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K-pop group BTS announced they will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, saying they want their work to be heard 'for what it is' rather than divided by region or language. The decision comes amid fan criticism of the Recording Academy's new best Asian pop music performance category, which some see as a racialised barrier. BTS, who have never won a Grammy despite five nominations, have not commented further.
Malaysia is increasing scrutiny of foreign businesses to address local concerns over Chinese competition while trying to retain Chinese investment and technology. At the same time, the government is navigating the US-China rivalry by adopting conditional neutrality, as detailed by senior adviser Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
US President Donald Trump says he would be 'quite disappointed' if China supplied air defense systems to Iran, citing a personal promise from Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's Defense Ministry has denied supplying such weapons, while a Reuters report alleges a pending deal.
The US Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.5%-3.75% for a fifth consecutive meeting, with a 9-3 vote. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reaffirmed the central bank's commitment to its 2% inflation target, while government borrowing costs climbed to their highest level since 2007.
AstraZeneca has reversed its earlier decision to withdraw the breast cancer and endometriosis drug Zoladex from Australia, pledging to supply it free to patients with no alternative treatments. The reversal follows widespread criticism and a petition with over 42,000 signatures. Pharmaceutical commentator Paul Cross suggests international pricing strategies may have influenced the company's decision.
Yemen's Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center denied plans to charge ships for traversing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, saying passage remains free. The denial follows a report that the Iran-aligned group had been weighing fees, with Chinese vessels reportedly exempt, as regional tensions continue.
BMW has announced plans to reduce its workforce by up to 8,000 jobs by the end of 2027, targeting office roles while sparing production workers. The company attributes the cuts to competition from Chinese carmakers, US tariffs, and the transition to electric vehicles, echoing similar moves by Volkswagen and Porsche.
The Trump administration has banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid and four-legged robots, as well as power inverters, citing national security and cybersecurity risks. The move targets Chinese manufacturers, which dominate the global market for these devices, and has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the importance of Russia's independence and its national interests rooted in being an independent power and civilization. He also highlighted Russia's resource base and history of overcoming difficulties, and expressed openness to cooperation with China and India as equals.
Formula 1 has set a mid-September deadline to decide whether its final rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi can proceed, with CEO Stefano Domenicali saying the season would end in Europe if they cannot. The decision comes after races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were called off due to the war in Iran.
The US military said it intercepted an Iranian missile barrage aimed at American forces in the Middle East, ending a brief pause in fighting. The attack coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House visit, which both sides described as positive. Amid the escalation, a senior US commander has privately warned that American naval assets are stretched too thin, raising questions about the Pentagon's ability to sustain multiple commitments.
Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is set to testify before a Senate committee investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Republicans, led by Senator Rand Paul, are probing the 'lab leak' theory, while more than 155 scientists and public health advocates have defended Fauci, calling allegations against him baseless.
The 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan wrapped up after adding 25 new sites, including Japan's Asuka-Fujiwara archaeological cluster and France's Normandy D-Day beaches. The committee also reviewed 148 properties, placing six on the danger list, and expanded two site boundaries.
Seoul stocks tumbled nearly 6% on Wednesday, extending a sharp sell-off driven by doubts over AI spending returns and rising Chinese competition in the memory chip market. The KOSPI fell 360.42 points to close at 5,663.24, triggering a marketwide circuit breaker.
Keiko Fujimori has been sworn in as Peru's president after winning the June runoff by fewer than 50,000 votes. Her government plans to focus on security, deepen ties with the US, and restore diplomatic relations with Mexico and Colombia.
US diplomats staged a walkout during a UN Security Council meeting after France accused Washington of abandoning its role as a human rights leader. The clash follows a contentious vote on the reappointment of UN human rights chief Volker Türk, which the US opposed.
A bipartisan group of US senators has agreed on a bill to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, targeting its leadership, state banks, and energy projects, as well as introducing 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The bill faces opposition from House Democrats and concerns from experts about potential fallout in US-China relations and economic harm to the US.
Apple has become the second company ever to reach a $5 trillion market valuation, overtaking Nvidia as the world's most valuable firm. The shift reflects investor sentiment moving away from AI infrastructure spenders toward companies monetizing AI through consumer products and services. CEO Tim Cook is reportedly set to hand over to hardware chief John Ternus in September.
In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg discusses Washington's efforts to reduce dependence on China in critical minerals and AI supply chains, including the Pax Silica initiative and restrictions on foreign access to Anthropic models.
The Philippines is moving to finalize a framework agreement with the US within two to three months for a 1,620-hectare AI, semiconductor and critical minerals hub north of Manila, part of the Pax Silica Initiative. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr defended the project in his State of the Nation address, promising quality jobs and economic revitalization, while critics warn of sovereignty erosion, community displacement and environmental harm.