Israel Rejects Gaza Peace Plan; Trump Says Talks with Iran Are Half-Hearted

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the rejection of a 15-point peace roadmap for the Gaza Strip proposed by a US-led peace committee, and confirmed that the Israeli military will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump revealed that the United States is engaged in half-hearted negotiations with Iran and is prepared to let economic pressure mount instead of launching a military strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that there are currently no direct talks with the US to end the war and open shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, despite US claims that a deal is close. In other news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to send an additional 30,000 to 50,000 troops to Russia to support the war against Ukraine. Taiwan plans to allocate a record-high defense budget of 1.1 trillion Taiwan dollars for fiscal year 2027 amid pressure from the US. South Korean retail investors have flocked to US stock markets at the fastest pace in six months after the domestic market faced heavy sell-offs, hampering efforts to repatriate funds and adding pressure on the won. The Premier of South Australia announced a budget of 3 million Australian dollars to establish a commission of inquiry into the use of artificial intelligence technology. Sony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company are in discussions over a joint investment plan totaling around 1 trillion yen to build a joint-venture factory in Japan. Typhoon Dolphin made two landfalls in eastern China on Sunday evening, paralyzing transportation and forcing the closure of two major airports in Shanghai. Although it weakened to a tropical storm, it continues to move north with accumulated heavy rainfall of up to 400 millimeters, which Chinese authorities warn could damage key cash crops such as corn, barley, and soybeans. Apple is testing memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies, a major Chinese memory chip maker, to address component shortages as demand for AI-related chips surges. And ADNOC Gas, the Abu Dhabi state-owned enterprise, reported a 52% plunge in second-quarter 2026 profit to 665 million US dollars, down from 1.39 billion US dollars a year earlier, after sales were hit by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz resulting from US and Israeli strikes on Iran, though the figure still exceeded the company's guidance range of 400 to 600 million US dollars.

Impact on assets 2

Semiconductors▲
Artificial Intelligence▲
Sony Group Corporation
6758
▲ PositiveCapitalrelevance

Sony and TSMC are in talks for a joint investment of about 1 trillion yen to build a factory in Japan.

Theme Impact 3

Off-coverage companies 1

ADNOC Gas PLCi
Private± Mixedrelevance

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