Australia’s Defence Industry Minister confirmed that the government will not pre‑commit military forces to any future conflict, stating decisions will be made by the government in office at the time.

The statement responded to reporting that the US Department of Defence has sought clarity from Australia and Japan on their potential roles in a Taiwan–China conflict, as part of Washington’s broader deterrence strategy.

In remarks to national media, the minister emphasised that Australia’s participation in any conflict remains subject to sovereign decision‑making.

The comments coincided with a diplomatic visit by the Prime Minister to China, during which Australia reaffirmed support for the status quo regarding Taiwan and expressed concern over regional military developments and potential Chinese bases in the Pacific.

Australia has deployed approximately 40,000 troops from 19 countries for Exercise Talisman Sabre, beginning on 13 July.

The biennial exercise, the largest in the southern hemisphere, will run until 4 August across multiple domains including land, sea, air and cyber.

Nations participating include the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, France and South Korea, with Papua New Guinea taking part for the first time.

Acting defence officials said the exercise aims to enhance coalition readiness and interoperability.

Officials noted the possibility of Chinese surveillance vessels monitoring activities, as seen in previous iterations.

Further, the US military is expanding its rotational presence in Australia, with Virginia‑class submarines expected to be stationed in Western Australia from 2027 under the AUKUS agreement.

The Australian government has accelerated defence spending, bringing forward funding for guided‑weapons production and submarine infrastructure deployment.

More than six hundred individuals, including civilians and Myanmar soldiers, crossed into Thailand on Saturday following an attack by the Karen National Liberation Army on a military base in Kayin State, according to Thai military reports.

The assault began around 3:00 p.m. local time on 12 July, targeting a Myanmar army installation near the border.

Thai authorities confirmed that approximately four hundred sixty-seven civilians and one hundred soldiers sought refuge across the border in Tak province.

Thai military and police personnel disarmed the arrivals and provided medical care and humanitarian aid.

Additional border patrols have been deployed in western Tak province amid concerns over potential incursions by armed forces.

The Karen National Liberation Army, aligned with the Karen National Union, has intensified its operations following the Myanmar coup in 2021.

In recent months, the group has used drones, sniper fire, rocket launchers, and artillery in multiple attacks on junta positions in border regions.

In early July, allied Karen forces used drone-borne explosives in an offensive near the Thai border, prompting the displacement of over two hundred civilians into Thailand.

Thai authorities extended security alerts along affected border areas and set up temporary shelters for the arrivals.

Thailand’s response includes stepped-up patrols and humanitarian preparation amid a broader refugee influx resulting from Myanmar’s protracted civil conflict.

The ongoing fighting has led to periodic cross-border movements and added pressure on the border communities and officials in northern Thailand.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held their first in-person meeting since Rubio took office in January, convening on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ conference in Kuala Lumpur.

The two officials described the discussion as "positive, pragmatic and constructive," agreeing to "strengthen diplomatic channels and communication and dialogue at all levels across various fields," and to "explore expanding areas of cooperation while managing differences," according to statements issued following the encounter .

Wang urged Washington to treat Beijing “in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner” and to “find a correct way for China and the US to get along in the new era,” reflecting China’s call for a recalibrated bilateral relationship .

Rubio characterised the meeting as “constructive” and “positive,” noting that despite ongoing tensions—especially over trade, Taiwan and global security—there were clear opportunities for cooperation .

He also indicated the chances of a future summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping were “high,” saying both sides appear to support such a meeting later this year .

The meeting took place amid growing regional anxiety over U.S. tariff threats affecting ASEAN members.

Rubio reiterated Washington’s commitment to the region, while Wang criticised tariffs as destabilising supply chains and pledged Beijing’s support for Southeast Asian economic stability .

In parallel consultations, Rubio also met with Russia’s foreign minister, while Wang engaged with ASEAN counterparts to promote deeper integration between China and Southeast Asian nations and reinforce regional cooperation frameworks .

Rubio’s visit marked his first to Asia during this term, part of a broader diplomatic tour aimed at reaffirming U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific amid competing pressures including domestic trade policy and geopolitical realignments .

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government is considering implementing a tax on online gaming, according to Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.

The proposal has gained traction among lawmakers who are advocating for measures to address rising gambling addiction within the nation.

Recto indicated that Congress may pass legislation imposing taxes on online games as early as this year.

The Department of Finance (DOF) is collaborating with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to evaluate potential revenue from such a tax.

“This will give us clearer visibility soon,” Recto stated regarding the ongoing discussions with Pagcor.

The proposed taxation on online gambling is expected to support the fiscal consolidation plans of the Marcos administration, which is facing a budget deficit projected to reach PHP 1.6 trillion (approximately USD 28.5 billion) this year, equivalent to 5.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Public opposition to new taxes has historically posed challenges in reducing the budget deficit, leading to increased borrowing.

Recently, economic managers adjusted the state’s revenue target for 2025 down to PHP 4.5 trillion from an earlier estimate of PHP 4.6 trillion.

Support for the proposed tax on e-gambling may stem from various legislative efforts that have emerged in the 20th Congress, which either seek a total ban on e-gambling or aim to restrict public access by prohibiting the use of e-wallets for betting.

Additionally, the Catholic Church has expressed concerns regarding insufficient government measures to prevent minors from accessing online gambling platforms, as well as the promotion of online casinos by celebrities.

Malacañang has indicated that President Marcos would not oppose the DOF’s plan for taxing online gaming operators, provided that the proposal is thoroughly examined.

According to data from Pagcor, the gross gaming revenue (GGR) from the e-games and e-bingo sector reached PHP 51.39 billion in the first quarter of the year, representing 49.36 percent of the total GGR of PHP 104.12 billion for the Philippine gaming industry during that period, surpassing traditional brick-and-mortar casinos as the leading driver of growth.

Alejandro Tengco, Pagcor Chair and CEO, noted that the shift towards digital gaming is attributed to changing consumer preferences, as punters increasingly favor “digital, on-demand gaming experiences” facilitated by enhanced access to mobile technology.

Tengco projects that total gambling-related revenues could rise by 15 percent in 2025, potentially reaching between PHP 450 billion and PHP 480 billion, up from the record GGR of PHP 410.5 billion in 2024.

Martha Wells, author of the acclaimed Murderbot Diaries, has stated that today’s large language models do not constitute true machine intelligence and are “years and years and years” away from achieving sentience.

Wells clarified that current systems, widely marketed as artificial intelligence, are in fact sophisticated pattern‑matching algorithms and not autonomous, conscious entities .

She contrasted these with her fictional character Murderbot—a sentient, self‑aware security unit that gains autonomy—highlighting the gulf between literary machine intelligences and present‑day AI.

During an interview, Wells expressed reservations about the rapid proliferation of language models in daily life.

She acknowledged their utility but criticised their misuse, stating that corporations leverage them primarily for profit and job displacement .

In her fiction, Wells explores themes of autonomy, corporate exploitation and personhood.

In the Murderbot universe, artificial intelligences inhabit starships and robotic units controlled by profit‑driven megacorporations.

The series also features ART, a spaceship AI characterised by cooperation rather than rigid control—a contrast to Murderbot’s human‑derived neurotic consciousness .

Wells has also confirmed that neurodiversity played an unconscious role in the creation of Murderbot, revealing that aspects of the character’s social anxiety and thought patterns mirror her own neurodivergent experiences .

As the Murderbot Diaries are being adapted into a television series, Wells has said the books continue to explore questions of identity, freedom and emotional development amid corporate and technological landscapes .

Nvidia closed Thursday with a market capitalisation of just over four trillion dollars, becoming the first publicly traded company in history to reach that milestone .

The stock closed at approximately one hundred sixty‑four dollars per share, following an intraday high above that figure .

The surge in Nvidia’s stock price reflects mounting investor confidence in its dominance of the artificial intelligence sector.

The company’s share price has increased roughly eightfold since late two thousand twenty‑two, shortly after the release of ChatGPT .

Analysts attribute the rise to Nvidia's near monopoly in supplying high‑performance chips for data centres and AI workloads, bolstered by major contracts in markets such as the Middle East .

This week’s milestone was part of a steady climb: Nvidia attained a two‑trillion‑dollar valuation in early two thousand twenty‑four and reached three trillion by mid‑year .

Despite ongoing restrictions on chip exports to China, the firm reported substantial gains, including a seventy‑percent year‑on‑year revenue increase in its latest quarter .

Nvidia’s market cap now exceeds that of Apple and Microsoft, shifting the rankings of the world’s most valuable companies .

Its weighting on the S&P 500 has risen above seven per cent, making it the index's largest single component .

The valuation milestone coincided with broader equity gains: Nvidia's rise contributed to record closing levels for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq .

Under CEO Jensen Huang, Nvidia has spent heavily on AI infrastructure, including new data centres and software development, reinforcing its position at the forefront of AI innovation .

Projections from investment analysts indicate revenues could approach two hundred billion dollars this year, with net income projected at around one hundred billion .

Meanwhile, CEO Huang reportedly met with the U.S. president at the White House on the day of the milestone, drawing attention to the geopolitical implications of Nvidia’s growth and its role in the AI chip race .

The rapid ascent of Nvidia has drawn attention across global markets, with comparisons noting that a further five‑percent increase in its share price would put its valuation ahead of India’s entire gross domestic product .

An Indonesian migrant fisherman reported severe finger injuries after a heavy door hit his hand aboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel in the Pacific, triggering months of self‑treatment before being hospitalised in Taiwan.

According to his account, the vessel captain refused to return to port citing low catch volume, and the worker later lost two fingers and was dismissed without compensation.

Taiwan operates the world’s second‑largest distant‑water fishing fleet, employing more than twenty‑thousand Indonesian and Filipino migrant workers supplying global markets including the US and EU.

Since 2020, the US Department of Labor has listed the sector for signs of forced labour, citing deceptive recruitment practices, withheld pay, physical abuse and excessive working hours.

Non‑profit investigations, including a Greenpeace report, documented numerous cases of forced labour and illegal fishing across Taiwanese vessels.

A survey of sixty‑two ships found 24 per cent reported physical abuse and 92 per cent experienced withheld wages.

In one incident, crew members were beaten, confined to freezers and shocked with stun guns.

Legal actions have followed.

In April 2022, nine Taiwanese crew members were indicted over alleged abuse—including beatings and twenty‑hour workdays—of migrant fishermen on a vessel in the Pacific.

In March 2025, four Indonesian fishermen filed a lawsuit in the US alleging forced labour and human trafficking on vessels supplying tuna to a US seafood firm.

The complaint describes violence, unpaid wages and medical neglect, and names the company under the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Advocates highlight regulatory gaps: distant‑water fishermen are exempt from Taiwan’s Labour Standards Act and often endure recruitment-related debts.

Cases include fishermen paying agency fees exceeding two thousand US dollars and being trapped at sea without Wi‑Fi or external contact.

In response, Taiwanese authorities say they implemented reforms since 2022, including higher minimum wages, boat‑based CCTV and increased inspections.

However, campaigners argue these measures have yet to address systemic abuses.

The continuing allegations have drawn international attention to labour practices on fishing vessels supplying global markets.

The European Union has extended its suspension of retaliatory tariffs on United States exports, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on Sunday.

The countermeasures, which had been scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, were originally planned in response to import duties imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on steel and aluminium.

The EU's retaliation package, targeting approximately twenty-one billion euros worth of U.S. goods, was first suspended in March and has now been delayed until early August.

Von der Leyen stated that the extension was intended to provide space for further negotiations while ensuring the EU remains prepared to act.

"The United States has sent us a letter with measures that would come into effect unless there is a negotiated solution," von der Leyen said at a press conference.

"We will therefore also extend the suspension of our countermeasures until early August.

At the same time, we will continue to prepare for the countermeasures so we're fully prepared."

The announcement comes after President Trump communicated his intent to impose thirty percent tariffs on European imports starting from 1 August.

In a letter to von der Leyen, the U.S. president warned that any retaliatory action by the EU would result in even higher tariffs.

In a pre-recorded interview broadcast on Saturday, Trump defended his tariff policy, stating that it had resulted in significant revenue inflows and that "some countries were very upset now."

EU trade ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the bloc’s response.

European leaders have reiterated their preference for a negotiated settlement.

Von der Leyen said, "The EU has always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution.

This remains the case, and we will use the time that we have now till August 1."

Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that "serious and solution-oriented negotiations" with the United States were still needed but noted that the EU would implement "decisive countermeasures" if talks failed.

"Our hand remains outstretched but we won't accept just anything," Klingbeil said in an interview with a German daily newspaper.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Commission to "resolutely defend European interests." The Commission is responsible for negotiating trade policy on behalf of the twenty-seven EU member states.

The announcement follows a broader U.S. trade strategy in which the administration has proposed tariff conditions on twenty-four countries and the EU.

On 12 April, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro outlined a plan to conclude ninety trade deals in ninety days.

President Trump has so far announced preliminary agreements with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while discussions with other partners continue.