Breakfast News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Trump moves on tariffs and markets rally on tech and metals
Violence across the Middle East intensified, with Houthi attacks killing at least 58 Yemeni government troops in Marib and Hadramawt and wounding 11 civilians in Saudi Arabia’s Najran Province, including a four year old child with second degree burns. 🔗 🔗In Syria, at least two people were killed and 13 wounded when a bomb exploded inside a minibus in Jaramana near Damascus, while a separate blast in the same area was also reported to have killed and wounded several people. 🔗 🔗Regional tensions also deepened around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran accused Donald Trump of “theatre diplomacy on loop”... [Continue Reading]
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Sea drones and explosive-laden robots could help clear Strait of Hormuz mines
Preparations are under way for a possible mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, with uncrewed surface vehicles, underwater drones, explosive-laden robots and helicopter-mounted lasers among the tools being discussed. The waterway is one of the world's most important shipping routes, and any reopening effort would begin with removing or neutralising sea mines. The report says the challenge would fall first to the US military and its allies if a deal is reached to reopen the passage.The Strait of Hormuz has long been treated as a strategic chokepoint because of the volume of energy shipments that pass through it. The... [Continue Reading]
Trump imposes 15% tariff on polysilicon imports after national security review
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 15% tariff on imported products made from polysilicon, a material used in semiconductors and solar panels. The order also sets minimum import prices for polysilicon and related products. It follows a national security investigation into overseas production of the material and is aimed at supporting domestic manufacturers.Trump said in the order that he had accepted recommendations from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to introduce the tariff and the minimum price measures. The administration also said it would offer incentives to boost domestic production. The move comes as the US faces... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street closes sharply higher as megacap tech, AI chips and precious metals power a broad rally
Executive summary: U.S. equities finished sharply higher, led by a powerful surge in megacap technology and AI-linked shares. Amazon, Nvidia, Microsoft and Meta posted double-digit gains, while the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 both advanced strongly. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium also rallied, suggesting investors rotated toward both growth and hard assets. Energy lagged, with WTI crude and natural gas lower, while Apple was the standout large-cap decliner. [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street Opens Higher as Metals Surge, Oil Slips and Tech Leads a Broad Risk-On Move
Executive summary: US stocks opened sharply higher, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones all posting strong gains in early trade. The move was led by tech, chips and defense shares, while gold, silver, platinum and palladium surged and WTI crude fell. The opening tone points to a market that is embracing lower energy costs, stronger risk appetite and a powerful rotation into growth and cyclical assets. [Continue Reading]
US tightens curbs on foreign-made robots and tech linked to China rivalry
The United States has moved to tighten restrictions on foreign-made humanoid robots and certain power inverters, in a step framed by officials as a national security measure. The move comes amid a wider technology rivalry with China that spans artificial intelligence, chips and industrial supply chains. It also reflects growing concern in Washington about dependence on overseas manufacturing in sectors seen as strategically important.According to the supplied material, the US has banned imports of foreign-made humanoid robots. It has also blocked power inverters used in data centres and solar energy systems. The measures were presented as part of a broader... [Continue Reading]
Myanmar leader visits Thailand as he seeks ASEAN re-engagement
Min Aung Hlaing has met Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok in his first official visit to Thailand since the 2021 coup. The meeting comes as Myanmar's military-backed leader seeks broader regional acceptance and a return to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It also underlines Thailand's willingness to keep high-level contact with Myanmar despite the country's continuing civil war.During the talks, Min Aung Hlaing said his government was focused on ending the conflict and restoring peace. He told the Thai side that Myanmar had "reestablished itself on the path to democracy" and was moving toward a better future.... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street closes sharply higher as tech, chips and gold lead a broad risk rally
Executive summary: U.S. equities finished sharply higher, led by megacap tech, semiconductors and broad market benchmarks, while crude oil and natural gas fell. The Nasdaq Composite rose +7.9%, the S&P 500 gained +5.6% and the Dow advanced +5.3%. Microsoft, Amazon and Nvidia were among the biggest large-cap gainers, while Apple and WTI crude were notable laggards. The move points to a powerful rotation into growth, AI and precious metals, with banks also firmer and energy stocks weaker. [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street Opens Higher as Tech, Chips and Precious Metals Lead a Broad Risk Rally
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened with a powerful risk-on tone, led by a surge in AI and chip stocks, a sharp jump in the Nasdaq, and broad gains across the S&P 500, Dow and Russell 2000. Tech, defense, banks and metals were all firmer, while crude oil and the dollar-yen pair moved lower, reinforcing the view that easing energy prices and a softer dollar are supporting equities and precious metals. [Continue Reading]
Russian drone manufacturer founder critically injured in car bomb near Ekaterinburg
The founder of a Russian drone manufacturer has been critically injured after a car bomb exploded near Ekaterinburg, in what appears to be a targeted attack. Vladimir Tkachuk was rushed to intensive care after a bomb planted beneath his Mercedes detonated on Wednesday, according to Russian state media citing emergency services. His bodyguard was killed in the blast.Russian media reported that Tkachuk was in a critical condition and that doctors were fighting to save his life. Images circulating on social media showed the charred remains of the vehicle and blood stains on the pavement nearby. The attack took place near... [Continue Reading]
Palantir raises annual forecast after second-quarter revenue jumps 93%
Palantir Technologies has reported a sharp rise in second-quarter revenue and lifted its full-year outlook, sending its shares more than 14% higher in after-hours trading. The company said revenue reached $1.94bn in the quarter, up 93% from a year earlier. It said the growth was driven by strong demand from both commercial customers and government agencies.Chief executive Alex Karp said the quarter was "otherworldly" and said US commercial revenue grew 149% year on year. In a letter to shareholders, he said the business was compounding at a pace and scale the company had not seen before. Palantir also raised its... [Continue Reading]
US stocks near record high as oil falls after Trump claims Iran talks are under way
US equities moved close to record highs on Monday after President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were under way, while Brent crude fell sharply on the same day. The market reaction came amid conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran about the status of the communications. The moves added a fresh financial-market dimension to the wider dispute over the war on Iran.The S&P 500 rose 1.5% and finished just below its closing record of 7,620.90 set on 2 June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.3% to a record high of 53,178.41, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.1% and remained... [Continue Reading]
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Australia raises proposed levy on big tech over news content deals
Australia is moving to raise the proposed levy on major digital platforms that do not strike content deals with news organisations, in a fresh step in its media bargaining policy. Under the plan, companies would face a 2.5% charge on digital advertising revenue if they fail to reach agreements with local news services. The government is expected to introduce the legislation to parliament in the coming weeks.The revised proposal increases the levy from 2.25% and narrows the base on which it would be calculated. Instead of applying to total revenue, the charge would now be limited to digital advertising revenue... [Continue Reading]
Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on water systems as FBI investigates
Michigan has reported cyberattacks on nine of its water systems, widening a developing investigation that first emerged in Minnesota earlier in the week. The FBI said it is investigating both incidents, while federal agencies have warned that water and wastewater infrastructure may be being targeted. Officials said no culprit has been identified so far.Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said the state received a federal cyber alert on Tuesday about attempts to tamper with operational technology in water systems. Soon after, it received a small number of reports from communities indicating activity consistent with what federal agencies had... [Continue Reading]
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
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The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]


