In other news

China has sanctioned former Philippine Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino, a key ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on South China Sea issues, barring him from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Announced a day after his term ended, Beijing cited “egregious conduct on China-related issues,” accusing certain Philippine politicians of undermining bilateral ties. Tolentino helped author the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, asserting Manila’s South China Sea claims, and led a Senate probe into alleged Chinese espionage—moves China has strongly opposed.

Beijing’s September 3 military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end, will showcase the PLA’s latest hardware and signal policy direction through a speech by Xi Jinping. While not explicitly themed around Taiwan, the event is intended to send messages to the island. Expected highlights include fifth-generation fighter jets, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and advanced uncrewed systems developed with a Taiwan conflict in mind. New carrier-based aircraft, potentially the J-15T and J-35 adapted for catapult launches, may appear, underscoring that China’s carriers are “combat-ready” after recent deployments near Taiwan. The parade is both a demonstration of military capability and a political statement about China’s strategic posture.

China is close to a major Airbus order for 100–200 aircraft, reinforcing a shift away from Boeing amid strained US-China ties and safety concerns. Boeing hasn’t won a significant China order since 2017 and faces reputational issues, including strikes, losses, and a recent fatal crash involving a 787. Beijing’s pivot toward Airbus and the domestic Comac C919 aligns with geopolitical and safety priorities, but analysts warn airlines with Boeing-heavy fleets may struggle with the transition. The deal could be signed during an upcoming EU-China summit, following a US$20 billion Airbus order in 2023, further sidelining Boeing in the world’s No. 2 aviation market.

A planned US$4.9 billion China-funded bauxite smelter by Tianshan Alumina Indonesia on Singkep island would occupy around 400 hectares of land currently used by Indonesia’s navy, potentially shrinking a key training area used for joint exercises with partners like the US and Australia. The project, granted National Strategic Project status in 2023 under Indonesia’s push for domestic resource processing, has triggered concerns from a Jakarta-based military analyst that national defence priorities are being subordinated to foreign investment. The navy has confirmed the plan following a June meeting with the presidential staff office and defence ministry.

China’s leadership, led by Xi Jinping, is prioritizing the creation of a “unified national market” to boost domestic demand amid external uncertainties. At a high-level economic meeting, authorities called for curbing cutthroat competition, phasing out outdated industrial capacity, improving the business environment, and standardizing regulatory enforcement. They also emphasized integrating domestic and foreign trade, enabling export-oriented goods to shift to the domestic market, and nurturing firms active in both. While focusing on internal market cohesion and high-quality development, the commission reaffirmed keeping the economy open. Four Politburo Standing Committee members, including Xi and Premier Li Qiang, attended.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged stricter regulation of official power to combat corruption, calling for clearer, more transparent and traceable oversight mechanisms. Speaking at a Politburo study session, he advocated greater public and media scrutiny to expose abuses, tightening institutional checks that unify authorization, exercise and control of power, and closing loopholes. Xi reiterated that “all power is granted by the people,” emphasized respect for law and party discipline, and reaffirmed enforcement of the 2012 eight-point austerity rules as central to party image and legitimacy.

The family of Jane Wu, a China-born neuroscientist who died by suicide in July 2024, has filed a civil complaint in Cook County against Northwestern University. The suit alleges the university discriminated against and isolated Wu during and after an NIH administrative investigation (2019–2023) that found no misconduct. According to the filing, Northwestern partially shut her lab, dismantled her team, reassigned NIH grants to white male colleagues, cut her salary, imposed restrictions, and refused to return an active grant, preventing her from rebuilding her career. The family claims these actions were a decisive factor in her death.

Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its handover with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square, a reception where Chief Executive John Lee spoke, and citywide promotions. Residents and visitors enjoyed discounts at over 3,800 restaurants, free museum entry and tram rides, and reduced-price tickets to major attractions. The celebrations followed the fifth anniversary of the national security law, which has reshaped the city’s political landscape and ended the annual July 1 opposition march last held in 2019.

Chinese researchers identified betaine—a compound that increases in the kidneys during long-term exercise—as a key mediator of exercise’s anti-ageing effects. In studies published in Cell, they show betaine targets and inhibits the enzyme TBK1, reducing systemic inflammation and slowing ageing across multiple organs. Supplementing betaine in models “precisely mimicked” benefits of sustained exercise, suggesting potential exercise-mimetic strategies. The work clarifies a core molecular pathway linking exercise to longevity, though differences among exercise types and broader mechanisms remain to be explored.

With just over a week before a 90-day pause expires on a planned U.S. tariff hike on imported cars, Japan’s top trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa rushed to Washington but made little headway. President Donald Trump signaled he will proceed with raising tariffs from 2.5% to 27.5%, saying partners like Japan block U.S. cars while exporting millions to America. Despite calls and outreach, Tokyo has not secured key meetings or concessions, and analysts see scant willingness on either side to compromise before the July 9 deadline.

The SCMP’s US Economy, Trade & Business page highlights escalating global trade tensions and shifting alliances under President Trump. Key themes include: ongoing US-China negotiations yielding an understanding on rare earth shipments and export controls, yet broader uncertainty persists; Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda and demands on trading partners, with halted talks with Canada and EU readiness to accept higher levies; concerns that tariffs are chilling investment and disrupting supply chains, prompting calls at “Summer Davos” for Chinese firms to relocate manufacturing. China’s exports of high-tech goods are shifting toward the EU as shipments to the US drop; Beijing tightened controls on rare earths and cut US Treasury holdings to a 16-year low. US farmers face declining sales to China, potentially permanent. Markets remain volatile, with Nvidia reclaiming the world’s largest stock title while maintaining China exposure. Politically, Trump downplays cyber and IP concerns with China, floats redefining G7 participation, and pushes a budget plan that could swell debt, spurring proposals to limit foreign US debt ownership. Overall, trade friction, tech competition, currency and debt dynamics, and supply-chain realignments dominate the landscape.

- SCMP highlights seven notable Asia stories from the past week. - Vietnam: Property tycoon Truong My Lan, convicted of embezzling about US$12.5 billion from Saigon Commercial Bank, had her sentence reduced, avoiding the death penalty. - Philippines: Despite individual accolades like Boracay’s luxury destination award, overall tourism is underperforming compared with booming Asean neighbors. - India: A spate of cases involving newlywed wives accused of killing their husbands has shocked the country. - Malaysia: The roundup also includes a milestone with the appointment of the country’s first ethnic Chinese lieutenant general, among other regional developments.

Analysts expect the yuan to keep appreciating against the US dollar through 2025, driven by stronger-than-expected Chinese economic data and rising concerns over US debt sustainability. The People’s Bank of China set the strongest daily fixing since early November, and the onshore yuan gained 1.86% in the first half of the year. Goldman Sachs notes improving sentiment on China’s near-term growth and anticipates further dollar weakness due to doubts about US exceptionalism, loose fiscal policy, and higher long-term financing costs. The bank forecasts the yuan to break below 7 per dollar in six months and reach about 6.9 in 12 months.

Belarusian opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky, a blogger who tried to run against President Alexander Lukashenko in 2020, has been freed after more than five years in solitary confinement, during which he lost about 60 kg and endured harsh punishment cells and total isolation. Released alongside 13 others following a rare U.S. diplomatic visit to Minsk, he is now in exile in Lithuania and reunited with his family, though his young daughter initially didn’t recognize him. Tikhanovsky says his spirit is unbroken and urges continued pressure on the regime, rejecting any confession or pardon request. He warns Lukashenko is using releases to open dialogue with the West without changing course, a view echoed by his wife, opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who opposes easing sanctions amid ongoing repression and more than 1,000 political prisoners still detained.

A jury in Australia has begun deliberating the case of Erin Patterson, 50, accused of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth by serving a beef Wellington allegedly containing death cap mushrooms at a 2023 lunch. Prosecutors say she knowingly used the toxic fungi, lied about circumstances—including a fabricated cancer diagnosis—and disposed of a food dehydrator to cover up. The defense argues it was a tragic accident, citing a mix of store-bought and foraged mushrooms, her lack of motive, panic-driven lies, and her bulimia explaining why she became less ill. After two months of testimony from over 50 witnesses, the judge instructed jurors not to convict based solely on lies and to avoid emotional influence. The sequestered jury will decide her fate.

A father jumped into the ocean from the fourth deck of the Disney Dream to rescue his daughter after she fell overboard while posing for a photo. Crew issued a man-overboard alert, turned the ship, and deployed a tender that retrieved both within about 10 minutes as passengers watched. Both were safely returned to the ship, which continued to Fort Lauderdale as scheduled. Disney praised the crew’s swift response. Incidents like this are rare, and overboard rescues are often unsuccessful, industry data show.

Hopes for a near-term India-US trade agreement are dimming as a 9 July deadline approaches, with talks snagging on US demands for broader agricultural access and India’s resistance to weakening protections for its vast farm sector. Washington also objects to India’s expanding non-tariff barriers, notably Quality Control Orders, while Delhi signals firm red lines on dairy and key food grains. A likely fallback is a limited “mini-deal” focused on tariff cuts for select industrial goods and narrow agricultural concessions (e.g., almonds, apples, ethanol, wine), alongside potential large US commercial sales and investment relaxations, leaving deeper issues—services, IP, digital rules—for later. If talks fail, experts doubt Trump will single out India with fresh tariffs, but uncertainty remains.

A BBC Hindi investigation found that far more people likely died in the 29 January Kumbh Mela crowd crush in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, than the official toll of 37. Reporters verified 82 deaths through documents, testimonies, and mapping, and uncovered four separate crush sites. While the state says it paid full compensation of 2.5m rupees to 35 families, the BBC documented 26 additional families quietly given 500,000 rupees in cash—often alongside statements attributing deaths to health issues—and 18 more deaths with no compensation. Payments and death certificates frequently cited locations away from the main crush area, suggesting downplaying of the scale. Families described hours-long waits with bodies and a lack of on-site assistance despite extensive security claims. Officials did not respond to repeated BBC queries.

Prada faced backlash in India after unveiling sandals at Milan Fashion Week that closely resembled traditional Kolhapuri footwear but were described only as “leather footwear.” Following criticism and a letter from a Maharashtra industry body, Prada acknowledged the design’s Indian roots and said it values craftsmanship and heritage, engaging with local stakeholders for dialogue and potential collaboration. Kolhapuri sandals, a 12th-century craft with Geographical Indication status, are handmade and inexpensive locally, prompting anger over potential premium pricing and cultural appropriation. The incident echoes past controversies involving global brands and Indian attire, though some in Kolhapur expressed pride that their craft is gaining recognition.

BBC report on Squid Game’s final season highlights how the series’ bleak themes mirror South Korea’s realities of inequality, precarious work, and ruthless competition. While a celebratory Seoul parade underscored its global cultural impact—and teased possibilities like an American spinoff—the finale divided viewers. Protagonist Gi-hun’s self-sacrifice to save a baby was criticized by some as implausibly altruistic and praised by others as true to the show’s uncomfortable realism about power and human nature. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledged mixed reactions amid sky-high expectations, noting audiences wanted different things—more games, deeper themes, or character focus. For many South Koreans, the season’s reflection of everyday struggles resonated, with some viewers finding hope in the coexistence of cruelty and kindness.

The BBC reports harrowing testimonies from civilians fleeing Sudan’s civil war in Darfur, where the RSF has besieged el-Fasher and controls most of the region. Nineteen-year-old Alawia Babiker Ahmed miscarried during a three-day, 70km escape to Tawila, rescued an orphaned infant after finding his mother dead, and endured assaults, robbery, and denial of water by RSF fighters. Her brother, Marwan, was beaten and avoided execution by lying about his origin. Another woman, Khadija Ismail Ali, lost 11 family members to shelling and three children to thirst during their flight. Aid groups warn of severe child malnutrition and widespread land seizures by militias. The accounts underscore extreme violence, displacement of over 12 million nationwide, collapsing humanitarian conditions, and fears of Sudan’s fragmentation as the war shows no sign of ending.

Turkey arrested four senior employees of the satirical magazine LeMan—its editor-in-chief, graphic designer, institutional director, and cartoonist—over a published cartoon authorities say depicted the Prophet Muhammad, whose portrayal is forbidden in Islam. The interior and justice ministers condemned the image and announced investigations for “publicly insulting religious values,” with arrest warrants for additional managers. Protests erupted outside LeMan’s Istanbul office, where police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds. LeMan denied the cartoon portrayed Muhammad, apologized to readers who felt hurt, and said the drawing depicted a Muslim victim of Israel rather than the Prophet. The editor-in-chief, speaking from Paris, called the reaction a dangerous misinterpretation and drew parallels to the Charlie Hebdo controversy.

Idaho officials say 20-year-old Wess Roley deliberately set a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene to lure first responders, then ambushed them, killing firefighters Frank Harwood and John Morrison and critically injuring Dave Tysdal. Roley, who had been homeless and living in his vehicle, reportedly once aspired to be a firefighter and “idolised” emergency crews, according to the sheriff and his grandfather. The attack began after firefighters asked him to move his vehicle. After hours of gunfire and a massive law enforcement response, Roley was found dead on a nearby trail, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot. Authorities believe he used a high-powered rifle; a shotgun and bullet fragments were recovered. The Nettleton Gulch Fire grew to 26 acres but threatened no structures. The motive remains unclear; officials dismissed online claims of extremist ties. Flags were ordered to half-staff in honor of the fallen firefighters.

Authorities in Sinaloa, Mexico found 20 bodies—several decapitated—near a highway bridge amid escalating infighting within the Sinaloa cartel. Four headless bodies were by the roadside, 16 were in an abandoned vehicle, and five heads were found in a bag; all victims had gunshot wounds. A cartel note was left at the scene. Violence has surged since the reported U.S. capture of cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, intensifying conflict between his faction and the “Chapitos,” led by El Chapo’s sons. The struggle has left over 1,200 dead in Sinaloa in the past year, with gruesome tactics and symbolic displays (sombreros, pizza boxes) marking victims. Officials vowed coordinated military-police action as Mexico continues to face widespread cartel-related violence.

Two tropical systems formed off Mexico on Sunday. Barry, in the Atlantic, made landfall near Tampico Sunday night as a tropical depression after weakening, with 3–6 inches of rain (up to 10 inches) expected across parts of Veracruz, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. In the Pacific, Flossie strengthened into a hurricane Monday night, located about 175 miles south of Manzanillo, moving west-northwest with 75 mph winds; it is forecast to stay over open water but bring 3–6 inches of rain to Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. NOAA projects an above-normal Atlantic season with 13–19 named storms, 6–10 hurricanes, and 3–5 major hurricanes.

A 92-year-old man, Ryland Headley, was convicted of the 1967 rape and murder of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in Bristol, resolving one of the U.K.’s longest-running cold cases. Dunne was found strangled and asphyxiated in her home. The case was cracked after a 2023 review used modern forensics: DNA from Dunne’s preserved skirt matched Headley, whose profile entered the database in 2012, and a palm print from a window also matched him. Headley had prior convictions for raping two elderly women in the late 1970s. With most original witnesses deceased, the trial relied on historical statements and forensic evidence. Headley will be sentenced Tuesday, and authorities are probing potential links to other unsolved crimes.

A DOJ inspector general audit reveals that in 2018 the Sinaloa cartel hired a hacker who used Mexico City’s surveillance cameras and phone data to track people visiting the U.S. Embassy, including an FBI assistant legal attaché. By analyzing call records, geolocation, and camera footage, the cartel identified and followed contacts, using the information to intimidate and, in some cases, kill potential sources and cooperating witnesses. The report warns that advances in data mining, facial recognition, and cyber tools heighten risks to FBI personnel and operations, urging an agency-wide threat assessment. The revelation comes amid ongoing actions against “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, leaders of the cartel’s Chapitos faction.

Indian customs at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport arrested a passenger arriving from Thailand with 16 live snakes hidden in luggage, including garter snakes, a California king snake, a rhino rat snake, and a Kenyan sand boa. It’s the third wildlife seizure this month on the Thailand-India route, following recent interceptions of venomous vipers and 100 mixed animals. TRAFFIC warns of a troubling rise in exotic pet trafficking, noting over 7,000 animals seized on this air corridor in the past 3.5 years, with most interceptions in India. Authorities are investigating.

Venezuelan authorities arrested Pierina Uribarri, accused as an accomplice in the livestreamed killing of TikTok influencer Jesus Sarmiento, who had denounced the Tren de Aragua gang and alleged police corruption. Uribarri, described as partner to suspected gunman Adrian Romero, was charged with intentional homicide, criminal association, and terrorism. Arrest warrants are also out for Romero and two others, Wilbert Gonzalez and Gerald Nieto. Sarmiento, with over 77,000 followers, was shot during a live broadcast in which gunmen appeared on camera. He had previously posted about Tren de Aragua’s leader “Nino Guerrero” and alleged extortion by police, despite government claims the gang no longer exists. The case follows other recent global murders of social media influencers.

Norsk Tipping, Norway’s state lottery, mistakenly told thousands of Eurojackpot winners they had won vastly larger prizes due to a currency conversion error that multiplied euro amounts by 100 instead of dividing by 100. No incorrect payouts were made. CEO Tonje Sagstuen apologized and resigned over the incident; she had led the company since September 2023 and will receive six months’ severance. The company, which has faced multiple technical issues over the past year, is investigating the mistake.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee (ACIP), saying the changes politicize immunization policy and will likely restrict access to vaccines beyond COVID-19. He warned that patients may soon find desired vaccines unavailable due to ideologically driven decisions. Gottlieb noted the newly appointed ACIP members often lack vaccine science expertise, citing instances where basic concepts had to be explained during the meeting, and stressed the need to quickly confirm a CDC director and fully constitute the board with qualified experts. Addressing ACIP’s recommendation to avoid flu vaccines containing thimerosal, Gottlieb explained the preservative remains in a small share of multi-dose flu vials used mostly for adults. He said thimerosal (ethylmercury) was largely removed from vaccines in the early 2000s not for safety concerns but to address public fears, and reiterated that evidence does not link it to autism. He pointed out the CDC temporarily removed a counter-analysis from its website, with Kennedy citing process issues, and emphasized that current actions reflect longstanding priorities of Kennedy and his anti-vaccine allies.

President Trump signed an executive order ending the U.S. sanctions program on Syria while keeping sanctions on former president Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, those linked to chemical weapons, ISIS and affiliates, and Iranian proxies. The move follows his May pledge and meetings with Syria’s new transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa after the Assad regime’s collapse. Treasury has already eased some restrictions to encourage investment and reconstruction, though certain sanctions still require congressional action. U.S. allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia support normalization with Syria’s new government, seeing strategic and economic opportunities. Syria has argued sanctions have hindered salary payments, reconstruction, and healthcare rebuilding.

The BBC apologized for not cutting its live stream of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set after the duo led a “Death to the IDF” chant, calling it “utterly unacceptable” and contrary to its standards against incitement to violence. Glastonbury organizers also condemned the chant. The U.S. revoked the band members’ visas, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau saying foreigners who glorify violence aren’t welcome; the band had a U.S. tour planned for late October. Bob Vylan defended their remarks on Instagram as a call to activism. U.K. police opened an investigation. The BBC also chose not to air Northern Irish group Kneecap’s set live due to prior controversies.

Thousands marched in Bogotá for Pride, celebrating LGBTQ identity while protesting rising violence against the community. The event served as both a festive display of visibility and a defiant call for safety and rights amid ongoing attacks.

CNN reports from Tehran on the Hosseini Infants Ceremony, where hundreds of mothers raise their babies to symbolize willingness to offer them to God and Imam Hossein. The ritual, observed on the first Friday of the Islamic month, reflects Shia mourning traditions tied to Imam Hossein’s martyrdom. The video is part of a broader news roundup featuring global events, but centers on the rare public display of religious devotion in Iran amid ongoing regional tensions.

Residents of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, lined the highway to honor two firefighters who were fatally shot in an ambush while responding to a brush fire. A large community turnout accompanied the procession moving the fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health to Spokane, Washington. Authorities say the suspected shooter, found dead with a firearm on Canfield Mountain, is believed to have intentionally set the fire and acted alone.

Photographer Edward Burtynsky’s new images from a highly automated BYD electric-vehicle plant in Changzhou reveal an almost humanless, “cathedral-esque” factory run by robots—what he calls a foreshadowing of industry’s future. BYD’s rapid rise, aided by automation and low-cost models like the $10,000 Seagull, reflects China’s vertically integrated strategy, from mineral sourcing to final assembly. The BYD photos anchor Burtynsky’s wider “China in Africa” series, which contrasts pristine Chinese factories with Chinese-owned industrial sites across Africa, suggesting that labor once central to China’s boom has been offshored. Known for a neutral, “deadpan” style and moral ambiguity, Burtynsky frames automation as paradoxical: EV manufacturing is resource-intensive yet could hasten a move away from fossil fuels, and replacing dehumanizing factory jobs may be socially beneficial. His work aims to evoke wonder while revealing the hidden details and trade-offs of contemporary globalization and industry.

A Ukrainian strike hit a Russian missile factory in Izhevsk, according to social media video and Russian authorities, killing three people and injuring at least 35. CNN featured the footage in a 1:40 segment amid broader international news coverage.

CNN’s Adam Kinzinger highlights that President Trump’s promise to deliver an answer within “two weeks” on Vladimir Putin’s supposed willingness to end the Ukraine war has stretched to five weeks with no resolution. The segment underscores the ongoing war, the missed self-imposed deadline, and the gap between Trump’s assurances and tangible progress.

CNN’s Stephen Collinson analyzes President Trump’s planned visit to a rapidly built migrant detention, processing, and deportation camp in Florida’s Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The White House and allies, including border czar Tom Homan and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are promoting the site’s isolation and harsh environment as a deterrent and a symbol of tough immigration enforcement, with GOP merchandising amplifying the spectacle. Critics—immigrant advocates, environmentalists, and Indigenous groups—condemn the camp’s location and dehumanizing optics, drawing historical parallels to internment and warning of authoritarian undertones. The visit is part of a broader strategy of provocative photo ops to drive media cycles, energize Trump’s base, and build momentum for a sweeping immigration bill funding expanded detention and deportations. Amid assurances of humane conditions, recent deaths in ICE custody intensify scrutiny of migrant treatment and medical care.

Turkish police detained four cartoonists from the satirical magazine LeMan after a cartoon—interpreted by authorities and protesters as depicting the Prophet Mohammed alongside Moses—sparked large Islamist protests in Istanbul. Officials condemned the image as a provocation and said it is not protected speech, launching an investigation under Article 216 for publicly insulting religious values. LeMan denied depicting the Prophet, saying the name “Mohammed” in the cartoon referred to a generic victim, not the Islamic prophet, and apologized to those offended. Videos showed police detaining the cartoonists and protesters attacking the magazine’s offices; calls for further protests continue. Authorities urged crowds to disperse, citing provocations, and clarified the cartoonists are detained, not formally arrested.

A bystander’s video shows plainclothes immigration agents chasing a woman who had been selling food outside a West Los Angeles Home Depot; she clings to a tree to avoid detention as onlookers record. The incident highlights heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration and unfolds alongside broader national stories featured by CNN, including political developments, court rulings, and public safety incidents.

Thailand, which decriminalized cannabis in 2022, has introduced new rules to curb an unregulated “green rush.” The government’s U-turn aims to rein in widespread recreational use, tighten control over sales and licensing, and address public health and social concerns that surged after rapid proliferation of dispensaries and cannabis products. The shift seeks to refocus cannabis toward medical use and bring the industry under stricter oversight.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said generative AI will reduce the number of people needed for tasks it automates, leading to a smaller corporate workforce over time. He emphasized that AI will also create new roles, particularly in AI and robotics, and make remaining jobs more interesting by eliminating rote work. Jassy’s remarks align with broader tech industry trends, as companies like Salesforce, Microsoft, Shopify, and Klarna report significant AI-driven productivity gains and workforce shifts. Amazon has already cut over 27,000 jobs since 2022 and continues targeted layoffs, while investing in AI, software agents, and robotics, including long-term ambitions for automated delivery and transportation. Amazon’s stock has lagged the Nasdaq this year and remains below its February peak.

Experts at CNBC’s East Tech West 2025 said open-source AI and locally available cloud computing are key to building “sovereign AI” tailored to national languages, cultures, and security needs—especially in ASEAN’s young, rapidly digitizing markets. Open-source models (e.g., Llama, DeepSeek) broaden choices beyond a few closed systems, foster local ecosystems, and lower barriers, while domestic cloud operations by global hyperscalers and local providers offer scalable, pay-as-you-go compute to localize AI and host data domestically. Panelists argued this approach helps emerging economies avoid dependence on English-centric models, capture local talent, and close the global AI gap, echoing UN recommendations for shared infrastructure and open-source to drive inclusive growth.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said interest rates are on a gradual downward path but stopped short of committing to an August move, as policymakers assess whether softening wage growth and energy costs will keep cooling inflation. Markets expect a 25 bps cut to 4% next month. U.K. inflation was 3.4% in May versus the BOE’s 2% target, while growth remains weak. Bailey emphasized the need to see continued disinflation and noted the importance of a clear yet flexible fiscal framework, as the government faces pressure to boost growth under tight fiscal rules that may ultimately necessitate higher taxes.

- China’s Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI rose to 50.4 in June from 48.3 in May, signaling unexpected expansion among export-oriented manufacturers and beating expectations. - The Caixin reading diverged from the official PMI, which showed a third straight month of contraction; differences stem from survey timing and sample composition (Caixin skews to smaller, export-focused firms). - Production expanded at the fastest pace since November amid improved trade conditions and promotions, but new export orders fell for a third month, hinting at second-half headwinds. - Employment remained weak as firms cut costs; intense price competition pressured margins, and business optimism softened due to complex external risks and weak domestic demand. - Exporters have been front-loading shipments ahead of potential U.S. tariff increases after a 90-day truce ends mid-August; shipments to the U.S. fell sharply, with some diversion to Southeast Asia and the EU. - Analysts note fading front-loading effects and disproportionate strain on smaller exporters; some de-escalation is possible around fentanyl-related tariffs following recent U.S.-China engagement.

Cloudflare will, by default, block AI web crawlers from scraping content on all new domains using its service unless site owners opt in, and it’s introducing a “pay per crawl” option so publishers can charge for access. With about 16% of global internet traffic routed through its CDN, the move could significantly restrict data available for training AI models and impact AI search features. CEO Matthew Prince says it aims to restore control and revenue to creators, countering how AI reduces traffic to original sources. OpenAI criticized the plan as inserting a middleman, noting its adherence to robots.txt. Legal experts say the change could hinder AI data harvesting in the short term and affect model viability over time.

Elon Musk’s xAI raised $10 billion—$5 billion in debt and $5 billion in equity—arranged by Morgan Stanley to expand AI infrastructure and advance its Grok chatbot. The funds support one of the world’s largest data centers and continued Grok development, as xAI scales GPU capacity beyond its current 200,000 at the Colossus facility in Memphis and pursues a planned 1 million GPU site nearby. The raise bolsters xAI’s bid to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic amid intensifying AI funding. xAI previously raised $6 billion at a $50 billion valuation; it acquired social platform X in March in a deal valuing X at $33 billion and xAI at $80 billion, though current valuation impact is unclear.

NATO members plan to lift defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with at least 3.5% on core defense and the rest on security and critical infrastructure. Analysts expect hundreds of billions of euros to flow to European defense primes and related suppliers. Likely winners include: - Land/air: Rheinmetall (tanks, artillery, ammo), Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Saab, Dassault (fighters, drones, training). MBDA is key for deep-precision strike missiles. - Air/missile defense, refueling, and logistics infrastructure upgrades are priority areas, benefiting a small set of European producers. - Maritime: Fincantieri (new naval contracts), and suppliers like Wärtsilä and Rolls-Royce’s marine division. - Energy/security spillovers: Rolls-Royce gains from UK small modular reactor program with potential wider European orders. - Cyber/security-related spending: Thales, and specialists like Aliter Technologies and CybExer in Europe; U.S. firms Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike could expand via NATO-funded programs. Overall, broad-based procurement across land, air, sea, missiles, infrastructure, and cyber is set to benefit Europe’s major defense contractors most.

Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in 2022, has reached a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He is set to plead guilty to all charges, receive four consecutive life sentences, and waive appeal rights, pending a judge’s approval. Prosecutors informed families by letter, saying the agreement ensures conviction and avoids years of appeals; the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves criticized the lack of consultation. Kohberger, a former criminology Ph.D. student, was arrested six weeks after the killings; key evidence cited by prosecutors includes his DNA on a knife sheath, a matching knife purchase, and vehicle footage. No motive has been disclosed. His defense had sought to delay trial and to block the death penalty, citing an autism diagnosis. A plea hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills rolling back the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a landmark environmental law that has been in place for over 50 years. The law has been criticized for contributing to the state's housing shortage and homelessness crisis by allowing environmentalists and neighbors to delay or block projects through lawsuits. The new legislation exempts certain development projects, such as high-density housing and farmworker housing, from rigorous environmental review and will make it easier to rezone areas for more housing. The changes are seen as a significant shift for the environmental movement and may have implications beyond California. Democrats, who have long been reluctant to weaken the law, were motivated to act due to voter concerns about housing costs and homelessness. Environmentalists have expressed concerns that the changes could harm sensitive ecosystems and lead to more pollution.

Denmark has begun including women in its military draft, making 18-year-old women eligible for conscription as part of a broader push to expand and rebuild its armed forces amid heightened concerns about Russia and to meet NATO expectations. Previously voluntary, women will now enter the same lottery system as men if volunteer numbers fall short. The move, advanced 18 months earlier than planned, is driven by practical manpower needs rather than gender equality aims. Denmark plans to raise annual basic training recruits to 6,500 by 2027 (from about 4,700) and extend mandatory service from four to 11 months starting February 2026. Women will face no role restrictions if they meet standards. The policy aligns Denmark with Sweden and Norway, both of which conscript women, and accompanies a sharp increase in defense spending after years of underinvestment. Analysts say Denmark is racing to restore military readiness in light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and broader European security risks.

The author reflects on a lifelong relationship with Paul Cézanne’s art, from youthful awe at his radical still lifes—where tilted tables, oversized fruit, and fractured perspectives dethroned realism and elevated subjective perception—to a later-life reassessment prompted by Cézanne’s austere quarry paintings at Bibémus near Mont Sainte-Victoire. Celebrating a major new exhibition in Aix-en-Provence, the piece traces how Cézanne’s break with illusion paved the way for modernism, Cubism, and a broader cultural embrace of individual vision. Yet it also questions modernism’s egocentrism and the risks of privileging singular perspectives over shared meaning. In the Bibémus works, painted en plein air in the 1890s, the author finds a humbler Cézanne: less about the artist’s interior vision and more about attentive, almost self-effacing observation—color and form binding a scarred landscape without hard outlines. This “other Cézanne” offers a counterbalance to modernism’s confidence: a mature, summer-light way of seeing that acknowledges the world’s presence beyond the self.

A Manhattan jury reached a partial verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial, deciding on four counts—two sex trafficking and two transportation for prostitution—but remains deadlocked on a racketeering conspiracy charge. After more than 12 hours of deliberation, jurors reported “unpersuadable opinions on both sides” regarding racketeering. Judge Arun Subramanian urged continued deliberations without issuing a full Allen charge, and the jury will return Wednesday. Combs, 55, who has pleaded not guilty and remains detained since his September arrest, faces potential life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. Prosecutors allege a long-running criminal enterprise involving multiple offenses; the defense maintains the sexual encounters were consensual.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced his largest parliamentary revolt since taking office as many Labour MPs opposed a bill tightening disability benefit eligibility to curb rising welfare costs. The government won the vote 335–260 after major concessions: applying changes only to new claimants and delaying PIP eligibility reforms pending a review. These compromises cut projected savings to about £2 billion a year, down from £4.8 billion, complicating fiscal plans. The episode exposed deep divisions within Labour, dented Starmer’s authority amid slipping polls and prior policy reversals, and raised concerns that up to 150,000 people could be pushed into poverty by 2030 under the revised measures.

A 30-year-old Johannesburg woman, Olorato Mongale, was lured to a daytime “date” and brutally murdered, exposing a robbery syndicate that allegedly targeted women via fake meetups. CCTV showed her entering a white VW Polo with “John” (Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makanya) and an accomplice. Police later found the car with her blood; Makanya was shot dead by police, while the second suspect, Bongani Mthimkhulu, remains at large. After her killing, police received 94 calls from women identifying the pair as assailants in similar gunpoint robberies. The case highlights South Africa’s severe femicide crisis—over 5,500 women killed last year, a 33.8% rise—and concerns about police responsiveness. Friends and activists say Mongale took extensive safety precautions, underscoring how pervasive and targeted the violence is, and hope her case drives change.

Cannes will ban cruise ships carrying over 1,000 people from its harbor starting next year, allowing only smaller vessels and capping daily disembarkations at 6,000. The measure, approved by city councillors, aims to regulate overtourism rather than eliminate cruise traffic; larger ships must transfer passengers to smaller boats. Mayor David Lisnard said the city seeks to manage navigation and impacts while preserving economic benefits. Cannes joins other European destinations, like Venice, in tightening cruise ship access.

New images show the recovered wreckage of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank in a storm off Sicily on 19 August 2024, killing British billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, his daughter Hannah, 18, and five others. Salvage crews have completed the operation, delivering the 56m hull, 72m mast, and loose items to authorities in Termini Imerese, Palermo. The mast was detached and raised with inflatable lifting balloons; the hull was lifted by a powerful sea crane and placed in a custom cradle with pollution controls. Recovery efforts, which involved about 70 specialists and extensive use of remote-operated equipment after a diver’s death in May, also revealed interior images of the yacht. UK inquests are examining the deaths of Lynch, Hannah, and British couple Jonathan and Judy Bloomer. Fifteen people, including Lynch’s wife, were rescued.

- Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial in Victoria for the alleged 2023 murders of her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Heather’s husband, Reverend Ian Wilkinson, after serving a beef wellington said to contain death cap mushrooms. She pleads not guilty, calling the deaths a terrible accident. The jury has begun deliberations after a nine-week trial. - Key prosecution points: - Patterson allegedly served a meal she knew contained death cap mushrooms. - She lied about having cancer during/after the lunch, allegedly to explain her children’s absence and elicit sympathy. - A food dehydrator linked to her, later found at a dump, contained death cap residue; two of her phones were factory-reset multiple times. - Photos showed mushrooms on kitchen scales; prosecutors say she was calculating fatal doses. - Key defense points: - Patterson denies intent, saying she used supermarket button mushrooms and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocer, and may have accidentally included foraged mushrooms she’d collected during COVID lockdowns. - She admits lying about cancer and sending angry messages but says it was for attention and due to marital strain, not murder. - She claims she, and later her children, ate leftovers; she says she also fell ill. - Evidence from sole survivor: - Reverend Ian Wilkinson described Patterson refusing plating help, serving guests on large grey plates while she ate from a smaller tan plate. - He and his wife ate full servings; Don ate extra. All four guests became violently ill the same night with symptoms consistent with death cap poisoning. - Context: - The lunch invitation was unexpected amid Patterson’s strained relationship with her estranged husband, Simon, tied to child support and finances. - Death cap mushrooms are highly lethal, primarily causing liver failure.

The United Nations is under scrutiny for providing its senior staff with extensive perks despite implementing budget cuts. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has directed staff to slash budgets ahead of the 2026 budgetary vote as part of a wider reform effort. However, senior-level UN staff, including Guterres, continue to receive numerous benefits, including a high salary, housing allowance, tax exemption, dependent costs, pension fund, healthcare fees, travel fees, and hardship incentives. Guterres earned $418,348, a higher base salary than President Donald Trump, and also receives a plush Manhattan residence and chauffeur-driven car. The perks have sparked criticism, with a diplomatic source stating that they are "better than any investment banks out there" and that the American people are unaware of the extent of these benefits.

Ukraine reported Russia’s largest aerial assault of the war, firing 537 weapons overnight—477 drones/decoys and 60 missiles. The air force said 249 were shot down and 226 likely neutralized by electronic jamming. Strikes hit multiple regions, including far-western areas; Poland scrambled aircraft to secure its airspace. At least two people were killed in Kherson and Kharkiv, and six were wounded in Cherkasy. A Western-supplied Ukrainian F-16 crashed after being damaged while engaging targets, killing the pilot. The barrage followed Vladimir Putin’s statement that Russia is ready for renewed peace talks in Istanbul, though prior rounds have yielded no progress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, citing Russia’s extensive use of such mines and ongoing attacks. The move still requires parliamentary approval. The announcement followed what Ukraine called the largest aerial assault of the war, with Russia launching 537 aerial weapons in a single day; Ukraine reported numerous interceptions but also casualties and damage across multiple regions. An F-16 supplied by the West crashed during operations, killing the pilot. Russia is not a party to the mine ban treaty.

China hosted its first fully autonomous humanoid robot football tournament in Beijing, featuring three-a-side matches between university teams using Booster Robotics’ humanoids with custom AI algorithms. Despite frequent falls and difficulty kicking or staying upright—highlighting safety and capability challenges—experts noted steady year-on-year progress akin to RoboCup. Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics won the championship 5–3 over China Agricultural University’s Mountain Sea team. Booster Robotics’ CEO said sports provide a strong testbed and envisions future human-robot matches, emphasizing the need for safety.

A UK privy council ruling upheld the Cayman Islands’ 2020 Civil Partnership Law, confirming the governor’s authority to enact it after local legislators rejected similar legislation. The law provides same-sex couples legal recognition equivalent to marriage, following a landmark case by Caymanians Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush. The decision, seen as a major win for LGBTQ+ rights, may influence similar cases in other British overseas territories like Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands, though its impact on independent Caribbean nations with “savings clauses” and anti-LGBTQ+ laws, such as Trinidad and Tobago, is less certain.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou survived a no-confidence vote initiated by the Socialist Party after pension reform talks collapsed, securing only 189 votes against him—well below the threshold to topple the government. The motion had broad left-wing support but was not backed by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, which said ousting the government now wouldn’t benefit the public but signaled it may target Bayrou over the difficult 2026 budget. Bayrou, lacking a National Assembly majority and formerly reliant on Socialist support, faces a fragile position. His removal would force President Emmanuel Macron to seek a seventh prime minister with two years left in his term.