Satellite imagery shows that North Korea has completed a new maritime pier at its main rocket launch facility, the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, according to satellite operator ICEYE. The pier, designed to handle larger rocket components than those previously transported by rail, could support the development of longer-range rockets. ICEYE noted that the construction, which began over two years ago, enhances the site's logistical capacity. A July 9 image shows the pier with a newly built jetty and docked vessels, suggesting it may already be operational.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered upgrades to the Sohae site in 2022, aiming to expand its capabilities for launching a variety of rockets, including those designed to carry military spy satellites. The site has previously been used to launch satellites and test rocket engines and space launch vehicles—technology that U.S. and South Korean officials say is similar to that used in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Commercial satellite imagery from Planet Labs between December and July also confirmed the pier’s development. Expansion of road and rail infrastructure is ongoing, according to 38 North, a U.S.-based North Korea monitoring group. North Korea’s latest spy satellite launch attempt in May 2024 failed, but Kim remains committed to the project, calling it vital for national defense. The country successfully placed its first spy satellite in orbit in November 2023. South Korean officials believe Russia may be assisting North Korea’s space program in return for military support in Ukraine.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters
According to the Financial Times, OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, is working on incorporating e-commerce features into ChatGPT to generate additional revenue. The company plans to take a commission from product sales made through ChatGPT, marking a shift from its current focus on premium subscriptions.
Based in San Francisco, OpenAI currently displays product recommendations in ChatGPT that link users to retailers’ websites. In April, the company partnered with Shopify, a payment solutions provider that also powers TikTok’s shopping tools. This partnership could allow OpenAI to embed a checkout feature directly within ChatGPT, enabling users to make purchases without leaving the platform. Merchants would fulfill orders and pay a commission to OpenAI.
This strategy would help OpenAI tap into the large base of free-tier ChatGPT users—an audience the company hasn’t yet monetized. It could also challenge Google’s dominance in product search, as more consumers turn to AI tools for discovering and buying items. OpenAI and Shopify are reportedly showcasing early versions of this integrated shopping experience to brands while discussing potential financial agreements. However, these features are still under development and subject to change.
Currently, ChatGPT's product suggestions are based on user queries, preferences, memory, and other contextual instructions like budget. When users click on a product, the platform displays a list of merchants sourced from third-party providers. OpenAI clarifies that merchant rankings are based on metadata and not influenced by price or shipping—though these criteria may be included in the future to enhance user experience.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
At least one person was killed and several others, including police personnel, were injured during a clash between evicted individuals and security forces in the Paikan reserve forest area of Assam’s Goalpara district on Thursday, officials confirmed. According to reports, the incident occurred when forest and police personnel visited the area to cordon off a section of land previously cleared during an eviction drive conducted on July 12. The forest department had planned to dig a channel in the area to prevent future encroachments. While the work began peacefully the previous day, tensions escalated when the team returned on Thursday morning.
Officials said that a group of former residents, allegedly among those evicted, attacked the team with sticks and pelted stones at the police and forest staff. In response, the police fired shots to control the situation, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to at least two others. Several police officers and forest guards sustained injuries during the stone-pelting. Authorities believe the attackers were people displaced during the earlier eviction.
The situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding land disputes and eviction efforts in the region. The forest department had initiated the action to reclaim reserve forest land from alleged encroachers and to prevent further settlement in the area. A more detailed investigation into the clash is currently underway, officials added.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
“Drones, drones, drones. Only drones. So many of them.” These words, spoken by a fatigued Ukrainian platoon commander while being evacuated from the front lines, sum up the dramatic transformation of modern warfare along Ukraine’s eastern front. The battlefield is now saturated with unmanned aerial vehicles—kamikaze drones, surveillance drones, bomber drones, and even drones built to destroy other drones. These UAVs are everywhere—relatively inexpensive, deadly, and central to Ukraine’s efforts to fend off Russia’s advances. Ukrainian commanders, officials, and arms manufacturers say drones are a key reason the country believes it can continue resisting Russian forces this year and beyond.
Stretching approximately 10 kilometers on either side of the front, a corridor heavily watched and attacked by drones from both sides is now ominously known as the “kill zone.” There, drones swiftly locate and eliminate targets. This evolution into the most drone-intensive conflict in history has eroded Russia’s traditional battlefield strengths—its superior numbers of troops, artillery, and armored vehicles. Large military vehicles have become easy marks, forcing Russia to abandon the sweeping armored advances that marked earlier stages of the war. As Oleksandr Dmitriev, founder of the drone coordination system OCHI, put it: “The enemy sees everything. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you drive.”
Adapting to the new reality, Russian forces have changed tactics. According to Ukrainian commanders, they now often move in small teams of five or six soldiers, using motorbikes or quad bikes. These groups try to provoke Ukrainian fire to reveal their positions—making them vulnerable to immediate drone retaliation. Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not comment on these changes, but analysts confirm that Russian troops continue to make slow gains in Ukraine’s east and north. Meanwhile, Russia has also caught up in drone manufacturing after initially lagging behind, and is now producing UAVs by the millions each year, much like Ukraine.
On the diplomatic front, European leaders are still digesting former President Donald Trump’s recent proposal: the U.S. would send weapons to Ukraine via NATO, but Europe would foot the bill. Details remain unclear—how much aid, what kind, how quickly it would arrive, and how payment would be managed. The White House has not responded, but Trump’s spokesperson claimed he aims to end the war and stop the bloodshed, pushing arms sales to NATO while threatening tough sanctions on Russia. Interviews conducted before Trump’s announcement show that many Ukrainian officials and commanders still believe they can continue fighting even without further U.S. assistance. They attribute their resilience largely to drone technology and increasing military support from Europe. Zelensky adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin stated confidently, “We can hold out for months.” He noted that in previous years, such as 2023 or 2024, Ukraine’s endurance would’ve been measured in mere days or weeks.
However, Ukrainian forces are still on the defensive. Military analyst Konrad Muzyka noted that Ukraine’s current strategy is focused on exhausting Russian attacks rather than launching its own offensives. He warned that despite drones’ value, they can't fully replace artillery or mortar fire. Delivering the same destruction as an artillery shell might require dozens of drones. On the front lines, drones have become the most feared threat. Reconnaissance UAVs—small, lightweight aircraft made of plastic or foam—hover high above, tracking enemy movements in real-time. They guide fleets of bomber drones and kamikaze UAVs toward their targets: tanks, troops, and weapons systems.
Platoon commander Ivan, also known by the call sign "Atom," emphasized that drones now pose a bigger danger than shells, mines, or even ground troops. His medic, Olga Kozum, agreed, saying most injuries treated on the battlefield now come from drone attacks. Internal Ukrainian data supports this: as of 2024, 69% of strikes against Russian troops and 75% of those on vehicles and equipment came from drones. Artillery accounted for just 18% and mortars for even less. This rapid militarization of drone technology has led to major innovation on both sides. Fiber-optic-controlled drones, immune to electronic jamming, are increasingly used. So are “interceptor” drones designed to hunt down and destroy enemy UAVs. Ukraine also plans to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones this year—capable of striking targets deep within Russian territory, including weapons depots and energy infrastructure.
Former Ukrainian drone force commander Vadym Sukharevskyi said these drones, which cost between $50,000 and $300,000, are a fraction of the cost of traditional missiles. Though they carry smaller warheads, they provide a valuable offensive option. “This is our asymmetric answer,” he said, explaining that Ukraine began developing such drones due to a lack of missiles. Kamyshin agreed, stressing that “you can’t win a big war by only defending.” He called long-range drone strikes one of Ukraine’s key strategic tools. Ukraine is also rapidly expanding its own defense industry. According to President Zelensky, domestically produced weapons and equipment—mostly drones—now make up 40% of what the military uses. He aims to push that figure to 50% within six months. As reliance on Western aid becomes riskier, Ukraine is also looking to Europe, where support has increased significantly.
According to the Kiel Institute in Germany, European military aid has recently surpassed American contributions for the first time since June 2022—reaching €72 billion compared to the U.S.’s €65 billion. The shift happened largely in March and April, when U.S. support stalled but European nations ramped up their commitments. While the U.S. has been the main supplier of artillery shells, Europe is expanding its production and sourcing. Out of 420,000 shells delivered to Ukraine in early 2025, only 160,000 came from the United States. Ukraine itself manufactured about 2.4 million shells this year, though mostly for shorter-range mortars. Still, Ukraine remains deeply dependent on American air defenses and intelligence. Patriot missile systems are particularly critical; Ukraine currently has just seven of the 25 requested systems, which are capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Moreover, long-range drone and missile attacks rely heavily on U.S. satellite data. European nations could not fully replace that level of intelligence if Washington stopped sharing it.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters
Syrian security forces took positions inside a house after renewed clashes broke out on Wednesday between government troops and local Druze fighters in the southern city of Sweida. The fighting resumed just hours after a ceasefire was declared, aiming to end several days of deadly sectarian violence.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
On Wednesday (Jul 16), Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed what he called a “new era of mutual benefit” with the United States after President Donald Trump set a 19 per cent tariff on Indonesian exports to the U.S. — significantly lower than the previously threatened 32 per cent. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the economic implications of the revised tariff with Adam Samdin, an economist from Oxford Economics’ Asia Macro team.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
On Tuesday (July 15), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that "dialogue" should be central to the relationship between Canberra and Beijing during his meeting with President Xi Jinping. In response, Xi praised the "benefits" of the strengthened ties, noting that the relationship had "recovered from past setbacks and made a turnaround." Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the state of Australia-China relations within the broader geopolitical landscape with Professor Carlyle Thayer, Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales Canberra, based at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers shares with Guardian Australia's chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy that a major goal for him moving forward is ensuring the long-term sustainability of Australia’s budget. Their conversation also covers the difficulties in achieving housing targets, how morning news impacts his daily strategy, and what he aims to achieve at this week’s G20 finance ministers' meeting.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have purchased an Albanian island for over $1 billion. The island, one of the last undeveloped in the Mediterranean, will be turned into a luxury resort after unexploded ordnance from past conflicts is cleared from the site.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.
