Journalist
John Na
han@ajunews.com
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Huawei to Invest Up to 80 Billion Yuan in Autonomous Driving Computing Power Over 5 Years China’s Huawei is sharply increasing investment in smart driving technology, aiming to expand its influence in China’s electric-vehicle market as a supplier of autonomous driving systems rather than a carmaker. According to Reuters on the 24th, Huawei Senior Vice President Jin Yizhi said at an event in Beijing that the company will invest 70 billion to 80 billion yuan ($13.6 trillion to $15.5 trillion won) in computing power over the next five years. The event was held ahead of China’s largest auto show, which opens on the 25th. Huawei plans to invest 18 billion yuan ($3.5 trillion won) globally this year in research and development for smart driving technology. Of that, 10 billion yuan ($1.9 trillion won) will be allocated to training computing power to process large-scale driving data and further develop in-vehicle artificial intelligence models. Huawei does not build finished vehicles. Instead, it supplies automakers with smart driving systems, intelligent cockpit technology and operating systems. Over the past four years, it has emerged as a key supplier in China’s smart electric-vehicle market. Reuters reported Huawei showcased 38 vehicle models equipped with its smart driving and intelligent cockpit systems at the event, with partners including Audi and Toyota. Huawei also unveiled a new Qiankun (乾崑) ADS advanced driver-assistance system. ADS is the company’s core smart driving technology, designed to help vehicles detect their surroundings and assist with lane changes, parking and highway driving. The system is set to be installed in the Epikland X9 sport utility vehicle developed with Dongfeng Motor, Reuters said. Automotive-related revenue is rising quickly. Reuters reported Huawei’s automotive revenue reached 45 billion yuan ($8.7 trillion won) in 2025, up 72% from a year earlier, far outpacing the company’s overall revenue growth of 2.2%. That suggests the auto business has become a new growth engine since U.S. sanctions. Competition in China’s auto industry is also shifting from EV pricing to AI features. Reuters said that in line with the Chinese government’s “AI Plus” push, companies including Xpeng, Xiaomi and Huawei are emphasizing in-car AI functions, such as voice commands for destinations and driving preferences and operating systems that adjust features based on a driver’s condition and usage patterns.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 16:34:36 -
Iran Plans Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees, With Exemptions for Russia Iran is moving to impose transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz while granting exemptions to some friendly countries, including Russia, foreign media reported. Xinhua, citing Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti, reported on the 24th that Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, said Iran is applying exemptions for Russia and some other countries. “Currently, there are exemptions for some countries,” Jalali said. “I don’t know what will happen in the future, but Iran’s Foreign Ministry is trying to apply the planned exemptions to friendly countries like Russia.” His remarks came as Iran’s push to charge for passage through the strait takes clearer shape. Iran has been reviewing a fee plan since the war with the United States and Israel, citing the cost of ensuring security in the waterway. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has set the lifting of U.S. blockades on Iranian ports and ships as a condition for reopening the strait. Iran has already collected what it described as its first transit-fee revenue. Hamidreza Hajibabaei, a vice speaker of Iran’s parliament, said on the 23rd that the funds had been deposited into a central bank account. The Strait of Hormuz is a key energy corridor linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Before the war, about 20 million barrels a day of oil and gas moved through the strait, roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption. The fee system is fueling debate over Iran’s control of the strait. The Guardian reported that Iran’s 10-point peace plan includes charging up to $2 million (about 2.9 billion won) per vessel. Ships seeking passage would be required to submit information on cargo, destination and beneficial ownership, then pay the fee and obtain approval before transiting a designated route under IRGC escort, the report said. The reported exemption for Russia underscores Iran’s use of the strait as a diplomatic and economic pressure tool — pressing the United States and the West with fees and demands to lift blockades, while carving out exceptions for friendly countries. The scope of any exemptions remains unclear. Jalali did not specify whether eligibility would be based on a ship’s flag, its cargo, or how long exemptions would apply. His comment that “I don’t know what will happen in the future” also left unanswered whether Russia’s exemption would be permanent.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 16:10:20 -
Iran Reportedly Lays More Mines in Strait of Hormuz; Trump Orders U.S. Forces to Sink Minelayers Iran has installed additional naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week, Axios reported, as the United States escalated its response with orders to sink any vessels laying mines. The renewed dispute over reopening the waterway is again sliding toward a military standoff. Axios, citing U.S. officials and sources familiar with the matter, said the navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps added mines in the strait. The U.S. military detected the activity and is monitoring it, the report said. The report follows earlier accounts last month of mine-laying in the strait. Axios said additional mines could further complicate efforts to restore normal shipping. A U.S. official did not disclose how many mines were added, and the White House declined to comment, citing intelligence sensitivities. The Strait of Hormuz is a key corridor that in peacetime carries about 20% of global seaborne crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Since the war, traffic has plunged. Axios reported that passages that once exceeded 100 ships a day have fallen to single digits on most recent days. Reuters reported last month that Iran laid about 12 mines in the strait. A source said the mines were installed over several days and that many locations had been identified. President Donald Trump ordered a tougher posture. The Associated Press reported that Trump on April 23 directed U.S. forces to fire on and sink Iranian small boats if they lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He also said U.S. mine-clearing operations would be expanded to three times their current level. U.S. deployments have also increased. Axios reported that the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group arrived in the U.S. Central Command area. AP reported the number of U.S. aircraft carriers in the region has risen to three. The United States has also deployed underwater drones and expanded mine-clearing operations, according to the reports. Iran has kept up pressure with threats involving fast boats and attacks on commercial shipping. Reuters reported that Iran recently used fast boats to detain two container ships near the strait, and said the Guard’s small, high-speed craft are being used to threaten maritime traffic alongside mines, missiles, drones and electronic warfare. AP reported that the Guard recently attacked three cargo ships. The central issue remains reopening the strait. The United States views guarantees of safe passage for international shipping as one condition in negotiations. Iran, meanwhile, is demanding an end to what it describes as a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and vessels. If mines have been added as Axios reported, the strait could increasingly be treated not merely as restricted waters but as a hazardous zone requiring military clearance operations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 15:54:58 -
White House Accuses China-Based Groups of Trying to Steal U.S. AI Technology The White House publicly accused China of attempting to steal U.S. artificial intelligence technology, saying China-based entities tried to extract the performance of American AI models on an industrial scale. The dispute has again highlighted U.S.-China tensions over AI and semiconductors ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote on X on April 23 that the United States has evidence that foreign entities, mainly based in China, are running “industrial-scale distillation campaigns” to steal U.S. AI and that Washington will take steps to protect American innovation. Distillation refers to training on large volumes of outputs from a high-performing AI model to boost another model’s performance. A memo released the same day by the Office of Science and Technology Policy echoed that assessment, saying there is information that foreign entities primarily based in China are involved in deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns to distill America’s most advanced AI systems. The White House said the entities used tens of thousands of fake or routed accounts to evade detection and used “jailbreaking” techniques to expose proprietary information, aiming to mimic core capabilities of U.S. AI models at low cost. The administration signaled follow-up steps, saying it will share relevant information with U.S. AI companies and support coordinated private-sector responses. It also said it plans to develop best practices to identify, mitigate and recover from industrial-scale AI distillation activity and will consider ways to hold foreign actors accountable. China pushed back. The Chinese Embassy in Washington told Reuters it opposes “groundless accusations” and said China values intellectual property protection. The announcement came ahead of a planned summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters reported the issue could also affect whether Nvidia will be allowed to export AI semiconductors to China.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:46:18 -
CNBC poll: 58% disapprove of Trump as Iran war drags on and economic worries rise President Donald Trump’s job approval has slipped further, with 58% of Americans saying they disapprove, according to a CNBC survey. The poll points to mounting public fatigue over the prolonged Iran war, higher oil prices and rising cost-of-living pressures. Weakness is also emerging on the economy, long viewed as one of Trump’s strengths. In CNBC’s All-America Economic Survey released Thursday, 40% said they approve of Trump’s performance and 58% said they disapprove, for a net rating of minus 18 percentage points. CNBC said the result put Trump near the low end of his standing in its polling. Views of Trump’s economic policy were worse. In the same survey, 39% approved and 60% disapproved. The poll cited rising gasoline prices since the Iran war and added inflation pressure tied to tariff policy as factors behind growing dissatisfaction with economic management. Other polling showed a similar pattern. In an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey, Trump’s overall job approval fell to 33%, while approval of his economic policy was 30%. On handling the cost of living, 23% approved and 76% disapproved. The Iran war also weighed on public opinion. In an Economist/YouGov poll, 58% of Americans said they oppose the war, and 55% rated Trump’s response to Iran negatively. Seventy percent said the United States should reach an agreement to end the war as soon as possible. Signs of slippage appeared within the Republican Party as well. In the AP-NORC survey, approval among Republican identifiers fell from 82% early in Trump’s second term to about two-thirds. Among Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement, 44% said they support Trump. The trend adds pressure on Republicans heading into the midterm elections. Trump has maintained strong backing among his core supporters on immigration and security, but rising economic frustration and war fatigue are increasing the risk of losses among moderates.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:06:39 -
Trump Says Allies Weren’t Needed in Iran War but Should Have Backed U.S., Pressures UK U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Britain and other allies over their support during the Iran war, saying their help was not militarily necessary but that they should have shown they were on Washington’s side. Citing a BBC interview, The Times and other British media reported on the 24th that Trump said of allied support during the war, “I didn’t need them at all. But they should have been there.” He added, “I didn’t need anybody. I wanted to see if they would get involved,” describing the request as “a test.” Trump also claimed the United States “completely destroyed” Iran’s military capability, repeating, “I didn’t need anybody.” The remarks were widely read as a message that the issue was political solidarity in a crisis, not battlefield necessity. The comments came ahead of a U.S. visit by Britain’s King Charles III. Asked by the BBC whether the visit by Charles and Queen Camilla could help repair U.S.-UK ties, Trump replied, “Absolutely,” and called the king “a fantastic and brave man.” Trump also kept up pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Times reported that Trump criticized Starmer’s response to the Iran war and cited expanded North Sea oil and gas development and tougher immigration policy as conditions for improving relations. Starmer pushed back, saying, “I’m the prime minister of the United Kingdom, and I make decisions based on the national interest of the United Kingdom.” He added, “That’s why we made the decision that we would not be dragged into the Iran war.” On the Strait of Hormuz, he said Britain had decided it would not be pulled in and that it was “in the best national interest” of the country. Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House the same day, denied any possibility of using nuclear weapons in the Iran war. “Why would you use nuclear weapons?” he said, adding, “No one should use nuclear weapons.” On the timing of a long-term peace agreement, he said, “Don’t rush,” adding that a deal could be reached now but that he wanted a permanent agreement.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 09:10:49 -
Pope Leo XIV Says He Can’t Support War, Urges U.S. and Iran to Return to Talks Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to dialogue over the Iran war, saying preventing the deaths of innocent civilians must come before questions of regime change. According to AP, Reuters and Vatican News, Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane on the 23rd local time as he flew back to Rome from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. “As a pastor, I cannot support war,” he said, calling on all sides to seek solutions rooted in “a culture of peace,” not “hatred and division.” Asked whether he supports regime change in Iran, the pope avoided a direct answer. “The issue is not whether there is regime change or not, but how we can promote the values we believe in without the deaths of so many innocent people,” he said. He added that since the first day of Israeli and U.S. attacks, “it is not even clear what regime exists now.” Leo described the situation in Iran as “very complex.” On U.S.-Iran negotiations, he said one day Iran says yes and the United States says no, and the next day the reverse happens. “We don’t know where it is headed,” he said. He said the war is causing direct suffering for Iranian civilians. “There is an entire innocent people of Iran suffering because of this war,” he said, urging all parties to promote peace, remove the threat of war and respect international law. Protecting innocent people is crucial, he said, but “in many places that has not happened.” Reuters reported that Leo also condemned the killing of protesters in Iran and questions about recent executions. “I condemn every unjust act,” he said. “I condemn taking human life.” He added that if a regime or a state unjustly decides to take others’ lives, it should be condemned. The pope also cited the death of a child on the Lebanon front. He said he keeps a photo of a Muslim child who welcomed him during a visit to Lebanon, and that the child recently died amid the war. AP reported the child was killed during the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah. “We must be able to think about these human situations,” Leo said, again urging a dialogue-based solution and calling on countries to remove the threat of war and respect international law.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 08:54:15 -
Trump Orders U.S. Forces to Sink Iranian Boats Laying Mines, Extends Israel-Hezbollah Truce U.S. President Donald Trump is managing two Middle East fronts in different ways, tightening military pressure on Iran while pressing for a longer ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Associated Press reported that on April 23 (local time), Trump ordered U.S. forces to sink small Iranian boats trying to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He also said the United States would expand mine-clearing operations. The strait is a vital route for global energy trade, with about 20% of the world’s seaborne oil and natural gas passing through it. The U.S. is also keeping up maritime pressure. AP said U.S. forces in the Indian Ocean additionally detained a tanker suspected of carrying Iranian crude. The United States is maintaining its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has said it will not enter further talks until the blockade is lifted. Negotiations remain stalled. Iran, referring to possible follow-up talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, said it would not negotiate “under threat” and made lifting the blockade a precondition. While Trump has mentioned a ceasefire and negotiations, Iran views the continued maritime pressure as military coercion even after any ceasefire. Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have also spilled into ship seizures. Reuters reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard detained two vessels passing through the strait on April 22 and was reported to have fired on the two detained ships and another vessel. Iran has underscored its leverage over passage through the strait, while the United States is pairing mine-clearing efforts with the port blockade. On the Lebanon-Israel front, Trump has pointed to a ceasefire extension as a result. AP reported that after White House talks, Trump said Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire by three weeks. The sides had previously entered a 10-day truce under U.S. mediation, and the new agreement lengthens that period. The two fronts are linked. Iran and Hezbollah are both aligned with the pro-Iran camp, and rising tension in the Strait of Hormuz could shake the Lebanon ceasefire, a factor behind Trump’s effort to manage both at once. A key variable is the possibility of further Israeli strikes. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he is “ready to resume the war with Iran” and is “waiting for a ‘green light’ from the United States.” Israel signaled it could again target Iran’s energy and economic base and its leadership. The Lebanon front also remains unsettled. While the ceasefire was extended by three weeks, reports said Hezbollah rocket launches and Israeli responses continued. Israel views Hezbollah’s disarmament as a condition for lasting peace. Lebanon wants negotiations to include an Israeli troop withdrawal, prisoner releases and reconstruction. Analysts say the region could become unstable again depending on the level of U.S. pressure and whether Israel takes additional action. Michael Young, a senior editor at the Carnegie Middle East Center, told Reuters that the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire “is very fragile for now.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 08:45:19 -
Wall Street slips as U.S.-Iran talks stall and oil surges for fourth day U.S. stocks fell as additional talks between the United States and Iran remained stalled, reviving fears of wider military tension around the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices jumped again, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite, which set record highs a day earlier, turned lower. On April 23 (local time), the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 180.70 points, or 0.37%, at 49,309.33. The S&P 500 fell 29.60 points, or 0.41%, to 7,108.30, and the Nasdaq dropped 219.06 points, or 0.89%, to 24,438.50. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq briefly hit fresh intraday records early in the session, then reversed as Iran-related tensions intensified. Profit-taking after the prior day’s highs combined with renewed geopolitical risk. The Strait of Hormuz was at the center of the market’s unease. The Associated Press reported that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to sink small Iranian boats attempting to lay mines in the strait. The U.S. military also detained another tanker in the Indian Ocean tied to Iranian crude oil. Iran maintained it would not enter talks until the U.S. blockade is lifted. Military pressure also increased. AP reported that the arrival of the George H.W. Bush in the Indian Ocean brought the number of U.S. aircraft carriers deployed in waters near the Middle East to three. Reuters reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on April 22 detained two container ships trying to leave the Strait of Hormuz and was also reported to have fired on those vessels and another ship during the incident. Oil prices extended their rally. Reuters reported U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose 3.11% to settle at $95.85 a barrel, while Brent gained 3.10% to $105.07. Reports that Iran’s air defenses were activated over Tehran added to anxiety in the oil market. As investors sought safety, the dollar and Treasury yields rose. The dollar index was up 0.19% at 98.80. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose 3 basis points to 4.33%, and the 2-year yield climbed 4 basis points to 3.83%. Technology shares led the decline. ServiceNow slid after saying some large contracts were being delayed due to the fallout from the Middle East war, sparking broader selling in software stocks. IBM also fell sharply despite results topping expectations, as investors focused on slower software growth and concerns about its outlook. Microsoft, Palantir and other large tech names also weakened, leaving the Nasdaq with the biggest drop among the major indexes. Still, earnings helped limit losses. Reuters said that among 123 S&P 500 companies that have reported first-quarter results, 82.1% beat market expectations. After the close, Intel jumped in after-hours trading after issuing a second-quarter revenue forecast above expectations, offering some support to tech sentiment.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 08:12:18 -
Vitol CEO Warns Mideast War Could Cost Oil Markets 1 Billion Barrels The chief executive of Vitol, the world’s largest independent energy trader, warned that the fallout from the war in the Middle East could leave global crude and refined-product markets short by at least 1 billion barrels in cumulative losses. According to the Financial Times and Vitol disclosures on the 23rd, CEO Russell Hardy said at the FT Global Commodities Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, that “600 million to 700 million barrels of supply have already disappeared, and losses could reach at least 1 billion barrels before the market recovers.” The FT reported that even if the war ended tomorrow, combined losses in crude and refined products could still reach that level as production, refining and logistics normalize. Hardy said about 12 million barrels a day of hydrocarbon supply is currently off the market, and he estimated refining volumes are down by roughly 6 million barrels a day. He said product inventories of 300 million to 400 million barrels are filling a short-term demand gap, but described them as only a temporary buffer that will ultimately need to be replenished. He also cautioned on demand. Hardy said demand has fallen by 4 million barrels a day so far and could drop further if the situation drags on, as the shock spreads from supply disruptions to slower growth and weaker consumption. A key variable is the Strait of Hormuz. The FT said Hardy believes the market impact could last longer if the blockade near the strait continues. Energy Intelligence also reported that Hardy warned a prolonged blockade would add downward pressure on global demand.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:53:25