Foreign

• President Trump has threatened "decapitation" strikes against Iran, stating the country is on its "very last chance" to reach a deal. • In response to a Houthi-declared blockade, six Saudi-operated tankers have been diverted around Africa to ensure safe passage. • Iran's Foreign Ministry is currently in negotiations with Oman to establish a temporary safe route for maritime vessels.

• Ukraine has appointed Umerov to lead a combined portfolio overseeing foreign intelligence, peace negotiations, and defense-technology priorities. • His key responsibilities include managing critical military initiatives, specifically drone procurement deals and the Freyja anti-ballistic program. • This consolidation of power aims to align Ukraine's intelligence capabilities with its diplomatic efforts and technological defense needs.

• The KOSPI index experienced a significant surge as foreign investors shifted their strategy from selling to buying. • The rally was triggered by the collapse of a hedge fund, which effectively ended a period of forced asset liquidations. • Market stability was further bolstered by reduced leverage and strategic currency interventions, making South Korean assets more attractive to international capital.

Labour veteran is said to relish role that requires careful negotiation of Trump and impending G20 leadershipExtraordinarily, given the importance of geopolitics, the office of foreign secretary has sometimes appeared a consolation prize in British politics, perhaps reflecting the transfer of responsibility to Downing Street or the Cabinet Office.That is not how Ed Miliband views the job. His allies say suggestions that he nurses resentment after he was deprived of the chance to be chancellor misunderstand his grasp of the policy challenges ahead. “Ed has an immense appetite to get things done and is relishing being in this job,” one says. “Ed will be a policy-driven foreign secretary.” Continue reading...

Two members given ‘stern warnings’ after concert and barred from returning, with band also excluded from performing in Singapore again, say authoritiesBritish trip-hop band Massive Attack has been barred from performing in Singapore after an investigation found two members unfurled a Palestinian flag during a concert, police said.Singapore, known for its tough laws on public speech and assembly, bans the open display of all foreign flags, national emblems or banners without a permit. Continue reading...

• The KOSPI index plummeted 16% over two days and approximately 33% within a single month, leaving South Korean retail investors in a state of "despair." • The market crash was directly triggered by the earnings announcement from SK hynix (000660.KS), which sparked a broader sell-off. • In response to the volatility, South Korean authorities have implemented restrictions on access to leveraged ETFs to mitigate further risk.

• South Korea's KOSPI index plummeted more than 33% in July, marking its worst single-month performance in history and surpassing declines seen during the 1997 and 2008 financial crises. • The crash was driven by a combination of cooling global AI stocks, a Bank of Korea rate hike, SK Hynix's disappointing earnings, and reports of China producing its own DUV lithography machines. • This collapse represents a rapid reversal of a bull market that had been heavily supported by leveraged capital.