Two years after his historic general-election win, the most radical British prime minister since Margaret Thatcher is scandal-plagued, unpopular, and adrift.
By April 1968, Charles de Gaulle was bored. “None of this amuses me anymore,” the French president told his aide-de-camp, Admiral François Flohic. “There is no longer anything difficult or heroic to do.” Over the previous decade, de Gaulle had returned from political exile to save the country from military insurrection, killed off the Fourth Republic, created the Fifth, ended the creeping civil war over Algeria and negotiated its independence, vetoed Britain’s application to join the European Common Market, withdrew France from NATO’s joint command, and declared, “Vive le Québec libre!” The prospect of plodding bureaucratic management was not going to cut it.

Within three weeks, France exploded into a revolution that came close to toppling de Gaulle and forced him to call new elections. Within a year he was gone, and within two he was dead. History, like bankruptcy, can happen slowly and then all at once.

Britain today has a similar sense of inertia, with rumblings of serious trouble in the background. Brexit has been done (sort of). The British economy is rebounding from the pandemic recession. The threat of Scottish secession has, at least for the moment, receded. Even Northern Ireland is eerily calm, despite the warnings of imminent collapse. Yet in place of these grand crises, Johnson finds himself dealing with the tawdry and the toxic—a series of self-inflicted scandals that are bogging him down—just as COVID rears back into view.

This is the paradoxical challenge facing the British prime minister today, two years on from his era-defining general-election victory. Having achieved Brexit, the main thing he set out to do, a question arises: What, now, is the point of Boris Johnson?

With his election in 2019, Johnson remade Britain. He sought a mandate from the country to end the paralysis prompted by the 2016 European Union referendum and was given it, redrawing Britain’s political map in the process. With that victory alone, Johnson rose up the ranks of Britain’s postwar prime ministers to become one of—if not the—most consequential, rivaled only by Margaret Thatcher, Clement Attlee, Tony Blair, and, perhaps more aptly, Edward Heath, the man who took Britain into what was then the European Economic Community (more on him later). None of that is to say Johnson is a good prime minister (not even his closest allies would suggest that right now), merely an important one.

Brexit, his singular feat, was accomplished at 11 p.m. on January 31, 2020—less than two months after his election and with four years to go before the next one is due. Then, before he could turn to anything else, the pandemic hit.

Over the next two years, Johnson would divorce his second wife, almost die from COVID, have a baby, marry for a third time, oversee one of the most catastrophic responses to the pandemic in the Western world—only to then oversee one of its most successful vaccination programs—soar to record poll leads, irreparably fall out with his most important aide, raise taxes to their highest level since the 1950s (breaking a campaign promise not to do so), host the G7 and the United Nations climate-change conference, and have another baby, his seventh (known) child.

And then, when everything seemed to calm down and, in theory, he could finally turn to his domestic agenda, his political problems began to pile up. And he had only himself to blame.

As de Gaulle’s political career was ending in April 1969, the main speculation in London was whether the British prime minister at the time, the Labour leader Harold Wilson, could survive much longer himself. Wilson, a twice-elected leader with a wider public appeal than his party, had been forced to devalue the pound in November 1967 in what amounted to a humiliating reversal of his economic plan. His poll ratings slumped and he came under intense pressure from members of his own party in Parliament, who feared he was steering them toward disaster in the next election. But then the economy turned a corner, his numbers began to climb, and the pressure lifted.

The author of the most esteemed biography of Wilson, Ben Pimlott, used this episode to illustrate what he calls the “iron law” of British politics: “A prime minister whose poll ratings show him (or her) to be failing as a populist leader, automatically comes under pressure. Conversely, a premier who succeeds in opinion poll terms is almost impossible to challenge.”

More than 50 years later, this iron law still holds. In the first few months after Johnson’s election, with Brexit enacted and the government locked in its battle to contain COVID, the Conservative Party enjoyed huge poll leads over Labour, as high as 21 percent in April 2020. From here, however, as the scale of Britain’s failure in the first wave became clear and the second wave began to roll across the country, the Tory lead steadily narrowed until it was essentially tied with Labour over the bleak COVID winter of 2020–21. It looked as though the pandemic had cost Johnson his honeymoon period, when prime ministers have the momentum to get things done.

Then Britain’s vaccine program kicked into gear. Initially the U.K. pulled ahead of almost every other country in the world, and Johnson reaped the rewards. From January to June, just before the prime minister removed most COVID restrictions, the Conservative Party’s lead steadily grew, nearly reaching levels last seen at the very beginning of Johnson’s post-election popularity. During this period Johnson seemed untouchable, even taking a seat off Labour in one of its electoral heartlands in an unscheduled election following the resignation of a sitting Labour lawmaker. Suddenly (and rather aptly), Johnson was enjoying a second honeymoon.

Since then, however, as the memory of the vaccine success faded, the gap between the two parties has once again steadily narrowed, disappearing into statistical insignificance in recent weeks. At the same time, Johnson’s personal ratings have plunged as well. And lo, just as the iron law decrees, Johnson now finds himself under the most intense spell of political pressure since the election, with hostile briefings dripping into the press from Conservative members of Parliament and government officials alongside speculation about rivals for leadership and damaging leaks about his behavior during the pandemic. He has lost his mojo, some say; he doesn’t know what he’s doing; the joke is not funny anymore; he hasn’t got a plan; he’s just not fit, morally or administratively, to do the job

In this telling, Johnson was supposed to have hit his nadir over the past few weeks. First, he inadvertently sparked a political storm over Conservative Party corruption by trying to retrospectively rewrite the rules governing the propriety of MPs. This came after one of his own lawmakers was found to have lobbied the government on behalf of companies that paid him hundreds of thousands of pounds for work outside his job as a parliamentarian. After a public outcry and days of damaging press reports about the outside earnings of other MPs, Johnson backtracked and apologized. He was then filmed losing his place in a speech, repeatedly mumbling “Sorry” before veering off into a strange segue about the children’s TV character Peppa Pig. Now the prime minister is accused of hosting parties at 10 Downing Street over Christmas 2020, while the rest of the country was locked down. This last scandal risks becoming emblematic of his chaotic dishonesty.

He has lost control of the narrative, buffeted by scandals of his own making, and his personal poll ratings have plummeted to their worst on record, with just 24 percent of the public favorable toward Johnson, and 51 percent unfavorable. For Johnson, such a precipitous fall in popularity is particularly dangerous because, like Wilson, “his selling-point among colleagues had always been his mass appeal,” as Pimlott notes. Johnson wasn’t necessarily the most popular candidate among Conservative MPs when he became leader in 2019, but he was their last, best chance to stop the hemorrhaging of support to the new Brexit Party created by Nigel Farage, the populist ally of Donald Trump. This new party had surged in the polls amid the public’s frustration at the impasse in Parliament and was threatening the Tories’ grip on power. Theresa May’s failure had left the Conservatives facing defeat in the next election to a Labour government committed to holding a second referendum on Brexit, which could undo the first. Johnson was the tool they needed to destroy the Brexit Party and retain power.

Johnson’s extraordinary success in doing so made him the most powerful prime minister since Tony Blair. But if Johnson was a tool used by the Conservative Party to do a particular job, what happens when that job is complete—and the tool shows signs of not being versatile enough for the new tasks at hand?

Johnson’s admirers, or at least those with a vested interest in him remaining in power, like to say this is just a mid-season wobble that every government suffers.

Certainly in recent years this rule has held true. Blair endured rough patches in the polls and major midterm crises concerning protests over gas prices, the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, public-service reform, and, of course, Iraq. Thatcher also went through troughs, only to rebound before her three elections. David Cameron, too, dipped in popularity before claiming victory.

What’s more, while Johnson’s popularity is clearly on the slide—and may yet slip much further given the ongoing revelations about the party at 10 Downing Street and the threat of Omicron sweeping Britain this winter—it is not (yet) clear he has suffered an era-defining calamity of the sort that has proved fatal to many of his predecessors. Johnson’s missteps, gaffes, and lies have all been damaging, and may already have developed into a disqualifying picture of chaos for many voters, but none on its own has yet proved irredeemable (though, perhaps, this latest scandal will become so).

Almost all British prime ministers since the Second World War have suffered such a blow. For Anthony Eden, it was the Suez crisis; for Harold Macmillan, the Profumo sex scandal; for Wilson, the devaluation of the pound; for Heath, defeat in the miners’ strike; for James Callaghan, the “winter of discontent.” Later in the century, John Major did not recover from “Black Wednesday,” nor Blair from Iraq (although this was shrouded by his reelection victory in 2005). Neither did Gordon Brown from the election that never was, Cameron from the referendum gamble that backfired, nor May from the snap election that cost her the majority she inherited. Britain’s postwar political history is largely a story of political failure.

The only exception, really, is Margaret Thatcher, whose record is fiercely disputed in terms of whether it was good or bad for the country, but not whether it was profoundly consequential or largely successful on its own terms. Thatcher identified various enemies—socialism, inflation, the Soviet Union—and what she thought was needed to tackle them: capitalism, monetarism, strength. And although it is a myth that the lady did not turn when political necessity required, there was a consistency of purpose to her mission.

For Johnson, then, there is hope, but also a warning. The hope is that, as the former Downing Street pollster James Johnson told me, voters still see him as a man who gets things done, even though they are becoming more and more frustrated with his antics. The warning, though, is that even if he has not (yet) suffered a single defining humiliation that undermines the essence of what his government was elected to do, it may be only a matter of time, and history suggests that such setbacks are hard to overcome without a clear strategy that allows them to be explained within a wider and triumphant narrative. It is when prime ministers fail on their own terms—or are seen to have abandoned their core purpose—that they are really in trouble.

In May 1958, France was teetering on the edge of anarchy. A military insurrection against the last government of the Fourth Republic was under way, caused by differences in how to handle Algerian demands for independence. From abroad, France looked as though it might become another Spain or Portugal, both then ruled by military dictatorship.

This was the moment General de Gaulle had been waiting for ever since resigning from the government in 1946—the call to save the nation. Many of France’s politicians had been reluctant to enlist the great man, fearful that his authoritarianism presented a threat to democracy. De Gaulle himself had spoken of wanting his own 18 Brumaire, in reference to the coup of 1799 that brought Napoleon to power. In the end, the crisis was so grave that the call was made.

In Julian Jackson’s biography of de Gaulle, he writes that “in 1799, as in 1958, French political elites had lost faith in the political system.” The first six months of de Gaulle’s return, in Jackson’s words, “had the same sense of purpose and energy as the first months of the Consulate of Napoleon.” During this time, de Gaulle drafted a new constitution, implemented a new financial plan, and launched several foreign-policy initiatives as well as a “legislative frenzy” touching areas as diverse as social-security change, wheat prices, flood relief, juvenile delinquency, and the highway code. Some of the reforms had been languishing in the desks of civil servants for years. De Gaulle’s authority, granted in extremis, was what allowed them to sail through.

This post-revolutionary frenzy served its purpose, gripping a system that had come close to anarchy and driving it forward to deal with the reasons it was threatened in the first place.

Having stabilized the nation, de Gaulle then set about restoring French grandeur, or in his words, giving back to France “her purpose, her rank and her universal vocation.” This could mean many conflicting things—and did—but was rooted in leadership, strength, and independence. The nation had a mission again.

Today, it is clear that Johnson has had his revolution, but far from clear that he has the grip, the determination, or the ideological clarity to define what it was all for. When I spent time with him earlier in the year, Johnson seemed to have an answer to this question. It was, he said, to “unite and level up” the country and become “global.” These were shorthand slogans for putting Britain’s Brexit civil war to bed, avoiding Scottish secession, and bringing to the rest of the country the kind of prosperity enjoyed in London and the southeast.

The central idea was that Britain needed to be more cohesive and economically dynamic at home to increase its influence on the world stage—and vice versa. This agenda served two immediate purposes: First, it was electorally popular among voters in traditionally Labour regions that had backed Johnson in 2019, and second, it seemed to address a deeper frustration with the status quo expressed in the EU referendum.

Longer term, it also gave Johnsonism a meaning, a way to fit emerging challenges into this overarching strategy. An example of this working in practice is the ongoing diplomatic spat with the EU over the future of Northern Ireland, which can be explained (fairly or not) as part of the government’s wider policy of national cohesion. Another example came in the fall, when Johnson used a series of pandemic- and Brexit-related crises to put some meat on the bones of his economic agenda. Rejecting calls to liberalize Britain’s immigration rules to allow more EU workers into the country to ease supply-chain problems, Johnson instead said he wanted to see Britain turn into a high-wage, high-productivity economy, open to the brightest and best talent from around the world but less reliant on the cheap, “low skilled” labor that had become a source of public disquiet in the run-up to the Brexit referendum. Here was a policy with obvious short-term costs for businesses and consumer prices, but apparent long-game benefits that could be packaged and sold politically. The impact of Brexit, in this telling, would accrue over time—so long as the government stuck to its guns.

The problem is, no serious economist believes that such a high-wage economy will magically emerge without significant structural reform. Indeed, most believe that such a prospect has been made harder by Britain’s withdrawal from the EU’s single market. Either way, both Johnson and the Labour Party agree that Britain’s economy requires fundamental change, irrespective of Brexit, if it is to answer the demands of those who voted for revolution in 2016 and again in 2019. The question is how?

When Johnson and I chatted, he told me that the most shocking thing he’d been shown as prime minister was a map created by the management consultancy firm McKinsey detailing the different levels of wealth across the country. The analysis showed how much the country’s prosperity was centered on London and the southeast—and that it was getting worse. Johnson believed the scale of the economic division was affecting Britain’s ability to act as one.

But what have his policies to narrow the wealth gap amounted to since then? Britain’s regional divide is akin to that of East and West Germany at the end of the Cold War, which required extraordinary investment to address. Johnson, though, has tackled Britain’s divide with a smattering of extra investment in trains and buses in the north of England (alongside cuts to one leg of a proposed high-speed train line) and the creation of government agencies outside London. There’s little that hangs it all together, and it’s all a bit, well, meh.

Such policies will do nothing to change the extraordinary domination of the southeast. The region is home to Britain’s only international-hub airport, Heathrow; its political, administrative, and financial centers; both of its best universities; all of its principal museums; its train connections to the continent; and its media and film industries. Perhaps the only core asset outside the southeast is Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines, which are based in Scotland.

No one has seriously suggested that any of these structural assets should be moved north. Heathrow is now Britain’s port, but when Johnson proposed relocating it, it was to another site near London, not, say, Birmingham. No one in the government has floated moving the government machine en masse to Glasgow, or even the British Museum to Manchester. It’s all done in dribs and drabs, controlled, as ever, by the might of the Treasury, which has spent much of the past 40 years offering solutions to the north-south divide without making a dent. At the moment, Brexit looks like an enormous change so that everything important stays the same.

In some ways, it is unreasonable to weigh all British governments against Thatcher’s, which really is an outlier in having a clear mission as well as a diagnosis of what had gone wrong, what was required to fix it, and symbolic policies to make sense of it. Nor, it should be said, did Thatcher have a once-in-a-century pandemic to tackle before turning back to her domestic agenda (though she did have a war).

Most governments just muddle along, making small adjustments and managing challenges as they present themselves. In many ways, that is what conservatism is supposed to be about.

A quick look back to Johnson’s election victory suggests he was never proposing much of a radical transformation after Brexit to begin with. Yes, he asked for—and received—a mandate to “Get Brexit done,” but this was in large part about ending the chaos that had gripped the country for the previous three years.

In 2019, Johnson had learned the lesson of his predecessor Theresa May’s disastrous 2017 campaign, which seemed to frighten the horses by spelling out too honestly what kind of reforms she felt were necessary. The most infamous example was the so-called dementia tax, which was meant to overhaul the way old-age care was funded by the state in an attempt to make it fairer, but which made it much more expensive for some people whose conditions—like dementia—were usually treated at home. In the face of a PR disaster, May U-turned on the policy, undermining support not only for a Conservative majority—which she wanted to be able to get Brexit done—but also for the central claim of her campaign: that she offered “strong and stable” leadership.

Two years later, Johnson made the same offer to the country as May—an end to Britain’s membership in the EU and an end to austerity—but without any of the downsides that alienated voters. He proposed no major changes to the size of the state, or to public services, taxes, and spending—and no detail on old-age care other than a pledge that no one would have to sell their home to pay for it. (Once Johnson had his majority, he passed his own reform on old-age care that meant some people would have to sell their home to pay for care.)

Johnson’s “unite and level up” agenda fits this narrative well. It is not about the redistribution of wealth or assets from one part of the country to the other, but a supposedly painless process in which one area magically overcomes its structural disadvantages without the other area having to make any sacrifices. This might be smart politics, but it does not suggest serious intent to change the fundamental reality of the British economy.

When I spoke with Blair about Johnson’s bid to revolutionize the country as Thatcher did, he was dismissive. “She took eye-wateringly difficult decisions to do that,” he told me. “She didn’t succeed by boosterism; she succeeded by reform. That, I’m afraid, is the thing.” Blair questioned whether Johnson had a coherent philosophy that would allow for such difficult decisions to take place. “Where’s the big bet on education reform? On health-service reform? In the end, it’s about doing stuff. The one definite thing he’s done so far at least is Brexit, but let’s see. It’s too early to make a final judgment.”

Perhaps Johnson is wise to avoid such difficult decisions. Perhaps London and the southeast should be left as it is and the rest of the country simply better connected to it with improved transport, technology, and the like. Perhaps this is leveling up. Perhaps Britain has had enough radicalism. In fact, perhaps incremental, ad hoc governance without a grand strategy, vision, or ideology is just what the country wants and needs. After all, this approach worked pretty well for Angela Merkel and Germany for the past 16 years. Little changed, but the country got richer.

There are ways of being consequential other than through sustained ideological revolution, but Johnson is no Merkel. By taking Britain into the European Economic Community in 1972, Thatcher’s predecessor as Conservative leader, Edward Heath, transformed the country, leaving a legacy that outlasted his successor’s, even though on almost every other measure he was a disastrous prime minister, buffeted by events and dumped at the first opportunity by the electorate. Perhaps Johnson will be a Heath, not a Thatcher: revolutionary in one specific sense but generally ineffective (or worse), unable to rise above his essential chaotic self.

During my conversations with Johnson earlier in the year, we got on to which books he’d been reading. As well as the two James Shapiro books about Shakespeare, he told me he’d recently read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night, which he described as being about a man who had all the superficial charm but threw away his success. Was he trying to tell me something?

De Gaulle was once asked to assess his career and its greatest successes and failures. He replied that in reality, any career required both. “Life is combat,” he said, “and therefore each one of its phases includes both successes and failures. And you cannot really say which event was a success and which event was a failure.” He then added: “Success contains within it the germs of failure and the reverse is true.” Today, Johnson’s success—such as it was—is that he secured Brexit. Yet this success contains within it the germs of his current failure, because without that existential combat he has yet to really identify how to fight the next battle, leaving himself exposed to the tide of events and scandals caused by his carelessness.

Maybe he never will. But without such clarity, his problem will not be that he gets bored with the job, like de Gaulle in the spring of 1968, but that the country will get bored with his inability to do it—and that history will speed past him before he has figured it out.
New regulations effective 27 June 2025 allow round‑the‑clock alcohol sales in hotels, airports and entertainment venues, ban consumption on railways
New regulations that took effect on 27 June 2025 have revised alcohol sale and consumption rules in Thailand under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act B.E. 2551 (2008).

Across Thailand, alcohol sales remain restricted to two daily windows: between 11:00 and 14:00, and 17:00 to midnight.

The updated directive from the Prime Minister’s Office introduces exemptions permitting unrestricted hours at:

- Hotels licensed under the Hotel Act
- Passenger areas within international airport terminals
- Licensed entertainment venues operating under service establishment laws

This expansion builds on the 2015 policy, which previously allowed only airport and entertainment venue exemptions .

A separate government order also enforces a blanket ban on alcohol sales, possession and consumption on all trains and within railway stations.

The sole exception applies to specially designated events at Bangkok’s main station, Hua Lamphong, held in an air-conditioned hall with prior authorisation from the Ministry of Public Health and adherence to strict safety, screening and age‑restriction protocols .

Travellers are reminded that consumption or purchase of alcohol outside permitted venues or time frames remains illegal, and both individuals and businesses may face penalties, including fines or licence suspension .

Driving under the influence is subject to stringent enforcement, with offences potentially resulting in arrest, fines or removal from Thailand, and the use of taxis, ride‑shares or public transport is advised .

These amendments align Thailand’s alcohol laws with modern tourism demands while maintaining public safety and regulatory consistency.
Defence minister affirms sovereign decision‑making as Talisman Sabre exercises begin with Chinese surveillance expected
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.
KNLA attacks on Kayin State base trigger border crossing and intensified Thai patrols
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.
Rubio and Wang agree to deepen communication and cooperation while managing differences ahead of possible Trump–Xi meeting
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 .
Finance Secretary announces potential for online gaming tax legislation to curb gambling issues as part of fiscal consolidation efforts.
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.
Author of Murderbot Diaries argues current AI lacks sentience and warns against corporate framing
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 .
AI chipmaker reaches historic valuation, surpassing Apple and Microsoft as global markets rally
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 .
Reports of injuries, withheld wages and forced labour prompt international and legal challenges
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.
European Commission extends suspension of €21 billion in countermeasures as Trump proposes 30% tariffs on EU goods
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.
‘Food Delivery’ awarded Tides of Change prize after screening proceeded despite Chinese appeals to cancel
“Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea,” a documentary examining the lives of Filipino fishermen, naval cooks and coastguard personnel in disputed maritime territories, secured the Tides of Change prize at the Doc Edge Festival in Auckland on July 3.

Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, the eighty‑five‑minute film had initially been withdrawn from a Philippine festival in March due to unspecified external factors.

A formal request from the Chinese Consulate in Auckland sought cancellation of its New Zealand screenings, alleging the film contained disinformation and served as a political tool.

Festival organisers declined the request, publicly releasing the consulate’s letter in the interests of transparency.

Villarama described the award as recognition of “honest storytelling,” noting the film offers a “gentle yet powerful” reframing of maritime tension.

Festival organisers reaffirmed their independence and curatorial freedom.

The documentary chronicles day‑to‑day operations in the West Philippine Sea, including rotation missions undertaken by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to contested areas, alongside the precarious lives of fishing communities.

Its portrayal juxtaposes personal narratives against broader geopolitical claims.

Villarama, whose previous work includes a documentary about Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong, returned to the Philippines on July 7 following the New Zealand win.

She noted in interviews that the film was intended to convey empathy and a human perspective, rather than serve as political messaging.

As an Academy Awards qualifier, Doc Edge’s recognition makes the film eligible for Oscar consideration.

Additional screenings are scheduled in Wellington and Christchurch later this month, with an online showing set from July 28 to August 24.
Full tournament structure now available
The official match schedule has been released for both the men’s and women’s water polo tournaments at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, detailing the full group fixtures set for July 11‑23 for women and July 12‑24 for men.
Hosts make historic tournament entry
Singapore made its first ever appearance in the men’s water polo tournament at the World Aquatics Championships, debuting in Group C against Brazil as they hosted the high-profile competition at the newly opened OCBC Aquatic Centre.
New textbooks may whitewash Suharto and Prabowo era
The Indonesian government’s plan to release a new 10‑volume series of history books aimed at “reinventing the national identity” has sparked significant concern among historians, who warn that chapters on the 1965‑66 anti‑communist massacres and the 1998 activists’ kidnappings could be downplayed or omitted entirely to favor portrayals of President Prabowo Subianto and former dictator Suharto.
Teens curate personas to project effortless ‘cool’ online
Aura farming describes a rising social media practice among tweens who carefully curate their style, captions, filters and friendships to project an effortlessly cool persona, balancing the need to look natural while striving for attention and social acceptance, and often relying on irony to mask the stress of constant performance.
Destination Thailand Visa gains popularity among global professionals
Thailand’s Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), a five‑year multiple‑entry remote‑work visa allowing 180‑day stays per entry, has rapidly become one of the world’s most attractive digital nomad programs, drawing remote professionals, freelancers and entrepreneurs with its flexibility, affordable living and thriving expat infrastructure.
Hotels, airports and entertainment hubs gain 24‑hour sales rights
Thailand has relaxed its alcohol sales regulations to allow round‑the‑clock sales at international airports, licensed entertainment venues and registered hotels, while maintaining the nationwide sale window of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to midnight elsewhere, aiming to support the tourism industry and promote responsible travel.
Anwar calls for ASEAN unity ahead of looming U.S. tariffs
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned that the escalating global trade war, particularly new U.S. tariffs set to take effect August 1, represents a systemic shift rather than a temporary disruption, urging ASEAN nations to intensify intra‑regional trade, reduce dependency on external powers, and forge a united economic front.
Rise in conservative Islamic policies among Malay youth
A significant surge in support for conservative Islamic policies is reshaping Malaysia’s political landscape, with polls showing that as many as 86 percent of Muslim Malaysians favor making Sharia the official law, and Islamic‑oriented parties gaining influence among younger and more religious Malay voters.
Unregulated extraction pollutes river systems downstream.
A rapid rush for rare earth minerals in Myanmar’s Kachin and Shan states is triggering a regional environmental crisis, with unregulated extraction and chemical leaching contaminating rivers and forests, and causing ecological damage that is now impacting communities downstream in Thailand.
Attack targets shelter amid ongoing military campaign.
An airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Sagaing region’s Lin Ta Lu village killed at least 23 civilians, including four children, and injured around 30 others who were sheltering from the conflict, as the military intensifies operations against resistance forces ahead of an election.
Industry benefits from high global demand and improved production
Vietnam’s coffee exports are on track to reach a historic $7.5 billion in 2025, driven by sustained global demand and continued improvements in cultivation and processing.

Officials credit investment in quality control, sustainable farming practices, and market diversification for boosting competitiveness.

As the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, Vietnam sees the milestone as validation of its strategy to enhance value-added production and maintain a leading role in the global coffee trade.
Ceremonies celebrate evolving partnership from former adversaries to close allies
Vietnam and the United States are commemorating 30 years of normalized diplomatic relations with ceremonies in Hanoi and other cities, highlighting a remarkable journey from war-time foes to comprehensive strategic partners.

Officials from both countries praised decades of growing economic ties, security cooperation, and cultural exchange, while reaffirming commitments to deepen trade, investment, and people-to-people links.

Observers say the anniversary reflects Vietnam’s importance as a key partner for the United States in Southeast Asia.
Court sentences officials and business figures over major graft scandal
A Vietnamese court has sentenced 30 individuals to prison terms for their roles in a $45 million corruption scheme, underscoring the government’s ongoing anti-graft drive.

The defendants, including officials and business leaders, were found guilty of embezzlement, bribery, and abuse of power in a series of fraudulent contracts and financial transactions.

Authorities say the case highlights their commitment to rooting out corruption and restoring public trust in government institutions.
New policy aims to encourage contributions from skilled professionals and investors
Vietnam has announced reforms to make it easier for highly skilled professionals, investors, and individuals with significant contributions to national development to acquire citizenship.

The new rules are designed to attract international talent, strengthen the country's workforce, and support its economic modernization goals.

Officials say the move aligns with Vietnam’s broader strategy to compete in the global economy by fostering innovation and welcoming expertise from around the world.
Government urges American businesses to support a fairer deal
Vietnamese officials are lobbying American business leaders to back efforts for a more favorable tariff arrangement as trade negotiations with the United States intensify.

Concerns have risen in Hanoi over recent tariff proposals seen as steep and potentially damaging to key export sectors.

By engaging with the US-ASEAN Business Council and corporate representatives, Vietnam hopes to secure a detailed, predictable agreement that preserves competitiveness and supports mutual economic growth.
Government cites stabilization measures amid economic pressures
Inflation in Laos eased to 10.9 percent in the first half of 2025, reflecting a modest improvement after months of soaring prices that have strained household budgets.

Officials credit tighter monetary policies and targeted subsidies for helping to stabilize the cost of essentials.

However, authorities acknowledge continued challenges in containing living costs and supporting vulnerable communities as the country navigates broader regional and global economic uncertainties.
Holidaymaker recounts near-fatal experience after consuming contaminated drinks
A British traveller has spoken out about a harrowing ordeal in Laos that left one friend dead and others critically ill after suspected alcohol poisoning from contaminated local spirits.

The survivor is urging tourists to exercise extreme caution when drinking in unfamiliar venues and to avoid unregulated alcohol, which can contain lethal additives.

The warning highlights ongoing safety challenges in parts of Southeast Asia’s tourism industry where quality controls can be lax.
B&K Asian Kitchen owners seek buyers for beloved local institution
B&K Asian Kitchen, a well-known Fresno eatery celebrated for its authentic Lao-Thai cuisine, is now on the market as its owners look to sell the business.

The restaurant has built a devoted customer base with its vibrant flavors and traditional dishes, becoming a staple in the city’s diverse food scene.

The sale offers an opportunity for new owners to continue its culinary legacy while meeting strong local demand for Southeast Asian cuisine.
Regional bloc warns of economic fallout and urges coordinated response
Leaders from ASEAN nations have voiced concern over escalating US tariff hikes during high-level trade talks, warning of potential disruptions to regional supply chains and calling for a unified strategy in response.

Member states stressed the need for deeper economic integration and collective bargaining power to mitigate the impact of protectionist measures.

The discussions underscored ASEAN’s commitment to maintaining open trade while navigating a challenging global environment.
Bilateral agreement aims to boost remittances and strengthen ties
Laos is expanding its seasonal worker dispatch program with South Korea under a new agreement designed to offer employment opportunities abroad while boosting remittance flows back home.

The initiative allows more Laotian workers to take up temporary roles in South Korea’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Officials say the move will strengthen bilateral ties, help reduce domestic unemployment, and deliver vital income for rural families reliant on overseas earnings.
Residents warned of rising water levels and potential evacuation needs
Authorities in Laos have issued an urgent alert to communities along riverbanks, warning of potential flooding amid persistent heavy rains.

Residents are being advised to closely monitor local conditions, prepare for possible evacuations, and follow safety guidance from emergency services.

The government is coordinating with provincial officials to ensure resources are in place to respond quickly to any severe flooding, aiming to minimize damage and protect vulnerable populations.
Former education and budget officials in the Philippines under scrutiny
The Philippine Ombudsman has filed graft charges against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones, ex-Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, and others over a controversial $2.4 billion laptop procurement deal.

Investigators allege that overpriced units and irregularities marked the transaction, which was intended to supply computers to schools.

The charges come as part of a broader anti-corruption drive aiming to ensure accountability in government spending and restore public trust.
Breakthrough offers hope for conservation of elusive saola species
A team of international scientists has successfully mapped the genome of the saola, a critically endangered mammal often called the 'Asian unicorn' due to its rarity and distinctive horns.

Found only in remote parts of Vietnam and Laos, the species faces severe threats from habitat loss and poaching.

The genomic data will help conservationists develop more targeted breeding and protection programs, offering renewed hope for saving one of the world's most elusive large mammals.
Government plans investment incentives and supply chain improvements
The government of Laos has announced plans to increase local production and improve export performance through targeted investment incentives and supply chain upgrades.

Authorities aim to reduce import dependency and expand the country's manufacturing base by supporting domestic producers and streamlining logistics.

The strategy is part of a broader effort to strengthen economic resilience and diversify export markets in the face of shifting global trade dynamics.
Beijing calls for dialogue amid simmering border tensions
China has called on Cambodia and Thailand to resolve their ongoing border disputes through peaceful dialogue and negotiation.

Chinese officials say they support regional stability and hope both countries will prioritize diplomatic solutions to maintain security and cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Conservation efforts ensure preservation of iconic heritage site
Cambodian authorities have reported significant progress on the restoration of the Bakan Tower corner at Angkor Wat, the country’s most famous temple complex.

Conservation teams say the work is essential to preserving the structural integrity and cultural significance of the UNESCO World Heritage site for future generations.
Government says measure will strengthen national security and patriotism
Cambodia’s National Assembly has passed a constitutional amendment enabling the government to strip citizenship from individuals deemed to threaten national interests.

Supporters say the measure will help preserve patriotism and uphold security, while critics have raised concerns about potential misuse against political opponents.
Designation honors victims and promotes justice and peace
Cambodia’s Prime Minister has described the UNESCO inscription of genocide memorial sites as a powerful symbol of national reconciliation, justice, and peace.

He emphasized that remembering past atrocities is vital to ensuring they are never repeated and fostering unity among all Cambodians.
Victory keeps Philippines' gold-medal hopes alive
The Alas Pilipinas men's volleyball team secured a dramatic five-set victory over Cambodia in the Southeast Asian V.League, maintaining their hopes for a gold medal.

Players and coaches praised the team’s resilience and determination, saying the hard-fought win was critical in their quest for regional supremacy.
Health authorities warn public to remain vigilant
Cambodia’s health ministry has reported more than 7,000 dengue fever cases and 15 deaths in the first six months of 2025.

Officials are urging communities to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and seek early treatment for symptoms, as the country faces the peak season for the mosquito-borne disease.
Recognition aims to honor victims and promote education about atrocities
Cambodia’s government has announced that three sites associated with Khmer Rouge-era executions and torture have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Officials say the designation recognizes the nation's dark history, honors the memory of genocide victims, and will serve as an important educational resource to promote reconciliation and peace.
Dozens of Cambodian migrants arrested for illegal re-entry
Authorities have arrested over 100 Cambodian migrants for illegally re-entering from Thailand, underscoring ongoing tensions along the shared border.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue as both nations aim to address migration challenges, improve worker protections, and maintain peaceful bilateral relations.
Meeting to focus on regional cooperation and legislative priorities
The Secretary-General of ASEAN will participate in the 16th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Caucus hosted in Cambodia, where lawmakers will discuss shared challenges, legislative priorities, and regional cooperation.

Organizers say the event underscores ASEAN’s commitment to dialogue and unity among its member states.
Massive infrastructure project to enhance global connectivity
The Philippines is moving forward with the strategic development of the New Manila International Airport, positioning it as a key driver of long-term economic growth and global connectivity.

Authorities say the project will reduce congestion, boost tourism, and support the country's role as a regional transport hub.
New collaboration aims to enhance conservation efforts
The Philippines has joined the Ocean Centres initiative, a collaborative effort to protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable resource management.

Officials say the partnership will strengthen the country's conservation capabilities and support its commitment to safeguarding vital ocean ecosystems.
Increased reliance on imported fuel adds pressure to costs
Consumers in the Philippines are bracing for higher electricity rates as the country's dependence on imported liquefied natural gas grows.

Energy officials warn that global price volatility and increased import volumes are contributing to the cost pressures faced by local power providers.
Government reaffirms legal victory despite ongoing tensions with China
The Philippines is marking the ninth anniversary of the landmark South China Sea arbitral tribunal ruling, reaffirming its commitment to the decision that invalidated China's sweeping maritime claims.

Officials emphasized the country's rights under international law, while Beijing continues to reject the ruling as a farce.
Military move signals commitment to regional security
The United States has deployed F-35 fighter jets to the Philippines for the first time, a significant demonstration of military cooperation amid escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea.

Officials say the deployment is intended to enhance joint readiness and deter aggressive maritime actions.
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Over 600 Myanmar Civilians and Soldiers Flee to Thailand Amid Karen Insurgent Assault
US and China Restart High-Level Dialogue During ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur
Philippines Proposes Tax on Online Gambling Amid Growing Support
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Administration Targets Chinese Influence in Agriculture
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
U.S. Implements Comprehensive Travel Ban on Citizens from 12 Countries
United States Expands Visa Waiver Program to Select Asian Nations in 2025
Asian AI Boom: Goldman Sachs Repositions Asian Equity Strategy Amid AI Growth
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Hong Kong Denies Entry to Over 12,000 Visitors in Early 2025
US Administration Plans to Restrict AI Chip Shipments to Malaysia and Thailand
Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Celebrates 50 Years of Brilliance with a Dazzling New Era
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
US Eases Chip Software Sales Restrictions to China
Trump Announces New Trade Agreement Between U.S. and Vietnam
South Korea Signals It May Miss Trump Trade Deal Deadline
Toyota Industries Faces Backlash Over $33 Billion Buyout Plan
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Chinese Astronauts Successfully Return from Tiangong Space Station
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Singapore Police Empowered to Seize Bank Accounts to Combat Scams
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
BIGXSHOW LALA Co., Ltd. Partners with Japanese Firms to Advance Influencer Marketing in Asia
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
AI Management Experiment Shows Promise Despite Failures
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Asia News Roundup: Key Developments Across the Region
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
UK Scientists Launch Synthetic Human Genome Project with £10 Million Funding
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Thai Prime Minister Discusses Bilateral Relations and Regional Issues with French President Emmanuel Macron
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Intervenes as Hong Kong Dollar Reaches Weak Trading Threshold
China Pledges Greater Openness Amid Global Trade Tensions
China and Taiwan Engage in Historical Dispute as Beijing Declares Territory Status