Top Stories
Same event, multiple sources, transparently cited.
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Three Saudi Supertankers Resume Crossing Strait of Hormuz After US-Iran Peace Deal
Three Saudi supertankers carrying 6 million barrels of crude resumed crossing the Strait of Hormuz on June 18 after a US-Iran interim peace deal.
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UAE sets 15 as minimum age for social media use, banning under-15s nationwide
The UAE Cabinet approved a resolution banning social media use for children under 15 and imposing strict platform compliance rules.
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South Korean Parliament Launches 45-Day Probe into Ballot Shortages in June 3 Elections
South Korea’s National Assembly authorized a 45-day investigation on June 18 into ballot paper shortages that disrupted June 3 local elections.
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Singapore Regains Top Spot in 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking
Singapore reclaimed first place in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, advancing from third last year among 70 economies.
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Israeli Foreign Minister cuts ties with EU foreign policy chief over apartheid comparison
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar severed contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas over alleged apartheid remarks.
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Top Glove's Q3 FY2026 net profit more than doubles to RM81 million on higher sales
Top Glove reported a 133% rise in net profit to RM80.99 million for Q3 FY2026 ended May 31, driven by higher sales and cost efficiencies.
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AirAsia warns public about fake recruitment website impersonating its careers portal
AirAsia alerted job seekers on June 18 to a fraudulent website posing as its official recruitment portal and soliciting fees.
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Gunfire and explosions reported at Niamey airport in Niger, lasting up to 2 hours
Gunfire and explosions erupted early June 18 at Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport, prompting a security response and area lockdown.
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Philippines and Indonesia Central Banks Raise Rates to Fight Inflation and Stabilize Currencies
The Philippine and Indonesian central banks raised interest rates on June 18, 2026, to curb inflation and support their currencies amid economic pressures.
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US to review European troop presence as it pressures NATO allies on defense spending
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of US forces in Europe to push NATO allies toward greater defense spending and self-reliance.
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HSBC Australia fined A$35 million for failures protecting customers from scams
HSBC Australia was ordered by the Federal Court to pay a A$35 million penalty over scam protection failures.
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Brazil's Lula warns Trump against interfering in 2026 presidential election
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warned Donald Trump not to interfere in Brazil's October 2026 presidential vote.
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EU leaders agree on stronger trade defenses to address €360 billion China deficit
EU leaders agreed at a Brussels summit to strengthen trade defenses against China amid a growing €360 billion annual trade deficit.
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Chinese EV Maker BYD Explores Formula One Sponsorship to Boost Global Brand
BYD, the largest electric vehicle maker by sales, is exploring Formula One involvement via sponsorship or team entry to expand globally.
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Fed’s Hawkish Tone Strengthens US Dollar, Pressures Malaysian Ringgit to Six-Month Low
The US Federal Reserve signaled a rate hike later this year, boosting the dollar and weakening emerging market currencies including the Malaysian ringgit.
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Apple to partner with Intel for US-based chip design and manufacturing
Apple agreed to work with Intel to design and produce chips in the US, announced President Donald Trump on June 18, 2026.
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Malaysia Stadium Corporation CEO charged with RM1.45 million corruption over Bukit Jalil tender
Iliyas Jamil, CEO of Malaysia Stadium Corporation, was charged with seven counts of corruption involving RM1.45 million on June 18, 2026.
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Universiti Malaya achieves highest-ever 56th place in QS World University Rankings 2027
Universiti Malaya rose to 56th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its best global position so far.
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Horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park kills 18-year-old tourist
An 18-year-old Indian tourist died after a horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park on June 17, 2026.
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Microsoft expands AI model sales to Chinese firms despite US-China rivalry
Microsoft has grown its AI model sales business with major Chinese tech firms, including ByteDance, amid US-China tensions.
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Yen falls to near two-year low amid US-Japan rate gap; Japan signals readiness to intervene
The yen dropped to 160.79 per dollar on June 17, its weakest since July 2024, as Japan prepares potential market intervention amid widening US-Japan interest rate gap.
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Finland's Parliament Votes to Lift Nuclear Weapons Ban in Defense Shift
Finland's parliament voted 125-61 on June 17 to repeal the country's ban on nuclear weapons, aligning with NATO defense policy.
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AI agents, code intelligence, and Rust networking lead GitHub trends today
Today’s trending repos highlight AI agent web scraping, high-speed code graph indexing, and a new Rust modular network stack.
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Colombia defeats Uzbekistan 3-1 in 2026 World Cup Group K opener
Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K opener at Estadio Azteca on June 17, 2026.