New Straits Times

Iran is asking Washington to clarify its position after President Trump rejected a proposed cease-fire, according to a New York Times report citing developments around the Strait of Hormuz. The move signals mounting tension between Tehran and the U.S. administration, with diplomats seeking to understand whether negotiations over the cease-fire proposal can continue or have collapsed entirely.

Iran has signalled openness to talks with the United States over the Strait of Hormuz as both Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prepare to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. It would be the first time the two leaders appear at the same event since Trump launched what he called 'Operation Epic Fury', raising speculation about a possible diplomatic opening between the two governments.

President Trump has rejected an Iranian cease-fire proposal that would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz, according to The New York Times. The proposal came amid ongoing tensions over the strategic waterway, a critical route for global oil shipments. The rejection signals a continuation of confrontational US-Iran dynamics, with observers watching closely for any further escalation in the region.

Chinese authorities are considering permitting ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Straits Times. The move would mark a potential easing of restrictions on access to advanced US semiconductors for major Chinese tech firms, amid ongoing tensions over technology exports between Washington and Beijing.

Malaysia's Barisan Nasional has announced it will leave its governing coalition at the next general election, according to the New Straits Times and Bloomberg. The decision signals a major shake-up of the country's politics ahead of the vote, ending an alliance that has shaped Malaysian government in recent years. The announcement is drawing attention across the region as parties begin positioning for the polls.