive and three current or former Republican congressmen, including a Fox News host, to lead the US Department of Transportation. Emil Michael, a leading contender and Trump donor, is supported by tech executives who backed Trump. Sam Graves, Garret Graves, and Sean Duffy are also potential candidates, with Sam Graves expressing interest in the position if asked to serve. Full Article

The Turkey's Personal Data Protection Board (KVKK) fined Amazon.com's Twitch gaming platform 2 million lira ($58,000) for a data breach affecting 35,274 individuals in Turkey. The investigation revealed that Twitch had not implemented adequate security measures and failed to report the breach promptly, resulting in fines totaling 2 million lira. Twitch has not yet commented on the matter. Full Article