World News
Fresh 6.0 quake hits Indonesia, third tremor after deadly 7.7 quake
The Northern Sumatra earthquake struck hours after the deadly earthquake off eastern Indonesia. India Today reported the magnitude at 6.8
 "Fresh 6.0 quake hits Indonesia, third tremor after deadly 7.7 quake")
5 shot at Virginia State University, campus lockdown lifted after 8 hours
The university said in a statement that the shooting involves "multiple suspects." The statement asked people to avoid the immediate area
 "5 shot at Virginia State University, campus lockdown lifted after 8 hours")
Iran says Qatar holds 3 missing pilots as Hormuz attack raises tensions
The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of attacking a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, while the Iran-backed Houthis struck a Red Sea port in Yemen.
 "Iran says Qatar holds 3 missing pilots as Hormuz attack raises tensions")
Iran, Oman edge closer to Hormuz shipping routes deal as war continues
The move follows a series of attacks in Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas transited before the war
 "Iran, Oman edge closer to Hormuz shipping routes deal as war continues")
Trump's Iran war pulls US carrier from Pacific as China steps up pressure
Beijing sees the US military presence in the region as a threat to China's rise and an obstacle to its ambition to seize Taiwan, the self-governing island it claims as its own
 "Trump's Iran war pulls US carrier from Pacific as China steps up pressure")
India@80: Tricolour flies high worldwide as diaspora celebrates I-Day
From Fiji to San Francisco, Indians and friends of India joined global Independence Day celebrations with the Tricolour, Vande Mataram, cultural programmes and messages from key partners
 "India@80: Tricolour flies high worldwide as diaspora celebrates I-Day")
Japan PM skips controversial shrine visit on anniversary of WW-II surrender
Takaichi also said Japan can play a key role in addressing global challenges as "a dependable nation" in the region
 "Japan PM skips controversial shrine visit on anniversary of WW-II surrender")
Alibaba's Qwen AI models cross 3 billion downloads, overtake Meta, Google
Alibaba says its open-weight Qwen models have topped 3 billion downloads in six months, with more than 460 models and 300,000 derivatives as Chinese AI gains global traction
 "Alibaba's Qwen AI models cross 3 billion downloads, overtake Meta, Google")
Taliban mark five years in power as Afghanistan faces growing crises
The Taliban have also faced a string of assassinations of key regional officials in the country's northeast in recent weeks
 "Taliban mark five years in power as Afghanistan faces growing crises")
20 killed, buildings toppled as 7.7 magnitude quake hits Indonesia's coast
The powerful earthquake struck near Flores early Saturday, triggering a tsunami warning for four Indonesian provinces as authorities urged residents along affected coastlines to move to higher ground
 "20 killed, buildings toppled as 7.7 magnitude quake hits Indonesia's coast")
6 dead, including shooting suspect, in Michigan; police launch manhunt
Three people were found dead at a home and another was critically injured in Missaukee County, while a fourth victim was later found dead at another house during the search for the suspect
Trump dismisses concerns over USS Abraham Lincoln crew's long deployment
Families of sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier have raised concerns over food shortages, contaminated water and poor living conditions as its West Asia deployment nears nine months
 "Trump dismisses concerns over USS Abraham Lincoln crew's long deployment")
US tax court strikes down digital ad tax, orders refunds to Apple, Google
State's first-of-its-kind tax on digital ads ruled unconstitutional under federal and state law, with officials ordered to repay money collected from Apple, Google and Peacock TV
 "US tax court strikes down digital ad tax, orders refunds to Apple, Google")
Online forum Reddit to join closely-tracked S&P 500 index next week
Inclusion in the benchmark index is expected to boost Reddit's visibility and attract investments from mutual funds and ETFs that track or benchmark the S&P 500
 "Online forum Reddit to join closely-tracked S&P 500 index next week")
Will declare Strait of Hormuz 'US territory' after defeating Iran: Trump
Trump had earlier claimed that the US exercised "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and that he "will keep it" amid stalled negotiations with Iran regarding the reopening of the strategic route
 "Will declare Strait of Hormuz 'US territory' after defeating Iran: Trump")
Elon Musk's SpaceX completes $60 billion acquisition of AI startup Cursor
The deal became effective on Aug. 14, according to a regulatory filing, two months after SpaceX formally announced it had agreed to acquire the company.
 "Elon Musk's SpaceX completes $60 billion acquisition of AI startup Cursor")
France's top court blocks social media ban for children under 15
France's Constitutional Council said the proposed ban disproportionately infringed freedom of expression and lacked safeguards for the right to privacy.
 "France's top court blocks social media ban for children under 15")
Goldman taps investors for backing Nvidia's $500 bn AI infra financing
US insurers, money managers and banks are expected to form the core investor base as Goldman explores private credit and debt structures for the financing.
 "Goldman taps investors for backing Nvidia's $500 bn AI infra financing")
As Europe gets hotter, its transportation systems struggle to cope
Rail services are being cut, tracks are buckling and highways are cracking as Europe's ageing transport infrastructure struggles with increasingly intense heatwaves.
 "As Europe gets hotter, its transportation systems struggle to cope")
US says Iran naval blockade can continue indefinitely as talks stall
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the US military has the capability to maintain a naval presence in the region to enforce its blockade of Iran
 "US says Iran naval blockade can continue indefinitely as talks stall")