Expands

Boarding of M/T Wen Yao in Gulf of Oman comes as expanded airstrike campaign hits five bridges in southern IranAmerican forces boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday as part of the renewed blockade of Iran’s ports that began earlier this week, the US military said.US Marines boarded the M/T Wen Yao “to ensure full compliance with the ongoing US naval blockade,” US Central Command (Centcom) said in a post on X. Continue reading...

• The U.S. has expanded military strikes deep into Iran, while Tehran has responded with attacks on neighboring Gulf states. • In Khuzestan Province, official Valiollah Hayati reported that strikes caused structural damage to homes and shattered windows in the vicinity of Ahvaz. • Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz an "unbreakable red line," signaling a high risk of further escalation in a critical global shipping lane.

• Economic activity saw a slight overall expansion, driven primarily by growth in the construction and real estate sectors. • Several districts reported a specific increase in the development of data centers, contributing to the broader growth trend. • Financial conditions remained stable, with modest increases observed in both commercial and consumer loan volumes.

• Europe has launched ETCI 2.0, an expansion of the European Tech Champions Initiative designed to increase funding for high-growth technology companies. • The updated initiative will specifically target the support of mega-funds and mid-sized growth funds to bridge the funding gap for scaleups. • This move matters as it aims to strengthen European digital business models and ensure the region remains competitive against global tech hubs.

• Singapore's manufacturing sector experienced a 12.2% year-on-year growth in the second quarter of 2026, accelerating from 8.0% in Q1. • This surge was primarily driven by strong AI-related demand for semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. • The manufacturing boom significantly boosted the broader economy, leading to an overall growth rate of 5.7% for the period.

• Singapore's economy grew by 5.7% in the second quarter, surpassing the 5.5% growth forecast by analysts. • While the expansion beat expectations, it represents a slowdown compared to the revised 6.3% growth recorded in the first quarter. • This advance GDP data provides a critical economic indicator as the nation's central bank prepares for its quarterly monetary policy decision later this month.

• The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority issued a ruling last month that expands presidential authority over independent federal agencies. • The decision specifically affirms that President Donald Trump possesses the power to exert greater control over these agencies' operations. • Environmental advocates warn that this shift could lead to corporate abuses and negatively impact regulatory oversight in states like North Dakota.

• Meta is expanding the compute capacity of its Hyperion data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, to 5 GW, pushing the total project investment beyond $50 billion. • Since construction commenced in December 2024, local businesses have already secured more than $1.6 billion in contracts related to the facility. • The company will invest an additional $1 billion into regional infrastructure, specifically targeting upgrades for roads, water systems, and wastewater facilities.