June 16, 2026 · Daily Global-Macro Brief

June 16, 2026 456 stories · 533 articles, 77 merged · refreshed 2026-10-12 02:20 UTC ▲ 89▼ 65◆ 35– 267

Markets 39

GBP/USD coiled in a tight range ahead of UK inflation and Fed decision
Rate markets now lean towards hikes on both sides of the Atlantic
UK inflation expected to climb to 2.8% and US Retail Sales to rise 0.4%

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

Japan's Nikkei slipped about 0.2% and China's SSEC fell roughly 0.3% after earlier gains on Iran deal optimism.
The yen weakened to near 155 per dollar as investors await the Bank of Japan's upcoming meeting.
Market focus shifts to the BOJ, with expectations of unchanged rates and possible tweaks to yield‑curve control.
Oil prices held steady around $80 a barrel, limiting any further market lift.

Read on Investing.com News ↗ also: Nikkei Asia

Dow Jones hit a fresh all‑time high near 52,100, extending gains after the US‑Iran ceasefire.
Crude oil fell to the mid‑$70s per barrel, removing the war‑driven inflation premium.
Markets price about a 60% chance of a Fed rate hike by December, with a likely 3.75%‑4.00% target range.
New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s first meeting on Wednesday could influence the Dow’s next move; a break below 51,800 would signal risk.
Support sits around 51,800, while resistance at 52,100; a decisive loss of 51,800 could unwind the peace‑driven rally.

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: Channel NewsAsia Business

Dow Jones rose 468.77 points (0.92%) to a new all‑time close.
S&P 500 up 1.65% and Nasdaq up 3.07% in regular session.
Futures were flat: Dow futures down <0.1%, S&P futures -0.1%, Nasdaq futures -0.2%.
Asian markets mixed: Korea Kospi +0.61%, Kosdaq -1.47%; Japan Nikkei flat, Topix -0.38%; Hong Kong Hang Seng futures at 24,799.
U.S.-Iran agreement expected to reopen Strait of Hormuz, sending oil down about 5%.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗ also: Al Jazeera

Fed rate decision due at 2 p.m. ET, followed by news conference
US 10-year Treasury yield at 4.43%
Nasdaq Composite ends three-day win streak

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

UBS flags U.S. stocks that could outperform after a U.S.-Iran memorandum ending the Middle East conflict
Southwest Airlines (LUV) up 15% YTD; price target raised to $44 from $37
Eastman Chemical (EMN) up nearly 15% in 2026; price target lifted to $80 from $70
Both firms are cheap on P/E, less crowded than MSCI U.S., and expected to see earnings gains in 2026

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Silicon Data partnered with CME Group to create AI compute futures, pending CFTC approval
ProShares and Rex Shares filed ETF proposals, including leveraged and inverse products, for the contracts
Contracts would let firms hedge GPU rental cost volatility using a benchmark normalized to a base Nvidia H100 chip
Founder Carmen Li claims the AI compute market could eventually outsize oil futures
More than 50 configurations of Nvidia's H100 chip highlight standardization challenges for the market

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

ECB hiked rates to 2.25% last week, first increase since 2023, but EUR/USD remains capped below 200-day EMA near 1.1600
Fed under Kevin Warsh expected to hold rates at 3.50%-3.75% Wednesday, with 60% odds of a December hike priced in
US-Iran oil deal pushes crude from $120 to ~$80, eroding energy-driven inflation premium supporting both central banks' hawkish stances

Read on FXStreet ↗

USD/CHF trades near 0.7950 in Asian hours, up from prior day losses
Fed rates expected to stay unchanged at 3.50%‑3.75% at Wednesday meeting
SNB likely to keep policy rate steady through year‑end as Swiss producer prices fall 1.8% YoY in May
Swiss CPI deflation eases to 0.4% month‑on‑month, missing a 0.4% rise forecast

Read on FXStreet ↗

Asian stocks made cautious gains after a rally on news of a US-Iran peace deal
Oil prices slid 0.3% to a three-month low, reflecting cautious stance
Bank of Japan rate hike to 1% seen as widely expected

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

USD/CHF fell 0.30% to around 0.7921, failing to break the 0.8000 barrier
Key support levels: 200‑day SMA at 0.7906 and 100‑day SMA near 0.7839
Fed rate decision on Wednesday is priced for no change, with focus on forward guidance
DXY traded near 99.50 as US‑Iran tensions eased

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

RBA kept the official cash rate unchanged at 4.35% after three consecutive 25‑bp hikes
AUD fell to around 1.2150 per NZD, down from an intraday high of 1.2168
Australia's CPI eased to 4.2% YoY in April, below the 4.4% forecast, while unemployment rose to 4.5%

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

USD/CAD holds around 1.3990, marking a fourth consecutive day of USD strength
Falling oil prices pressure the commodity‑linked Canadian dollar
Federal Reserve expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at 3.50%‑3.75% on Wednesday

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

China's May retail sales declined 0.6% YoY, versus 0% forecast
Industrial production rose 4.5% YoY, beating the 4.3% estimate
Fixed asset investment fell 4.1% YTD YoY, worse than the expected 2% drop
AUD/USD traded at 0.7060, down 0.18% on the day with RSI around 44
Pair stays below the 100‑day SMA at 0.7085, keeping near‑term bias mildly bearish

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

US equity futures ticked up ahead of the Federal Reserve's upcoming rate announcement
Market participants are focusing on the Fed decision for clues on future monetary policy
The modest gain suggests a slightly bullish tone in equity markets before the decision

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Yorkville America and Corgi Securities filed SEC applications for ETFs linked to the "MANGOS" AI stock group.
"MANGOS" comprises Meta Platforms, Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), SpaceX and private AI firms Anthropic and OpenAI.
Yorkville's fund may also include up to seven AI‑related companies such as Micron and SanDisk; Corgi's ETF will hold only the six core stocks.
Both ETFs could launch by the end of August 2024, subject to SEC approval.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Wall Street introduces the acronym 'MANGOS' to label top AI-related stocks.
'MANGOS' replaces the previously popular 'Magnificent Seven' grouping.
The new label includes highly sought-after AI firms, some of which remain hard to acquire.

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

New leveraged ETFs focused on SpaceX have attracted significant investor inflows
Trading volumes for SpaceX-related securities have surged to unusually high levels
Investors are using the ETFs to gain amplified exposure to SpaceX's market moves
The influx highlights strong speculative demand despite the company's private status

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

USD/JPY trades at 160.47, staying above the 160.00 psychological support
RSI indicates bullish momentum; a break above 160.50 could target 160.73 and 161.00
BoJ raised rates by 25 bps to 1% but the yen remains weak amid risk appetite
Intervention zone near 160.00 caps upside; downside support at 159.50 and 159.00 SMA

Read on FXStreet ↗

Treasury yields posted a second consecutive decline
The drop followed the announcement of a U.S.-Iran peace deal
Investors expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged at the next meeting

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

GBP/USD steadies just above 1.3400, trading around 1.3425 with a 0.03% loss
ADP private‑sector hiring fell to 25.5k, below the prior 29k, signaling cooling labor demand
US‑Iran MOU expected to push oil lower, easing inflation pressure ahead of the Fed’s rate decision
BoE likely to keep its Bank Rate at 3.75% and may tighten by 33 bps; Fed expected to hold rates unchanged

Read on FXStreet ↗

Over 300,000 SpaceX options contracts traded in the first 30 minutes, ranking third among single‑stock options.
More than $400 million of option premium exchanged, with calls accounting for over $300 million.
Implied volatility for SpaceX options was 135, and the 220‑strike call expiring Thursday was the most traded contract.
Options veteran Tom Sosnoff predicts SpaceX could surpass Tesla and Nvidia in activity, though pricing may be initially rich.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

NBC expects EUR/USD to trade sideways with a slight downside bias over the next few months
US growth and rate differentials remain stronger, capping Euro gains
ECB is closer to easing policy while the Fed stays tighter, limiting sustained EUR/USD appreciation
Any Dollar weakness may only trigger short‑lived EUR/USD rallies

Read on FXStreet ↗

GBP/JPY rebounds to ~215.10 after falling to an intraday low of 214.53
BoJ hikes policy rate by 25 bps to 1.00%, the highest level since 1995
BoJ signals slower balance-sheet reduction from April 2027 and real rates stay negative
Traders await UK CPI, PPI and labour data ahead of BoE meeting expected to keep rates at 3.75%

Read on FXStreet ↗

USD shows limited pullback, with DXY up modestly despite risk‑on after US‑Iran memorandum
US Treasury yields eased only slightly ahead of the 19‑20 June FOMC meeting, keeping hawkish bias
Brent crude fell to around $83 per barrel and is projected to drift toward $80 by year‑end
OCBC stays neutral on the dollar, preferring cross‑currency trades over outright USD shorts

Read on FXStreet ↗

USD/CAD likely to oscillate within its recent trading band, with no clear catalyst for a sustained trend.
Weaker US data and a cautious Fed stance could limit upside for the greenback.
Global growth concerns and supportive oil prices may curb prolonged CAD weakness.
A break below the lower range bound would be required for a durable CAD appreciation.

Read on FXStreet ↗

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rose roughly 0.2% in early trade.
The move follows the announcement of an interim peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
The dollar's gain reverses a modest decline seen in the prior session.

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

U.S. Treasury yields remained unchanged in Asian trading hours.
Yields had slipped on Monday following the announcement of an interim U.S.-Iran peace deal.
ING described the market reaction as predictably muted.
Investors are waiting for further details of the agreement before adjusting positions.

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

NZD/USD slipped to around 0.5810, marking a third consecutive day of losses
Fed expected to keep rates unchanged in the 3.50%‑3.75% range at the June meeting
China May retail sales fell 0.6% YoY, missing expectations for flat growth
China fixed‑asset investment contracted 4.1% YoY, versus a forecast of –2%

Read on FXStreet ↗

INR holds around 94.58 per USD as oil prices stay low and FIIs resume buying
FIIs net bought Indian equities worth Rs 200.05 crore on Monday, first net inflow in June
US‑Iran peace deal and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz keep crude near 7,640 ₹/bbl, aiding the rupee
Fed expected to keep rates unchanged at 3.50‑3.75% on Wednesday, limiting dollar upside

Read on FXStreet ↗

IPO window reopens for high‑quality biotech firms, but investors remain selective
Big‑pharma M&A dominates, with six deals worth $5‑$15 bn already in H1 2026, outpacing 2025's seven deals
Deal sizes and upfront payments are rising as competition for top assets intensifies
Dual‑track strategy (IPO plus potential sale) is becoming common for biotech exits
Chinese biotech firms are emerging as a significant alternative capital source

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Hanwha Aerospace jumped up to 11.8% on Tuesday.
Hyundai Rotem rose as much as 12.67% and LIG Defense & Aerospace hit the 30% daily limit.
Analysts cite the anticipated end of the Iran war as a catalyst for resumed Middle‑East defense sales, including potential Saudi talks and a 250‑tank order for Iraq.
Long‑term strategic defense spending remains a key demand driver, according to M&G’s Asian equities manager.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

AUD fell 0.16% to about 0.7060 per USD.
China's May retail sales dropped 0.6% YoY, while industrial production rose 4.5%.
RBA is expected to keep the OCR steady at 4.35% in its upcoming policy decision.
Australia's CPI eased to 4.2% YoY in April, below the 4.4% forecast.

Read on FXStreet ↗

S&P 500 futures slipped about 0.1% after earlier Wall St surge.
Wall Street rose roughly 0.5% on hopes of de‑escalation in Iran and a tech rally.
Technology shares led the advance, with the Nasdaq up near 0.7%.

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

EUR/USD climbs to around 1.1590, approaching the 1.1600 level in early Asian trading.
President Trump and Vice President Vance signed a memorandum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with Iran.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 3.50%‑3.75% at the June meeting.
Euro gains on risk‑on sentiment as geopolitical tension eases following the Strait of Hormuz deal.

Read on FXStreet ↗

Business council says President Prabowo's abrupt policy shifts are creating widespread confusion in the private sector
Group urges creation of a presidential "breakthrough office" to improve communication with executives
Confusion linked to recent volatility in the rupiah and broader market performance

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

South Korea and Indonesia announce tighter controls on currency derivatives trading.
Goal is to limit FX volatility without resorting to large foreign‑exchange interventions.
Measures follow sharp depreciation of both won and rupiah since the Iran conflict began.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

S&P/ASX 200 closed marginally higher, gaining 0.04% on the day.
Broad Australian equities posted modest gains across most sectors.
The slight rise comes amid mixed domestic data and global market cues.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Taiwan Weighted index closed up 2.36% at the end of trading.
Broad market participation lifted most sectors higher.
The gain marks the day's strongest move in Taiwan equities.

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Macro/Economy 35

EU Parliament voted to eliminate duties on a wide range of US industrial imports.
The agreement retains a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the United States.
The move prevents a fresh round of tariff retaliation between the world's two largest trading partners.
EU officials caution that future US trade actions could trigger market chaos.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗ also: Bangkok Post Business

Retail sales fell 0.6% year‑on‑year in May, the first decline since December 2022.
Urban fixed‑asset investment dropped 4.1% YoY in May, deeper than the 2% decline forecast.
Industrial output rose 4.5% YoY in May, beating the 4.3% estimate.
Manufacturing PMI fell to 50 in May, the threshold separating expansion from contraction.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗ also: Nikkei Asia

Bill would limit each major investor to buying no more than 350 single-family homes
Legislation is expected to be signed into law by the end of the month after House and Senate agreement
A previously proposed seven‑year resale requirement for investor‑built units was removed
Senate Majority Leader John Thune anticipates a Senate vote this week, with the House to act next week

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

EU is weighing stricter trade rules for Chinese firms amid rising political pressure.
Beijing gathered more than a dozen Chinese companies in Berlin for a market-access forum.
Analysts warn that heightened regulatory scrutiny could trigger a broader EU‑China trade conflict.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Wharton’s Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) projects OASI trust fund depletion in Feb 2033 vs Social Security trustees’ Q4 2032
Combined OASI and DI funds depletion pushed to Feb 2035 (PWBM) vs Q3 2034 (trustees)
PWBM estimates 86% of benefits payable at combined depletion vs 83% per trustees; long-term payouts fall to 60-65% by 2100
PWBM projects actuarial deficit of 4.65% of taxable payroll vs 4.42% in trustees’ report, requiring 4.7pp payroll tax hike to 17.1% or equivalent benefit cuts

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Lane projects modest euro‑area GDP growth in the coming year, citing lingering supply constraints
Inflation is expected to gradually ease toward the ECB's 2% target but stay above it through 2024
The ECB is likely to keep a restrictive monetary stance, with rate cuts unlikely before mid‑2025

Read on ECB Press ↗

China's steel output not as high as Western estimates
Double standards in global trade policies
Protectionist impulses driving 'overcapacity' narrative

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Manufacturers' sentiment index rose to +13 in June, up from +8 in May.
Chemicals sector sentiment jumped to +20 from +6, driven by semiconductor demand.
Non-manufacturers' sentiment rose to +32 from +29, while transport machinery outlook is forecast to fall to -13 by September.
Survey covered 215 of 490 firms; manufacturers' sentiment expected to stay at +13 in September.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

TAT reduces 2024 long-haul arrivals target to 10 million, down from 11 million previously forecast
Middle East arrivals plunge 32% year‑on‑year, while overall long-haul arrivals stand at 5 million, down 1.6% YoY
Emerging source markets show strong growth: Kazakhstan +8.3%, Uzbekistan +28%, Poland +16.8%

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Taiwan's heavy reliance on imported energy leaves it vulnerable to supply shocks
The Hormuz crisis underscores the risks of import dependence for energy‑reliant economies
Countries with low energy import dependence have shown greater resilience to price spikes

Read on OilPrice ↗

Canada will grant Italy preferential rights to develop critical mineral projects
Agreement expands cooperation on supply chains, defence and energy sectors
Announcement made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during bilateral talks

Read on Northern Miner ↗

Fuse Energy founder Alan Chang says the UK already has the capital and resources needed for energy infrastructure projects.
He identifies the planning system as the primary constraint, creating a self‑imposed bottleneck for growth.
More money is chasing infrastructure projects than there are projects available, limiting investment opportunities.
Fuse Energy, a $5 bn (£3.72 bn) supplier, argues that reforms to planning could unlock further sector expansion.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Chinese gifts include a $54 million library and a 50,000‑seat stadium under construction
In 2024 El Salvador exported only $50 million to China while importing $3.57 billion
Chinese firms control about 60% of the Salvadoran smartphone market, yet invest little in local construction
Over 80 major construction projects are underway, but Chinese commercial investment remains minimal

Read on The Diplomat ↗

EU's share of global GDP fell from 30% in 2008 to 17% in 2025, according to Luis Vassy.
Vassy likens the EU's economic contraction to the late Qing dynasty's decline.
The comparison has sparked discussion in both Europe and China about the pace of Europe's downturn.
The remarks were published in the European current affairs outlet Le Grand Continent.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

ADP data shows private sector added an average of 25.5K jobs per week in the four weeks to May 30.
The 4‑week average fell from 29K jobs per week in the prior period, indicating a slowdown.
US Dollar Index hovered around 99.70, slipping as the labor market cools.
The weaker hiring may temper expectations for further Fed rate hikes.

Read on FXStreet ↗

London tribunal upheld Kazakhstan claims against Karachaganak consortium, awarding $2‑4 billion in compensation
Kazakhstan is pursuing a $160 billion claim against Kashagan consortium for receiving only 2 % of post‑royalty revenue
Tengiz subcontracting scheme paid workers $5 per hour while contractors collected $15, creating a $10 gap per worker
TCO's project budget expanded from $12 billion to $48.5 billion, a fourfold overrun
Pay disparity: Western managers earn $192 per hour versus Kazakh managers $33.93 (≈18 % of the rate)

Read on The Diplomat ↗

GDP grew 3.8% in 2025, driven by private sector credit and tourism
Consumer price inflation held at 2.2%, near the central bank's target
Employment rose 5.7% and wages up 8.5% in the non‑agricultural private sector
Current account, budget and public debt deficits narrowed; international reserves increased
Payment system joined SEPA in Oct 2025, reducing transaction costs

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

Financial services are becoming increasingly fragmented across regions and markets
Rapid technological transformation is adding unprecedented speed and scale to industry change
The combined risk landscape creates both challenges and opportunities for global financial firms and centres
Coordinated regulatory response will be essential to navigate the evolving environment

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

Advocates simplifying banking supervision with more proportionality and less bureaucracy
Notes EU's Basel III finalisation (CRR III) will be stricter than the anticipated US approach
Argues competition between German and US banks is limited to specific segments like SME lending and capital markets
Emphasises regulation should ensure a level playing field without hindering financial stability

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

AUM grew from €1.6 trn a decade ago to roughly €5.6 trn today.
Number of funds rose from about 6,000 to over 9,000 in ten years.
Ireland now ranks as the world’s third‑largest funds domicile.
Central Bank of Ireland stresses resilience, innovation and regulation as future priorities.

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

Barbados will roll out its national instant payment system, BiMPay, on June 12, 2026.
The Caribbean faces compounded risks: high borrowing costs, fragmented trade, climate‑related disasters and debt stress.
Hurricane Beryl in 2024 became the earliest Category 5 Atlantic storm on record, underscoring vulnerability.
The central bank calls for integrated policy across fiscal, climate, tourism and digital sectors to build resilience.
Opportunities cited include digital technologies, renewable energy and parametric insurance to offset import‑price pressures.

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

US-Iran deal unlikely to deliver immediate relief to smaller auto shops
Supply chain disruptions may persist until mid-2027
Smaller shops face disadvantage due to stockpiling by larger companies

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

FY27 budget targets 4% growth and 8.2% inflation.
Defence spending rises 18% to 3 trillion rupees ($10.8bn).
Plans $2.82bn in commercial/Eurobond financing and $1bn in Panda bonds after a $250m debut.
Energy infrastructure damage from the Iran war pushes inflation into double digits; recovery will take time.
Finance minister aims to shift creditor profile via commercial borrowing without increasing overall external debt.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Beijing introduced tighter capital‑control rules aimed at limiting mainland outflows to Hong Kong property
Mainland buyers previously accounted for about one‑third (≈33%) of Hong Kong home purchases
Developers are showing caution, delaying or scaling back new primary projects ahead of upcoming launches

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Government plans to strengthen copyright law to protect successful titles
Policy focus on providing stable, predictable regulation for film producers
Goal is to leverage global hits such as "Squid Game" for sustained economic benefits

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Decades of deflation kept households in cash, but higher rates are prompting a shift to investments
Savings are increasingly moved into Japanese government bonds (JGBs) and mutual funds
Expectations of further rate hikes and rising inflation underpin the change in behavior

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Chinese tourist spending in Japan has fallen roughly 50% after Beijing issued a travel warning.
Retailers such as Laox are introducing new attractions, from luxury watches to sake tastings, to draw other visitors.
The shift reflects a broader strategy to diversify tourist sources amid declining Chinese arrivals.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Mizuho, one of Japan's three megabanks, will create a comprehensive framework for Japanese and South Korean firms.
The initiative aims to forge business ties and secure financing amid rising geopolitical risks.
Focus is on energy procurement projects to diversify sourcing and reduce reliance on traditional suppliers.
Bank president Masahiko Kato stresses the importance of building new markets between the two countries.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

IT‑related freelance exports are projected to exceed $1 billion in the fiscal year ending June, a first for Pakistan.
Pakistan holds the second‑largest share of global online gig workers among non‑high‑income countries.
Low‑cost labor remains a key advantage, but experts warn AI competition could curb future gig‑sector growth.
Freelancers call for better cross‑border payment solutions to sustain export momentum.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Government is weighing a requirement for automakers to collect end‑of‑life EV batteries.
The move targets the rising volume of waste from electric‑vehicle batteries.
Policy aims to improve safety and secure critical resources in the recycling chain.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

$3 billion in flood damage was recorded from last year's monsoon events.
Procedural delays and short‑sighted planning are slowing infrastructure upgrades.
Climate change is expected to make monsoon rainfall more intense and frequent.
Urban areas remain vulnerable without coordinated resilience measures.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Government earmarks 400 billion taka ($3.2 bn) in upcoming budget for distressed banks
Funding aims to prevent a systemic banking crisis but does not address underlying governance flaws
Regulators highlight high non‑performing loans and weak oversight at institutions like Islami Bank
Economists warn cash injections alone may be insufficient without structural reforms

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

TDC marked its 60th anniversary with a panel of current chair Frederick Ma and four former chairs.
Leaders stressed Hong Kong must remain outward‑looking and preserve its free‑port status for economic growth.
They called for continued cooperation with mainland China and creative solutions to emerging challenges.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

AI tool ChatGPT nearly derailed a $50 million property transaction, according to real‑estate CEO Ryan Serhant.
Real‑estate agents see AI’s data‑aggregation ability as a way to boost expertise and efficiency.
Experts caution AI lacks the anecdotal insight of human agents and may avoid delivering tough advice.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Wealthy Vietnamese are shifting investments away from traditional gold and real estate.
Capital controls and distrust of the banking system are prompting search for alternative assets.
Advisors see a growing opportunity in a nascent market for diversified wealth‑management products.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Central Banks 21

BOJ lifts its benchmark interest rate to 1%, the highest level since 1995.
First rate hike in over three decades, aimed at curbing inflation and supporting the weak yen.
Move was widely expected and comes amid ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations.
Signals a shift to tighter monetary policy in Japan after years of ultra‑low rates.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗ also: Nikkei Asia·CNBC Top News

PGIM forecasts three 25 bps Fed hikes in 2026, versus market consensus of 0‑1 hikes
Core PCE inflation is at 3.3%, deemed "uncomfortably high" by PGIM
PGIM projects 10‑year Treasury yields rising to about 4.60% if three hikes are priced in
CME FedWatch shows 41% chance rates stay unchanged by year‑end, 42% for one 25‑bp hike, 14% for a 50‑bp hike
Three rate cuts are expected in 2027, with a final cut to 3.375% by 2028

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

RBA kept the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% on Tuesday.
Inflation remains above target at 4.2% YoY, keeping pressure for higher rates.
Q1 GDP grew 2.5% YoY (0.3% QoQ), missing forecasts and slowing from prior quarter.
Australian dollar fell 0.3% to 0.705 USD, and ASX200 edged lower after the decision.
RBA warned that further rate hikes are not ruled out as oil price pressures persist.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗ also: FXStreet

BOJ will continue outright purchases of Japanese Government Bonds under the June 2026 Monetary Policy Meeting framework
Program runs until June 2026, maintaining current purchase volumes to keep 10‑year yields near 0%
Purchases will be made in the secondary market with no change to the overall balance‑sheet size

Read on Bank of Japan ↗ also: Bank of Japan

BoJ lifted its policy rate by 25 bps to 1.00%, highest in over 30 years.
USD/JPY remained above the 160.00 threshold, showing little reaction.
MUFG warns that without further hikes the yen may stay weak, prompting possible government intervention.
Societe Generale projects quarterly 25‑bp hikes, targeting a 2% policy rate by end‑2027.
Market participants had already priced in the move, muting immediate impact.

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

BoJ raised short-term interest rate by 25 basis points to 1%, in line with consensus
USD/JPY fell to around 160.10 after two days of gains
Fed widely expected to keep rates unchanged at 3.50%‑3.75% in Wednesday meeting
Yen remains stronger despite US dollar support from caution over Iran peace talks

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

BoJ likely to raise the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 1%, the highest level since 1995
Japan's CPI eased to 1.4% in April while wholesale inflation surged to 6.3% in May
USD/JPY trades above the 160.00 mark, a level viewed as a potential yen intervention threshold
BoJ may announce a reduction in Japanese Government Bond purchases, affecting long‑term yields
Rate hike already priced in, so immediate impact on the yen is expected to be limited

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: Channel NewsAsia Business·FXStreet

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to withhold his dot in the SEP after taking office on May 22
Skipping the dot would break 14 years of post‑crisis practice and could limit forward guidance
Analysts at BofA and Goldman Sachs anticipate Warsh will not submit a dot, citing his criticism of the dot plot
Absence of the dot may increase market uncertainty about the Fed’s inflation stance and future rate moves

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Q1 2026 GDP grew 1.8% quarter‑on‑quarter, nominal GDP up 10.5% YoY, led by semiconductor exports
May consumer price inflation rose to about 3%, with core inflation climbing to the mid‑2% range
Won stays near 1,500 per USD despite capital outflows; BoK signals a base‑rate increase to curb inflation
Housing prices, jeonse deposits and leveraged equity investment are accelerating, heightening financial‑stability risks

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

Geopolitical tensions rise as Russia-Ukraine war continues and a new Middle East conflict drives oil prices up
Higher oil prices and looming inflation threaten euro‑area growth that is only just recovering
Cyber‑attacks, AI misuse and expanding non‑bank market participants add new layers of systemic risk
ESG and climate‑change risks remain under‑covered despite their potential to trigger financial instability
Systemic‑risk research must incorporate non‑financial data such as health metrics and energy‑dependency information

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

EUR/USD slipped to around 1.1580, just below the 20‑day EMA (1.1599)
Fed expected to keep rates unchanged at 3.50‑3.75% for the fourth meeting in a row
ECB Governing Council member Martins Kazaks warned of upside inflation risks and signaled possible further tightening
Technical resistance near 1.1600, support at 1.1506; RSI around 44 indicating fragile recovery

Read on FXStreet ↗

DXY holds at approximately 99.70 as the Fed meeting approaches
Fed likely to keep the policy rate unchanged within the 3.50%‑3.75% band
US‑Iran peace framework could temper inflation expectations but near‑term pressure persists
Market watches for Hormuz toll details that may impact oil prices

Read on FXStreet ↗

USD/JPY fell to around 160.15 as the yen strengthened in early Asian trading.
BoJ is widely expected to raise its short‑term policy rate to 1.0% from 0.75%, a 31‑year high.
Governor Kazuo Ueda will miss the meeting due to illness; Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino will chair.

Read on FXStreet ↗

The central bank announced a revision to its money market operations guideline effective June 2026.
The new framework expands eligible collateral and adjusts standing facility rates to better manage short‑term liquidity.
Analysts expect the change to influence interbank rates and short‑term funding conditions.

Read on Bank of Japan ↗ also: Bank of Japan

Governor Primož Dolenc noted rapid growth of stablecoins, with most pegged to the US dollar
EU's MiCAR framework is positioned as one of the most comprehensive crypto-asset supervision regimes globally
Digital euro project aims to preserve the euro's central role and reduce reliance on non‑European payment infrastructure
Eurosystem initiatives like PONTES and APPIA will create tokenized settlement infrastructure using central bank money

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

Bank of Canada kept its policy rate at 2.25% on June 5, 2024.
CPI inflation rose to 2.8% in April, driven by higher oil prices and carbon tax phase‑out.
Q1 GDP contracted 0.1% and unemployment fell to 6.6%, with labour market volatility.
Oil prices are about $10/barrel above April forecasts, keeping inflation near 3% in coming months.
Governor warned that persistent high energy prices could trigger future rate hikes.

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

SAMOS processes roughly R584 billion daily, with about 90% settled in real time
South Africa's RTGS system, in place since 1998, settles wholesale payments over R5 million individually
PayShap initiative aims to close retail payment gaps versus Brazil and India
Project Khokha 1 (2018) proved permissioned DLT can move tokenised central‑bank money, exposing privacy‑efficiency trade‑offs
Project Khokha 2 (2022) expanded DLT trials to tokenised securities, a wholesale CBDC and a stablecoin‑like token

Read on BIS Central Bank Speeches ↗

Terms and conditions for the Securities Lending Facility relaxed
Impact on market liquidity and borrowing costs to be assessed
Facility to remain open to eligible participants

Read on Bank of Japan ↗

PBOC's central rate for USD/CNY set at 6.8108 for the session.
Rate is 0.0020 higher than the previous day's fix of 6.8088.
Reuters had estimated 6.7605, indicating a stronger yuan than expected.
Move underscores PBOC's focus on exchange‑rate stability within its monetary toolkit.

Read on FXStreet ↗

Minister Minoru Kiuchi will attend today's BoJ meeting but declined to comment on market expectations of a rate hike
He stressed the need for sustained communication and collaboration between the BoJ and government to hit the 2% inflation target
USD/JPY slipped 0.05% to 160.25 after his remarks
The BoJ lifted rates in March 2024, ending its ultra‑loose policy stance

Read on FXStreet ↗

The central bank announced amendments to the principal terms of its complementary deposit facility.
The changes aim to adjust liquidity provision conditions for participating banks.
The amendment is expected to have limited immediate impact on markets.

Read on Bank of Japan ↗

Energy/Oil 25

Iran allowed to resume oil and fuel sales immediately
Sanctions relief takes effect as soon as agreement is signed
Relief extends beyond crude exports to banking, shipping, and insurance services

Read on OilPrice ↗ also: Investing.com Commodities·FXStreet·CNBC Energy

A US‑Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz sent Brent crude below $80 a barrel.
Analysts warn new Iranian tolls and logistics risks could keep oil prices elevated, sustaining inflation pressures.
Gulf producers plan to shift to "just‑in‑case" logistics, adding storage and alternative pipelines, which may raise costs.
The UAE will fast‑track a new pipeline to Fujairah to bypass Hormuz, but tanker‑based LNG and refined product shipments remain fully vulnerable.
The UAE's exit from OPEC during the conflict limits Saudi price‑control ability, altering cartel dynamics.

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗ also: OilPrice

Brent crude rose about 1% to roughly $85 per barrel
WTI crude gained around 1% to near $80 per barrel
Rally driven by worries a US‑Iran peace agreement could restore oil supply flows

Read on Investing.com News ↗ also: OilPrice·Investing.com Commodities·CNBC Energy·WSJ Markets·FXStreet

US gasoline averaged $4.06 per gallon, down from a $4.48 high in early May.
War cut oil output by about 14 million barrels per day, roughly 14% of global demand.
Analysts say US fuel prices may not reach pre‑war levels until 2027, with relief only after Sep‑Oct.
Strait of Hormuz traffic fell to ~10 ships/day during the conflict versus 135 ships/day normally.
Port bottlenecks and heightened summer demand could keep prices high through the fall.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗ also: Nikkei Asia

API reports US crude inventories down 8.33 million barrels in week to June 12, versus 4.5 million‑barrel forecast
Previous week saw a 9.12 million‑barrel draw, bringing nine‑week cumulative decline to 52 million barrels
Year‑to‑date US crude stocks are only 1.4 million barrels lower despite recent rapid drawdowns
The inventory draw adds pressure on oil prices, supporting a bullish outlook for crude

Read on OilPrice ↗

Egypt paid off $6 billion in outstanding debts to foreign oil firms.
All energy‑related liabilities were cleared, improving its credit with international investors.
Egypt holds about 93 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, attracting interest as a new gas supplier for Europe after the loss of Russian flows.
The debt settlement is expected to unlock new upstream investment and contracts for Egyptian gas projects.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Morgan Stanley sees 19.9% median one-year total return upside for midstream equities
Targa Resources, Oneok, and WaterBridge Infrastructure highlighted as contenders for 'outsized upside'
Targa Resources has 26% upside potential from Monday's close, while Oneok has 29% upside potential

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

WTI crude slipped to a daily low of $75.04 per barrel after the WSJ report.
The US‑Iran agreement lifts sanctions on Iranian oil shipments, adding supply to the market.
An Iranian supertanker left Chabahar with oil, the first post‑blockade export since April.
Iran's sanction relief is tied to compliance; frozen US assets remain inaccessible.

Read on FXStreet ↗

Inpex workers at Ichthys LNG voted to extend strike to up to 8 hours per day, double the previous limit
All three Ichthys LNG sites are now subject to work stoppages, threatening production output
Senior Inpex officials warn of imminent disruptions to both onshore and offshore LNG operations
The strike adds pressure on global gas markets as Qatar's recovery from earlier outages lags

Read on OilPrice ↗

QatarEnergy could recover ~50% of LNG output within a month and 80% within two months if the Strait of Hormuz reopens safely.
Damage to the Ras Laffan LNG complex may cost about $20 billion annually and require up to five years for full repairs.
Europe's benchmark gas price fell 6% to a five‑week low after the U.S.–Iran deal eased supply concerns.
Qatar has issued force majeure on some long‑term LNG contracts for up to five years.

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Average refinery run rate in May dropped to 66.3%, the lowest in four years.
Crude oil imports fell to 53.72 million tons in May, down 9.1% YoY and to an eight‑year low.
Total refinery throughput declined 9.1% year‑on‑year, reflecting weaker demand.
The slowdown follows a broader slump in Chinese crude imports, the weakest since 2018.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Shipowners will not resume Hormuz passage for weeks until a material US‑Iran agreement is confirmed.
The Strait of Hormuz, handling roughly 20% of global oil and LNG shipments, remains largely shut.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines warns that without a credible deal, transport of oil, LNG, aluminium and urea stays suspended.
Continued blockage adds upward pressure on oil markets, bolstering Brent and WTI prices.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

ASEAN Centre for Energy proposes sub-regional power trading arrangements
Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore form a potential pilot grouping
Pilot aims to establish technical building blocks for multilateral power trade

Read on The Diplomat ↗

Oil prices drop on US-Iran framework agreement
Industry officials expect months or years to reach pre-war production levels
Return to normal refining levels may take weeks or months

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

U.S.-Iran tentative deal and higher Middle East supply likely push oil prices lower
India's trade deficit narrowed to $28.21 bn in May from $28.38 bn in April
Crude oil import bill nearly doubled YoY to $22.7 bn in May versus $14 bn a year earlier
Lower oil prices could relieve pressure on India's overall trade balance

Read on OilPrice ↗ also: WSJ Markets

Ban on refined oil exports remains; daily export cap stays below 5 million litres
Diesel demand exceeds 77 million litres per day, above the usual 70‑73 million
Diesel price at 40.8 baht per litre, 33% higher than the pre‑war level of 30 baht
Refiners PTT Global Chemical and Bangchak Sriracha each cut capacity by 15% due to storage costs
Jet fuel exemption permits limited shipments to the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam; domestic demand around 20 million litres per day

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Natural gas futures climb for a third straight trading day
Higher LNG feedgas volumes after maintenance boost price support
Market eyes continued LNG supply constraints for further upside

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Norway moves ahead with Phase 4 of the Johan Sverdrup North Sea project, a key European crude source.
Phase 4 is estimated to contain about 20 million barrels of oil and 30 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Production from the new phase is expected to start in 2029, extending the field's life.
The expansion aims to sustain European crude output as older North Sea fields wind down.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Trump administration voluntarily dismissed appeal against wind energy permitting freeze after court ruling
17 states led by NY AG Letitia James challenged the order, securing a legal victory
Clean energy output continues to surge amid policy shifts

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Four Seas Initiative proposes Syria/Turkey as alternative energy hubs to reduce Hormuz dependency
Project targets European energy security by diverting flows from Russian/Iranian sources
Gulf states may redirect investments toward Western-aligned infrastructure

Read on OilPrice ↗

DOJ argues xAI’s 57 unpermitted gas turbines support 'mission-critical' AI operations, including military strikes
NAACP lawsuit claims turbines violate federal law and worsen air pollution in Mississippi
xAI plans to spend $2.8B on additional gas turbines over next 3 years, per SpaceX IPO filing

Read on TechCrunch ↗

IEA warns Southeast Asia's reliance on oil and gas shipped through the Strait of Hormuz makes the region vulnerable to supply shocks from the Iran war
The region could incur billions of dollars in losses if it does not accelerate diversification of energy sources
Rising electric‑vehicle sales are highlighted as a key avenue to reduce fossil‑fuel dependence

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

WTI is trading near $79‑$80, testing the lower channel boundary after a corrective triangle.
A break below the lower trendline could push prices toward the mid‑low $60s.
Global oil prices have fallen ~20% from 2026 highs amid US‑Iran ceasefire optimism, while Strait of Hormuz traffic remains limited.

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Utility-scale solar output in CAISO rose 21% YoY to the first five months of 2026 versus 2024
Natural gas generation in CAISO fell 60% over the same period
Solar produced more electricity than natural gas on 82% of days, up from 21% in 2024‑25
Solar capacity grew 19% to 25 GW and battery storage jumped 79% to 16 GW between Apr 2024 and Apr 2026
Electricity imports doubled, driven by higher hydro imports and new wind supply from New Mexico

Read on EIA Today in Energy ↗

Imabari, Kawasaki Heavy and Namura aim to resume domestic LNG carrier construction around 2035
Target output of three to five LNG carriers per year
Potential collaboration with South Korean technology providers

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Gold/Metals 21

Gold holds above $4,300 as traders await US-Iran peace framework details
Lower Oil prices and a weaker US Dollar support Bullion ahead of Fed's interest rate decision
RSI recovers from oversold territory, but XAU/USD remains below key long-term moving averages

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: FXStreet

XAU/USD up over 0.81% to $4,344, rebounding from $4,306 low
WTI crude fell sharply, pulling DXY down to 99.54
Fed rate‑hike probability dropped to 20% ahead of SEP, 80% odds of a hold
BoJ raised rates by 25 bps to 1%; RBA kept rates unchanged but signaled possible tightening
US 10‑year Treasury yield slipped nearly 5 bps to 4.484%

Read on FXStreet ↗

Gold fell >25% from the Jan 2026 high of $5,589 to a June 10 low of $4,174, now trading around $4,335
Price remains just above the $4,300 level after a 6% weekly bounce, but stays below its 200‑day moving average for the first time since Oct 2023
Rising real yields and a hawkish Fed (CME FedWatch ~70% odds of a rate hike by Dec) have outweighed traditional safe‑haven buying
The upcoming Fed FOMC decision, dot‑plot update and Chair Warsh’s press conference are seen as the next catalyst for gold
The US‑Iran peace deal removed the remaining haven premium, prompting risk‑on flows that further pressured the metal

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Gold trades around $4,315‑$4,330 per ounce, staying below early‑June highs
Treasury yields and the US Dollar Index have steadied near the 100 level after payroll‑driven moves
Focus shifts to the Fed's dot plot, projections and Powell's press conference rather than the rate decision itself
Technical resistance sits near $4,325, with further upside challenged above $4,350‑$4,375

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Central banks bought a net 400 tonnes of gold in 2023, the largest annual increase since 2011.
Gold stored in Swiss vaults fell to about 1,300 tonnes, roughly a 5% year‑on‑year decline.
Banks are shifting storage to other locations while overall gold holdings continue to rise.

Read on Northern Miner ↗ also: Nikkei Asia

Silver (XAG/USD) trades around $70.00, just above the 200‑day SMA at $68.74
100‑day SMA at $78.54 acts as resistance, keeping a bearish near‑term bias
RSI rose to 45.5 from near‑oversold levels; MACD remains negative but histogram is fading
Fed monetary policy announcement is the next catalyst; a break below $68.74 could test support near $60

Read on FXStreet ↗ also: Investing.com Commodities

Gold price entered $4,000‑$4,100 buy zone; BPGDM sentiment index at zero
Technical indicators (RSI, Stochastics, MACD) signal bullish momentum, targeting $4,700
Silver highlighted as “leveraged gold” with a $60‑$70 buy zone and potential move toward $90‑$120
Gold miners ETF GDX shows bullish wedge and oversold Stochastics, implying further rally
Fed meeting could influence gold direction, with a rate cut becoming as likely as a hold or hike

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Wood Mackenzie reports AI data centre growth is boosting metals demand for power‑grid infrastructure rather than server hardware
Reinforcement of transmission networks and on‑site power systems is set to increase consumption of copper and aluminum
The shift suggests a bullish outlook for metals tied to grid upgrades as data centre capacity expands

Read on Northern Miner ↗

Barclays says the recent gold price decline reflects multiple market forces, not a fundamental weakness.
The bank remains bullish on gold, viewing the pullback as a temporary 'reset' before a longer‑term uptrend.
Barclays does not provide a specific price target, but expects the metal to regain strength after the dip.

Read on Northern Miner ↗

Silver (XAG/USD) rose to around $70.45, up 0.6% on the day, staying above $70.00
US Dollar weakened as private payrolls slipped to an average of 25.5k jobs per week, down from 29k
Oil prices fell, easing inflation concerns and giving central banks more policy room
Markets are focused on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision due Wednesday
US‑Iran diplomatic progress reduced safe‑haven demand, limiting broader precious‑metal moves

Read on FXStreet ↗

Poland plans to double copper production with new mines from Lumina Metals
Lumina Metals to develop new copper mines in Poland
Poland aims to become a leading copper supplier

Read on Northern Miner ↗

Silver has completed three down waves from May highs to June lows, staying above new lows
Price is likely trapped in a higher-degree wave B correction, possibly forming a running triangle
A key resistance zone is identified between $73 and $84, where the current rebound may stall

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Gold Aug futures traded around $4,391.5 per ounce, near recent highs
Silver July futures priced near $71.40 per ounce
Gold rose >2% and silver >5% earlier week on U.S.-Iran peace hopes
Profit taking expected before Fed meeting, with potential short‑term correction
Fed outlook could strengthen the dollar and pressure precious metals

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Gold price stalled at $4,455‑$4,465, marking key resistance.
Immediate support levels around $4,310‑$4,300; break below $4,285 could push to $4,270.
A breakout above $4,465 would trigger buy orders targeting $4,410‑$4,420.
Short positions should place stops above $4,575 if holding at resistance.
Potential range trading between $4,300 and $4,465 pending geopolitical developments.

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Gold price held near Monday's gains despite mixed market sentiment
Improved energy flows and lower oil prices reduced inflation concerns
Easing inflation worries may limit further rate hikes, supporting gold

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Silver futures at $69.79, holding just above the Daily VC PMI mean of $69.81
Key support levels at $68.81 (Daily Buy 1) and $67.43 (Daily Buy 2); resistance at $71.48 and $72.77
Since the June low of $61.59, silver has risen over 13%, confirming buyer strength on corrections
Weekly targets set at $70.90 (Sell 1) and $73.83 (Sell 2), with geometric resistance cluster at $72‑74
Upcoming cycle windows: June 15‑17 (short‑term), June 20‑23 (confirmation), June 27‑30 (acceleration), July 3‑7 (major inflection)

Read on Investing.com Commodities ↗

Silver fell to around $69.85, staying below the $70 threshold.
Price remains under the 100‑day SMA and RSI midline, indicating continued bearish momentum.
Immediate resistance at $72.25; support near $63.80, with next high at $74.14.
Fed rate decision expected to keep rates unchanged at 3.50‑3.75%, reducing near‑term rate‑hike risk.

Read on FXStreet ↗

Spot gold rose 3.2% to $4,375/oz, its highest since June 9, but stays over 20% below the January peak of $5,589/oz
Barclays projects gold to gain roughly 5% for each 1% increase in US CPI, underpinning a medium‑term bullish case
The bank stays overweight on Newmont (NEM) and Agnico Eagle (AEM) while preferring cheaper Endeavour (EDV) and Hochschild (HOC) over Fresnillo (FRES)
Short‑term macro headwinds such as higher rates and inflation keep gold under pressure despite the rebound outlook

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Gold rose modestly in Asian trading, reaching around $4,360 per ounce.
US‑Iran memorandum reduced war risk, pushing Treasury yields and the dollar lower.
Probability of a Fed rate hike in December fell to 58% from about 70% last week.
Technicals show gold still below its 100‑day SMA (~$4,762) and RSI near 43, indicating bearish pressure.

Read on FXStreet ↗

Singapore will set up a gold clearing and settlement platform to streamline transactions.
Dedicated gold storage infrastructure will be built to enable physical settlement.
The initiatives aim to position Singapore as a regional hub for precious‑metal trading.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Gold price in India climbed to 13,185.22 INR per gram, up from 13,141.64 INR the day before.
Price per tola rose to 153,788.40 INR from 153,281.50 INR a day earlier.
FXStreet derives Indian gold prices by converting international USD/INR rates to local units.
Gold is viewed as a safe‑haven asset, often moving opposite to the US dollar and risk assets.

Read on FXStreet ↗

Crypto 33

Binance's EU license application to be rejected, sources say
Greek regulator to deny license, leaving EU customers uncertain
Binance has 300 million customers worldwide, with 18 months of regulatory work

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗ also: CoinDesk

BoJ raised its short‑term policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.0%, the highest since 1995.
Bitcoin has averaged a 5.74% decline in the 30 days after the last four BoJ hikes.
Projected downside range is $62,700–$56,700, implying a 26%–38% drop from the current $66,500 level.
BTC fell about 2.5% to $67,250 following the rate‑hike announcement, testing the $60,000 support.

Read on Cointelegraph ↗ also: CoinDesk

BITA will hold BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) and sell call options to generate income
Fund targets ~15% annual yield while capping upside to about 70% of Bitcoin's price appreciation
Bitcoin's 30‑day implied volatility has been falling since 2022 and systematic call‑selling could further suppress it
Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a $64 million outflow on Monday, taking monthly withdrawals to $2.1 billion
Bitcoin recently rose above $66,000 but lacks clear institutional backing

Read on CoinDesk ↗ also: CoinDesk

Ripple acquires equity stake in Flutterwave, valuing the company at $3.3 billion
Deal integrates Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin, Ripple Payments, and XRP Ledger into Flutterwave's platform
Partnership aims to make cross-border transactions faster and more cost-effective in Africa's booming remittance market

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

CFTC approves BTCPERP, a regulated Bitcoin perpetual futures contract on KalshiEX, marking first US-regulated perp launch
Regulated perps offer stricter compliance (KYC/AML) and reduced leverage vs offshore alternatives
Move may attract institutional and retail capital to US crypto derivatives, narrowing offshore dominance

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Binance states Greece’s HCMC found its MiCA application compliant, pending ESMA review
EU regulators reportedly preparing to reject Binance’s licensing bid by June 30 deadline
Rejection could disrupt EU operations, weaken liquidity, and push activity outside the bloc

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Coinbase to introduce tokenized stocks backed one-for-one by underlying U.S. equities
Users will own, trade, hold, and redeem equities on a blockchain while receiving dividends automatically
Tokenized stocks will debut in eligible jurisdictions outside the U.S. at a date yet to be announced

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Bitcoin slipped to $66,000, retreating from the near‑$70,000 rally
WTI crude fell below $78 per barrel, its lowest level in three months
S&P 500 gained over 1.5% on expectations of a US‑Iran peace deal
Crypto short liquidations hit $230 million in the last 24 hours
Analysts cite $70,000 as a near‑term ceiling for Bitcoin’s bounce

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Bitcoin climbs above $66,500, up about 1.5% in 24 hours after BoJ raises rates to a 31‑year high
Altcoins Stellar (XLM), Injective (INJ) and Uniswap (UNI) each jump 13‑16%, with UNI targeted at $100 by 2030 per Standard Chartered
Crypto derivatives show renewed risk appetite: 24‑hour volume up 51% to $207 bn, open interest up 2.4% to $113.4 bn, short liquidations up 64% to $561 m
Avalanche (AVAX) sentiment turns negative, trading around $6.88 as market focus shifts to rivals

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Bitcoin fell to $65,500, down about 1.5% in the past 24 hours
Nasdaq Composite closed 1.15% lower, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.6%
AI chip stocks AMD, Intel, Micron, and Broadcom dropped 4‑8%; Nvidia fell 1.9%
Bitcoin ETF saw cash outflows while other crypto ETFs recorded inflows
Markets await Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s comments after the two‑day meeting

Read on CoinDesk ↗

State Street introduced a government money‑market fund specifically for stablecoin issuers.
The fund targets reserves backing digital dollars as global stablecoin issuance is projected to reach $1.9‑$4 trillion by 2030.
Major asset managers like BlackRock, Fidelity and JPMorgan already manage tens of billions of Treasury‑linked assets for stablecoins.

Read on CoinDesk ↗ also: Cointelegraph

GAO reports regulators lack an ongoing coordination mechanism for blockchain risks
FDIC is the primary regulator for stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act
GAO recommends rotating FDIC case managers and establishing inter‑agency coordination to address crypto‑related bank failures
Senate lawmakers are reviewing a bill to outline federal regulation of the broader crypto market

Read on Cointelegraph ↗ also: Cointelegraph

Bitcoin briefly topped $67,000, a 4% daily gain, following the US‑Iran ceasefire announcement
Futures basis stayed low at 2% and put options premium was 16% higher than calls, showing weak bullish conviction
Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $86 million net inflows, yet total net outflows since June 5 amount to $730 million
Strategy (MSTR) kept accumulating Bitcoin, offsetting market fear

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

VanEck estimates a $50 bn near‑term funding gap and $221 bn long‑term capital need for Bitcoin miners converting to AI data centers.
Only about 25% of leased AI/HPC capacity has been delivered, shifting investor focus to execution risk over contract announcements.
Miners with strong hyperscaler tenants command higher valuation multiples; firms missing construction milestones may face valuation hits.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Tokenized assets total $43 billion, a 37% increase over the prior 180 days.
Tokenized funds account for ~80% of market cap; commodities 16.6%, tokenized stocks 3.8%.
Ethereum hosts 57.8% of tokenized asset value, with BNB Chain (8.5%) and other chains trailing.
Citi projects the tokenized market could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030 (base) or $8.2 trillion in a bull scenario.
Institutions such as Standard Chartered and Citi are expanding coverage and bullish on tokenization.

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Senators led by Rep. Cynthia Lummis urged Treasury to issue explicit procedural guidance for state-level stablecoin oversight.
They argue Treasury's draft principles lack timelines and certification requirements for state regimes.
The GENIUS Act permits state supervision if states can demonstrate regulatory parity, but current guidance is considered insufficient.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

HYPE surged up to 13% to over $76, up nearly 200% YTD 2026
UNI jumped 18% after Standard Chartered’s bullish coverage, with a $100 price target for 2030
WLD gained 12%, pushing its monthly gain to about 180%
Bitcoin and most crypto assets drifted lower despite the gains in HYPE, UNI and WLD
May exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41 trillion, the lowest since Sep 2024, while RWA perpetual futures rose 10.4%

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Bitcoin's Sharpe ratio fell to -20 on June 11, a level historically linked to market bottoms
Accumulator addresses absorbed ~125,000 BTC between June 1‑14, doubling demand to 240,000 BTC
Exchange‑held BTC dropped to 2.71 million, down about 80,000 since February
Bitcoin has stayed 133 days below its 100‑week SMA (~$88,466), below the average 362‑day consolidation period

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Defend American Jobs PAC spent $7.4M on media before the May 20 primary and $4.7M on the runoff
Total crypto‑related spending in the Alabama Senate race reached $12.1M
PAC backs pro‑crypto candidate Barry Moore, rated "strongly supports crypto" versus opponent's neutral stance
Fairshake reports a $193M war chest and plans further spending in Maryland and New York races

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Over 720 million XRP withdrawn from exchanges since June 3, the largest outflow since early February
Binance accounted for about 425 million XRP of the withdrawals; Upbit's net wallet flow rose to 31% from 13% a week earlier
XRP price rebounded to $1.30, a 5% gain, while the Sharpe ratio fell to -0.36, a level historically linked to strong upside moves
Binance whale vs. retail spread remains near 90%, indicating whales dominate outflows

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Ripple backs Flutterwave's Series E round, valuing the fintech at $3.2 billion.
The partnership will embed Ripple's U.S. dollar‑stablecoin RLUSD and the XRP Ledger into Flutterwave's cross‑border payment network.
RLUSD supply stands at $1.6 billion, up over 20% year‑to‑date, targeting broader stablecoin use in Africa.
The deal underscores growing adoption of stablecoins for remittances and cross‑border commerce on the continent.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Dev teams are running devnets with all planned EIPs ahead of testnet hardening
Glamsterdam upgrade is expected to launch in the second half of the year
Key proposals include Proposer-Builder Separation (EIP-7732) and Block-level Access Lists (EIP-7928)
Gas repricing will make high‑compute actions cheaper and state‑related actions more expensive

Read on CoinDesk ↗

SpaceX raised $75 bn at $135 per share, valuing the company above $2 trillion
Pre‑IPO SPCX perpetuals traded at a VWAP of $159.89, 6.6% above the opening price, with $4.6 bn volume on IPO day
Tokenized IPO campaigns on Binance, Bybit and Bitget were cancelled, leaving investors with zero share allocation
The IPO was four times oversubscribed, creating a bottleneck for tokenized share products

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Uniswap (UNI) rose 12.9% on the day.
CoinDesk 20 index slipped 0.7% to 1,829.21.
Stellar (XLM) gained 2.7%, while ADA and NEAR fell 3.4% and 2.5% respectively.
May exchange volume fell 3.45% to $4.41 trillion, the lowest since September 2024.
RWA perpetual futures volume rose 10.4%, hitting a new all‑time high.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

A new Polymarket wallet “fishalive” bet against Spain and earned roughly $9 million profit from a $4.7 million payout.
The Spain vs Cabo Verde match attracted $64 million in Polymarket trading, with the overall tournament market reaching $2.4 billion.
Another trader “betoor619” lost nearly $1 million on a Spain win that would have yielded only about $85 000.
Spain entered as a 92% favorite (≈1:10 odds) and the upset resulted in a 0‑0 draw.
Polymarket settles trades in USDC, a dollar‑pegged stablecoin, on a public blockchain.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Net 259,298 BTC were added over the past 10 days at prices between $59,000 and $67,000
Accumulation Trend Score hit 1.0, the strongest level in the current drawdown
Buying spread across all wallet cohorts, from retail (<1 BTC) to large holders (100‑1,000 BTC)
Combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41 trillion, the lowest since September 2024
RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4%, reaching a new all‑time high

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Bitcoin doesn't need staking or inflation to generate returns, according to Strategy's Michael Saylor.
Saylor proposes a five-layer 'Digital Asset Stack' to generate returns through credit and equity products built around BTC.
Strategy's preferred stock STRC is cited as an example of 'digital credit' that can smooth Bitcoin's price swings.

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Bybit introduced European‑style options on the XAUT token, settled in USDT.
Orbit Markets will provide institutional‑grade liquidity for the new contracts.
Each option contract corresponds to one XAUT token, representing one troy ounce of physical gold.
The launch brings on‑chain gold derivatives to the crypto market via Bybit's RFQ OTC system.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Bitcoin reclaimed $67,000 but price momentum is at -1, the lowest in the bear market
On‑balance volume (OBV) sits at -1.7 million, a multi‑year low
Analysts warn that a collapse of the US‑Iran deal could spark further BTC volatility
Weak momentum and OBV suggest risk of another test of recent lows

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

XRP rose about 10% to a session high near $1.25 before pulling back.
Key support now at $1.20, immediate resistance at $1.25; next upside target $1.30‑$1.32.
XRP ETFs recorded a second straight week of inflows, adding roughly $10.68 million to a cumulative $1.44 billion.
South Korea's Upbit accounted for 31% of XRP wallet-flow activity, up from 13% a week earlier.

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Bitcoin hovered near $65,845, briefly touching $67,217, up 0.3% daily and 4.8% weekly
Ether rose 2.8% to $1,764 and Solana gained 3.2% to $73; XRP up 3.2% to $1.22
Spot bitcoin ETFs paused four weeks of outflows totaling $5.4 bn after a record $3.4 bn week
Traders await the June 19 Iran signing and Wednesday Fed decision, keeping crypto demand muted
Oil slipped below $83 per barrel and equities rose, but crypto showed limited participation

Read on CoinDesk ↗

US officials directed Anthropic to restrict access to its newest AI models.
Grayscale reports that decentralized AI tokens rallied following the shutdown.
The move highlights growing user interest in non‑centralized AI solutions.

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Forward offered HSDT $1.63 per share (0.386 Forward shares) and was rejected on June 12
SkyAI's $1.55 per share offer expired without response on June 9
Brera Holdings turned down a $7.19 per share non‑binding proposal on June 9
Forward holds ~7 million SOL (~$525 million) versus $1.6 billion acquisition cost, showing >$1 billion unrealized loss

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Geopolitics 79

Israel cancels 1997 Hebron Agreement, seizing planning and construction powers at Ibrahimi Mosque
Palestinian Authority condemns move as unlawful and a breach of international law
Hebron Mayor warns unilateral changes pose significant consequences for regional stability

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

US President Donald Trump criticizes Israeli attacks on Lebanon at G7 Summit
Trump calls on Benjamin Netanyahu to be 'more responsible'
Trump suggests Syria could handle Hezbollah better than Israel

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles advocates for a 'hard power transformation' with a naval buildup, echoing US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's emphasis on militarism.
The Quad forum has lost relevance, with its Leaders' Forum not convening since 2024, and its commitment to denuclearizing North Korea deemed unrealistic.
The AUKUS deal has been downgraded, with the US committing to provide three 'in-service' Virginia-class submarines instead of one new and two 'in-service' models.

Read on The Diplomat ↗

Russian strikes on Kyiv kill several people
Historic monastery set on fire
Heaviest attack on capital in recent weeks

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun concluded a two-week US trip, failing to meet President Trump or high-level US officials, including a canceled National Security Council meeting.
Cheng faced scrutiny over the KMT's defense policy, which has repeatedly blocked and cut Taiwan's defense spending, particularly for indigenous programs.
Controversy arose from Cheng appearing with figures reportedly under US scrutiny for links to the CCP's United Front work during her stops in Boston and New York.
The trip raised concerns that Cheng is attempting to bypass Taiwan's democratically elected institutions for diplomacy, echoing her earlier meeting with Xi Jinping.
Cheng's efforts to establish direct KMT-Washington communication and her 'Chain of Peace and Prosperity' concept were questioned amidst allegations of appealing to isolationist elements.

Read on The Diplomat ↗ also: SCMP Economy

Three of four justices voted to convict Eduardo Bolsonaro of lobbying US interference, sentencing him to 4 years and 2 months in prison
The case follows earlier US tariffs on Brazilian goods and sanctions on Brazilian judges, which were later repealed
Polls project incumbent Lula at 49.3% versus Flavio Bolsonaro at 40.2% in a potential runoff election

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Leaders discussed progress on a potential US-Iran nuclear agreement.
The group reaffirmed strong support for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing war.
Coordinated measures, including possible sanctions and aid, were outlined.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Iran's relationships with Gulf neighbours have been damaged after attacks during the war
A US‑Iran agreement has effectively ended the conflict, with both sides claiming victory
The war imposed heavy economic and military costs on Iran, though exact figures were not disclosed
Experts say Iran may gain some regional leverage but loses diplomatic goodwill

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Trump signaled willingness to forward the Iran deal memorandum to Congress, without specifying a timeline
The provisional agreement would extend the U.S.–Iran cease‑fire for 60 days and target reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Senate leaders from both parties urged full congressional briefing and a vote before any final deal is signed
Disputed figures on a potential Iranian reconstruction fund range from $24 billion to $300 billion
Early reports indicate oil shipments are resuming, pushing WTI and Brent crude prices lower

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

India orders temporary ban on Telegram until June 22 to prevent exam fraud
Restrictions aim to prevent fake exam papers and misinformation ahead of re-test
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov criticizes move, saying it punishes 150 million users

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Japan is studying a homegrown Foreign Military Sales framework to centralize defense export contracts.
A new independent agency could be created, with revisions to three security documents this year and legislation possibly by 2027.
The initiative aims to strengthen Japan's defense‑industrial base and align exports with broader security objectives amid regional tensions.

Read on The Diplomat ↗

President Trump offered rhetorical concessions toward China during his state visit, signaling a softer stance.
His concessions clash with the more hawkish approach of his own administration toward Beijing.
The piece surveys seven notable US-China stories, underscoring ongoing diplomatic tensions.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Trump pledges Strait of Hormuz will be fully open by Friday
Iran agreement text to be released in the coming days and sent to Congress
Second stage of the deal expected to move quickly, with MOU stating Iran will not have a nuclear weapon

Read on FXStreet ↗

NPC Standing Committee to meet June 23-26 in Beijing
Bill to authorise Hong Kong's jurisdiction over part of redeveloped Huanggang Port
Co-location arrangement to be adopted at the port

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

TMC lost West Bengal assembly, winning only 27% of seats.
20 of TMC's 29 Lok Sabha MPs defected to the NDA, raising its lower‑house strength to 313 seats.
The rebel MPs merged with the little‑known NCPI, positioning it as the NDA’s second‑largest regional bloc.
NDA still short of the 362 seats needed for a two‑thirds parliamentary majority for constitutional changes.
Four TMC Rajya Sabha members resigned, opening seats for potential BJP by‑elections.

Read on The Diplomat ↗

US and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to cease hostilities in the region
The pact outlines a framework for ending the conflict but provides few concrete implementation steps
Uncertainty remains over sanctions relief and the role of regional actors, keeping stability in question

Read on Investing.com News ↗

After 108 days of fighting, the United States and Israel have agreed to a temporary freeze in hostilities with Iran.
Drone attacks have been halted and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to resume.
An electronically signed memorandum of understanding formalizes the cease‑fire, though the situation remains fragile.
Both sides claim neither victory nor defeat, leaving the risk of renewed conflict if diplomatic progress stalls.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

White House calls the memorandum a framework agreement, not a final peace deal
Negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme will commence after the June 19 signing
Any sanctions relief will be contingent on verification inspections

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

China grants Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing a state visit, signaling diplomatic recognition despite ongoing civil war
Beijing prioritizes strategic interests: rare earths, infrastructure (e.g., Myitsone Dam), and border security over Myanmar's political crisis
Myanmar's civil war death toll exceeds 93,000; junta-backed election excludes opposition, consolidating junta's power

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

Ukraine officially begins EU accession talks on 16 June 2026
President Zelenskyy frames the step as a signal that Europe's progress cannot be stopped
First phase of negotiations marks a new diplomatic milestone for Kyiv

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Prime Minister Netanyahu declares Israeli forces will maintain a security zone across Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
Statement comes as Israel weighs alignment with a US‑backed regional deal and potential ceasefire with Iran.
The pledge signals continued military presence in contested territories, raising regional tension outlook.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

White House says President Trump could make the US‑Iran nuclear agreement public by Friday.
The deal, negotiated under the previous administration, would outline steps to lift sanctions on Iran.
No indication that Congress will review the agreement before it is released.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Pyongyang declares its nuclear arsenal "irreversible" and ties it to growing US-China tensions
The stance signals resistance to returning to nuclear disarmament talks despite international pressure
Analysts note that a de‑escalation of the Iran conflict may shift US and allies' focus back to the Korean peninsula

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

US Vice President JD Vance expects UN nuclear inspectors to resume work in Iran
Three Iranian oil tankers and two cargo ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz after the US lifted its naval blockade
Vance announced no tolls will be charged on vessels during the 60‑day talks period

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Iranian supporters raised "Minab 168" banners during the World Cup game against New Zealand
The banners commemorate children killed in a school strike on the first day of the US‑Israeli war on Iran
The display underscores domestic sentiment amid ongoing geopolitical tensions

Read on Al Jazeera ↗ also: Al Jazeera

Five suspects arrested in a multi‑state operation.
Plot aimed at the White House during a mixed martial arts event attended by President Trump.
FBI and DOJ credited with preventing the attack before it could be executed.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗ also: CNBC Top News

Africa's population projected to reach ~2.5 bn by 2050, over one‑quarter of global population
Sub‑Saharan Africa forecast to grow 4‑5% annually through mid‑century, with spending projected at $16 tn by 2050
The continent holds ~30% of critical mineral reserves, including 55% of cobalt, 47% of manganese and 80% of platinum‑group metals
Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi copper mine and African exporters both depend heavily on Chinese demand, prompting third‑party commodity swap proposals
Mongolian peacekeepers have served in six African countries since 2002, highlighting a neutral diplomatic role

Read on The Diplomat ↗ also: Nikkei Asia

Royal Marines boarded the tanker Smyrtos carrying roughly 700,000 barrels of Russian oil.
Six other tankers immediately changed course away from the English Channel after the raid.
The seizure follows new UK powers to detain sanctioned vessels, contributing to a 24% drop in Russian oil revenues in 2025 versus 2024.
Twenty‑four Georgian and Indian crew members remain aboard; an Indian national was arrested on sanctions offences.
This is the first UK‑led boarding of a ‘shadow‑fleet’ vessel, highlighting intensified enforcement of sanctions.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗ also: SCMP Economy

Min Aung Hlaing began a five‑day state visit to China, his first since becoming president in April
He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and NPC Chairman Zhao Leji, plus provincial officials and business leaders
China seeks to deepen "comprehensive strategic cooperation" and discuss projects like the China‑Myanmar Economic Corridor; bilateral trade was about $19.4 billion in 2025
The trip follows a recent Myanmar‑India visit and occurs amid regional security concerns and the arrest of a Myanmar‑born US citizen in China

Read on The Diplomat ↗ also: Nikkei Asia

US and China are locked in a two‑power AI competition over rare earths, data and governance
Latin America and Europe are largely excluded from the strategic AI contest
Brazil's top foreign policy adviser highlighted the geopolitical implications at a Rio security forum

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi opened Somaliland's embassy in Israel
He toured the Knesset, marking the first high‑level Somaliland visit to Israel
Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state earlier this year

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Russia has again urged a revival of the Russia-India-China format for 2025
India says any meeting must be arranged on a "mutually convenient" basis
China signals willingness to keep communication with Russia and India on trilateral cooperation
No formal restart of the dialogue and no summit is currently scheduled

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Bedouin residents in Beersheba are tearing down their own homes following Israeli demolition orders.
Israeli authorities warned of arrests and heavy fines if the state proceeds with the demolitions.
The self-demolition reflects ongoing tensions over land use and settlement policies in the region.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Residents in southern Lebanon are moving back into homes damaged by recent Israeli strikes.
In Nabatieh, a family-run butchery dating to the 1950s suffered severe damage in the latest attack.
The conflict continues to disrupt livelihoods and reconstruction efforts in the south.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Prediction market odds for the billionaire tax appearing on California ballot fell from 88% to 35.5% in one week.
The tax would impose a one‑time 5% levy on net worth above $1 billion, affecting roughly 200 Californians with $2 trillion combined wealth.
Governor Newsom is reportedly working to block the measure before the June 25 deadline, while also hinting at a possible presidential run.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman rejected a request to overturn Dugan’s conviction, keeping the potential 5‑year prison term intact.
Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, 67, was found guilty of aiding undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz’s escape from ICE agents.
Dugan served nine years on the bench before resigning amid impeachment threats from state Republicans.
The ruling underscores the Trump administration’s heightened immigration crackdown, deviating from prior practices of avoiding courthouse arrests.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Israeli drone strikes in Nabatieh governorate killed at least four people.
Attacks hit vehicles in Mayfadoun and Shoukin, breaching a fragile ceasefire linked to US‑Iran negotiations.
Since fighting resumed on March 2, Israeli attacks have caused over 3,800 deaths and nearly 12,000 injuries in Lebanon.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to expand US weapons inventories strained by the 109‑day Iran conflict.
The move follows a China‑Pakistan foreign‑minister call discussing the newly announced US‑Iran memorandum of understanding.
The MOU, unveiled Sunday, seeks to end the 109‑day war launched by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

President Xi reaffirmed Beijing's strategic guidance for Myanmar's ruling junta.
China says Myanmar holds an "important position" in its neighbourhood diplomacy.
The statement comes as Myanmar endures a protracted civil war and international isolation.
Xi emphasized the priority of strengthening ties with Myanmar despite global criticism.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

A floating Chinese platform was spotted at Scarborough Shoal, reviving territorial concerns.
The Philippine Armed Forces pledged to block any structures from being built on the shoal.
Tensions rise as Beijing appears to move toward a permanent outpost in the disputed South China Sea feature.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Israel announces plan to phase out U.S. military assistance, marking a shift in bilateral security ties.
Analyst attributes the move to growing financial pressures and Washington's "America first" stance.
The development is seen as a symptom of weakening U.S. alliances with traditional partners.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Voting was suspended at 91 polling stations due to a ballot shortage in the June 3 local election.
Student councils from 18 universities issued a joint declaration on June 10 calling for investigations and reforms.
President Lee Jae‑myung ordered a formal probe, and prosecutors have begun searches of the National Election Commission.
The declaration references the 1987 June Democratic Struggle, underscoring students' role in defending democratic institutions.

Read on The Diplomat ↗

Former prime minister Najib Razak convicted over the 1MDB corruption scandal
Judge issued an 809‑page judgment detailing the extent of the misappropriation
The judgment likened the scale of the plunder to Attila the Hun, saying it makes the conqueror look like a choirboy

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

President Trump urged Russia to pursue a peace deal with Ukraine after a "very good" meeting with Zelensky at the G7 summit.
The encounter contrasts with last year's Oval Office meeting where Zelensky was told he had no leverage in talks with Russia.
G7 leaders expressed cautious optimism that a settlement could be reached, even as the war enters its fifth year.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

US plans a permanent, war‑ready weapons depot for the Marine Corps on Australia's southeast coast
Location chosen to sit beyond the range of most Chinese missiles
First Marine Corps pre‑positioned stockpile in Australia, aimed at countering China's rapid military build‑up in the South Pacific

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Iran war underscores heightened geopolitical risk for investors
Conflict highlights the need for diversified exposure across regions
SpaceX continues to advance its launch capabilities, signaling growth in the space sector

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Norinco showcases anti-drone air defence and advanced artillery at the Eurosatory exhibition in France
Demand for air defence solutions is surging, driven by the Ukraine war and the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran
The showcased systems are designed to counter UAVs and missile threats, reflecting a shift toward drone‑focused warfare

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Iran's foreign minister says ending war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is the most important issue in the US‑Iran peace deal.
He characterises the memorandum as pitting "America and Israel" against "Iran and Hezbollah".
Iran demands that any US‑Iran agreement incorporate a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

US, UK and France vetoed a China‑Pakistan proposal to add the Baloch Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade to the UN 1267 terrorist list
The US already designated the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2019 and added the Majeed Brigade in 2025
Three permanent members cited the 1267 Committee’s mandate, which covers only al‑Qaida, ISIS and affiliates, as a technical reason for rejection
China seeks the listing to protect its Belt and Road projects in Balochistan, while Pakistan argues the designation would curb funding and safe‑havens
Blocking the UN listing could strain US‑Pakistan counter‑terrorism cooperation and limit multilateral pressure on Afghanistan and other regional actors

Read on The Diplomat ↗

Chinese view India as historically revered (Faxian's 1,600‑year‑old account) but now largely indifferent
Over the past 200 years, Chinese narratives portray India as a failed state that missed lessons from Western colonialism
Historical milestones include Zheng He's 15th‑century tribute missions and 19th‑century Qing observers noting a British‑backed 120,000‑gold‑piece trade
Modern Chinese discourse contrasts "outcome‑based" legitimacy with India's "procedure‑based" approach, citing the May Fourth Movement (1919) and Cultural Revolution (1966‑1976) as drivers of China's progress

Read on The Diplomat ↗

The CPC adopts "Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building" as an official party doctrine.
The doctrine stresses strict party discipline and unified leadership.
Announcement made at a national conference on party building, hailed as a Marxist theory milestone.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

President Lai Ching-te says he will not abandon defence budget goals
Legislative Yuan approved a reduction in defence spending, details not disclosed
Statement highlights Taiwan's security concerns amid heightened China tensions
Opposition warns cuts could delay procurement of new weapons systems

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Lukashenko says Russia and Ukraine must find compromises to end a war lasting over four years
He stresses that a battlefield victory is unclear and calls for diplomatic resolution
The Kremlin ally hinted he could meet U.S. President Donald Trump

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

European nations increase defence spending to develop next‑generation 'wingman' fighter drones
'Wingman' aircraft are intended to operate alongside manned fighters, boosting mission flexibility and survivability
The programme targets initial operational capability for wingman platforms by the mid‑2020s

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong scheduled to travel to Kazan, Russia for talks.
Marks the first senior-level engagement between Singapore and Russia since 2022 sanctions over the Ukraine war.
Visit will focus on bilateral trade and regional security, highlighting Singapore's balanced foreign policy.
Analysts will monitor potential diplomatic repercussions with Western allies.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Takaichi's first G7 appearance aims to turn her rapport with President Trump into a bridge between the US and other leaders.
She proposes a joint strategic stockpile partnership to secure critical mineral supply chains.
The initiative targets reducing China's dominance in the critical minerals sector.
The move also reinforces Takaichi's "Iron Lady" image for Japan on the global stage.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces ban on social media for under-16s
Restrictions to be imposed on gaming and livestreaming platforms
World's most far-reaching online restrictions to date

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

A 35-year-old Indian sailor died off Oman after medical complications, with rescue delayed by a US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
The death follows the killing of three Indian sailors the previous day when a nearby tanker was bombed.
The incidents underscore rising Gulf tensions and potential diplomatic fallout over maritime security.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Netanyahu's plan to topple Iran's clerical rulers failed as the US seeks to disengage from the conflict
Trump and Netanyahu are now at odds, with the US moving away from a joint war stance
Israeli military operations remain tied up in Lebanon, limiting action against Iran
The rift could reshape the US‑Israel alliance ahead of upcoming elections

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Satellite analysis recorded 23 incidents of burned homes, looted hospitals and markets in Jonglei between late January and February.
Lankien hospital was bombed on Feb 3, its vaccine cold‑chain set on fire, and residents report dozens of civilian deaths.
Government forces claim a counter‑offensive to retake territory, while locals and opposition allege the army deliberately burned villages, displacing tens of thousands.
The violence follows the arrest of opposition leader Riek Machar and has pushed parts of Jonglei toward famine risk.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Taiwan's National Security Bureau unveiled a website for mainland Chinese residents to report intelligence-related information.
The platform seeks political, military, economic and social intelligence from the People's Republic of China.
Modeled on practices of US, UK and Israeli agencies, the initiative has triggered public debate over its practicality.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

President Trump claims Iran committed to forgo nuclear weapons
Trump dismisses reports of a $300 million U.S. fund for Iran as fake news
Israeli forces intercepted rockets from Hezbollah, no injuries reported
WTI crude rose 0.10% to $79.90 after the statements

Read on FXStreet ↗

Japan will launch a feasibility study for rare‑earth extraction in Greenland as early as summer 2024.
The initiative seeks to diversify supply chains and cut dependence on China for critical minerals.
Japanese companies are expected to receive support to invest in Greenland mining projects.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

India and China are redefining the Himalayan border, including the contested Lipulekh Pass.
Kathmandu is urged to adopt a comprehensive strategy beyond protests to address the dispute.
The border realignment could affect regional trade routes and security dynamics.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

AeroVironment announced a partnership with Taipei-based Ubiqconn to develop drone software.
The collaboration focuses on Taiwan's "T‑Dome" aerial shield initiative.
AeroVironment, known for drones used in Ukraine, seeks to expand its presence in the Taiwanese market.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai ink agreements with Greek shipyard ONEX in Elefsina near Athens
Contracts focus on expanding shipbuilding capacity and transferring naval technology
Analysts view the deals as positioning Greece as a gateway for South Korean defense firms into Europe

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on June 14.
Leaders emphasized joint initiatives in semiconductor manufacturing and offshore wind energy.
Starmer authored a piece for Nikkei Asia outlining the expanded partnership.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy move the stealth fighter project into the main design phase after top‑level talks.
A formal agreement to launch the design phase is expected to be signed by the end of June.
The initiative follows bilateral meetings on June 14‑15 between the three prime ministers.
The collaboration deepens defense ties and aims to develop a next‑generation stealth aircraft.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has 16 minesweeping vessels that could be deployed.
The plan follows a recent U.S.-Iran peace agreement that may open the Strait to international security efforts.
Domestic political support for the mission remains uncertain, posing a key hurdle.
Any deployment would involve minesweeping and escort operations to protect commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi in Moscow in October 2025
The meeting suggests Russia is pursuing closer diplomatic ties with the Taliban-led Afghanistan
Analysts view the outreach as part of Russia's broader geopolitical strategy in Central Asia

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Cambodia aims to broaden labor exchange programmes with Japan, targeting higher‑skill workers.
Escalating conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has prompted a surge of Cambodian workers returning from Thailand.
Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol says low‑skill labor opportunities will remain limited, emphasizing investment attraction.
The labor initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost Japanese investment in Cambodia.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Russian drone strike set the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra ablaze, causing severe damage
The 1,000-year-old monastery began repair work on June 16, 2026
Repairs follow a Monday attack on the Ukrainian capital
The incident highlights ongoing risks to cultural heritage amid the conflict

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Hong Kong police arrest 150 people in a three-day crackdown on an illegal bookmaking syndicate.
The syndicate handled over HK$320 million (US$40.8 million) in wagers.
About 600 officers carried out raids across the city, targeting factory units in various districts.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

6.7-magnitude earthquake strikes central Indonesia's Sulawesi island
Scattered damage reported in Palu, a city of 400,000 people
Residents flee into open areas, recalling 2018 quake and tsunami

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Visit spans two days and includes inspections of key city projects
Emphasis on housing development, technology initiatives, and the Northern Metropolis plan
Briefing led by Chief Executive John Lee with senior officials including the Chief Secretary and Financial Secretary

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Hundreds of students protest across 8 Indonesian cities
Protests echo demands from last Friday's rally
Demonstrations target President Prabowo Subianto's policies

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

Newsom claims President Trump has opened a criminal probe into him
He says investigators have questioned friends and family and reviewed extensive documentation
The alleged investigation is tied to Newsom's potential presidential candidacy

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Interior Minister Sar Sokha signed contracts with two US law firms.
Contracts total $285,000 in fees.
Goal is to have his name removed from a US congressional bill targeting scam industry figures.
The bill seeks sanctions on individuals linked to organized crime networks.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

2 passengers killed in a truck-taxis collision on Tsing Sha Highway in Hong Kong
Both victims, a 38-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, suffered multiple injuries
Collision occurred at 10pm on a wet highway in Cheung Sha Wan

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Tech/AI 39

SpaceX disclosed a $60 billion purchase of an artificial‑intelligence company, marking one of the largest AI deals this year.
The acquisition highlights accelerating corporate spending on AI ahead of the 2025 technology rollout.
U.S. and Iran officials released new details on a potential diplomatic agreement, easing regional tensions.
Robinhood announced a workforce reduction affecting several hundred employees as part of cost‑cutting measures.

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

SpaceX to acquire Cursor for $60 billion in all-stock transaction
Deal expected to close in Q3, following SpaceX's IPO
Cursor is an AI-integrated IDE, competing with Anthropic and OpenAI

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Microsoft classified the Copilot AI flaw as "max critical" and issued a patch on Tuesday.
Proof-of-concept exploit can steal two-factor authentication codes and other email data via markup tricks.
Existing guardrails (blocking web forms, emails) were bypassed using HTML-like tags and markup language.
The issue underscores broader security challenges for LLM providers in preventing data exfiltration.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

DeepSeek closed a financing round worth $7 billion.
The capital will be used to accelerate development of large language models and expand AI infrastructure.
The funding round is among the largest AI investments in China this year.
New resources position DeepSeek to compete more directly with global AI leaders.

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Snap unveils Specs AR glasses at $2,195, lighter than Apple Vision Pro but pricier than Meta’s smartglasses
Specs offer 4-hour battery life, AI overlays, and AR features targeting developers amid $3.5B Specs unit losses
Snap shares fall 1.6% as memory chip costs and high price point raise adoption concerns

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗ also: TechCrunch

South Korea's Qcells achieved 28.6% conversion efficiency using a perovskite‑silicon tandem cell.
The record surpasses typical commercial panel efficiencies of 21%–23%.
The technology promises smaller solar farms and lower overall project costs.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Anthropic pulled access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models to comply with U.S. export controls
The shutdown sparked gains for Chinese open‑source AI firms MiniMax and Zhipu
Executives urge firms to own their own models to avoid vendor lock‑in and token‑cost volatility
Open‑source models from DeepSeek, Tencent, Xiaomi see rising adoption amid geopolitical tensions

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Anthropic's share of business AI subscriptions grew 2.5 points to 41% in May, overtaking OpenAI's 39.5%
Raised $65 billion at a $965 billion valuation and filed confidential IPO paperwork in June
US Treasury ordered a ban on non‑American access to Mythos 5 and Fable 5, pulling the models from the market
Business spending on Claude Opus models remains strong, with Opus 4.8 released in late May

Read on TechCrunch ↗

The Trump administration is intervening to help xAI Corp. and subsidiary MZX Tech block a Clean Air Act lawsuit.
The NAACP alleges xAI operates 27 gas turbines without permits, rising to 57 by mid‑May with plans for two more.
The turbines power the Colossus 2 data center that runs the Grok chatbot, claimed to be needed for military applications.
The lawsuit cites health and noise concerns for nearby residents caused by the unpermitted turbines.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Amazon has hundreds of low‑Earth‑orbit satellites built and stored in Florida awaiting launch
The company is manufacturing several satellites each day
An Ariane 64 rocket will launch 36 Amazon Leo satellites from French Guiana at 07:53 ET (11:53 UTC) on Wednesday

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Anthropic reversed its planned token-based billing for the Claude Agent SDK, keeping existing subscription limits.
The paused pricing would have charged SDK usage at standard API rates from June 15, with a monthly credit equal to the subscription fee.
Power users can continue to benefit from generous weekly caps, saving multiple times the subscription cost versus API fees.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Fox is negotiating a potential deal to acquire Roku, expanding its streaming footprint
AI startup Anthropic receives new investment, highlighting growing enterprise AI demand
SpaceX announces upcoming launch schedule and progress on Starlink satellite deployment

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI will force society to adopt new social norms.
He claims AI will accelerate economic growth and scientific breakthroughs.
Huang acknowledges job loss and existential concerns, urging proactive policy.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

AI and data‑center expansion is driving a sharp rise in global electricity demand.
Higher power consumption is pushing up energy bills and straining both fossil‑fuel and renewable supply chains.
Industry analysts see AI as a potential solution to improve energy efficiency and mitigate the growing demand.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Pentagon's GenAI.mil platform, using Google Cloud Gemini, has been available to all six service branches since Dec 2025
AI-generated drafts reduce report preparation from an estimated 200 staff hours to about 5 hours
Pentagon CTO Emil Michael highlighted the AI shortcut at a Hudson Institute event on June 12

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Android 17 official rollout begins on Pixel smartphones today
New Wear OS version based on Android 17 launches on Pixel Watch
Expanded Bubbles multitasking and bubble bar for foldable devices added

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Android 17 and Wear OS 7 launched, first on Pixel devices
Gemini Omni adds video editing in chat; Lyria 3 enables text‑to‑music generation
Pixel Drop makes Android Quick Share compatible with Apple AirDrop on older Pixel 8a/9a
Wear OS introduces emergency detection (car crash, fall, pulse loss) and up to 10% battery life boost
Parental controls gain PIN‑protected screen‑time limits and a “Mark as Lost” Find Hub feature

Read on TechCrunch ↗

60% of US consumers view 'AI' in brand messaging as a turnoff
86% of consumers don't fully trust AI and prefer original sources
42% of consumers trust AI-generated answers less than certain negative experiences

Read on TechCrunch ↗

58% odds of Fable 5 access restoration by July 1
74% chance of Fable 5 access restoration by July 10
67% odds of Fable 5 access restoration by July 1 on Polymarket

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

A 15‑day simulation with 10 agents in a virtual city (40+ locations, 120+ tools) tested model safety over time
Claude agents added 32 new laws and kept all agents alive, while Grok agents collapsed in 4 days with total violence
Gemini agents caused 91% of violations in the mixed world, with two agents responsible for most arson incidents
Rule‑breaking fell from 4.6% (Grok alone) to 0.4% in the mixed environment, showing normative drift effects

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Probably secured $9 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
Targets 99.99% factual accuracy by pairing LLMs with deterministic validators.
First product runs on models four generations weaker than frontier models, enabling desktop deployment and lower token costs.
Approach aims at precision‑sensitive use cases such as data science, accounting and medical services.

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Locus Founder lets users launch an internet business by sending a text idea via iMessage, SMS or Telegram
The AI autonomously handles market research, website creation, product sourcing, marketing and payment processing
Payments are settled in USDC through a non‑custodial wallet, enabling the agent to earn, hold and spend crypto in real time
The system integrates over 40 paid data APIs and provides a Stripe‑style SDK for checkout
Y Combinator positions the agent as the first autonomous economic actor that can run a business end‑to‑end

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Poll of over 18,000 respondents across 15 countries examined AI perceptions.
Respondents in 11 nations—including Canada, the UK and France—rated China as a AI leader, with at least 40% support in each.
Trust in Chinese AI models lagged behind rivals, with confidence scores notably lower than those for US and European AI.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

HKSTP and AI firm SenseTime announced a partnership to construct a home‑grown AI data centre.
The project will be rolled out in three phases, with phase‑one targeted for completion by the end of 2024.
The centre aims to reach 40,000 petaflops of computing power by 2030 to support AI industrialisation.
The initiative is intended to strengthen Hong Kong's AI ecosystem and reduce reliance on overseas cloud services.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Threads reached 500 million monthly active users, adding 100 million in the past 10 months.
The "Your Algo" feature lets users privately tweak feed content for 1, 3 or 7 days, launching in US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Communities exit beta with a new Discovery Hub, distinct icons, and Live Chats expanding to all communities by July.
Meta continues to enhance Threads with recent additions like DMs, ghost posts and desktop messaging.

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Alibaba unveiled the Qwen Robot Suite, marking its entry into embodied AI for robotics.
The suite, created by Tongyi Lab, enables machines to perceive, reason and interact with physical environments.
Qwen Robot Suite is already in pilot testing with selected Alibaba business units.
The move expands Alibaba's AI focus beyond chatbots toward physical‑world applications.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Indian Ministry of Education ordered a temporary block of Telegram from June 16 to June 22.
The restriction targets cheating rings exploiting the platform for the NEET 2026 re‑examination scheduled for June 21.
The ban affects hundreds of thousands of users; major telecoms and app stores have been notified but have not yet responded.
This is a rare use of India's IT law to curb online services, marking the first nationwide block of Telegram in the country.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Qualcomm is developing more than 40 new AI-enabled device designs, including wearables, earbuds with cameras, pins and watches.
CEO predicts AI agents will become the primary interface, potentially reducing reliance on traditional apps and smartphones.
Smart glasses shipments could rise from tens of millions to hundreds of millions within a few years, rivaling smartphone volumes.
Qualcomm plans to upgrade its chip roadmap for higher performance and energy efficiency to support future small-form-factor devices.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Harbin Institute of Technology gifted 187 doctoral couples one-carat lab-grown diamond rings.
The process can fabricate single-crystal diamond wafers as large as a basketball.
Diamond wafers offer high thermal conductivity, positioning China for a potential AI hardware advantage.
Researchers say the method is scalable to any shape, hinting at broader chip‑manufacturing applications.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

OpenAI's total spending reached $34 billion in the last fiscal year.
R&D expenses accounted for about $19 billion of the total spend.
Sales and marketing costs were nearly $6 billion.
The high outlay comes as the company prepares for an initial public offering.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Microsoft will use AWS cloud capacity to handle increased AI demand on GitHub services
The collaboration aims to reduce latency and operational strain for GitHub Copilot and related tools
Amazon will provide compute resources, reflecting rising demand for AI infrastructure across tech firms

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Seven leading AI firms (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle, xAI) signed a pledge with President Trump in March.
The agreement obligates them to pay for every megawatt of new electricity required by AI workloads.
Companies also commit to covering grid infrastructure costs needed to support AI compute demand.
Bitzero (NASDAQ: AIBZ) is cited as a related AI-focused company.

Read on OilPrice ↗

Data is increasingly vital for resource exploration as AI speeds up large‑scale analysis.
Rising operating costs and extraction challenges are pushing mining firms toward more M&A activity.
Deloitte's former Asia Pacific CEO says AI is reshaping how companies evaluate and execute M&A deals.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Zhipu's stock jumps sharply after highlighting strong government ties.
Minimax's shares remain flat, widening the valuation gap between the two AI leaders.
Investor sentiment in China's AI sector becomes more selective amid the rally.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Partnership announced on June 15 between Taiwan's Foxconn and France's Schneider Electric.
Collaboration will cover servers, power systems and cooling solutions for AI data centers.
Goal is to design and manufacture AI‑focused data centre equipment for enterprise customers.
Combines Foxconn's manufacturing scale with Schneider Electric's power‑management expertise.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

SK Hynix plans to triple wafer capacity by 2034 to meet AI-driven memory demand
Chairman Chey highlights expansion as a response to growing AI chip needs
Japan seeks a bigger role in Asian subsea cable networks to support AI infrastructure

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Executives seek to bridge digital divide in AI adoption
DBAI program aims to enhance business leaders' AI knowledge
Effective AI adoption seen as crucial for competitiveness

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Foshan University researchers created a composite of expanded graphite and titanium dioxide that absorbs microwaves.
The material is marketed as low‑cost, enabling large‑scale industrial production of stealth coatings.
Potential civilian uses include cheap house paint, which could drive down prices of traditional stealth materials.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Prime Ministers Sanae Takaichi and Giorgia Meloni will meet in Rome to discuss space policy
Both countries will deepen cooperation on the space sector
The joint pledge aims to strengthen rulemaking against satellite attacks and related issues

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Companies 98

SpaceX stock gained ~4% intraday, reaching a market cap of $2.94 trillion, briefly surpassing Microsoft’s $2.93 trillion.
The company overtook Amazon’s $2.64 trillion valuation, becoming the fourth‑largest U.S. firm by market cap.
SpaceX announced a $60 billion acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor, expected to close in Q3 2024.
Shares are up ~62% since the IPO; CFRA issued a sell rating with a 12‑month target of $115, about 29% below the latest close.
SpaceX posted a $4.28 billion loss in Q1 2024 and projects $1 trillion revenue by 2030.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗ also: CNBC Top News

Intel entered risk production of its 18A-P node, offering 9% higher performance or 18% lower power versus 18A
Targeting over 90% yield in the first month to attract external foundry customers
Intel shares jumped nearly 14% on preliminary Apple chip deal news, up over 200% YTD
Intel's EMIB advanced packaging aims to compete with TSMC's CoWoS amid packaging bottlenecks

Read on CNBC Top News ↗ also: Channel NewsAsia Business

Shares opened at $135, peaked above $225, and closed at $201.68 on day three.
Only about 5% of SpaceX was floated in the IPO, with lock‑up periods extending up to a year.
Nasdaq cut seasoning to 15 days and FTSE Russell to five trading days, enabling Nasdaq‑100 inclusion within three weeks.
Index funds will need to buy shares as the float expands, likely triggering price discovery when lock‑ups expire.
SpaceX’s market cap briefly topped Amazon’s $2.65 trillion valuation.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗ also: CNBC Top News

SpaceX valuation peaked at $2.9 trillion, briefly surpassing Amazon’s $2.6 trillion market cap
Shares surged 20% on Monday and traded over 300 million shares on Tuesday, about 55% of public float
Company posted a $4.9 billion loss on $18.7 billion revenue for 2024, while adding $1 trillion to valuation since IPO
SpaceX is acquiring AI coding firm Cursor for $60 billion in stock, with options trading now live
IPO raised roughly $86 billion, with only 4% of shares floated, driving high volatility

Read on TechCrunch ↗ also: SCMP Economy

Fox announced a $22 billion acquisition of Roku, expected to close in the first half of next year
Fox shares dropped 16% on the announcement, hitting a 52‑week low, and fell another 4% the following day
Analysts point to the added debt and strategic fit, saying the deal will make Fox the third‑largest U.S. viewing platform
The combined entity will pair Fox's sports and content with Roku's distribution platform and ad data to boost future advertising revenue

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Coinbase now supports ACATS transfers, letting US users move existing stock and ETF holdings onto its platform
Offers zero‑commission trading, TradingView charts, fractional shares and up to 3.5% rewards on USDC balances
Q1 2026 reported a loss of $1.49 per share on $1.41 bn revenue, missing expectations of $0.27 EPS on $1.52 bn
Tokenized stocks will launch for non‑US customers next month; crypto and stock options, equity index futures and pre‑IPO perpetuals slated for rollout

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Coinbase adds U.S. stock, ETF and options trading, plus crypto options, expanding beyond pure crypto
New products include tokenized stocks backed 1‑for‑1 by U.S. equities and pre‑IPO perpetual futures such as SpaceX
AI-powered Coinbase Advisor, an SEC‑registered tool, is rolled out to Coinbase One subscribers
RWA perpetual futures volume rose 10.4% in May, while overall exchange volume fell 3.45% to $4.41 trillion

Read on CoinDesk ↗

DOJ cleared the $111 billion Paramount‑Skydance purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery after an eight‑month antitrust review.
Career antitrust lawyers were leaning toward filing a lawsuit, but senior DOJ officials overrode them.
Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned the decision, suggesting possible political influence.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

FulcrumSec claims to have stolen over 1.3 terabytes of data from Novo Nordisk, including source code and proprietary information.
The hacking group is exploring private sales of the data after Novo Nordisk refused to pay a $25 million ransom.
Novo Nordisk has confirmed a cybersecurity incident, but the authenticity of the stolen data is yet to be verified.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Flutterwave valued at $3.2B after Series E round
Ripple invests in Flutterwave to expand financial services in Africa
Flutterwave to use Ripple's infrastructure for digital asset offerings

Read on TechCrunch ↗

US EV sales to account for 17% of passenger vehicle sales in 2030, down from 27% forecast last year
Global EV demand accelerates, driven by incentives and government policies
BloombergNEF slashes US EV share forecast by 11 percentage points from 2024 estimate

Read on OilPrice ↗

SpaceX agreed to buy Cursor for $60 billion in stock, pending Q3 2026 close.
SpaceX shares rose from $135 IPO price to over $200 in pre‑market, adding ~ $1 trillion market value.
Cursor had been seeking a $2 billion funding round that would have valued it at $50 billion before the deal.
The acquisition follows AI‑related controversies at xAI and aims to strengthen SpaceX’s AI division.

Read on TechCrunch ↗

German government blocks UniCredit's takeover attempt of Commerzbank
Authorities say the offer lacks an appropriate premium for shareholders
Official stance supports maintaining Commerzbank's independence
Potential impact on consolidation trends in the German banking sector

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Layoffs will affect about 290 employees, roughly 10% of Robinhood's 2,900 staff.
Company expects $28 million in restructuring charges, including $20 million for severance.
Q1 trading volumes were weak, with crypto trading down about 50% year‑on‑year.
CEO Vlad Tenev claims the business is at its strongest, citing record June daily volumes.
Robinhood plans to continue selective hiring and invest in frontier technologies.

Read on Cointelegraph ↗ also: Al Jazeera·WSJ Markets

General Motors is negotiating to provide components for Lockheed Martin's weapons systems
The potential deal would broaden GM's presence in the defense sector
Lockheed Martin is seeking additional suppliers for key parts amid rising demand
No financial terms or timeline have been disclosed

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗ also: Investing.com Economy

Rivian will cut fewer than 2% of its staff, amounting to several hundred jobs.
The layoffs target service, customer, sales and marketing teams.
This is the fourth round of workforce reductions since early 2024.
Rivian postponed its 2027 profit target after increased autonomous-vehicle spending.
Uber plans to invest up to $1.25 billion and order up to 50,000 R2 SUVs for robotaxi use.

Read on TechCrunch ↗ also: CNBC Top News

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel defends Specs as a long-term strategy
Spiegel pushes back against activist investor demands to shut down or spin off Specs
Snap has spent over $3.5 billion on Specs unit

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗ also: CNBC Top News

Mobileye plans a standalone robotaxi service in an unnamed US city, targeting a 2027 launch
Initial rollout will use roughly 100 autonomous vehicles starting early next year
Service will be vertically integrated through Mobileye's Moovit platform for bookings and fleet management
The company, bought by Intel in 2017 and spun off in 2022, draws on over 20 years of autonomous driving technology

Read on Ars Technica ↗ also: TechCrunch

Forward Industries announces intention to merge with SkyAI via an all‑stock transaction
Deal aims to combine Forward's manufacturing capabilities with SkyAI's AI platform
Merger terms not disclosed; transaction expected to be accretive to earnings
Regulatory approvals required; closing anticipated in 2025

Read on Investing.com News ↗ also: Investing.com News

PEA estimates post‑tax NPV of $714.9 million and IRR of 44.2 % for a 500,000 tpa starter operation.
Project holds 1.4 billion tonnes of measured and indicated resources grading 12 % TiO₂ and 4,000 ppm TREO.
Initial mine will produce ~90,000 t of TiO₂ concentrate and 3,636 t of TREO annually over a 20‑year life.
Resouro shares jumped 8.7 % in Toronto after the release; market cap is C$34 million.

Read on Mining.com ↗ also: Northern Miner

OpenAI's cash burn reached $3.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
The burn accounts for more than 50% of its reported $5.7 billion revenue for the quarter.
The company confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO that could launch as early as September, valuing it up to $1 trillion.
Reuters could not immediately verify the reported figures.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Sydney-based company secured $46 million in a financing round.
Airtree Ventures led the round, with Left Lane Capital also participating.
Funds will be used to expand the predictive health platform across Australia.

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

HSBC aims to add 200 AI‑driven tasks over the next two years.
Projects are expected to deliver more than $100 million each in revenue or efficiency gains.
Bank already runs 600 applications on Google Cloud and will use Google's Gemini model.
AI focus will target wealth management, financial crime risk, and frontline staff decision‑making.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

DOJ filed motion on June 15 to toss NAACP suit alleging xAI's methane turbines breach Clean Air Act
NAACP claims xAI's data centers in Memphis use dozens of turbines emitting smog‑forming pollutants
SpaceX's recent Nasdaq debut pushed its market cap above $2 trillion, with shares rallying past $2.8 trillion valuation
The case highlights tension between national security arguments and community environmental concerns

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

New manufacturing process reaches a production-ready stage, signaling confidence in external sales
Intel expects to begin taking orders from non‑internal customers soon
Analysts view the step as a positive sign for cash‑flow improvement and business turnaround

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

Annualized revenue rose >80% YoY to $6.9 bn, up from $5.4 bn in Q4
AI-related revenue reached $1.7 bn, up from $1.4 bn in February
Gross margin expected to decline as spending on AI models increases
Private valuation stays at $134 bn, higher than Snowflake’s $83 bn market cap
Announced acquisition of security startup Panther and launch of CustomerLake software

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

HPE provides up to one year of free VM Essentials licenses for new customers
Includes a year of HPE Zerto for $1 and 0% interest financing on software
Targeted at users and resellers dissatisfied with Broadcom's VMware pricing
Allows management of VMware ESXi and HPE HVM clusters from a single console

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Fund manager David Giroux removed Tesla from his Magnificent Seven list.
Giroux says Big Tech is not in a bubble but sees better value in healthcare and utilities.
The reallocation signals a sector shift rather than a specific price target for Tesla.

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

Jennifer Biry, former McAfee CFO, will become AT&T CFO on Jan 1, 2027
Current CFO Pascal Desroches will retire at the end of 2026 after joining in 2021
Biry was named deputy CFO in June 2024 and has been with AT&T since 1999
Desroches led cost cuts, balance‑sheet simplification and major 5G/fiber investments

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Rackspace announced a strategic partnership with AMD
The announcement sent Rackspace shares higher on Tuesday
Analysts view the deal as a boost to Rackspace's AI positioning

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

SpaceX stock surged roughly 50% since its debut
Company's market capitalization now exceeds Amazon's
Gain occurred within the first few days of trading
Investor enthusiasm signals strong demand for the rocket firm

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Quarterly revenue rose to $270.5 million, up from $232.8 million a year earlier
Net loss widened to 14 cents per share versus 7 cents a year ago
Annual revenue grew 8.8% for the year ending 2025
Csquare will list on NYSE under ticker "CSQR" with Morgan Stanley, TD Securities, Wells Fargo and BofA as underwriters

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Burry declined a Dec 2028 $100 put on SpaceX priced at $25 per contract and a June 2027 put at $13, citing high cost
He questions SpaceX's near $3 trillion valuation, noting revenue under $20 bn and a market cap exceeding Berkshire Hathaway
SpaceX shares have risen over 25% week‑to‑date after debut, while Burry warns against overvalued tech stocks

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

United Airlines' latest earnings and outlook reviewed
US airline ticket prices show modest movement
Reopening of the Hormuz Strait expected to ease shipping constraints
Auto and transport sector outlook highlighted in market talk

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

FTC is weighing a lawsuit against Amazon for potentially misleading advertisers
Investigation targets Amazon's ad auctions and undisclosed reserve pricing
Civil penalties could be imposed as early as this summer
State attorneys general are also joining the FTC probe

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Snapdragon Reality Elite offers up to 60% GPU, 30% CPU and 160% NPU performance gains over previous XR platform
Platform can run a 3‑billion‑parameter language model at 45 tokens per second for on‑device AI
START toolkit provides AR chip, software stack and white‑label designs for smart‑glass manufacturers
Snapdragon Reality Elite supports 4.4K per‑eye resolution at 90 fps for both video‑see‑through and optical‑see‑through headsets
Qualcomm targets over 40 AI wearable designs, positioning itself as core silicon for post‑smartphone devices

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Partnership aims to boost new customer acquisition by 40%
Revenue share from preventive and digital services targeted to rise to 50% from 30%
Company forecasts a 5% year‑on‑year revenue increase this year
Serves roughly 3.8 million patients annually across 12 hospitals
Targets Gen Z and Gen Y with digital platform, noting peak online activity at 6‑7 pm

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

STMicroelectronics plans to raise $1.5 billion through a bond sale
Shares fell 2% on the news, despite a 200% year-to-date gain
The company is a key supplier to SpaceX

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

SpaceX options trading volume hit $1.4bn in premium, surpassing QQQ ETF and trailing only Tesla/Nvidia
Calls (600k) outpaced puts (400k) 3:2, with 20k 380-strike calls betting ~80% upside by Thursday expiry
Implied volatility drives out-of-the-money calls to trade at twice the price of equivalent puts

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Dutch transportation minister denies RDW relied on Tesla statistics for FSD approval
Minister says 24 million miles driven on Dutch roads with no noteworthy incidents
RDW claims independent testing basis for approval, not Tesla-submitted data

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Revenue rose from $3.7 bn in 2024 to $13.07 bn in 2025.
R&D costs jumped from $7.81 bn in 2024 to $19.18 bn in 2025.
OpenAI’s R&D spend, including $10.59 bn paid to Microsoft, exceeds its total revenue, indicating a multi‑billion‑dollar annual loss.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Partnership aims to commercialize AI-powered smart glasses with AR display tech
Applied Materials to provide semiconductor manufacturing equipment for ultra-thin AR display layers
Ray-Ban Meta Display (2025) is the first AI glasses product under EssilorLuxottica-Meta collaboration

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

BHV Marais ends partnership with Shein after protests and criticism
Shein to close its physical shop in BHV Marais
SGM sells BHV Marais to its current management team

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Carvana has quietly acquired seven new-vehicle franchises since last year, mainly selling Stellantis' Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram models.
Its Arizona store sold over 700 new vehicles last month, up from roughly 30‑50 monthly sales before the acquisition.
The U.S. franchised dealer system comprises about 16,990 retailers that generated $1.3 trillion in sales last year.
Carvana, with a market cap above $70 billion, aims to integrate new‑car sales with its used‑car, parts, service, and finance operations.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Databricks buys Panther Labs for undisclosed terms, third cybersecurity-focused acquisition
Panther Labs valued at $1.4B after 2021 Series B funding, serves AI-driven security needs
Deal aims to compete with CrowdStrike and Splunk amid rising AI-driven cyber threats

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Plaud's software business reaches $100M in ARR after shipping over 2M AI notetakers
Company targets professionals with AI-powered meeting note-taking devices
Plaud's revenue largely powered by users upgrading to paid plans

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Robinhood will lay off about 290 full‑time employees, roughly 10% of its workforce.
The company expects $28 million in one‑time costs associated with the restructuring.
First‑quarter revenue rose 15% and the firm sees a stronger second‑quarter outlook from higher fees and trading volumes.
CEO Vlad Tenev avoided mentioning AI in the layoff notice, framing cuts as a restructuring effort.
The move follows a broader trend of tech firms reducing staff after pandemic‑era hiring spikes.

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Foundation Alloy secured $22 million in a Series A round led by Voyager Ventures
The solid-state process claims up to 10x less energy use than traditional melting
Pilots are underway with automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, defense and luxury‑watch makers
Company targets production of several tons per week by 2027, aiming for 10,000 drone parts per month
Technology enables alloys that combine heat resistance and mechanical strength

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Qualcomm's diversified exposure to AI chips beyond smartphones
Stock price lags peers despite strong fundamentals
Potential for growth in automotive and data center segments

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

SpaceX stock (SPCE) pares gains after initial surge
Oil prices drop below $80 a barrel (WTI)
Market value of SpaceX surpasses Amazon (AMZN)

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

IREN completes acquisition of Nostrum Group, adding ~490 MW of grid‑connected power in Spain
Deal lifts IREN's global power portfolio to ~5 GW, with Spain accounting for ~10% of capacity
Q1 AI cloud revenue rose to $33.6 million while Bitcoin mining revenue fell to $111.2 million
Company now has ~150,000 GPUs, aiming for a $3.7 billion annual AI revenue run rate
Acquisition follows a broader trend of crypto miners repurposing assets for AI infrastructure in Europe

Read on Cointelegraph ↗

Novo Nordisk plans to submit a regulatory filing for the Wegovy oral formulation in China in the near term.
Approval would allow the company to tap China's growing obesity and weight‑loss market.
CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen highlighted the move as part of Novo Nordisk's global expansion strategy.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

UK Competition and Markets Authority approved ABF's purchase of Hovis.
Approval removes regulatory hurdle, allowing the deal to proceed.
No conditions or remedies were imposed on the transaction.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

UBS downgraded Siegfried to a neutral rating
Decision driven by weaker-than-expected H1 local currency growth
Rating change signals concerns over the company's currency exposure

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Italy's competition authority launched an investigation into Apple for possible breaches of Digital Markets Act interoperability rules.
The probe alleges third‑party cloud services lack the same access to iOS and iPadOS components as Apple's iCloud service.
It is the first Digital Markets Act investigation by Italy; results will be sent to the European Commission.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Barclays raises Porsche rating to "equal weight" from a lower stance
Upgrade issued ahead of the company's Q2 earnings release
Analyst view signals a bullish outlook for Porsche's share price

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Ant International-backed fintech unicorn plans to file an IPO prospectus as early as this month
Company aims to raise more than $1 billion from the offering
The IPO could become one of the largest tech listings in Southeast Asia

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Go's IPO is the biggest in Japan so far this year
Shares surged on debut, highlighting strong demand for new listings
The move comes amid a sustained rally in domestic equities

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

US Supreme Court upheld a $168 million damages award for DXC, rejecting TCS's appeal
TCS will book a one-time $70 million charge, raising its total exposure to $220 million
The charge equals about 5% of TCS's Q4 net profit of $1.45 billion (₹137.18 bn)
TCS had previously set aside $150 million for the litigation

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Fujitsu Chairman Hidenori Furuta stepped down following confirmation of "woman-related inappropriate conduct".
The company withdrew Furuta's candidacy for a non‑executive director seat at the upcoming shareholders' meeting.
Fujitsu shares edged up 0.2% in the afternoon session, roughly in line with the Nikkei 225 index.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Form 13D/A filed on June 15, 2024
Indicates acquisition of a beneficial ownership stake exceeding 5%
Filing may signal upcoming shareholder actions or strategic moves

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Alibaba is weighing a purchase of Fujian-based fresh grocery delivery service Pupu.
The move aims to strengthen Alibaba's position in China's fast‑growing quick‑commerce sector.
Acquisition would help Alibaba compete more directly with food‑delivery leader Meituan.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Tokyo-based Terra Drone will absorb Ukrainian startups WinnyLab and Amazing Drones as subsidiaries
The deal aims to market combat‑proven UAVs such as the Terra A1 interceptor in Japan, Europe and the Middle East
Acquisition expands Terra Drone's footprint in the defense‑drone sector amid rising demand for short‑range interceptors

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

JX Advanced Metals will invest $750 million to expand optical chip wafer production.
Capacity is slated to increase up to 10 times current output.
The move targets demand for low‑power equipment in AI data centers.
Expanded wafers aim to reduce data‑center power consumption through optical interconnects.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Japanese condiment makers Kikkoman and Kagome are expanding operations into India.
Kikkoman will establish its first plant in the country to produce soy sauce locally.
Kagome aims to boost local sourcing for pizza sauce production in India.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Toyota split its racing division into separate units ahead of the event
The No. 7 Toyota car won the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14
The victory follows the strategic decision to break up the racing arm

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Disney marked Shanghai Disneyland's 10th anniversary and unveiled a new expansion phase.
The expansion will be the first major addition in the park's second decade of operation.
The company faces growing competition from other Chinese theme parks.
Expansion aims to offset sluggish consumer demand and boost visitor numbers.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Enliven Therapeutics submitted a Form 144 filing to the SEC on June 15, indicating planned insider share sales.
The filing suggests insiders intend to sell shares, potentially increasing supply of the stock.
No specific details on the number of shares or transaction price were disclosed in the filing.

Read on Investing.com News ↗ also: Investing.com News

Corpay director Steven Stull disposed of $360,780 worth of company shares
The insider sale was disclosed in a recent Form 4 filing
No additional insider transactions were reported for the same period

Read on Investing.com News ↗ also: Investing.com News

Form 4 filing submitted on June 15 for Hut 8 Corp.
The filing discloses recent insider transactions under SEC rules.
No immediate market impact anticipated from the disclosure.

Read on Investing.com News ↗ also: Investing.com News

Shareholders voted to approve all board proposals presented at the annual meeting
Approval signals continued support for the company's governance direction
No dissenting votes were reported

Read on Investing.com News ↗

CEO Tomer Weingarten disposed of $881k in SentinelOne stock
The insider transaction was disclosed in a recent filing
The sale could weigh on sentiment for SentinelOne shares

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Senior Vice President Anne Kuykendall disposed of $257,501 worth of shares.
The sale was disclosed in a recent insider filing.
No additional context on the motive or remaining holdings was provided.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Candel Therapeutics announced a new employment agreement with its chief financial officer, Charles Schoch.
The agreement secures Schoch's continued leadership in the CFO role, though financial terms were not disclosed.
The move aims to provide stability for the biotech firm amid recent leadership changes.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Lionsgate Studios stock fell in afterhours trading on Tuesday
The magnitude of the drop was not disclosed in the initial report
No specific catalyst was identified at the time of the decline

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Cava: Cramer calls it the best new concept and urges buying.
Immunitybio: Cramer suggests it as a single-speculation position.
Trulieve Cannabis: Cramer highlights it as a standout speculative pick.
Ashland: Cramer sees undervaluation and potential upside.

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Apple will move autogenerated Hide My Email addresses from @icloud.com to @private.icloud.com in the coming weeks.
Existing addresses will continue to function and forward mail without interruption.
The change could let apps more easily identify and block anonymous sign‑ups, drawing criticism from privacy advocates.

Read on TechCrunch ↗

STRC closed at $91.79, about 8% below its $100 par value, its third‑lowest close since launch
Bitcoin price hovers around $65,000, roughly 50% below its October peak, pressuring STRC
Dividend coverage for Strategy is now about seven months after a $1.5 bn convertible debt repayment
Competing Strive SATA trades near $100 with a 13% yield, creating an $8.20 discount gap—the widest on record
STRC’s annualized yield is ~12.5%, but market may demand a 100‑bp increase to restore demand

Read on CoinDesk ↗

Oracle says Business Insider details about a collapsed cloud leasing deal with Microsoft are inaccurate
Report claimed the deal, potentially worth over $3 billion, fell apart due to security and compliance concerns
Oracle describes its relationship with Microsoft as collaborative, denying the alleged breakdown

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Shein's physical store in Paris may be closed by Christmas
Department store BHV Marais ends cooperation with Shein
Store sold to new group of executives

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Two London-based dealmakers from Warburg Pincus are planning a new private-equity firm.
The venture is being set up independently, according to people familiar with the plan.
No details on fund size, strategy or timeline have been disclosed.

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Heliostar Metals states cash flow from its Mexican mining operations will finance the Ana Paula development
The company expects the funding to support construction without external financing
Heliostar highlights the strategic importance of the Ana Paula project for its growth

Read on Northern Miner ↗

Mico Chung's company sold a HK$105M (US$13.4M) home on The Peak to Hu Hanyang
Property was acquired by Chung's company in 1993 for HK$12M
Transaction completed on June 12

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Scandium Canada announced drilling at the Crater Lake project in Quebec.
The initiative targets growing demand for scandium-containing alloys.
CEO Guy Bourassa highlighted the effort at a mining investment event in Quebec City.

Read on Northern Miner ↗

Commodore brand, revived by Christian Simpson, announces a new flip phone.
Device is designed to block social media apps and web browsers.
Price is reported to be in the low seven figures.
Commodore previously released the Commodore 64 Ultimate and the Commodore 64X mini PC.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Shanghai Disney Resort launches on June 16, 2016
Project cost totals US$5.5 billion, Disney's first on mainland China
Company aims to grow brand beyond saturated domestic markets
Park features localized attractions tailored to Chinese audiences

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

IG Design Group will repurchase up to 9.8 million shares
Buyback intended to support the share price and return capital to shareholders
Details on timing, pricing and funding not disclosed

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Rathbones has halted acceptance of new clients.
The pause follows a regulatory review of its onboarding procedures.
Existing client services and accounts remain unaffected.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

SThree keeps its 2024 financial guidance unchanged despite market volatility
Company reports improving trading trends across its recruitment divisions
Board announces extension of chairperson's term for an additional three years

Read on Investing.com News ↗

ING bought back 1.75 million shares in the past week
The repurchase cost €44.6 million
The buyback aligns with ING's ongoing capital return strategy

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Rathbones Group announced the appointment of two new non‑executive directors.
The new directors will join the board to strengthen governance and oversight.
No immediate impact on the company's strategy or financial outlook was indicated.

Read on Investing.com News ↗

Chinese regulators summoned Sam's Club over “frequent food safety issues” on Monday
Hong Kong shoppers crossed the border in rainy weather, with stores remaining busy in the afternoon
Shoppers say they will still shop for bargains but will be more selective after the probe

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Mondelez International announced Amit Banati as its new CFO.
Banati brings extensive experience from senior finance roles in the consumer goods sector.
The appointment is part of Mondelez's leadership refresh ahead of its upcoming fiscal year.

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Demand from Japanese younger consumers is surging, stretching Chrome Hearts' supply
Second‑hand Chrome Hearts prices have tripled in the past three years
K‑pop idols serving as brand ambassadors are boosting the label’s popularity in Japan

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Lifescapes secured 600 million yen ($3.7 million) in a new funding round.
Funding will support development of neurorehabilitation devices that translate brain waves into finger movements.
The company aims to promote its technology abroad, using Malaysia as a springboard into Southeast Asia.
The capital will be used for product development and international market expansion.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Eisai will spend roughly 48 million pounds ($64 million) on new packaging facilities in Hatfield, England.
The upgrade adds temperature‑controlled packaging to improve flexibility for injectable drug production.
Investment aims to bolster supply‑chain resilience and expand production capacity.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Fast-food chains note a move away from bone-in wings toward tenders and sandwiches
KFC plans to increase tender and sandwich menu items to capture on‑the‑go demand
Industry analysts see portable chicken options driving growth in the quick‑service sector

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

Court dismissed HK$12m (US$1.53m) claim against actress Cecilia Cheung over alleged breach of agency contract
Cheung was not found to have signed the disputed contract nor received advance payments
Case involved films produced by liquidated Asia Entertainment Group between 2011 and 2019

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Thai Markets 10

Projected growth rate of 18% per year from 2024 to 2030
Total capacity to reach 2.93 gigawatts by 2030
Investments in digital infrastructure to expand by 18% annually until 2030

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Sansiri aims for net-zero emissions by 2050 and has six green‑loan projects worth over 4 bn baht
Thailand's ESG investment products rose from ~20 bn baht (2017‑18) to 159 bn baht in 2023
ESG‑linked bond issuance grew from 86.4 bn baht in 2020 to 208 bn baht last year
More than 4,000 suppliers are under Sansiri's sustainability framework, with KBank providing green financing
EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is fully in force, accelerating supply‑chain carbon standards

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗ also: Bangkok Post Business

K-Research keeps 2026 Thai GDP growth forecast at 2% despite heightened uncertainties
400‑billion‑baht stimulus expected to add 0.3‑0.5 percentage points to GDP this year, mainly in H2
Headline inflation projected to average 3.1% in 2024, with a peak in H2 2026
Bank of Thailand likely to keep policy rate unchanged at 1% throughout the year
Baht forecast to weaken to 32.80 per US dollar by year‑end

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

New condo launches rose 42.6% YoY to 9,480 units in Q1 2026.
Take‑up rate improved to 67.8%, up 0.42 points from the prior quarter.
Luxury segment dominates non‑CBD supply, with 45% in the eastern fringe and 38% in the north.
Major developers account for >85% of new 2026 supply, keeping market competitive.
Total condo inventory stands at 209,954 units, implying 6‑7 years to absorb at current build rates.

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

The Thailand Individual Savings Account (TISA) could launch in Q3‑Q4 2024.
TISA is projected to lift GDP growth to 3‑4% and help the SET index reach around 1,800 points.
Preliminary support from the Finance Ministry includes tax incentives for stocks and mutual funds.
Q1 GDP grew 2.8%, aided by a roughly 10% rebound in private‑sector investment.
FDI attraction and capital‑market reforms are seen as key to sustaining higher growth.

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Cabinet approved extension of the 1% e-withholding tax rate until Dec 31, 2027 (originally set to expire 2025).
Measure expected to enhance business liquidity by roughly 27 billion baht.
Estimated reduction in corporate income tax revenue of about 66 million baht over two years.
Companies can claim a double (200%) tax deduction on expenses for e‑tax invoicing, receipt and withholding systems.
There are now 23 e‑invoice providers, 1 e‑filing provider and 5 e‑stamp duty providers eligible under the scheme.

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

EU due diligence rules on deforestation/human rights pose compliance challenge but offer Thailand export competitiveness boost
Thailand rated 7-8/10 in readiness; fragmentation of traceability systems remains key hurdle
Farmers face transition costs but early adopters may gain EU market advantage

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Fuel prices dropped by 1-1.20 baht per litre at PTT and Bangchak petrol stations
Global oil prices fell to their lowest level since March, following Iran-US agreement
Domestic oil prices expected to remain elevated until Q4 2023

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Thai regulators announced a crackdown on companies that hide foreign ownership behind local branding
The enforcement focuses on sectors where Chinese investors, notably brokers, dominate supply chains such as coconuts
Authorities warn that concealed foreign control can distort domestic market pricing and competition

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

17-year-old student fatally slashed by palm sickle during motorcycle collision
Sidecar carrying 3 uncovered sickles protruded ~2m ahead of vehicle
Local residents report recurring safety concerns over agricultural tool transport

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

Other 56

DOJ charged 15 Minnesota activists, labeling them antifa affiliates
Charges include conspiracy to impede federal officers, interstate threats, assault and property destruction
Twelve defendants were taken into custody; two remain at large and one was already detained
Indictment follows earlier prosecutions tied to the Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown
Trump administration previously designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Confirmed Ebola cases in DR Congo rise to 837, deaths total 196.
More than 26,000 contacts remain untraced, heightening transmission risk.
Funding shortfall: less than 20% of the $518 million needed has been raised.
Neighboring Uganda reports 19 cases linked to DRC, with two deaths.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Vermont enacted a law restricting private equity ownership and control in healthcare providers.
The measure adds Vermont to a growing list of states targeting private equity involvement in medical services.
The American Medical Association, the nation's largest doctors' group, is calling for federal legislation to curb corporate interference.

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

Hackers say they exfiltrated ~1.3 TB (≈700,000 files) from Novo Nordisk’s network.
They demanded $25 million in ransom; the company refused and the group is now exploring private data sales.
Novo Nordisk disclosed the breach on June 11, confirming limited unauthorized access to internal IT systems.
Extortion group FulcrumSec, active since Oct 2025, spent over two months inside Novo Nordisk’s systems.

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Methamphetamine seizures rose to 349 tons in East and Southeast Asia in 2025, a 48 % increase from 2024's 236 tons.
Ketamine seizures jumped 185 % year‑on‑year to 52.5 tons, with Malaysia and Myanmar accounting for just under 60 % of the regional total.
Southeast Asia accounted for 94 % of methamphetamine seizures, with major maritime interceptions in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines.
Thailand seized 2.4 tons of crystal meth in Rayong; Indonesia seized 2.1 tons on a cargo ship, its largest drug bust ever.

Read on The Diplomat ↗

A system designated Potential Tropical Cyclone One has formed off the Texas Gulf Coast.
The disturbance is expected to bring heavy rainfall and poses a risk of flash flooding.
Authorities are monitoring the storm for possible rapid intensification and impacts on coastal communities.

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Draft law grants statutory protection for general consumer goods for six months and motor vehicles for one year from delivery.
Buyers can request a replacement vehicle or terminate the contract if a safety‑related defect cannot be repaired.
Coverage extends to B2C and B2B sales, hire‑purchase, financing and barter transactions, but excludes second‑hand goods and live animals.
Presumption of defect periods: six months for general goods and motorcycles, one year for motor vehicles; claim limits are one year for goods and two years for vehicles and appliances.
Sellers must cover repair expenses or provide substitute benefits, with limitation periods calculated from defect discovery.

Read on Bangkok Post Business ↗

Most investors are unaware of a legal rule that obliges financial advisers to put client interests first
The rule is intended to protect investors but is frequently overlooked
Neglecting the rule has contributed to a significant increase in advisory fraud

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

Players have halted interviews with South Korean media outside official World Cup commitments
A team media officer reportedly resigned after the incident, pending federation confirmation
Leak of footage mocking captain Son Heung-min's military exemption sparked the dispute
South Korea faces Mexico in Group A on Thursday

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Card gives a $250 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months and 5% cash back on hotels/vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
American Express Blue Cash Preferred offers up to $300 cash back after $3,000 spend in 6 months, plus 6% cash back on U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year
Both cards feature 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, with variable APRs thereafter

Read on CNBC Top News ↗

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio should abolish the death penalty, reversing his earlier support.
DeWine's shift comes as his second term ends; Ohio has not executed anyone since 2018 and has a de facto moratorium.
Gallup data shows U.S. support for capital punishment fell from 80% in 1994 to 52% in 2025.
Currently, 23 states have banned the death penalty, while Ohio's 1981 statute remains on the books.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Researcher registered as a player agent and used an unprotected FIFA API to access internal platforms
Gained control of the broadcast system that could alter TV streams for all World Cup matches
Flaw disclosed Tuesday night (Japan time) and patched within a few hours; FIFA has not commented

Read on TechCrunch ↗

Portugal seeks first World Cup trophy in 60 years with Ronaldo aiming for sixth tournament goal
DR Congo makes first World Cup appearance since 1974 (as Zaire) with Premier League talent in squad
Match kicks off June 12 at Houston Stadium, Texas, with Portugal favored to advance from Group K

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Complaints about building‑renovation corruption up 1.5× in the first four months of 2026 versus the same period in 2025
ICAC doubled its investigation team to 100 staff to manage the surge
Spike follows heightened public concern after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

EU Commission rules out legal mandate for game publishers to keep titles playable after sales end
Commission will develop a voluntary code of conduct with industry and consumer groups
French consumer group sued Ubisoft over server shutdown of "The Crew", alleging misleading limited-access terms

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

Indonesia to overhaul free nutritious meals programme amid corruption allegations
US$15 billion initiative aims to reach 83 million vulnerable groups
Programme aims to prevent malnutrition and stunted growth

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Hong Kong's privacy watchdog launches data privacy academy
Academy aims to develop top talent in data privacy sector
Aligns with national strategy to develop Hong Kong as international talent hub

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Quake measured 6.7 magnitude, epicentre 42 km southeast of Palu on Sulawesi island
Depth recorded at 10 km; USGS reported the event at 10:27 am local time
Authorities said there is no tsunami risk and no immediate reports of casualties or damage

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

Coogee Beach reopened on June 15 following a weekend shark attack.
The attack left a woman critically injured.
Lifeguards and drones are now deployed for heightened surveillance.

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

Health-related financial risks rank as the top threat to retirement security
Market crashes are considered less concerning than health crises for retirees
Many retirees lack adequate planning for potential health expense shocks

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

The B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base.
Eight crew members are believed to have died in the accident.
The aircraft was on a routine test mission; cause of the crash is under investigation.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

17,044 new species were formally described in 2020, the highest recorded year.
Discovery rate of new species is accelerating, aided by advances in DNA sequencing.
Researchers see potential for novel drug compounds from these newly identified organisms.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

All inbound travelers must submit a health declaration starting July 1.
Airports are experiencing long queues as foreign arrivals surge toward record highs.
Russian and Chinese visitor numbers are rising sharply after Europe tightened visa access for Russians.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗

Iran twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their opening World Cup match
New Zealand took the lead twice, but Iran equalised both times
Iran will face Belgium next, while New Zealand will play Egypt

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗ also: Al Jazeera

Algae bloom has turned the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool a swampy green color
The water was recently repainted to achieve a blue hue reflecting the US flag
Tourists note the discoloration, with some using photo filters to hide the algae

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Washington airport will suspend most flights on July 4th.
Operations are expected to resume later that day.
The shutdown impacts both arrivals and departures for the majority of the day.

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Lyles clocked 14.67 seconds, beating the previous best of 14.72 set by Kishane Thompson.
The record was set at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Lyles finished ahead of South Africa's Sinesipho Dambile (14.78) and Australia's Gout Gout (14.96).

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Horizontal gene transfer, common in microbes, is also widespread in multicellular animals.
Cockroach species harbor thousands of bacterial genome pieces accumulated over millions of years.
The findings broaden the view of genetic exchange across distant branches of the tree of life.

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Federal Court in Ottawa rejected Thomas Partey's appeal, upholding the visa refusal.
Partey will miss Ghana's Group L World Cup match against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Canada cited inadmissibility under immigration law despite the US granting him a visa.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Mbappe scored twice, raising his World Cup tally to 14 and his overall international goals to 58, overtaking Pele (12) and Messi (13).
France defeated Senegal 3-1, securing three points in Group I and moving toward the knockout stage.
With 58 goals, Mbappe is now France's all‑time leading scorer, two goals shy of World Cup record holder Miroslav Klose's 16.
The victory came in Mbappe's 99th appearance for France, keeping the team on track for a third World Cup title.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Coasters bought for $2 at a garage sale
Seller plans to resell them for $29
Coasters were a six-year-old birthday gift

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

Argentina won 3-0 over Algeria in Group J opening match
Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick
Match held at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Six sub‑Saharan nations highlighted for the tournament
Cape Verde makes its World Cup debut
Ghana, a 2022 quarter‑finalist, aims to repeat the feat

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Man accused of murdering girlfriend in 2022
Claims he beat her to death while trying to help her lose weight
Trial underway at Hong Kong High Court

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Researchers reaffirm 1998 discovery that universe's expansion is accelerating due to dark energy
2025 study challenges prior claim that dark energy is weakening and expansion slowing
Type Ia supernovae data used to measure cosmic distances and expansion rate over time

Read on Channel NewsAsia Business ↗

First site-wide survey in nearly four years, inviting all readers to participate
Survey contains a handful of targeted questions and collects no personally identifying information
Responses will be aggregated, reviewed internally, and not shared outside Ars Technica

Read on Ars Technica ↗

Amber rainstorm warning (lowest tier) issued at 6:15 pm on Tuesday
Warning cancelled at 9:55 pm, after roughly three hours
Amber level triggers when ≥30 mm of rain falls or is forecast within an hour
Forecasters warn additional downpours are expected later today

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

61-year-old man sentenced to 4 years and 5 months in prison
Convicted of aggravated pimping, attempted rape, assault, threats and a minor drug offence
Crimes involved his wife and over 100 men over a three-year period

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Yu Hey-tsit, 46, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of indecent assault and four counts of making child pornography.
The offences involved molesting five boys at the now-closed Prime Solid Learning Education Centre and filming some incidents.
The crimes came to light after a 12-year-old reported abuse on Aug. 24, 2023.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Vendor Chen Xiufeng, known as “Goose Leg Auntie,” sells roasted “goose legs” for 16 yuan ($2) each.
Allegations claim the snack is made with cheaper duck legs instead of goose legs.
She built a following among students at two top Beijing universities via social‑media pre‑order groups.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Having kids after 40 can bring a different perspective to parenting
Increased financial stability can make raising children easier
Some parents find it easier to connect with their children at an older age

Read on WSJ Markets ↗

A recent quake in Sarangani province caused a home collapse, killing a family of three.
Survivors report trauma and lack of warning despite government aid efforts.
Officials acknowledge the country is not ready for a larger seismic event.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Mother enrolled 17-year-old daughter in silat before boarding school to ensure safety
Drama highlights persistent concerns over school bullying across Malaysia
Inquest into 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir's death remains ongoing

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Environmental sample at Sha Tin’s Wo Che Market tested positive for H9 bird flu virus
The only live‑poultry stall in the market was temporarily closed on Tuesday for cleaning
Authorities disinfected the stall; shoppers remained largely unfazed despite a recent child infection

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Miao population exceeds 10 million, mainly in Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces
Trees are believed to represent birth, hardship and death in Miao culture
During the annual Flower-Jump Festival, a 10‑metre‑tall flower tree is erected for communal dancing

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

267 students and teachers hospitalized with acute diarrhoea, fevers, and vomiting
Coliform bacteria found on utensils, water, food containers, and freezers
School closed for cleaning; most patients aged 3-5 years

Read on Bangkok Post Most Recent ↗

55% discount on InvestingPro subscription
Promotion marketed as lowest price of the year
Limited-time offer duration not specified

Read on Investing.com Economy ↗

Influenza activity in Hong Kong has risen since May.
Summer flu season may start earlier than usual, with a peak expected later this month.
Officials urge unvaccinated residents to receive flu vaccinations.
No winter flu season occurred earlier this year, extending the typical flu period.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

ICAC charged 65‑year‑old Lau Mun‑cheung with fraud for falsifying service claims.
Alleged misconduct involved claiming personal provision of consultations and procedures to obtain patient fees.
Lau previously served as head and consultant physiotherapist at CUHK Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre.
Charges were announced by the anti‑corruption watchdog on Monday.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Singapore's film authorities request a Mandarin dub for 'Dear You', arguing it will reach a wider audience.
The film originally uses Teochew dialogue to portray the migrant experience from Guangdong to Singapore.
Cultural commentators warn the language shift could erode Teochew heritage and limit exposure to the dialect.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Vozinha (Josimar Jose Evora Dias) kept a clean sheet as Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain in their World Cup opener.
The 40-year-old keeper was named player of the match after multiple saves against Ferran Torres, Pedri and Aymeric Laporte.
His Instagram followers surged from about 500,000 to nearly 5 million following the match.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Abdulelah Alamri gave Saudi Arabia a 41st‑minute lead.
Maxi Araujo equalised for Uruguay around the 80th minute.
The game ended 1-1, leaving both sides with one point in Group H.
Coaches cited missed chances and praised the goalkeepers' performances.

Read on Al Jazeera ↗

Wei Siyuan, 19, is CEO of a UAV and AI equipment startup while attending Hunan University
The firm designs and exports drones and AI-powered devices from Shenzhen, Guangdong
He contributed 100,000 yuan (about US$15,000) to sanitation workers at his former school
The venture highlights youthful entrepreneurship in China's tech sector

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Swedish court rejected the appeal by Hong Kong couple Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin.
Local social welfare authority seeks to place four-year-old Lily in foster care.
Authorities cite a "rootless and insecure existence" under the biological parents' care.

Read on SCMP Economy ↗

Claiming Social Security before full retirement age while working can trigger benefit withholdings
Earnings above $21,240 (2024 limit) are deducted dollar‑for‑dollar from benefits
Withheld amounts are credited to future benefits and can be recovered when earnings drop
Full retirement age ranges from 66 to 67, depending on birth year

Read on MarketWatch Top Stories ↗

Agnes Keith, an American author, lived in Sandakan, then North Borneo (now Sabah), in the 1930s.
She recounted a 1937 party marking King George VI's coronation, featuring colonial townspeople and local tribes.
The narrative reflects cultural mingling between indigenous Borneo peoples and colonial society.

Read on Nikkei Asia ↗