NEWS

South Korean shares declined for a second session as foreign investors sold heavily, US Treasury yields and oil prices rose, and technology stocks faced renewed pressure.

Megaport shares climbed 9.4% after the company announced A$978.6 million in new AI infrastructure contracts and upgraded its FY27 revenue and EBITDA margin guidance.

Codan shares reached a record high after the company raised its profit outlook, citing exceptionally strong communications demand from conflict regions and continued growth in gold detectors.

Chris Hemsworth has reportedly closed Wild State, the production company he founded in 2022, although neither the actor nor the company has confirmed the shutdown.

Australian shares closed higher after technology stocks led gains, offsetting the RBA's fourth rate increase of the year and lifting the cash rate to 4.60%.

Bronny James says he is ready to build his own identity with the Lakers after LeBron James moved to Philadelphia, with the father and son set to meet on Christmas Day.

Dennis Haskins, best known as Principal Richard Belding on 'Saved by the Bell' and its spinoffs, has died aged 75, his agent confirmed. A cause was not released.

Samsung and five affiliates will invest $1 billion in Helix Digital Infrastructure, a KKR-backed platform developing AI data centres, power infrastructure, fibre networks and energy storage.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly been attending reformer Pilates classes at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire while adjusting to her family's return to Britain.

Anthropic's IPO prospectus warns that advanced AI models could cause catastrophic harm, while revealing rapid revenue growth, heavy losses and hundreds of billions in infrastructure commitments.

Jackie Chan remains alive after a viral social media hoax falsely claimed the 72-year-old actor had died, with recent public appearances and official sources contradicting the posts.

NYT Connections No. 1206 challenged players with categories involving secluded places, river features, Pixar film titles and Greek letters hidden across two-word phrases.

Pope Leo XIV urged the United States, China and technology leaders to take warnings about artificial intelligence seriously, contrasting his position with President Donald Trump's scepticism.

Early reviews praise the Xiaomi 18 Fold's wide design, battery, cameras and performance, while noting its visible crease, added thickness, high price and China-only availability.

Bose has announced $99 wired USB-C earbuds with active noise cancellation, lossless audio support and no internal battery, with shipping expected to begin in October.

Romania records the world's highest per-person alcohol consumption in the latest internationally comparable WHO data, ahead of Georgia and Latvia, although the figures are based on a 2022 three-year average.

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley faces online harassment after defending a privacy–public safety compromise, while unverified address claims fuel debate over surveillance, executive privacy and oversight.

Taylor Swift and Madonna were filmed embracing and talking at the MTV Video Music Awards, where both artists received major honours and sparked a strong fan reaction online.

Princess Anne appeared to avoid a customary cheek kiss from Kate at Westminster Abbey, but video and royal reporters indicate the moment was a lighthearted joke about their hats.

SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, despite an engine failure and a decision to shorten the mission before re-entry.

MongoDB shares fell nearly 20% after CEO CJ Desai left immediately to join Meta. Former chief executive Dev Ittycheria was appointed interim CEO as the company reaffirmed its guidance.

Intel shares fell 5.6% on Monday after a sharp rally, as selling across AI-linked chip stocks, profit-taking, higher oil prices and rising bond yields pressured the sector.

President Donald Trump rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, while mediators continued efforts to resume talks and oil prices remained elevated.

Oil prices climbed after Donald Trump rejected Iran's conditional seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, fuelling concerns about prolonged supply disruptions and higher fuel costs.

Nvidia shares rose as the chipmaker announced a record $150 billion increase to its buyback authorisation and launched an open platform aimed at improving AI agent safety.

GameStop shares rose as investors weighed insider buying and Ryan Cohen's continued pursuit of eBay, despite the target's rejection and broader market weakness.

Twenty One Capital shares rose despite a weaker broader market, extending their recovery from August lows as investors weigh bitcoin prices, leadership changes and the company's unproven operating strategy.

Kodiak Sciences shares surged 143% after the biotech said Zenkuda and tabirafusp-ted met key Phase 3 goals in wet age-related macular degeneration, though full data and regulatory review remain pending.

Nancy Guthrie has been missing from her Tucson-area home for nearly eight months. Authorities suspect abduction, but no body, proof of life or confirmed ransom note has emerged.