外媒每日新闻 Hormuz, Ballots & Bond Rout Edition

A ship was hit by an unidentified projectile early Tuesday as it sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the engine room and causing a crew casualty, the UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported. The attack highlights the ongoing danger of transiting the waterway as Iran continues to throttle shipping traffic. Iran has been holding separate talks with Oman on a plan to manage ships transiting the strait, and said Monday it was finalizing details for a joint statement. President Donald Trump reacted angrily, telling Fox News reporter Trey Yingst in a telephone interview that the U.S. would bomb Oman if it “gets in the way.” The 60-day negotiating period to find a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran expired with no extension and both sides seemingly as far apart as at the start. Turkish President Erdogan urged Trump to seek a diplomatic solution, while a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would shift to a “fully offensive” military posture.^[1]

The number of people worth at least $100 million whom Trump has appointed to his administration is more than four times the combined total under the three previous presidents, according to a report from the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. In all, 57 Trump officials are worth at least $100 million, including 17 ambassadors and 40 in senior executive branch posts. Eight of his 23 Cabinet members fit the category, notably Treasury Secretary Howard Lutnick and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, both billionaires. By comparison, George W. Bush’s and Joe Biden’s administrations each included five members worth $100 million or more, and Barack Obama’s included three. Trump has described his inclination toward appointing the ultrawealthy as deference to financial success. Yet only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy last month, down from 40% at the start of his second term.^[2]

Russia has accused the UK of “deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis” after confirming that British-made drones were used in strikes on military and industrial targets inside Russia. The Russian embassy in London said in a statement: “In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks. London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer.” The UK Ministry of Defence responded that Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine and will continue supplying equipment. Ukraine has stepped up attacks deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries and logistics sites, including warehouses of online retailer Wildberries. In June, Britain said it would provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by end of 2026. Meanwhile, Russian overnight strikes killed at least five people in Ukraine, as both countries exchanged drone and missile attacks.^[3]

Government borrowing costs continued to rise to levels not seen in decades on Tuesday, as hopes of an end to the US-Iran war faded. The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed to approximately 5.33%, its highest since 2007, while the 10-year note traded around 4.74%. The 30-year French bond yield hit its highest since September 2008 at 4.86%. UK 30-year yields approached 6%, and Japan’s 30-year yield neared its highest since the bond was first issued in 1999. Trump’s threat to bomb Oman helped push oil above $91 a barrel, and investors fear higher energy prices will keep inflation persistently high, leading to higher interest rates. The bond rout reflects growing investor anxiety about government fiscal discipline and the inflationary impact of the prolonged Middle East conflict.^[7]

Nvidia has agreed to guarantee up to $105 billion in financing for a massive OpenAI data center campus in Pike County, Ohio, being developed by SoftBank-owned SB Energy, marking one of the chipmaker’s largest infrastructure financing commitments. Nvidia will also invest $1.5 billion directly into SB Energy. In return, OpenAI committed to exclusively using Nvidia chips onsite. The project, disclosed in a regulatory filing on August 17, is expected to create 35,000 temporary construction jobs and 2,500 long-term operational positions over its six-year build-out. The facility will initially cover 4.25 gigawatts of computing capacity. The commitment deepens the partnership between the two dominant forces driving the AI boom, with Nvidia essentially betting its balance sheet on OpenAI’s future computing needs.^[8]

A deadly stampede broke out at a Hindu temple in eastern India’s Bihar state Monday, hours after a fire swept through a hotel housing pilgrims in West Bengal state. Seven people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, where about 50,000 devotees had gathered for prayers during the third Monday of the holy Shravan month. Preliminary reports suggest an electrical wire snapped outside the temple, causing panic among worshippers who feared electrocution. As the crowd rushed to safety, part of a barricade collapsed, resulting in a deadly crush. Hours earlier, a fire at a four-story hotel in Tarapith, West Bengal, killed at least seven people. The victims had travelled to offer prayers on the final Monday of Shravan, a sacred month dedicated to Lord Shiva.^[11]

Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak has now killed over 2,300 people and become the deadliest outbreak of the disease on record in the Central African nation, according to government data released overnight into Monday. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola — which has no approved vaccines or treatments — has recorded 4,945 cases including 2,325 deaths. The death toll surpassed the 2,299 fatalities recorded during the country’s 2018-2020 outbreak, previously the worst on record. It is now the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak globally, behind the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000. The outbreak was declared on May 15 but health authorities say sequencing showed it began months earlier, in February. Late detection has been a key contributor to the 45% fatality rate. WHO Director-General Tedros said the outbreak is “outpacing the response.”^[12]

A blaze in eastern Belgium burned about 30 square kilometers (12 square miles) in the High Fens nature reserve — one of the country’s worst wildfires in recent history, far surpassing a 2011 fire that was previously the largest on record. About 600 residents in Waimes and Bütgenbach were told to evacuate. More than 250 emergency personnel were deployed, including over 100 Belgian and German firefighters, with Sweden sending two water-bombing aircraft. In Greece, two people were killed in a wildfire Sunday on the island of Salamina, west of Athens, where strong winds fueled the rapidly spreading blaze. About 500 beachgoers were evacuated by firefighting and coast guard vessels. In France, a wildfire in the Landes region burned 17 square kilometers, with 650 people evacuated. In Germany, firefighters made progress against a wildfire in the Hürtgen Forest, allowing 2,000 evacuated residents to return home.^[13]

Thieves stole four 15th-century works attributed to Renaissance master Antonello da Messina from the regional museum in his Sicilian hometown, making off with three panels from one of his most important surviving altarpieces and a separate double-sided devotional painting in a major Italian art heist. The burglary took place on the evening of Saturday, August 15, at the Museo Regionale di Messina (MuMe), while much of the city was absorbed in Ferragosto holiday celebrations. The thieves bypassed alarm and security systems, removed all five panels of the 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych from their frame, but abandoned two near the museum. The double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and the dead Christ in Pietà was removed from an armored display case. Italy’s culture minister described the works as being of “extraordinary value.” Police suspect an art dealer commissioned the theft.^[14]

Apple has filed a trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI related to an acquisition and announced that its next major Siri update will use Google’s Gemini instead of ChatGPT, reshaping competitive relationships among leading AI developers. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI misappropriated trade secrets through a recent acquisition, though specific details remain under seal. The decision to switch from ChatGPT to Gemini for Siri represents a stunning reversal of Apple’s much-touted partnership with OpenAI announced in 2024, when Apple integrated ChatGPT into iOS. The move signals Apple’s determination to maintain control over its AI strategy rather than becoming dependent on a single partner. The realignment also positions Google as the default AI assistant provider across both major mobile platforms — Android (where Gemini is already embedded) and iOS — though European regulators are pursuing measures under the Digital Markets Act to give competing AI assistants comparable access to key Android capabilities.^[17]

The hashtag #BombOman trended globally after Trump’s Fox News interview in which he threatened to “bomb the s*** out of” Oman if it “gets in the way” of U.S. efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The threat against Oman — a longstanding U.S. ally and mediator in the Iran conflict — drew sharp criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Constitutional scholars debated whether the president has the legal authority to unilaterally order strikes against a non-belligerent nation. Many users noted that Oman has been a key mediator throughout the conflict, hosting multiple rounds of U.S.-Iran negotiations. The hashtag #DiplomacyNotBombs also trended alongside it. Iranian social media accounts celebrated the rift, while Gulf state users expressed alarm about the stability of U.S. security commitments in the region.^[18]

The hashtag #ShlosbergSentence trended as news of Lev Shlosberg’s 11-year sentence spread. Users drew parallels to Soviet-era political dissident trials, noting that his lawyers were barred from key hearings and replaced with state-appointed counsel. Many highlighted that Yabloko is the only registered Russian political party openly opposing the war, making Shlosberg’s conviction effectively the criminalization of the last legal anti-war voice in Russia. The timing — just weeks before September’s parliamentary election — drew particular scrutiny, with analysts suggesting the Kremlin is eliminating all potential opposition voices before the vote. The hashtag #FreeShlosberg also circulated, alongside comparisons to Navalny’s persecution. International human rights organizations condemned the verdict, with Amnesty International calling it a “travesty of justice.”^[19]

The hashtag #FloridaPrimary trended throughout Tuesday as voters in the Sunshine State cast ballots in high-stakes primaries. The Republican gubernatorial race between Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and newcomer James Fishback was framed as a proxy battle between Trump and term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Users debated whether a Donalds victory would consolidate Trump’s control over the state party or whether DeSantis’s shadow would linger. The potential election of Florida’s first Black governor generated significant discussion about the evolving Republican coalition. In Alaska, the unusual primary featuring two candidates named Dan Sullivan — the incumbent senator and a retired teacher challenging him — generated amusement and concern about voter confusion, with Trump weighing in to accuse Democrats of “trickery.” The results will shape the November midterm landscape.^[20]

The hashtag #AppleVsOpenAI dominated tech Twitter after Apple filed a trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI and announced its next Siri update would use Google’s Gemini. The stunning reversal of Apple’s 2024 partnership with OpenAI — once celebrated as a landmark AI alliance — generated intense speculation about what went wrong. Tech analysts debated whether the lawsuit signaled genuine IP concerns or was a pretext for Apple to pivot to Google. Many users noted the irony that Apple, which once positioned itself as the privacy-first alternative to Google, is now deepening its dependence on the search giant. The hashtag #GeminiEra also trended, with some users arguing that Google now has AI assistant dominance across both major mobile platforms. Privacy advocates raised concerns about data sharing between Apple and Google, while OpenAI supporters pointed out that ChatGPT remains the standalone market leader.^[21]