South Korea, US to conduct major joint military drills starting August 18

Reuters,

South Korea and the United States will launch a large-scale joint military exercise commencing on August 18, officials announced on August 7. The drills, named Freedom Guardian, will include combined air, land, and naval operations involving over 100 aircraft and 10,000 troops from both countries. Intended to bolster readiness amid rising regional tensions with North Korea and signal commitment to Seoul’s defense, the exercises will feature live-fire drills, anti-submarine warfare training, and cyber defence components. North Korea denounced the drills as provocative, threatening to escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Syria signs $14 billion in investment deals with UAE, Qatar, and Iraq

Associated Press,

Syria’s government inked investment agreements worth $14 billion with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and neighbouring Iraq during a summit in Damascus on August 7. Under the accords, the UAE will finance infrastructure projects including a new oil pipeline and reconstruction of war-damaged power plants, while Qatar will invest in telecommunications and transport. Iraq’s deal focuses on agricultural development and cross-border trade corridors. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the pacts as key steps in Syria’s economic recovery following years of conflict, but critics warn that reconstruction efforts may marginalize opposition-held areas and deepen foreign influence over domestic affairs.

TSMC sues ex-employees for alleged theft of semiconductor trade secrets

Nikkei Asia,

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has initiated legal proceedings against former employees accused of misappropriating proprietary semiconductor manufacturing processes to benefit a Chinese rival, the company announced on August 7. TSMC alleges that two senior engineers downloaded confidential design files and transferred them to servers linked to Shanghai-based HuaTech, potentially compromising advanced 3-nanometre chip production know-how. The lawsuit seeks damages for breach of non-disclosure agreements and an injunction barring the defendants from further involvement in the rival firm’s operations. Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice has said it will investigate possible espionage, highlighting growing concerns over industrial leakage amid intensifying U.S.-China tech rivalry.

Locals pray for peace as Thailand-Cambodia tensions continue despite talks

Al Jazeera,

Thai and Cambodian forces continue to amass along their shared border, even as ceasefire negotiations convened in Kuala Lumpur wrapped up on August 7. A truce brokered on July 28 has held tenuously, with both sides accusing each other of violations, including artillery exchanges that killed at least 43 people and displaced over 260,000 civilians. Local residents in Sisaket province sheltered in Buddhist temples, praying for calm as troops remain within 50 metres of each other around key ancient temple sites. Diplomats from Malaysia, China, and the United States observed the talks, but analysts warn that enduring distrust and lack of confidence in enforcement mechanisms may foreshadow renewed flare-ups in the long-running border dispute.

Rome approves construction of world’s longest suspension bridge linking Sicily to mainland

The Guardian,

After decades of debate, Italy’s cabinet on August 7 granted final approval for the €13.5 billion Strait of Messina Bridge, which will span 3.7 kilometres between Sicily and the mainland. The suspension bridge, featuring two 382-metre towers and six road lanes plus two railway tracks, aims to bolster southern Italy’s economy and address regional connectivity issues. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini described the project as a “historic investment” for Italy’s poorer south and a strategic asset eligible as defense spending under NATO budget rules. Critics point to seismic risks in the Mediterranean, environmental concerns for bird migration routes, and fears of mafia infiltration, though government assurances emphasize rigorous safety and oversight measures.

Myanmar’s military-appointed acting President Myint Swe dies after long illness

AFP,

Myint Swe, the military-appointed acting President of Myanmar since the 2021 coup, died on August 7 at age 74 following a prolonged illness, the junta announced. A former general, Myint Swe assumed the presidency after the military detained elected leader Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi, consolidating power under Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. State media reported he had been hospitalized since July 24 for neurological disorders and permitted Min Aung Hlaing to exercise presidential functions in his absence. His death marks a formal end to a key figurehead role, but real authority remained with the junta chief, raising questions about the regime’s stability ahead of planned elections later this year.