World News

Japan passes law banning national flag desecration despite criticism

Opponents say the ambiguous law only intimidates people from using the flag in art, protests or other forms of expression, and could violate constitutional freedom of speech

Iran confirms attacks on power infra, urges people to use less electricity

Iran said parts of its power infrastructure came under attack during the latest US airstrike campaign, marking the first official acknowledgement of strikes on the country's energy network

British military reports attack on tanker in Strait of Hormuz near Oman

A tanker travelling through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by a projectile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said, adding that the crew was safe and the vessel continued its voyage

US Senate bill seeks 100% tariffs on India, China for buying Russian oil

A bipartisan bill introduced in the US Senate proposes 100% tariffs on imports from India, China and other major buyers of Russian oil, alongside broader sanctions targeting Moscow

AI should be a global 'symphony', not 'solo performance': Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged global cooperation on artificial intelligence at the World AI Conference and announced AI research, training and cooperation initiatives for developing countries

Asian shares fall; Nikkei plunges nearly 6% amid AI selloff, West Asia war

Heavy selling in AI-related shares and escalating conflict in West Asia pushed Asian markets lower while lifting oil prices

US airstrikes appear to have damaged tower at Iran's Chabahar port

US airstrikes appeared to bring down a surveillance tower at Iran's Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, a key trade route for Afghanistan, as Tehran acknowledged fresh attacks

Bigger electric cars leave China with damaged roads, funding crunch

China's growing fleet of large electric vehicles is increasing road maintenance costs while reducing fuel tax revenues, intensifying calls for new road funding mechanisms

Trump says US election system is 'broken' and vulnerable to compromise

Trump cited newly declassified intelligence reports to allege vulnerabilities in US election infrastructure, renewing claims about election fraud and calling for sweeping voting reforms

Wildfire smoke blankets US cities as Canada fires rage, air turns hazardous

Canada's wildfire smoke has spread across large parts of the US, leading to hazardous air quality, cancelled outdoor events and health advisories in several major cities

SpaceX aborts Starship launch seconds before liftoff after engine issue

SpaceX aborted the 13th Starship test flight seconds before liftoff after some engines failed to ignite. The rocket was carrying next-generation Starlink satellites on the planned mission

Trump accuses China of interfering in 2020 US elections, threatening truce

President Donald Trump accused China of interfering in the 2020 US election and stealing voter data, reviving claims that US intelligence agencies have previously debunked

NYC Mayor Mamdani rejects pay hike to $305,800 approved by lawmakers

The New York City Council approved its first salary increase for elected officials in a decade, but the mayor said he would keep his current pay

Trump's media firm plans paid high-speed access to Truth Social posts

Donald Trump's media company plans to launch Truth PSI, a premium service offering millisecond access to Truth Social posts, drawing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest

Trump's teleprompter operator on unpaid leave over possible insider trading

White House placed President Donald Trump's teleprompter operator on unpaid leave after reports that he allegedly used inside knowledge of presidential speeches to place winning bets on Kalshi

Hormuz open for ships not travelling to or from Iranian ports: White House

The White House said the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessels not travelling to or from Iranian ports, with the US Navy deployed to secure maritime traffic

US targets bridges in Iran as Tehran fires missiles at Gulf nations

The US widened its airstrike campaign against Iran by targeting bridges, while Tehran launched missile attacks on Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait and warned of further escalation

Iran strikes US military assets in Bahrain with drones amid rising tensions

Iran said it launched Arash drone attacks on US military assets at Bahrain's Sakhir base in response to US strikes on civilian infrastructure, according to state media

US FDA approves Merck's daily cholesterol pill to sharply lower LDL levels

The US FDA has approved Merck's Lipfendra, the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor for lowering LDL cholesterol in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease

How an Italian sculptor created the World Cup trophy that became an icon

Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy symbolises struggle, victory and fan jubilation, and remains football's ultimate prize