US airstrike in Iran despite negotiations; Israel targets southern Lebanon

Today’s news: rescue workers are trying to save seven people who have been trapped for a week in a cave in Laos. From Delhi, the Quad announces new initiatives by the US, India, Japan and Australia on maritime security and critical minerals. Pyongyang’s eighth missile test since the start of the year, whilst there is talk of a possible visit by Xi Jinping. Boom in one-person companies in China driven by AI.

MIDDLE EAST

Despite ongoing remote negotiations for a deal to end the war, US forces struck last night missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran, describing the operation as an act of ‘self-defence’. Earlier, Iranian media had reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas. In Lebanon too, the national news agency reports heavy Israeli bombardment of several locations in the south of the country, including Arnoun, Yohmor al-Shaqif and Mayfadoun. Air raids and artillery strikes also hit the areas of Tyre, Nabatieh and the western Bekaa Valley yesterday.

LAOS

Rescuers are attempting to save seven people trapped for almost a week in a flooded cave in Laos. The group, made up of residents of Xaysomboun province, had entered the cave to search for gold and wild animals, but rain and landslides blocked the exit. Among the rescuers are experts involved in the famous 2018 rescue of a youth football team from a cave in Thailand. A survivor who managed to escape raised the alarm. The cave, which is very narrow and deep, is frequented by gold prospectors. Rescuers are pumping out the water.

INDIA

The Quad – the security cooperation body bringing together the United States, India, Japan and Australia – has announced new initiatives to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals, energy and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, against the backdrop of China’s growing military presence in the region. During the meeting of foreign ministers in New Delhi, led by S. Jaishankar, members of the group discussed measures to improve maritime surveillance and port infrastructure. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar emphasised the importance of freedom of navigation and respect for international law to ensure safe and unimpeded maritime trade.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea has launched several short-range ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and likely suicide drones towards the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean military. The launches originated from North Pyongan Province and the missiles travelled approximately 80 kilometres before falling into the sea. The launch comes amid growing speculation about a possible visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to North Korea. This is the eighth North Korean missile test recorded since the start of 2026.

CHINA

A new professional trend is emerging in China: using artificial intelligence to create one-person companies (OPCs). Although the concept already existed in Chinese law, only recent advances in AI have made it truly viable.

Tools such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek and OpenClaw now enable a single person to carry out tasks previously entrusted to entire teams, from programming to operational management. Data updated to June 2025 indicates over 16 million OPCs registered in China, accounting for more than a quarter of the country’s businesses, operating primarily in digital content, e-commerce and consultancy.

SINGAPORE-RUSSIA

Import volumes of Russian oil to Singapore have reached their highest level in the past year. According to energy monitoring firm Vortexa, Russian shipments rose from 160,155 to 273,565 barrels per day between February and April, following US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has clarified that the import of Russian oil is not prohibited. Although Singapore imposed targeted sanctions against certain Russian banks and restricted some exports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, oil transactions remain permitted.

KYRGYZSTAN

Russia is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the construction of schools and educational centres in Central Asia, and recently 30 hectares of land in a picturesque suburb of Bishkek have been allocated for the construction of a campus for the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University “Eltsin”, designed to accommodate 15,000 students. Under a bilateral agreement, Russia will invest 15 billion roubles (approximately 0 million), and Kyrgyzstan will provide the land and necessary infrastructure free of charge.