Plus: Inside Sydney's giant cake party ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| | | Hello. As President Donald Trump says he is considering seizing Iran's major fuel hub Kharg Island, our international editor Jeremy Bowen analyses the choice the US leader now faces as the war rages on. Meanwhile, tech reporter Kali Hays looks at the recent wave of job cuts in Silicon Valley and whether AI is really to blame. And finally, get a taste of Sydney's Cake Picnic. | | | | | | |
| TOP OF THE AGENDA | | Trump's instinct-led approach to war | | | | | Oil prices rose to over $115 (£87; €100) when markets opened in Asia on Monday, just over a month into the war. Credit: EPA | | Trump has said he could "take the oil in Iran" and possibly seize its major fuel hub of Kharg Island in an interview with the Financial Times. The small island is home to an oil terminal seen as key to Iran's economic lifeline - here's why it's important. Trump "follows gut instincts" over strategic advice, writes Jeremy Bowen, and so he faces a stark choice if he cannot do a deal with Iran. Taking Kharg Island would be challenging and dangerous, Jeremy writes, with no guarantees that it would lead to the collapse of the Iranian regime. | | | | | | | | |
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| | | BEYOND THE HEADLINES | | Why tech CEOs now blame AI for job cuts | | | | | | | Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated an unreleased version of its AI-powered smart glasses in 2025. Credit: Reuters | | A number of tech companies, including Google, Amazon, and Meta, as well as smaller firms such as Pinterest and Atlassian, have recently announced or warned of plans to shrink their workforces. Kali Hays looks at whether AI is to blame. | | | | | | |