TAIPEI -- The war in Iran has exposed the global economy's vulnerability to disruptions in maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. This has raised questions over the future of another waterway where the threat of conflict is never far from mind: the Taiwan Strait.

ISLAMABAD -- An Iranian delegation will arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday, Pakistan official sources told Nikkei Asia, despite Tehran's statements that it had no intention of sending its negotiators while the U.S. navy is continuing a blockade of its ports.

ASAKURA, Japan -- The small, sleepy community of Asakura in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka is known for a debate over its ancient history and little else. But a Chinese developer's plan to build an apartment complex that would mostly house foreign residents turned a typically mundane mayoral election over the weekend into a major political event and microcosm of voter sentiments simmering at the national level.

BENGALURU -- Fears of soaring fuel bills from the Iran war have increased Indians' interest in electric cars, with March showing a bump in sales, and new emission norms proposed earlier this month are set to give the trend legs long after the conflict eventually ends.

SEOUL -- Samsung SDI has secured a landmark multiyear contract to supply high-performance batteries to Mercedes-Benz, marking a major victory for the South Korean battery giant as it navigates a sudden and dramatic shift in its primary European production hub.

KUALA LUMPUR -- As the U.S.-Iran war drives up prices for raw materials, Malaysia's key rubber glove industry is undergoing a shake-up, with bigger players able to pass on the higher costs to customers while smaller ones struggle.

TOKYO -- Japanese and South Korean stocks rose on Monday morning but were shy of setting new record highs as investors wait for measurable progress in talks between the U.S. and Iran, especially as intensifying military action in the Strait of Hormuz increases uncertainty over the war.

NEW DELHI -- India is seeking to tighten its controls on digital content by expanding regulation of a wider range of online voices, including influencers, podcasters and other users who share "news-related content."

TOKYO/MANILA -- Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will take part in annual military drills led by the Philippines and the U.S. starting Monday. This marks the first time Japan will fully participate in the exercises, even as geopolitical tensions rise in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.