US strikes Iran as Tehran warns of Mideast reprisals

The United States hit Iran on Friday, with Tehran accusing US forces of striking civilians sites and drawing Iranian threats of reprisals on regional infrastructure. A battle over the strategic Strait of Hormuz has rekindled the war in the Middle East and the foes have traded fire for six days running. The US military reported hitting “dozens […]

China’s Xi says AI should not be dominated by one country

Artificial intelligence should not be dominated by a single country, China’s President Xi Jinping said Friday, urging international cooperation on its development at a major conference in Shanghai. Chinese AI models are catching up to the most powerful US offerings, while attracting global users with lower costs. But how to govern the booming sector has […]

Defence and minerals: inside Pakistan’s lobbying push in Washington

As Pakistan stepped into the global centre-stage through Iran war mediation, it hired a US lobbying firm to push Washington for boosted security cooperation and minerals investment, the contract shows. The two-year, $1.2-million lobbying agreement, filed in a public official database, began in May, spanning a period officials and experts say is critical to converting […]

Tokyo, Taipei lead tech losses as Asian markets suffer again

Tokyo and Taipei led losses on a glum day for Asian markets Friday, with tech firms once again in the crosshairs as investors cash in following this year’s breathtaking rally. The AI boom has sent technology valuations soaring to record levels as traders looked to get a slice of the next big thing while firms […]

Australia protests Laos response to 2024 tainted alcohol deaths

Australia denounced Laos’ response to a 2024 tainted alcohol poisoning that killed six tourists, saying Friday it is “bitterly disappointed” the country is not pressing stronger charges. Canberra summoned the Laos ambassador and dispatched an envoy to Laos to convey the government’s objections and urge justice for the two Australian women who died, the government […]

US hits Iran infrastructure in tit-for-tat strikes

The United States launched fresh strikes Thursday on Iran with bridges and transport infrastructure among the apparent targets, as Tehran responded with attacks on US allies in the Gulf. The rekindled fighting over the vital Strait of Hormuz came a month after the signing of a preliminary deal that aimed to end the conflict, which […]

US-Iran strikes: latest developments

The United States struck Iran and Tehran hit back at US allies in the Gulf, as the foes battled over the vital Strait of Hormuz in the renewed Middle East war. Here are the latest developments:- US forces board ship -American forces boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman as part of Washington’s renewed […]

SpaceX abruptly scrubs Starship test flight

SpaceX on Thursday scrubbed what was to be its first Starship flight since the company went public, abruptly calling it off just as the booster began to ignite.”Some of the engines didn’t start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant. Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days,” wrote company head Elon Musk on […]

US to limit stays of students, journalists

President Donald Trump’s administration finalized rules Thursday that impose stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists can stay in the United States, the latest bid to tighten legal immigration in the country. Under a change that could be implemented as soon as September, foreigners on student visas would be admitted for the length of […]