Sean's Daily Digest

Zambia's Hichilema leads vote count as government arrests opposition figures on election night

Ongoing · day 2

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is leading the presidential vote count with nearly half of constituencies declared, putting him on course for an outright win, according to the electoral commission. Zambian police arrested several leading opposition figures on the night of the election, accusing them of posing a threat to state security, the government confirmed. The leading opposition candidate claims there was an assassination attempt on his life, while authorities allege the arrested figures were involved in an insurrection plot.

Indonesia earthquake: 53 dead, more than 12,000 await aid as landslides block Flores roads

Ongoing · day 3

More than 12,000 people displaced by the earthquake are awaiting urgent aid as of Monday, a figure significantly higher than the approximately 5,000 previously reported, as they shelter at schools, police stations, and government offices. Aid shortages and fears of starvation are emerging as a critical concern for survivors still awaiting relief in affected areas. An Indonesian mother gave birth during the 7.7-magnitude earthquake as homes, buildings, and bridges were torn apart around her, and has since expressed gratitude for the emergency delivery.

China's economy loses momentum as retail sales and industrial output miss forecasts

China's retail sales growth trailed expectations, industrial output slowed and investment fell, with the property sector worsening as the economy struggled to regain pace in the second half of the year. Strong exports, partly driven by AI-related demand, have so far offset weak domestic consumption, but analysts say policymakers face growing calls to step up support.

China normalises coast guard patrols east of Taiwan after Japan-Philippines EEZ talks

China's Coast Guard began conducting law enforcement patrols off Taiwan's eastern coast after Japan and the Philippines opened negotiations to delimit their overlapping exclusive economic zones in those waters, and has kept those patrols running in an effort to normalize them. Taiwan's president said the country's record defence spending is "an investment in peace."

Iranian drones target Kurdish PM's office in Iraq; no casualties reported

Two drones launched from Iranian territory struck the office of Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the home of the region's intelligence chief in northern Iraq on Monday, with no casualties reported. Barzani condemned the attacks as "a dangerous escalation" and a direct threat to regional security.

Hormuz shipping near standstill: five vessels on Saturday, none tracked on Sunday

Ongoing · day 53

Iran has announced a bounty of more than $38,000 for killing or capturing U.S. soldiers, with no details provided on where or when such actions are expected to take place. Oil prices are mixed amid what analysts describe as an Iran war stalemate, with near-term potential for gains seen as limited. Most Gulf stock markets gained despite stalled Iran talks and ongoing Hormuz disruption.

EU's Kallas promises most sweeping Russia sanctions package yet, planned for autumn

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she is preparing a Russia sanctions package for autumn that would immediately raise the total number of sanctioned Russian entities by a third, calling it "the most far-reaching sanctions listings since the start of the war." Kallas said existing EU sanctions had already cost Russia's war machine more than €1 trillion.

Canada-US trade talks reach wire ahead of Wednesday tariff deadline

Canadian and US negotiators were in Washington through the weekend trying to avert new tariffs scheduled for Wednesday, with autos and lumber the main sticking points. The US has offered to cut auto tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, a level Canada says is still too high for the industry to remain viable given single-digit profit margins; Ottawa is also preparing retaliation plans if no deal is reached.

Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro both launch Brazil campaigns two months from election

Ongoing · day 2

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva officially launched his re-election campaign at a massive rally in São Paulo, centering his message on security and social programs. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro — who is serving 27 years for plotting a coup — has entered the race as the leading right-wing challenger, positioning himself as his father's political heir and Trump's newest Latin American ally. Both Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro addressed the issue of femicide on the campaign trail, with Lula invoking women's rights before tens of thousands of supporters and Flávio also raising the topic while drawing contrasts with the incumbent.

Israeli settlers pitch new West Bank outpost; UN delivers aid to besieged Qusra families

Ongoing · day 5

Pope Leo called for an end to violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, citing the surge of attacks by militant settlers and the siege in Qusra. The United Nations delivered humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian families in Qusra after Israeli settlers cut off their access to food, water, and electricity. Palestinian-American Loui Ridi is traveling from the United States to Qusra, where Israeli settlers have encircled his family's home.

Shein eyes $25 billion valuation for Hong Kong IPO

Fast-fashion retailer Shein is targeting a company valuation of around $25 billion in a planned Hong Kong initial public offering, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Trump crypto firm backs platform offering AI from Chinese companies flagged as security risks

World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by President Trump, is collaborating with WorldClaw, a Hong Kong-based platform that offers access to AI models — nearly half of them from Chinese companies including Alibaba, Baidu and Z.ai that the Trump administration has identified as national security risks. The Trump family earns revenue through World Liberty's token, and the president's two eldest sons have publicly promoted WorldClaw; the White House said there are "no conflicts of interest."

US robot ban leaves startups stranded; China's AI data exports raise influence concerns

An FCC rule requiring robots sold in the US to contain at least 65 percent American-made components by value — rising to 75 percent in 2029 — has left US robotics startups struggling to find viable supply chains, with founders saying many parts are too expensive, too slow to source, or unavailable domestically. Separately, analysts warned that China is exporting not just AI models but the data used to train them, raising concern that Beijing's narratives could shape global chatbot outputs.

OpenAI's new macOS feature logs user clicks and keystrokes to build an activity timeline

OpenAI has launched Computer History for its macOS desktop app, a feature that records user actions — clicks, keystrokes and app activity — to build a timeline that ChatGPT and its Codex tool can reference when responding to requests. The feature is opt-in, does not capture screenshots, audio or video, and users can exclude specific apps or delete individual entries.