2026, day 228 Good morning from Asia. ‘Iran tells Trump to ‘accept the reality of defeat’’ (Telegraph); ‘Iran defiant on strait as Trump tells Americans to accept high gasoline prices’ (Reuters); ‘Iran, Oman Home In on Hormuz Strait Deal as Ship Attacks Mount’ (BBG); ‘What Bessent’s Economic Isolation of Iran Could Look Like’ (BBG); ‘Israel cannot wait forever for peace as Iran rapidly rebuilds its missile program’ (JPost); ‘After IDF soldiers injured: Reports in Lebanon of widespread attacks on the Ali Taher Ridge’ (Ynet); ‘Hezbollah says Israeli attacks will be met with ‘appropriate’ response’ (AFP); ‘Yemen military vows tough response to Houthi attack on port city’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Yemen’s Mokha port halts operations after Houthi attacks, port director says’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Yemen’s Houthis begin arrest campaign south of Hodeida’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Erdogan says Egypt could join Turkiye-Saudi-Pakistan defence pact’ (AJ); ‘Russia threatens 'serious damage' to relations with US, Turkey over weapons shipment to Ukraine’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Ukraine’s new ballistic missile puts Putin within reach’ (Politico) - “Kyiv is developing its own domestic ballistics as Russia’s missile threat grows”; ‘Ukrainian forces target Moscow Oblast, damaging Wildberries warehouse in major attack’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘A Millennial Furniture Designer Is Behind the Drones Battering Russia’ (WSJ) - “Iryna Terekh, 34, used to design benches. She is now CEO of Ukraine’s largest private defense company, Fire Point”; ‘Ukraine left exposed as Patriot launchers run empty’ (FT); ‘Russian attack rocks Kyiv as numerous explosions heard within minutes’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Europe wants @you: Armies go digital to recruit young soldiers’ (Euractiv); ‘US Military Option for Cuba Fades as Trump Focuses on Sanctions’ (BBG); ‘US floats prospect of joint strikes on Colombian armed groups’ (Reuters); ‘Navy looking into warship redesigns as part of Trump requests’ (The Hill); ‘Australia urged to lead Indo-Pacific cable shield as hybrid war risks rise’ (SCMP); ‘As China Pushes to Expand in Asia, Trump Focuses on Iran’ (NYT) - “Asian allies are beginning to wonder whether the United States would or could defend them in a war”; ‘Takaichi keeps friends close as China ratchets up diplomatic pressure’ (Nikkei Asia); In geoeconomics, ‘AI Is Helping Patients Solve Medical Mysteries’ (WSJ); ‘Singapore Inc hopes AI access will stop finance high-flyers moving to Hong Kong’ (FT); ‘No room for data centers? South Korea wants to build one underwater’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Europe's 'Made in EU' rules start at 5%, and they do not mention software’ (NextWeb); ‘China’s 1MW perovskite solar farm beats silicon system in industrial-scale test’ (SCMP); ‘Chinese rare-earth project in Laos stumbles as industry rakes in profits’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Mine halted to ensure 'compliance with law,' highlighting risks in booming business”; ‘Brazil seeks EU clarity as antimicrobial trade curbs loom’ (Euractiv) - “Export restrictions threaten to blunt early EU-Mercosur gains”; ‘Colombia asks Trump to suspend tariffs as country reels from earthquake’ (AJ); In politics, ‘A new rival is forcing Italy’s Meloni back to her far-right roots’ (Politico); ‘Reform unveils plan for £50bn a year in welfare cuts’ (Telegraph) - “Robert Jenrick reveals proposed replacement for personal independence payments to end system of ‘suicidal empathy’”; ‘Just 15% want boat migrants near them: Lefties back Burnham's plan for asylum seekers in affluent areas... but not theirs, Mail poll reveals’ (Daily Mail); In markets, ‘Central Banks Are Stuck in a Rinse-and-Repeat Cycle of Crises’ (WSJ) - “By becoming market makers of last resort, policymakers are pumping up leverage and risk”