World News
Ukraine and nine other countries team up against ballistic missiles
"Our goal is to build a shared ballistic missile defence capability for Europe," the 10 nations said in a statement in Paris at talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
 "Ukraine and nine other countries team up against ballistic missiles")
European Union may propose a law curb children's access to social media
The EU is joining a growing global movement to restrict children's access to social media over mental health and safety concerns
 "European Union may propose a law curb children's access to social media")
SK Hynix's Seoul shares see worst day; TSMC posts 36% hike in Q2 sales
The company's United States (US)-listed shares dropped 7.9 per cent to $154.7 in early trading after jumping more than 12 per cent in their Nasdaq debut on Friday
 "SK Hynix's Seoul shares see worst day; TSMC posts 36% hike in Q2 sales")
Jurassic Park star Sam Neill who declined Knighthood but reneged later
Neill first came to international attention with the 1979 Australian period drama My Brilliant Career playing a frontier rancher
 "Jurassic Park star Sam Neill who declined Knighthood but reneged later")
Akzo Nobel rejects Nippon's $8.6 billion offer for paint business
Nippon Paint shares fell as much as 3.4%, the biggest intraday decline in more than a month, before paring some losses
 "Akzo Nobel rejects Nippon's $8.6 billion offer for paint business")
Iran blockade reinstated, US to charge 20% on Strait of Hormuz cargo: Trump
Donald Trump said the United States would reinstate a naval blockade on Iran and impose a 20 per cent charge on cargo moving through the Strait of Hormuz
 "Iran blockade reinstated, US to charge 20% on Strait of Hormuz cargo: Trump")
India's exports to West Asia region evened out in June: Commerce Secy
Indian exporters are using three ports (Duqm, Sohar and Salalah) in Oman to push exports to the region
 "India's exports to West Asia region evened out in June: Commerce Secy")
Dubai housing sales decline 16% in H1 2026, prices rise 6%: Anarock
Residential transactions declined from a year earlier, but average prices rose 6 per cent as Dubai's property market remained resilient despite geopolitical tensions in the West Asia
 "Dubai housing sales decline 16% in H1 2026, prices rise 6%: Anarock")
Inside Israel's secret operation to cultivate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The yearslong effort to groom the former Iranian prez as an intelligence asset culminated in a dramatic effort to take him to an Israeli safe house in early days of the war. But the plan fell apart
 "Inside Israel's secret operation to cultivate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad")
Oil jumps over 3% as fresh US-Iran strikes threaten Hormuz shipments
Oil prices climbed more than 3 per cent after fresh US-Iran military strikes renewed concerns over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and regional supply risks
 "Oil jumps over 3% as fresh US-Iran strikes threaten Hormuz shipments")
What was Meta's Muse AI, the feature pulled days after its launch?
Meta's Muse AI let users generate images using public Instagram profiles. Days after launch, the company withdrew the feature following criticism over consent, privacy and impersonation risks
 "What was Meta's Muse AI, the feature pulled days after its launch?")
How Putin turned Japan into a hub for Russian espionage operations
Operating out of a Tokyo high-rise, a military intelligence unit finds the high-tech equipment that Russia needs to wage war
 "How Putin turned Japan into a hub for Russian espionage operations")
Ex-South Korean President Yoon jailed 2 years in political funding case
The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of illegally receiving free opinion polling services worth 270 mn won (US$180,100) from political broker Myung Tae-kyun during his 2021-2022 campaign
 "Ex-South Korean President Yoon jailed 2 years in political funding case")
Apple sues OpenAI over 'trade secrets': What the dispute is about
Apple claims OpenAI targeted engineers working on Apple's hardware programmes and encouraged them to share confidential information after they joined the AI company
 "Apple sues OpenAI over 'trade secrets': What the dispute is about")
TSMC posts record second-quarter revenue as AI demand drives 36% growth
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is a major supplier to companies including Nvidia and Apple
 "TSMC posts record second-quarter revenue as AI demand drives 36% growth")
Hormuz traffic falls to multi-week low amid renewed US-Iran conflict
Six vessels transited the strait on Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, the lowest number in five weeks
 "Hormuz traffic falls to multi-week low amid renewed US-Iran conflict")
Bangkok pub fire kills 27: Survivors choked on smoke, found no fire exists
Survivors said dense smoke engulfed the venue within minutes as investigators examined a suspected electrical fault and possible failures in the pub's emergency exits
 "Bangkok pub fire kills 27: Survivors choked on smoke, found no fire exists")
Kuwait, Jordan activate air defences as Iran retaliates after US strikes
Apart from Kuwait and Jordan, Bahrain twice has sounded its missile alert sirens Monday over Iranian attacks
 "Kuwait, Jordan activate air defences as Iran retaliates after US strikes")
US ends latest round of airstrikes on Iran after Tehran strikes Gulf states
The US military's Central Command said in a statement that it hit air defence systems, radar sites, missile and drone equipment and small boats
 "US ends latest round of airstrikes on Iran after Tehran strikes Gulf states")
Iran condemns US strikes, warns nations aiding Washington may be targeted
Tehran warned that any country allowing its territory or facilities to be used for attacks against Iran could become a legitimate target of Iranian defensive strikes
 "Iran condemns US strikes, warns nations aiding Washington may be targeted")