- USD/JPY slipped to 162.38, a rare down day after hitting four‑decade highs above 163 earlier in the week.
- Japan's Ministry of Finance has intervened with a record 11.73 trillion JPY since April, yet the pair remains above the intervention trigger zone.
- Upcoming U.S. CPI (consensus -0.1% MoM) and Fed commentary could narrow the yield gap, affecting the carry trade and yen direction.
- BoJ raised its policy rate to 1.00% in June, while the Fed is expected to hold rates in July, tightening the policy gap.
- Technical resistance sits just below 163.00, with support at 162.00 and 161.00; a close above 163.00 would invalidate the bearish bias.
July 9, 2026
▲ 60▼ 58◆ 32– 197
Markets 35
- S&P 500 up ~1% and Nasdaq up >1% in afternoon trading as bond yields and oil prices slipped
- Meta shares recovered after unveiling Muse Park 1.1 AI model and API access
- Cowen raised Cardinal Health price target to $275; FedEx launched FedEx Life Sciences targeting $10bn business
- Honeywell Aerospace plans European defense product rollout amid NATO spending increase
- Starbucks jumped >2.5% after Bloomberg reported AI-driven software development plans
- DXY down 0.14% to 100.93 amid easing Middle East tensions and a 3.5% drop in WTI to $72.07
- Initial jobless claims fell to 215,000, below the 218,000 forecast
- Fed officials still favor tightening; markets price an 87% chance of a rate hike in 2026
- Technical outlook shows DXY holding above support at 99.75 with RSI near 55, indicating modest bullish bias
- BOJ hiked rates to 1% in July, highest since 1991, with ~90% odds of another hike by December priced in
- Japan's nominal wages rose >3% for 4 straight months, longest streak since 1992
- Global investors remain bearish on yen despite BOJ tightening, citing policy divergence and external risks
- Mexico's June CPI fell to 3.37% YoY, lowest since Dec 2020, beating 3.52% estimate
- Core inflation at 4.03% YoY, slightly above Banxico's 3%±1% target, keeping policy cautious
- MXN gained over 0.22% versus USD, trading at 17.54 after hitting 17.57 intraday
- Banxico kept its policy rate at 6.50% and signals it will stay unchanged through 2026
- Fed minutes show continued tightening risk, with 87% probability of a rate hike in 2026
Read on FXStreet ↗
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- Won gains nearly 2.8% in early H2, USD/KRW drops from ~1,550 to ~1,500
- Rally driven by FX conversion flows linked to SK Hynix ADRs
- Market anticipates Bank of Korea to raise rates by 25 bp to 2.75% next week
- Won outperforms regional peers after a weak first‑half performance
Read on FXStreet ↗
also: FXStreet
- VIX index has slipped while Nasdaq's own volatility gauge rose sharply
- The divergence signals heightened risk perception despite an overall bull market
- Investors may add hedges, such as options or volatility ETFs, to protect against potential pullbacks
- GBP/USD rose to 1.3404, crossing the 200‑day EMA (~1.3400) for the first time since mid‑June
- Bank of England held rates at 3.75% with ~76% odds of another hike this year; Fed speakers remain hawkish
- Technical resistance at 1.3450 and 1.3500, support at 1.3350 and 1.3300; a close below 1.3350 would flip bias bearish
- Kalshi is negotiating with regulators to launch new never‑expiring derivative contracts
- The expansion targets additional asset classes beyond its current event‑based offerings
- Regulatory clearance could boost market access for both retail and institutional participants
- S&P/BMV IPC down 0.75%
- Mexican stocks close in the red
- Market sentiment remains cautious
- Semiconductor stocks rallied, lifting major US indices despite heightened Iran tensions
- Memory chip makers such as Nvidia and AMD drove a roughly 2% rise in the SOXX ETF
- The S&P 500 closed modestly higher, offsetting earlier geopolitical downside risk
- Major U.S. stock indices posted gains after Iran war concerns eased
- Geopolitical tension in the Middle East softened, lifting market risk sentiment
- Broad market optimism turned positive, supporting equity rally
- Pepsi reported earnings below analysts' expectations
- U.S. equity indices posted gains, lifting market sentiment
- Broad market rally continues despite the earnings disappointment
- CNH-CNY fixing gap has narrowed and daily fixing adjustments have moderated
- Policymakers appear to shift focus from RMB appreciation to stability
- USD/CNH sits at 6.8060 with resistance at 6.8110 and 6.83, support at 6.7910 and 6.7880
- Downside risk for USD/CNH may be less anchored, tying moves to USD strength, yield differentials and China growth sentiment
- Nasdaq 100 near record highs, driven by AI rally, but valuation concerns loom
- CNBC Pro selected stocks with ≥55% analyst buy rating, ≥35% price‑target upside, and forward PE below the index's ~27x
- Nvidia leads the list with 83.3% buy coverage and the largest market weight
- Strategy (≈$35.3 bn) shows ~200% upside and a low 8.2× forward PE
- Intuit offers ~74% upside with about 70% of analysts rating it a buy
- USD/JPY encounters material resistance above 162.50, near the recent multi-decade high of ~162.80
- Markets currently price only about 25 basis points of BoJ tightening by year‑end
- Short‑term focus on June PPI data and the BoJ rate decision scheduled for July 31
- Trader placed a $24 million three‑part call spread on QQQ, targeting a Nasdaq‑100 all‑time high by month‑end
- Core leg bought 28,000 calls at a 736 strike for $30 million, setting breakeven near $750
- QQQ options saw $1.6 billion of volume Thursday, with $944 million in call contracts
- Biggest other trades: $50 million deep‑in‑the‑money SPY calls and $46 million Oklo calls
- Russell 2000 up 20% this year vs. Nasdaq's 18% advance
- Large options trade suggests small caps may lead next market move
- Small-cap earnings growth forecasted to exceed 20%
- GBP/USD up fractionally, trading within a 1.3350‑1.3450 range
- Pound targets break of resistance at 1.3400, aligning with 50‑ and 200‑day moving averages
- Sentiment improves after PM Starmer's resignation and repricing of BoE rate path
- Higher oil prices bolster expectations of a softer BoE stance
- USD Index (DXY) stayed below 101.00, marking a second day of bearish pressure.
- EUR/USD rose for a second straight day, hitting resistance near 1.1450.
- USD/CAD fell to around 1.4150, extending a four‑day decline ahead of the Canadian jobs report.
- WTI crude slipped back to $72.00 per barrel, ending five days of gains.
- Gold fell below $4,100/oz as the dollar weakened amid geopolitical tensions.
- Nvidia shares have slid about 15% since their May peak despite higher revenue forecasts
- Spot DRAM prices have risen roughly tenfold over the past year, fueling memory makers like Micron
- Hourly price for an Nvidia H100 GPU fell from around $3.20 in May to lower levels
- Micron's stock has nearly tripled in the same period as Nvidia's decline
- Cloud giants are building custom AI chips, cutting reliance on Nvidia GPUs
- Nasdaq Composite leads gains as US equities rise
- War‑related risk sentiment eases among investors
- AI‑focused stocks regain attention, boosting tech exposure
- ING tightens its USD/CNY forecast range to 6.67‑6.92 for the rest of 2026
- Midpoint of the band set near 6.80, reflecting recent PBoC fixings
- Forecast assumes ongoing PBoC-driven stability, strong exports and a narrowing US‑China yield spread
- Significant new catalysts would be required for the yuan to reach the 7.00 level
- Markets already price in a hawkish Fed and modest PBoC easing
- USD/CHF slipped to about 0.8065, down 0.15% on the day
- Fed minutes showed division, with some officials expecting rates near 3.6% by year‑end and others favoring another hike
- CME FedWatch probability of a rate hike at the next meeting rose above 30%, up from under 20% a week earlier
- Renewed US‑Iran tensions boosted safe‑haven demand for the Swiss franc
- US initial jobless claims fell to 215K, below the 218K forecast.
- USD/JPY slipped to about 162.37, testing support near 162.30.
- Japan June PPI expected to rise 0.3% MoM and 6.8% YoY, bolstering yen.
- Micron Technology shares rose >7% after announcing up to $3 bn investment in U.S. semiconductor supply chain.
- Mara Holdings stock surged 15% as it acquired 1,200‑acre Texas land to double power capacity to ~4.8 GW.
- Paramount Skydance fell 6% amid reports of potential antitrust lawsuits from multiple U.S. states.
- Qiagen jumped 10% following reports of interest from private‑equity firms offering at least $50 per share.
- PepsiCo slipped 3% after Q2 earnings missed EPS expectations ($2.20 vs $2.21) despite revenue beating forecasts.
- DJIA rises ~0.28% to about 52,484, still ~850 points below its weekly record.
- Semiconductor stocks Micron and SanDisk each jump ~7%, propelling the Nasdaq up ~0.3%.
- Initial jobless claims fall to 215K (below consensus) while June existing home sales drop 2.4% MoM.
- Fed minutes remain hawkish; markets assign roughly a 10% chance of a July rate hike and price no cuts.
- Crude oil eases after President Trump said Iran called for a deal, but geopolitical risk to oil supplies stays high.
- SK Hynix priced $4.5bn convertible bond deal, boosting semiconductor sector sentiment
- Oil prices slipped on demand concerns despite OPEC+ supply cuts
- Tech rally driven by renewed AI trade optimism, lifting major indices
- President Trump declares Iran cease‑fire over, heightening geopolitical risk
- Wall Street analysts say airlines and home‑builder stocks will face pressure, oil companies see limited upside
- Higher gas prices are not the only market impact from the Iran tension
- Pimco Japan co‑head Masanao says the firm could buy long‑term JGBs if yields hit 3%
- Japanese government bond yields have risen to historically high levels, prompting institutional repositioning
- He warns that friction could arise between the Bank of Japan and the government over fiscal spending
- GBP/JPY trades at 217.76, near its 18‑year high.
- RSI is approaching overbought territory, indicating bullish momentum.
- A break above 218.00 could open targets at 220.00 and 222.76.
- First support sits at 216.38, with a secondary level at 216.00.
- Risk appetite improved after US President Trump's remarks on Iran.
- Dollar Index slipped 0.13% to 97.28, snapping a three‑trading‑day winning streak
- The index declined 0.1% in the latest session
- Level of 97.28 marks the first sub‑97.5 reading in recent weeks
- USD/SGD trading intraday between 1.2920 and 1.2960; 1‑3 week range projected at 1.2890‑1.2990
- USD briefly topped 1.2956, slightly breaching the strong resistance level of 1.2955
- A break above 1.3000 could open a move toward 1.3095 over the next 1‑3 months
- Downward pressure on USD has eased, lowering the risk of a drop below 1.2890
- CBC guidance for banks to execute large USD sell orders immediately brings forward natural USD supply, tempering TWD weakness
- Foreign equity selling of roughly USD 4.3 bn and dividend/remittance‑related USD demand continue to support the dollar, limiting TWD recovery
- Technical resistance at 32.22 (76.4% fib retracement) and 32.50/32.60; support at 31.95 and 31.78 (21‑day MA); two‑way trades expected
- RSI fell from overbought levels, indicating potential short‑term pullback despite bullish daily chart
- Airline earnings season kicks off with neutral guidance
- Major equity indices show little movement, mirroring a 'Groundhog Day' pattern
- Crude oil prices (WTI and Brent) stay unchanged
Macro/Economy 29
- Global debt has risen to $305 trillion, up 50% since 2008
- Debt-to-GDP ratio has increased to 320%
- Systemic risk is higher due to interconnectedness and leverage
- Potential losses could reach $20 trillion
- Apollo predicts AI-driven growth may lag, raising recession odds
- Rising competition from China could curb US AI sector performance
- Falling cryptocurrency token prices add pressure on AI‑related financial firms
- Delayed AI benefits may postpone broader economic recovery
- New York Fed's July 8 analysis finds about 47% of service firms and 44% of manufacturers expect further tariff‑related price hikes
- Nearly half of tariff‑paying companies plan additional price increases, some as far as six months out
- Gradual pricing, fixed contracts and policy uncertainty extend inflation adjustment, sustaining pressure on the US dollar
- Fed minutes remain hawkish, with little change to rate‑hike expectations despite tighter financial conditions
- Recent energy market volatility has tightened financial conditions, reducing immediate impetus for further rate hikes
- India unexpectedly pulled back from the nearly finalized bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US, seeking competitive advantages over other Asian nations.
- An earlier interim agreement in February, which India hailed as a 'landmark victory,' was asymmetric, requiring India to reduce tariffs while allowing the US to apply reciprocal tariffs.
- The US Supreme Court invalidated President Trump's authority to impose 'reciprocal tariffs' under IEEPA, forcing both nations back to negotiations.
- India's refusal to finalize the BTA stems from new US Section 301 investigations into forced labor (potentially 10% duties on 54 countries including India) and structural excess capacity (targeting 7 Indian sectors).
- Europe's record heatwave is driving unprecedented demand for Chinese air conditioners.
- This surge in demand directly conflicts with Brussels' efforts to reduce its trade deficit with China through new restrictions.
- Observers criticize the EU for shifting blame to China rather than addressing its own structural economic shortcomings.
- China's June CPI rose 1.0% YoY, below 1.1% estimate, down from 1.2% in May
- Producer prices surged 4.1% YoY, strongest since July 2022, but fell 0.3% MoM
- Weak domestic demand limits pass-through of higher input costs to consumers
- GDP growth forecasted to slow to 3%
- Inflation forecasted to double to 5.6%
- Rising energy prices to compound existing challenges
- ADB lowered the 2026 growth projection for developing Asia and the Pacific to 4.9% from 5.1% in April.
- The 2027 growth forecast remains unchanged at 5.1%.
- The downgrade is attributed to prolonged Middle East conflict disrupting energy markets and supply chains.
- The energy shock is expected to slow growth in the Philippines and other vulnerable economies.
- USDA cut June beef export sales to 12,064 tonnes, a 90% reduction from its prior estimate
- Revision raises concerns over USDA data quality after staffing cuts under the Trump administration
- Traders had previously dismissed the original report as inaccurate, reflecting skepticism of USDA data
- Canada and Saudi Arabia sign a partnership worth over $1.4 billion (US$704 bn) to develop mining and energy projects.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney says the deal will drive growth and diversification in Canada's resource sector.
- The agreement includes commitments for joint ventures, technology sharing, and potential investment pipelines.
- Arkansas jumped 13 places to 28th in CNBC's 2026 Top States for Business study
- State added nearly 16,000 jobs in 2025, moving to 20th in the Economy ranking
- Workforce ranking rose 23 spots to 13th, reflecting strong worker attraction
- Income tax ceiling lowered to 3.7% (vs Utah's 4.45%); Social Security benefits are tax‑free
- Cost‑of‑living rank slipped to 19th, down from 12th in 2025
- Existing home sales declined 2.4% MoM to 4.09M units (SAAR), below analyst expectations
- Median home price rose 1.8% YoY to $440,600, the highest on record
- Inventory at 1.56M units implies 4.6-month supply, below the balanced 6-month level
- CNBC's 2026 'Top States for Business' study ranks all 50 states using 138 metrics across 10 competitiveness categories.
- Infrastructure is the top-weighted category for 2026, reflecting companies' focus on transport, utilities, and energy access.
- Ease of permitting is a new factor included in the 2026 rankings for the first time.
- Economy, last year's top category, now ranks second, followed by Workforce, despite a national skills gap.
- May retail sales growth slowed to its weakest pace since Dec 2022
- Beijing's Ministry of Commerce and eight agencies released new retail-sector guidelines
- Plan urges stores to become "immersive" and innovate to compete with e‑commerce
- Leaders Anwar (Malaysia) and Anutin (Thailand) agreed to create a special border economic zone
- Thailand halted Malaysian sea bass imports in May over chemical residues; Malaysia temporarily banned Thai shrimp varieties in April
- Both countries say the fisheries issue is settled, allowing seafood trade to resume
- All nine Japanese regions report moderate economic recovery as of July 9, 2026
- Some regions exhibit weakness despite overall improvement
- Pace of improvement unchanged in most areas, with a few showing acceleration
- Southeast Asia welcomed 119M foreign visitors in 2025, nearing 2018 levels but still below 2019's 127M peak
- Thailand's inbound arrivals fell 7% YoY to 33M, while Vietnam surged to 21M (45% from China/S. Korea)
- Indonesia's tourism neared 2019 levels (15.4M arrivals) but remains Bali-centric despite diversification efforts
- Thailand and Indonesia tightening visa policies and foreign ownership rules to prioritize 'value over volume' tourists
- Vietnam's rapid tourism growth mirrors its rise as an export powerhouse, posing long-term challenge to Thailand
- International arrivals to Cambodia fell 17% in 2025 and 47.8% in the first five months of 2026, with May 2026 being the weakest month.
- Border conflict with Thailand and a reputation for cyber-scam compounds are cited as primary drivers for the downturn, particularly impacting land arrivals (down 68%).
- High-value air arrivals fell by a lesser 20%, suggesting the decline is concentrated in lower-value tourism segments.
- The country's tourism suffers from over-dependence on Angkor Wat and insufficient promotion of diverse attractions like the Cardamom Mountains, Ratanakkiri, and Phnom Penh's food scene.
- A properly funded and autonomous tourism board, similar to Thailand's TAT, is needed to improve connectivity, diversify offerings, and market Cambodia internationally.
- Global oil prices slipped to $64/barrel, prompting diesel cuts of 2.56 baht/litre and gasoline cuts of 2.51 baht/litre in Thailand
- BoT expects 2026 headline inflation to be lower than its prior 2.8% forecast, with 2027 inflation projected at 1.4%
- GDP growth forecast for 2026 raised to 2.3% from 1.5%, still below the economy's potential 2.7% growth rate
- About 60% of large Thai retailers plan price hikes of up to 10% over the next three months, especially for food and household goods
- Price stickiness remains for services like food away from home and transport, limiting immediate inflation relief
- Government will construct a new airport near Tashkent as part of aviation reforms
- State carrier Uzbekistan Airways is targeted for an initial public offering in 2027
- Liberalisation aims to capture a projected surge in passenger arrivals to Central Asia
- Gao Shanwen was a former adviser to the People's Bank of China.
- He publicly claimed that China's official GDP figures were overstated.
- His remarks sparked debate over the reliability of Chinese economic data.
- Local media reported his death, confirming the news.
- Itochu and Daikin will jointly start a business to recover aluminum from used commercial AC units.
- The project supports Japan's aim to reduce reliance on Middle‑East imports for critical metals like aluminum.
- Recycling focuses on commercial‑grade air‑conditioners as a new source of secondary aluminum supply.
- Chinese steel exports to Southeast Asia are rising, adding to regional supply
- Domestic steel capacity in Southeast Asian countries is expanding rapidly
- World Steel Association cautions that the combined effect could create a regional oversupply
- New regulations set minimum wages and ban overtime for employees over the statutory retirement age
- Policy aims to retain senior workers as China's working‑age population contracts and birth rates decline
- Measures are part of broader effort to mitigate labor shortages amid demographic slowdown
- Corporate goods price index for June published
- Month‑over‑month change not specified
- Year‑over‑year change not specified
- Data may influence inflation outlook
- High‑end Hong Kong hotel average daily rate (ADR) reached HK$2,169 (US$277) in 2025
- ADR is 1% higher than pre‑COVID‑19 (pre‑2019) levels
- Luxury segment is the only hotel category to return to 2018 ADR levels, while overall market lags
- Demand recovery driven by tourism, according to JLL report
- Summer drilling ramps up across BC, the Prairies and the Far North targeting critical minerals
- Four companies, including Amarc Resources, are highlighted for advancing exploration projects
- Projects aim to tap into growing demand for minerals essential to clean‑energy technologies
- Michigan rose from #41 in 2007 to #6 in 2026, the largest 20‑year improvement.
- Ohio climbed from #30 in 2007 to #1 in 2026, overtaking cost and manufacturing declines.
- South Dakota fell from #18 in 2007 to #44 in 2026, losing its top‑state status.
- Idaho dropped from #6 in 2007 to #30 in 2026, slipping in cost rankings.
- Virginia, Texas and North Carolina stayed consistently in the top‑10 over the two decades.
- Asia's shift toward strategic neutrality is viewed as a new competitive advantage.
- Nomura chief economist Sonal Varma says neutrality helps capture growth in a fragmenting global landscape.
- The approach aims to enable Asian countries to tap broader opportunities without aligning with major blocs.
Central Banks 16
- New Fed chair projects two rate hikes in 2024, keeping policy rate at 5.25%‑5.50%
- Fed's new policy framework described as “broken,” with no clear balance‑sheet reduction plan
- Gold (XAU) up roughly 6% YTD as investors seek safe‑haven amid tighter policy
- US dollar index (DXY) climbs modestly and Treasury yields rise on hawkish tone
- Kalshi prediction market shows 54% probability of a Fed rate hike this year, down from 56% a day earlier.
- Traders see 62% chance of a hike before July 2027 and 80% likelihood it occurs in 2028.
- A separate Kalshi contract indicates a 76% probability that no rate cuts will be made this year.
- Fed minutes noted mixed views, with many participants expecting rates to stay at or slightly below the 3.5%-3.75% range by year‑end.
- Core PCE inflation hit 4.1% YoY in May, the highest since April 2023.
- Nordea warns that Eurozone inflation outlook is skewed to the upside due to a lingering energy shock from Middle East tensions.
- Even a milder energy‑price scenario would leave significant inflationary damage embedded in supply chains and production costs.
- The ECB remains unconvinced that inflation will return to target quickly, increasing pressure on monetary‑policy decisions.
- RBNZ raises OCR by 25 bps to 2.50%, pushing NZD/USD up ~1% to 0.5761, its highest since June 19
- NZD gains as US Dollar weakens; DXY down 0.20% to around 100.85
- Fed rate‑hike expectations and geopolitical tensions could cap further NZD upside
- RBNZ signals further tightening, citing a neutral range of 2.2%‑4.1% and swaps curve implying ~100 bps of tightening over 12 months
- Euro area inflation remains above 3% in 2026 and above 2% in 2027
- Markets price in a 25 bps ECB rate hike in June and another in September, with an 84% chance of a third by year‑end
- Brent crude fell from $118 to about $94 per barrel, while gas prices stay roughly 50% above pre‑war levels
- Risk of inflation above 2.5% over the next two years is priced at 45%; below 1.5% under 15%
- Euro equity markets have recovered near pre‑war levels and bond spreads remain narrow
- A former Bank of Japan official warns the BOJ may rapidly raise its benchmark interest rate above 2% this year.
- The Japanese yen continues to depreciate against the dollar, down 60% since early 2021 and 3% this year, despite recent hikes to 1%.
- Faster BOJ tightening could support the yen but potentially weigh on risk assets, including crypto, due to unwinding of carry trades.
- A strong positive correlation has developed between the yen and Bitcoin, both falling against the dollar.
- Rapid rate hikes could also worsen Japan's already fragile fiscal position, according to some economists.
- Federal Reserve policymakers noted strong AI infrastructure demand could sustain upward pressure on technology product and electricity prices.
- This potential for AI-driven inflation complicates the Federal Reserve's future interest rate decisions.
- The comments highlight a new factor influencing the inflation outlook for the US economy.
- Fed Chair Kevin Warsh appointed an AI task force led by Marc Andreessen, Charles I. Jones, and Asha Sharma
- Task force will evaluate AI’s impact, with research suggesting growth could exceed 5% annually
- Warsh said AI could justify a rate cut by 2025 if it lifts growth without sparking inflation
- NY Fed President warned of "hockey‑stick" price spikes in electricity and semiconductors from AI demand
- Findings due by year‑end; July FOMC meeting expected to keep rates steady
- Federal Reserve creates a task force to develop contemporaneous economic data
- Former Walmart CEO joins the effort to improve real‑time consumer‑spending metrics
- Aim is to provide faster insights on spending, inflation and growth for policy decisions
- Could enhance the Fed's ability to gauge economic conditions ahead of formal releases
- Fed Chair Kevin Warsh unveiled five task forces covering communications, balance sheet, data, productivity & jobs, and inflation frameworks.
- Members include venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, former BoE governor Mervin King, former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, and economist Greg Mankiw.
- Task forces are expected to deliver findings and possible policy changes within the year, though no specific timeline was set.
- Five task forces created, each comprising three members including former central bank governors.
- Mandates cover communications, balance sheet policy, economic data quality, productivity and jobs, and inflation frameworks.
- Task forces will operate independently with Fed staff support and report findings to the FOMC.
- Fed reiterated its "unwavering" commitment to price stability and maximum employment.
- No immediate policy shift indicated; reviews could shape future monetary decisions.
- Five task forces created covering communications, balance sheet policy, data, productivity & jobs, and inflation frameworks
- Each task force co-led by external advisers, including former central bank governors and leading academics
- Leaders include Peter R. Fisher (communications), Karen Dynan (balance sheet), Raj Chetty (data), Marc Andreessen (productivity), Greg Mankiw (inflation)
- Task forces will report findings to the Federal Open Market Committee to improve policy tools and analysis
- June CPI in South Korea rose to 3.2% YoY, above the BoK's 2% target
- BoK likely to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% at the July 16 meeting
- USD/KRW fell from 1560 to 1506 and is projected to stay within a 1500‑1520 range, driven by oil prices and risk sentiment
- Bank of Korea reiterates call for a bank-led won stablecoin issuance
- Deposit token pilot projects are advancing despite regulatory delays
- Issuer rules remain a key hurdle in South Korea's pending digital asset bill
- Euro up about 0.1% versus the USD, trading near 1.14.
- Markets now price roughly 35 basis points of ECB rate hikes by December.
- Yield spreads are recovering, lifting fair‑value estimates for EUR/USD to the mid/upper 1.14s.
- Near‑term resistance seen at 1.15, with a trading range of 1.1380‑1.1480.
- The Fed issued a written enforcement agreement on July 6, 2026.
- The action targets TS Banking Group, Inc. and TS Contrarian Bancshares, Inc., both based in Treynor, Iowa.
- Details of the enforcement measures are available through the Fed's public records.
Energy/Oil 20
- Oil prices surged on Wednesday after President Trump announced the Iran ceasefire deal was over.
- Iran struck three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to US retaliatory attacks.
- Tehran warned it could close the Strait of Hormuz again, raising supply‑risk concerns for oil markets.
- Tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has ceased.
- The halt is a direct consequence of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments, handling a significant portion of the world's crude oil.
- Disruption in this strait poses a major threat to global oil supply and energy markets.
- WTI crude oil prices surge 4.2% to $73.15/bbl
- Brent crude oil prices jump 4.5% to $77.35/bbl
- OPEC+ agrees to 2.5 million bbl/day output cut
- Goldman Sachs cuts global oil demand forecast by 200,000 barrels per day
- Supply disruptions in Libya and Venezuela pose significant risks
- WTI crude price may rise to $90 per barrel by year-end
- U.S. crude production averaged 13.6 mb/d in 2025, up 3.0% YoY and 40% above Russia and Saudi Arabia combined
- Permian Basin output rose 4% to 6.6 mb/d, accounting for 48% of U.S. production
- WTI averaged $65/b in 2025 despite oversupply, with 2026 forecast at $88/b and output rising to 14.2 mb/d by 2027
- Brent crude rose from $71 to $79 per barrel, its first gain above $75 in weeks
- Analysts point to a structural deficit and critically low inventories as the price driver
- Paper market focus on contango may mask the underlying physical shortage
- The rally is viewed as a short‑covering bounce but could indicate longer‑term upward pressure
- SPR fell by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, its lowest level since 1983
- Brent futures rose 5.2% to $78.02 per barrel, the highest since June 19
- US gasoline price jumped from $2.98 per gallon in late February to $4.48 in mid‑May after SPR releases
- Although only ~7% of US crude passes the Strait of Hormuz, Iran tensions still push global oil prices higher
- UAE announced its exit from OPEC, indicating plans to increase production without OPEC limits
- Renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel have ended a US‑Iran ceasefire, raising risk of supply disruptions in the OPEC heartland
- Analysts warn OPEC may shift from coordinated market management to a fragmented, share‑driven approach, potentially tightening crude markets
- US crude inventories near record lows
- Gasoline and diesel exports near all-time highs
- Global oil market not prepared for potential supply disruptions
- Oil prices remain relatively stable around $70-$75/barrel despite Iran-US tensions, supported by ample US energy supplies.
- The US benefits from significantly lower electricity costs (nearly half of Europe's), contributing to economic growth.
- Europe's energy policies, including limiting natural gas and closing nuclear plants, have led to high costs and import reliance, impacting its economy.
- US gasoline prices are expected to continue falling, potentially dropping below $3/gallon in some Southern regions, which could ease inflation.
- Bernstein research suggests Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) may not be the 'next big thing' for nuclear energy.
- Turkey and Iraq to sign a 12‑month extension of the Iraq‑Turkey crude pipeline deal
- Extension prevents the agreement from expiring on July 27, keeping the Ceyhan export terminal operational
- One‑year term secures a key oil export route for Iraq amid limited alternatives
- Henry Hub natural gas futures posted their biggest one‑day decline in over three months
- U.S. gas inventories rose more than expected, adding to supply concerns
- Freeport LNG export terminal in Texas announced maintenance, tightening near‑term supply
- Crude prices dropped sharply, shedding the premium added by geopolitical tensions
- Weakening demand outlook and ample supply are driving the sell‑off
- Analysts say the war‑related risk premium is receding, limiting upside for oil
- OPEC+ output decisions remain unchanged, reinforcing the bearish bias
- Both WTI and Brent fell, with Brent slipping below $80 per barrel
- WTI dropped >3% to about $71.75, rejecting the 200‑day SMA resistance at $73.35
- Immediate support sits at $67; a break below could push the price toward $60
- A breakout above $73.35 may target the $80 psychological level and the 100‑day SMA near $86.91
- EU gas storage just above 50%, well below the five-year average of 66% at this time of year
- LNG supply recovery is modest and QatarEnergy extended force majeure on some supplies until early September
- ING expects European natural gas prices to remain well‑supported through the 2026/27 winter despite possible El Niño relief
- 770,000 barrels of Russian crude arrived at Balikpapan port at the end of June, the first under the April deal.
- The agreement, signed in April amid the Hormuz crisis, resumes direct Russia‑Indonesia crude trade.
- Indonesia's own production is about 600,000 barrels per day, so the shipment exceeds its daily output.
- The delivery highlights Russia's shift toward Asian buyers as Western sanctions limit European demand.
- Shipping industry accounts for 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions
- Green alternatives to traditional fuels too expensive for adoption
- Industry under pressure from climate activists and politicians
- WTI crude fell to around $80 per barrel, down from a recent peak near $86
- Brent crude slipped to about $84 per barrel, retreating from a $90 high
- Analysts cite renewed geopolitical tensions and OPEC+ supply constraints as upside risks
- Taiwan installed 500 offshore wind turbines, totaling 4.8 GW of capacity by June.
- Rising construction costs from inflation are pushing developers out of projects.
- Authorities are reviewing the bidding process to retain investment after a local player delisted.
- TotalEnergies loaded its inaugural LNG shipment at Mexico's new export terminal for Asia.
- The cargo initiates Mexico's emerging LNG export capacity, aimed at markets avoiding Strait of Hormuz chokepoints.
- The shipment follows regional gas supply concerns after disruptions linked to the Iran conflict.
Gold/Metals 11
- People's Bank of China bought 15 tons of gold in June, extending a 20‑month reserve increase streak, the longest since 1999.
- Emerging‑market central banks collectively raised gold purchases as prices fell.
- Institutional investors are offloading gold amid rising U.S. interest rates.
- Gold prices have slipped, contrasting with the buying trend of central banks.
- Gold (XAU/USD) rose >1.3% to $4,132, breaking weekly low of $4,021
- WTI crude fell below $75/barrel, pulling the US Dollar Index to 100.85, down 0.21%
- US 10‑year Treasury yield slipped 5 bps to 4.529%, supporting gold’s rally
- Markets price a 62% chance of a 25‑bp Fed rate hike at the September meeting
- HSBC cut its 2026 gold price forecast to $4,560 from $4,864
Read on FXStreet ↗
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- Silver up 3.38% on the day, trading around $60.30
- Price confined to a downward parallel channel with resistance at $63.50 and 200‑day SMA at $70.25
- Key support levels at $55 and channel floor near $45
- Hawkish Fed expectations and Middle East tensions keep USD Index near 100.94, limiting upside
- RSI around 41 and MACD turning positive suggest modest recovery momentum
Read on FXStreet ↗
also: FXStreet
- Shanghai silver premium widened to 11% over the global spot price.
- The premium reflects tightening physical supply and heightened demand in China.
- Analysts warn the premium could pressure spot prices and signal broader market stress.
- No immediate policy response expected; market watchers monitor inventory data.
- Updated study adds reserves, extending Black Butte mine life to 12 years (previously slated to end 2025)
- Reserve addition modestly improves project economics, but investment returns remain limited
- Montana copper operation owned by Sandfire Resources America (TSX-V: SFR)
- Gold futures fell >13% in Q2, the steepest decline since 2013
- Gold is down 21% since the start of the Iran‑Israel conflict
- Analysts advise limiting gold to 1%‑5% of portfolios due to volatility
- Gold's four‑week median return during geopolitical shocks is 3%, versus a 1.9% median loss for stocks
- S&P 500 slipped ~0.5% as gold fell 0.2% on the same day
- Gold reclaimed yesterday's high near $2,000 per ounce
- Technical outlook hinges on performance of the next six candles
- A break above the high could spark further upside; a failure may prompt a pullback
- Gold prices hold onto recent gains as markets reassess the FOMC minutes
- Treasury yields decline, supporting the gold price
- Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,933.50/oz
- Gold price remains in a corrective cycle, with potential for further declines
- Key support for gold miners is being closely monitored
- Elliott Wave analysis suggests a potential wave 4 correction
- Drilling at the Goldboro project in Nova Scotia will increase by roughly 33%
- Latest assays show near‑surface mineralization, raising confidence in the deposit
- NexGold trades on TSXV (NEXG) and US OTC (NXGCF) following the drill expansion
- Gold futures settled higher on the session
- Silver futures also closed up
- Price gains tied to expectations of inflation persisting into the second half of the year
Crypto 38
- Q2 saw $5 bn net outflows from U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs, driving a ~14% drop in Bitcoin price
- Private credit funds recorded $15.6 bn in redemption requests in Q2, exceeding the typical 5% quarterly cap
- Redemption requests averaged 10.3% of shares, with some BDCs seeing up to 38.1% withdrawals
- Stablecoin market cap fell to $312 bn in June, the largest monthly decline since the TerraUSD collapse
- Tokenized equity trading volume surged 145% to $3.86 bn, a record high
- Compass Point analysts value AI infrastructure companies based on contracted rental income, not bitcoin mining economics.
- Applied Digital, TeraWulf, and Cipher Mining are trading below the value of their signed AI data center contracts.
- Analysts expect project completions and rent commencements to drive stock performance over the next two years.
- Ethereum Institutional aims to educate banks and asset managers about Ethereum
- Nonprofit will serve as a neutral guide for enterprises exploring Ethereum
- Founders have built 500 relationships with institutions and plan to introduce them to suitable teams
- Aave Labs introduced Stable Vaults, allowing fintech apps to offer yield on stablecoins like USDC, USDT, and GHO without users directly interacting with crypto infrastructure.
- The vaults automatically allocate deposits across approved DeFi lending strategies, handling liquidity and yield distribution.
- This move positions Aave against rivals like Morpho, which powers similar high-yield stablecoin products for Coinbase and Robinhood.
- Stable Vaults aim to make predictable stablecoin earning simple to integrate into any fintech application, managing complex DeFi operations behind the scenes.
- The new infrastructure is designed to underpin Aave's upcoming savings app and supports companies deploying their own customized vaults.
- Mantle migrates $2.5 billion Super Portal from LayerZero to Chainlink's CCT standard
- Total value of announced migrations from LayerZero to Chainlink CCIP exceeds $7.24 billion
- Chainlink CCIP secures MNT transfers using decentralized oracle network
- Crypto wallet processed over $122.5 million in a 10‑month period
- Global anti‑fraud operation led to 5,811 arrests worldwide
- Wallet linked to a romance‑scam laundering scheme
- Authorities warn of rising crypto use in sophisticated fraud networks
- CoinDesk 20 index fell 17.9% to 1,602 in Q2 2026, while Bitcoin dropped 14.2% to $58,544
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $4.67 billion in Q2, the largest quarterly redemption since launch
- AI‑driven equities rallied, with the S&P 500 up 14.9% and Nasdaq 100 up 27.2% over the same period
- NEAR was the only CD20 constituent with a gain, up 49.8%; ZEC and HYPE posted gains of 60.1% and 77.6% respectively
- Fed expected to hold rates steady in Q3, limiting policy‑driven support for risk assets
- CASHCAT, a cat-themed memecoin, became the first breakout hit on Robinhood's new Arbitrum-based blockchain, reaching a market value of $105 million.
- One early trader turned an $838 investment into over $1 million, with the top five wallets realizing roughly $3.7 million in gains.
- Despite the frenzy, CASHCAT trades on thin liquidity ($6.6M in Uniswap pool) and experiences sharp price swings, posing high risks for later buyers.
- Robinhood's CEO Vlad Tenev initially downplayed memecoins for real-world assets (RWAs) but later acknowledged the chain's utility for memes as CASHCAT climbed.
- The memecoin's success provides transaction volume for Robinhood's new chain, which was launched to facilitate tokenized real-world assets.
- Phishing token approval scams netted $723 million in 2025, with $366 million in losses in the first half of 2026.
- Scammers reuse the same wallets and legitimate approval features from contracts to drain funds.
- Crypto users advised to double-check signature requests and use tools like scam detection extensions.
- AI-powered attacks shortening shelf life of crypto security audits
- Researchers warn of increased vulnerability to hacking
- Defunct DeFi protocols exploited, draining millions in customer funds
- Sony Bank receives conditional OCC approval to form Connectia Trust, a U.S. subsidiary for managing dollar-denominated stablecoins.
- The planned unit will be capitalized with $40 million and is on hold pending final regulatory approvals.
- Stablecoin usage surges, with transaction volume hitting a $1.79 trillion record last month.
- Executive council voted 3‑2 to cancel the $100 million bitcoin‑backed bond project
- Moody’s had assigned a Ba2 rating, making it the first state‑issued bitcoin‑linked security
- The bond was linked to CleanSpark’s mining and data‑center operations but faced political opposition
- Grayscale CFO Edward McGee resigns after seven years, effective July 2
- Kathryn Masci and Daniel Plourde named interim co‑CFOs
- Departure follows earlier exit of distribution head John Hoffman to Ondo Finance
- Grayscale has paused its U.S. IPO, unlikely to restart before Q4 2026
- Bitcoin Trust assets have dropped from $28.5 bn to about $8.5 bn after ETF conversion
- Paul Grewal leaves Coinbase after six-year tenure, will stay on as adviser
- Molly Abraham promoted to general counsel; Ryan Van Grack becomes vice chairman
- SEC lawsuit against Coinbase was dropped after 2023, highlighting ongoing regulatory scrutiny
- Stablecoin market cap fell to $312 bn in June, biggest monthly drop since TerraUSD
- Tokenized equity trading volume surged 145% to $3.86 bn, a record
- ARB token up 19% in 24 hours, best performer among top‑100 cryptocurrencies
- Robinhood Chain logged $568 million in daily trading volume on Wednesday and $350 million on Thursday
- Robinhood Chain returns 10% of net protocol revenue to the Arbitrum ecosystem
- FalconX projects the chain could generate $60 million in annual revenue by 2030
- Phantom and Hyperliquid have formally asked the CFTC to modernize on‑chain derivatives regulations
- The firms seek exemptions for blockchain developers and non‑custodial wallet providers
- Request aims to align crypto‑derivatives rules with the decentralized nature of blockchain platforms
- Draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act could be unveiled as early as next week
- Bill merges Senate Banking and Agriculture committee versions, adding over 70 pages
- Democratic support still needed; ethics provision remains a key hurdle for the 60‑vote threshold
- Senate floor vote targeted for the week of July 20, with limited time before congressional recess
- AI-focused mining stocks have slipped as investors reassess valuations
- Blocksbridge Consulting flags rising insider sales among leading Bitcoin miners
- Governance and shareholder alignment are becoming key investor concerns
- Labour lawmakers introduced a full moratorium on crypto donations in March
- Calls to make the ban permanent follow millions of dollars linked to Nigel Farage
- A permanent ban would restrict crypto fundraising for UK political parties
- Bitcoin is trading around $62,000 as a $1.4 bn Deribit options expiry looms on Friday
- The expiry includes $1.4 bn of contracts, potentially driving volatility if price moves beyond strike levels
- US 10‑year Treasury yields are approaching a critical threshold, adding broader market risk
- Analysts watch for price support at $62k; a break below could trigger further downside
- BTC price climbs past $63,000, setting new daily upside targets
- President Trump's comment that Iran wants a deal fuels crypto optimism
- Traders spot key resistance near $65,000 and support around $60,000
- Bitcoin faces slowdown risk from post-quantum (PQ) signatures 10-100x larger than current ECDSA/Schnorr, potentially reducing throughput to <1 TPS
- STARK proofs could compress large PQ signatures into tiny proofs, preserving decentralization without increasing block size
- Blockstream’s SHRINCS/SHRIMPS schemes offer alternative but face complexity and usability drawbacks
- Bitcoin community remains divided on block size increases, a politically contentious 'simple engineering' fix
- Hong Kong regulator orders crypto platforms to implement phishing-resistant login requirements within 12 months
- New measures aim to enhance security for online brokers and crypto users
- Implementation deadline set for 12 months from announcement
- A typical U.S. house now costs ~5 BTC versus >50 BTC in 2020, a 90% decline in Bitcoin terms.
- Bitcoin's price has halved to about $63,000, marking its longest quarterly loss streak since 2022.
- Real yield on 10-year Treasury inflation‑indexed securities rose to 2.30%, the highest since Jan 2025, up 58 bps since the Iran war began.
- Bitcoin ETFs attracted $200 million in inflows this week but still record the largest quarterly outflows since launch.
- Institutional capital is rotating from digital assets into AI equities, adding pressure to crypto markets.
- B3 launched call and put options on bitcoin futures (BRL) and ether & solana futures (USD) on July 6
- Options settle into the underlying futures contracts, eliminating custody or token transfer
- Provides local traders a regulated venue to hedge crypto exposure and trade volatility without offshore markets
- Bitcoin up 1.2% to $63,000, up 9% since end of June
- Altcoins LIT and ETHFI climb 5.6% and 8.5%, extending monthly gains of ~35%
- Crypto futures volume down ~20% to $191 bn, open interest near $106 bn
- Altcoin Season index ticks up to 47/100, remaining range‑bound
- Revolut will stop offering USDT in the European Economic Area and Switzerland
- USDT remains available to Revolut customers outside the EEA and Switzerland
- The delisting applies only to selected European markets, not global coverage
- No immediate impact expected on USDT liquidity or price worldwide
- Hyperliquid enables 24/7 on-chain perpetual futures trading
- Pantera views crypto derivatives expanding into traditional asset classes
- On-chain perps may offer continuous access versus conventional market hours
- Total sell‑off reaches $2.7 bn across Bitcoin spot ETFs
- New net outflow of $85 m recorded on Wednesday
- Outflow streak described as "most overwhelming" ends without clear demand recovery
- Investor sentiment remains weak amid continued withdrawals
- Trader held $1.14 million long position in EUR/USD perpetual futures for 400 days
- Position incurred 2.3% annual holding cost through rollover fees
- Onchain FX trading remains a tiny fraction of global traditional FX market
- Bitcoin exchange supply fell to 6.6% of circulating supply, its lowest since 2017
- Ether exchange supply dropped to 4.3% of circulating supply, lowest since 2015
- U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs hold about $73 bn (~641,400 BTC) and Ether ETFs about $13.7 bn (~7.7 m ETH)
- Over 130 public companies hold roughly 1.26 m BTC; total off‑exchange holdings represent ~56.5% of supply
- Analysts say low exchange balances are now less reliable as a bullish signal due to institutional custody and DeFi usage
- Binance to explore new licensing paths in Europe
- Continues to expand regulatory footprint in Asia
- Co-CEO Richard Teng comments on regulatory strategy
- Alfa-Bank, Russia's largest private bank, is testing cryptocurrency trading services.
- The crypto trading service is currently available for qualified investors.
- This initiative aligns with Russia's ongoing efforts to regulate digital assets.
- Russian banks are preparing to offer new crypto services as regulatory clarity emerges.
- Wyden asks that the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act remain embedded in the CLARITY Act when it reaches the Senate floor
- The proposal seeks to give blockchain developers clearer regulatory certainty and protection from liability
- Wyden's push highlights ongoing legislative attention to the crypto sector
- XRP defended the $1.00-$1.05 support zone, but near-term chart remains capped below resistance.
- Long-term falling wedge and ascending channel patterns remain intact above $1.00-$1.05.
- Upside targets as high as $3.65 and beyond require a confirmed breakout that has not yet occurred.
- Zapper, a DeFi dashboard backed by Mark Cuban, has shut down after 7 years of operation.
- The platform provided crypto market data to over 2 million monthly active users.
- Zapper processed over $13 billion in transactions during its peak.
- Fed intervention in US stock market could spill over into crypto markets
- Bitget Wallet COO cites market size as key incentive for policymakers to act
- Potential Fed backstop may reduce risk aversion, benefiting risk assets like crypto
- Coinbase restored prediction markets trading on July 9 after a service interruption.
- The outage had prevented users from placing trades earlier in the day.
- No cause was disclosed; the firm said it was investigating the issue.
Geopolitics 43
- Iran sees control of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic gain, while the US wants it to return to a free-for-all international shipping lane.
- The MoU's language on Hormuz is vague, leading to conflicting interpretations between the two sides.
- Iran's control of the strait is seen as essential for deterrence against future attacks and potential fees worth tens of billions of dollars annually.
- China's high-power microwave (HPM) weapons can deliver up to 100 GW of power
- Potential to transform future of warfare and stimulate civilian research and industry
- Advanced pulsed-power devices built by China's military in recent years
- Trump’s sudden change of tone at the NATO summit sent equity markets lower and pushed oil prices higher
- NATO members faced criticism over defense spending, yet Spain and Denmark escaped major U.S. rebukes
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy gained a warmer U.S. stance, hinting at possible Patriot missile deals
- Turkish President Erdoğan emerged stronger, moving closer to U.S. approval for F‑35 fighter jets
- Uncertainty remains on Iran’s nuclear trajectory and the durability of the improved NATO‑U.S. rapport
- Syrian authorities arrest cell responsible for recent bombings in Damascus
- Suspects affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) according to preliminary investigations
- Two explosions in Damascus on July 7 killed one and wounded 36, including French President Macron
- Explosions reported in Bushehr, Choghadak and Konarak; US CENTCOM says no strikes were carried out.
- Israeli leaders state the war with Iran is "not over" and hint at further military operations.
- Recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz heighten risk of broader regional conflict.
- Washington removed a waiver on Iranian oil exports, adding pressure on global oil supply.
- Trump administration plans to delist Syria after 1.5 years since Assad regime change
- Washington has already lifted sanctions and aims to restore Syria's diplomatic and economic ties
- Security challenges persist, including recent twin attacks in Damascus and Israeli occupation of additional southwest territory
- US broadened air campaign across Iran's Bushehr province
- Strikes damaged civilian infrastructure, including fishing wharfs and nearby airport facilities
- Several fishing boats caught fire; US says targets were military installations
- Damage occurred close to the Bushehr nuclear power plant, raising regional tension
- China test-fired long-range ballistic missile from nuclear sub into international waters on July 6, demonstrating nuclear deterrence expansion
- India responds with multi-aligned diplomacy, deepening ties with Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and New Zealand amid U.S. Indo-Pacific ambiguity
- India-Japan summit yielded 16 outcomes including semiconductor, AI, and clean energy cooperation, signaling strategic hedging against China
- North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song to visit China for 65th anniversary of China-North Korea Treaty
- Trip marks another sign of improving ties between the two traditional allies
- Pak to lead party and government delegation to Beijing
- Brent crude surged following missile strikes in the Middle East after ceasefire collapse
- China urges US and Iran to resume dialogue to avoid escalation
- Rising oil prices heighten risks of global inflation pressures
- Estimated $21-73.3 million in donations allegedly stolen from Ayodhya's Ram Temple
- Police investigation cites $0.2-0.3 million in missing funds, differing from political estimates
- RSS and BJP leaders implicated in temple trust scandal, sparking opposition criticism
- India and Indonesia signed 14 agreements, including defense and maritime security deals.
- The two nations agreed to enhance defense cooperation, including the sale of BrahMos missiles to Indonesia.
- The deal is worth around $630 million, according to Indian sources.
- Ukrainian officials estimate about 3,000 Africans from 35 countries fighting alongside Russian forces
- Recruitment is driven by economic hardship and promised pay, according to researchers
- Participants include experienced soldiers, students and unemployed graduates, forming a new migration route
- The conflict is draining African nations of skilled workers and soldiers, experts say
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was buried on Friday in Mashhad's Imam shrine memorial hall.
- Large crowds gathered late Thursday night for the funeral, with no appearance by his son.
- Loyalists called for revenge and rejected any compromise with the West.
- The burial occurs as Iran and the United States continue to exchange attacks.
- Mexico will request state and federal criminal charges in the US over migrant deaths
- The action follows the July 2026 fatal shooting of a Mexican man by ICE in Houston
- President Claudia Sheinbaum demands stronger protections for Mexicans in private ICE detention centers
- The move heightens diplomatic tension between Mexico and the United States
- Andy Burnham, Labour's likely next PM, said the party "got it wrong" on its initial Gaza stance.
- He urged a quicker ceasefire and proposed tougher sanctions on Israeli officials and settlement trade bans.
- Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 1,000 deaths in Gaza since the October US‑brokered ceasefire.
- Burnham acknowledged evidence of possible war crimes but left legal judgments to international courts.
- Labour faces criticism from supporters, with some shifting to the Green Party over its Gaza response.
- Mark Carney made the first Canadian state visit to Saudi Arabia in over 25 years
- Canada and Saudi Arabia signed 13 agreements and MoUs worth roughly $1 billion covering mining, LNG, hydrogen and carbon capture
- The trip seeks to revive trade ties after 2018 diplomatic fallout and diversify Canada’s exports amid U.S. tariff pressures
- Carney will lead a delegation of Canadian pension funds to invest in Saudi energy and AI projects
- Iraq's new prime minister Ali Al-Zaidi scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on July 14.
- The meeting follows the White House's release of a 14‑point U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding.
- Trump is expected to press Iraq to reduce Iranian influence and pursue greater independence.
- The visit comes shortly after U.S. Independence Day celebrations on July 4.
- China has ended its involvement in the $2.5 billion Anaklia Deep Sea Port project.
- Georgia's government plans to develop and operate the port independently.
- The project, launched in 2016, was previously paused after a contract cancellation in 2020.
- Anaklia was one of the most geopolitically contested infrastructure projects in the Caucasus.
- Mexico will file criminal complaints with US state and federal prosecutors over 14 deaths in ICE custody and 3 deaths during enforcement operations
- The move follows the recent shooting of 52-year-old Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston
- ICE reported 32 detainee deaths in 2025, up from 11 in 2024, though DHS says there is no spike
- Mexico also plans civil lawsuits against private companies operating US immigration detention centers
- President Sheinbaum said Mexico will pursue all legal and diplomatic avenues to hold responsible parties accountable
- Sri Lanka and India contest the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount (~1,050 km from Sri Lanka, ~1,350 km from India) rich in cobalt, nickel and manganese.
- Sri Lanka's public debt‑to‑GDP ratio hovers around 90%, limiting its capacity to finance deep‑sea mining projects.
- Sri Lanka filed a 2009 CLCS claim to extend its continental shelf to 350 nautical miles, aiming to bring the seamount under its jurisdiction.
- Sri Lanka's exports account for only 19% of GDP in 2025, down from 39% in 2000, underscoring the need for new foreign‑currency sources.
- Election date fixed for Nov. 28 across West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
- First legislative vote since 2006, when Hamas won and triggered a political split.
- Logistics challenged by Israel's need to allow voting in East Jerusalem and Gaza's war‑damaged infrastructure.
- USTR Jamieson Greer said President Trump has authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to stop trade with Spain.
- The Supreme Court struck down Trump's broad tariff authority, but IEEPA still permits prohibiting trade in a national emergency.
- Trump softened his stance after a meeting with Spanish PM Sánchez, and no immediate trade halt is expected.
- Spain's top US exports include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals and electrical transformers.
- Greer indicated Trump has multiple options but is not moving forward on a trade cutoff at this time.
- NATO summit concluded on July 8 in Ankara amid heightened tensions
- The United States resumed air strikes against Iran after a fragile cease‑fire
- President Trump accused European NATO members of delaying U.S. aircraft access and questioned their loyalty
- NATO leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine despite internal disagreements
- US renamed Indo‑Pacific Command to Pacific Command, indicating reduced regional focus
- Japan's defense budget targets 2% of GDP; South Korea plans to raise spending to 3.5% by 2035
- No mutual defence pact or unified command among Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and Indonesia limits war deterrence
- Four cooperation pillars identified: maritime domain awareness, logistics access, defence‑industrial co‑production, and resilience to economic coercion
- Existing frameworks uneven: Australia‑Japan agreement effective 2025, India’s 2+2 dialogues, but Japan‑South Korea ties remain strained
- On July 6, the PLA Navy launched a submarine‑launched ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.
- CASC posted a graphic tying the launch to the 89th anniversary of the 1937 Marco Polo Bridge Incident.
- Officials say the launch follows routine schedules, but analysts note the historical framing may amplify regional tensions.
- The narrative reinforces China’s "national rejuvenation" theme and references past Japanese aggression.
- A similar historic link was drawn to a 2024 Liaoning carrier transit that coincided with the Mukden Incident anniversary.
- 28 people died in a massive fire at a shoe factory in Fujian province, China
- Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an investigation and rescue efforts
- The fire occurred at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Quanzhou city
- Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong advocates for middle-power diplomacy to stabilize Indo-Pacific amid eroding global norms
- Australia's peacemaking record includes East Timor (1999), Solomon Islands RAMSI, and Bougainville mediation
- U.N. Security Council bid (2029-30) positions Australia as potential mediator amid record global conflicts (highest since WWII)
- Hong Kong's aviation regulator orders Cathay Pacific to review incident
- Flight temporarily lost contact with air traffic controllers over Romanian airspace
- Nato fighter jets intercepted Cathay Pacific flight
- Over 40 flights cancelled from Hong Kong to Taiwan, mainland China, and Japan
- 10 flights delayed to Sunday
- Local carriers offer special arrangements for affected passengers
- Chan Ho-hin pleaded guilty to inciting subversion under the national security law
- Promoted pro-Taiwan party and disseminated anti-Communist messages between 2024 and 2023
- 23-year-old waiter used social media, leaflets to spread messages
- Canada labels Bishnoi Gang a terrorist entity citing violence and extortion against South Asian diaspora
- U.S. indicts Lawrence Bishnoi and 30+ associates for international extortion, drug trafficking, and contract killings
- Alleged prison-directed operations raise questions about India’s prison security and law enforcement oversight
- Lam Wing-kee, a former detained bookseller and free‑speech advocate, died a day after a new Chinese law restricting speech took effect.
- The law expands China's extraterritorial reach, targeting critics of Xi Jinping worldwide.
- His death follows a pattern of Chinese authorities detaining dissidents, highlighting growing repression under Xi.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not attend the NATO summit in Turkey (July 7-8).
- She remained in Tokyo to manage a parliamentary standoff that has stalled her legislative agenda.
- The absence limits Japan's opportunity to deepen ties with European leaders at the summit.
- 2 men from New Jersey sentenced for fentanyl analogue trafficking
- Fentanyl analogues imported from China
- US Department of Justice involved in the case
- Governor Chadchart launches a 100‑day work plan to implement his 261 campaign promises
- Priority actions include tackling PM2.5 pollution, flood mitigation, and the On Nut waste incineration plant
- Plan addresses groundwater seepage at the Purple Line tunnel and reviews pending campaign‑era issues
- Collaboration pledged with Prime Minister Anutin following election certification
- Trump claimed China’s renewable energy capacity is overstated during a Jan 9 meeting with oil executives
- He repeated the narrative at the World Economic Forum later in January
- Analysts say the rhetoric is driven by U.S. domestic politics and lacks factual basis
- Protesters in Johannesburg conducted door‑to‑door raids, handing suspected undocumented migrants to police.
- Doctors Without Borders warned that "tens of thousands" of migrants face disrupted healthcare amid the violence.
- More than 38,000 Malawians and over 60,000 Zimbabweans have returned home in recent weeks.
- Weekly anti‑immigrant demonstrations are scheduled every Thursday until the protesters' demands are met.
- Israeli drone attacks in Gaza killed six people on Thursday, including two in Nuseirat camp.
- Four additional fatalities were reported from strikes elsewhere in the Strip.
- The killings occurred despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in place since Oct. 10, 2025.
- World Central Kitchen condemned the death of an aid driver and demanded accountability.
- President Erdogan presented each NATO leader with a revolver engraved with their name
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was the first to publicly mention the gift
- Each revolver came with six bullets as part of the unusual diplomatic gesture
- The gesture attracted diplomatic curiosity but no immediate policy impact was reported
- ICAC charges 3 individuals, including 2 private care home operators, over alleged HK$1.3 million fraud
- Fraud involved inflating service records under elderly care voucher scheme by over 5,000 hours
- Total loss estimated at HK$1.3 million (US$166,700)
- Government sets goal of 2 million visitor arrivals each year
- Tourist arrivals remain under 1 million, with 973,000 recorded in latest period
- Tourism slump follows 2021 coup and conflict that has caused over 100,000 deaths
- Irish citizen sentenced to 14 years in prison for strangling US tourist in Budapest
- Victim, 31-year-old Mackenzie Michalski, reported missing on November 5, 2024
- Case investigated through security footage from local nightclubs
Tech/AI 48
- Micron Technology plans to invest over $250 billion in the U.S. through 2035, an increase from its previous $200 billion commitment.
- The expanded investment is fueled by surging demand for memory chips in the AI era and the U.S. push for domestic semiconductor production.
- Key projects include a New York semiconductor campus (ahead of schedule) and expansions in Idaho and Virginia, expected to create over 90,000 jobs.
- Micron will allocate $3 billion to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, with $500 million funding GlobalWafers' Texas facility.
- Micron shares rose 8% in early trading, adding to a more than 200% year-to-date surge, reflecting strong market confidence.
- Meta released Muse Spark 1.1, its 'strongest model for agentic and coding work yet,' making its API publicly available via a developer portal.
- The new model features 'very aggressive and attractive' pricing at $1.25 per million input tokens and $4.25 per million output tokens, with $20 in free credits.
- Muse Spark 1.1 is designed to excel in coding tasks and interact with third-party coding products, aiming to improve AI agent capabilities.
- This follows the release of Muse Image (Mango) earlier in the week, as Meta seeks to attract creators and advertisers.
- Meta is also training a more powerful AI model, code-named Watermelon, and plans to open-source a variant of Muse Spark.
- Swift introduces blockchain ledger for faster cross-border payments
- 17 major banks participate in tokenized deposit pilot
- Pilot aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs in international transactions
- A New York Times-led group of newspapers asked a federal court to sanction OpenAI for allegedly lying about its ability to search systems for copyrighted material.
- The newspapers claim OpenAI falsely stated it couldn't search its large language models for their content, while secretly having done so.
- OpenAI is also accused of deleting or making unsearchable billions of relevant ChatGPT conversations.
- The group seeks sanctions including attorneys' fees and a court finding that OpenAI misused their copyrighted works.
- OpenAI denies the allegations, citing user privacy concerns, and notes the NYT previously dropped a secondary copyright infringement claim.
- AI infrastructure spending projected at $1.5 trillion for 2026, requiring $3 trillion in industry revenue to break even
- Anthropic reports $60 billion ARR; OpenAI earned $13‑$20 billion in 2025, leaving a large revenue shortfall
- Hyperscalers (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon) expect massive free‑cash‑flow acceleration by 2028; a miss could trigger a recession and S&P 500 correction
- Cheaper open‑weight models and falling token prices could compress margins for AI firms
- OpenAI released its Sol LLM despite no clear government licensing criteria or agency designated for frontier AI review.
- The Department of Commerce's Center for AI Standards and Innovation leads the effort, with six cabinet agencies tasked to finalize a process by early August.
- An executive order outlines a roadmap for evaluating frontier models, but specifics remain undefined and no "FDA for AI" is planned.
- Anthropic's Fable was briefly blocked for foreign nationals, highlighting export‑control concerns that influence model releases.
- Experts warn that personal connections, not transparent safety audits, dominate the current approval process, urging third‑party oversight.
- China to allow selected AI firms to buy Nvidia H200 chips
- Shift in stance follows US approval of chip exports in early 2026
- Move seen as part of China's tech self-sufficiency drive
- Quant funds have given back 25% of year-to-date returns, down to 10.8% from 14.4% on June 22
- Losses came from bets against US equities, Asian developed-market stocks, and European stocks
- Fundamental managers, or stockpicking funds, were down 2.2% in the same period, but still up 15.5% this year
- China must overhaul its innovation ecosystem to avoid losing technological sovereignty
- Open-source AI is crucial to counter US market dominance and costly, closed-source models
- Implementation of open-source AI could be a game-changer in the AI 'knockout game'
- Auxilium Biotechnologies successfully bioprinted human liver, kidney, and cartilage cells on the International Space Station (ISS).
- The microgravity environment on the ISS enabled precise and uniform cell distribution, overcoming a key challenge in 3D tissue engineering on Earth.
- This advancement suggests future potential for manufacturing medical devices and tissue patches in space, though functional organs are years away.
- Growing commercial interest in space manufacturing is evident, with Auxilium signing agreements for future commercial space stations.
- Clinical use of space-manufactured medical products is years off, with regulatory frameworks still in early development.
- SK Hynix's $24.5 billion U.S. listing is reportedly over seven times oversubscribed, attracting global funds.
- China's CXMT is launching a 29.5 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) Shanghai IPO, following strong growth.
- These mega AI deals, including prior SpaceX and Cerebras listings, are soaking up capital that might otherwise flow into other markets.
- Digital assets posted a third consecutive quarterly loss in Q2 2026, the longest streak since 2022, as institutional capital rotated into AI equities.
- Bitcoin ETFs recorded their largest quarterly outflow since launch, indicating a broader shift from crypto to AI infrastructure.
- Chinese AI labs are increasingly pursuing proprietary chip development.
- The primary motivation is to achieve greater hardware-software synergy and reduce long-term operating costs.
- Industry experts warn that this strategy carries significant risk due to the massive upfront investments required.
- More than $130 billion in AI data center projects have been blocked or delayed in the US in Q1 2026.
- Google withdrew a $1 billion data center proposal in Indianapolis after local opposition.
- Bitzero (Nasdaq: AIBZ) is positioning to navigate regulatory hurdles as other AI developers face community resistance.
- OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Work, an AI agent combining chatbot and Codex, powered by the new GPT-5.6 model.
- GPT-5.6 launch was delayed last month after a U.S. government request over national-security concerns.
- Three sizes of the 5.6 model were released; the smallest costs about one-fifth of the largest while delivering comparable task performance.
- Rollout begins with Pro, Enterprise and Edu users, expanding to Plus and Business tiers in the following days.
- Rival Anthropic's Claude Cowork, launched in January, offers similar autonomous multi-step capabilities.
- Average digital maturity rose to 2.12 out of 4 in 2026, up from 1.56 in 2025
- 61% of firms have adopted AI; 47.4% are experimenting, 29.7% in pilots, 15.7% have expanded use
- Cybersecurity score jumped 1.25 points to 2.34, the strongest improvement among dimensions
- Large enterprises scored 2.58, while small firms broke the 2‑point threshold at 2.01
- Marketing is the leading AI use case, with 39.2% of respondents applying AI to marketing
- GPT-5.6 released in three versions: Sol, Terra, and Luna.
- Sol is 54% more token‑efficient for coding tasks than previous models.
- Sol scores 80 on the Coding Agent Index, 2.8 points above Anthropic’s Fable 5.
- Pricing per million tokens: Sol $5 input/$30 output; Terra $2.50/$15; Luna $1/$6.
- OpenAI launches ChatGPT Work, a workplace companion for enterprise tasks.
- Lyzr's AI agent SivaClaw led the $100 million Series B round at a $500 million valuation
- SivaClaw fielded questions from more than 130 investors and drafted investment memos
- The fundraising attracted roughly $400 million of investor interest from Silicon Valley, the Middle East, and financial-sector investors
- OpenAI will sunset Atlas, the AI-powered browser launched in October 2023.
- A new Chrome extension will let ChatGPT access page context, rivaling Google Gemini Side Panel.
- ChatGPT desktop app gains a built‑in browser and a remote cloud browser for AI agents.
- The shift reflects OpenAI’s focus on embedding AI browsing tools in existing platforms rather than a standalone product.
- Anthropic will pay $1.25 bn per month for 300 MW of SpaceX compute through May 2029, totaling about $40 bn.
- The agreement makes Anthropic one of SpaceX’s largest customers, alongside Google’s $920 m per month deal.
- Musk said he would not cut off Anthropic, citing his past non‑litigation and open‑access policies.
- The contract gives SpaceX exposure to Anthropic’s leading models like Mythos/Fable and upcoming Mythos 2.
- While contractual penalties deter abrupt termination, competitive concerns about data access remain.
- Loom provides a dedicated environment for deploying AI agents with built‑in security controls.
- The service integrates with existing AWS tools such as IAM, KMS, and CloudWatch for compliance and monitoring.
- Targeted at enterprise customers needing to meet regulatory and data‑privacy requirements.
- Available immediately in selected AWS regions, with broader rollout planned for later 2026.
- AMPERA successfully fabricated a nuclear reactor module using additive manufacturing.
- The module is designed for a subcritical, solid‑state thorium reactor that can be mass‑produced in factories.
- The development aims to create the first fully factory‑built thorium power system in the United States.
- Thorium reactors are touted for lower radioactive waste and reduced proliferation risk.
- Microsoft released an update to the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine on July 10, 2026 to fix CVE‑2026‑50656
- The vulnerability let remote attackers write unlimited‑size files, potentially exhausting all disk space on Windows 10 and 11 machines
- The patch is automatically delivered to Windows devices; users need not take any action
- NY Times and Daily News claim OpenAI hid evidence about its training data in the copyright lawsuit.
- Deposition alleges OpenAI built a database of about 78 million de‑identified ChatGPT conversations and used a "Bloom" filter to track regurgitation.
- Plaintiffs sought 120 million chat logs; OpenAI provided a heavily redacted sample of 20 million logs, which they say is unusable.
- The outlets request the court to block the 20 million‑log sample and impose sanctions on OpenAI for alleged discovery violations.
- Citi's conference identified Rockwell Automation, Emerson, and Honeywell as leading firms in physical AI.
- Industry is shifting from proof‑of‑concept projects to commercial deployment of robotics.
- Labor shortages, reshoring trends, and supportive regulations are boosting enterprise demand for robots.
- Scaling and mass‑production of robots remain significant challenges for the sector.
- News publishers, led by The New York Times, filed a sanctions motion accusing OpenAI of hiding evidence of copyright infringement.
- The dispute centers on OpenAI’s alleged concealment of millions‑to‑billions of chat logs that show users prompting ChatGPT to reproduce paywalled articles.
- If the court orders OpenAI to preserve all logs, the company could face significant legal and financial penalties.
- CEO Nikesh Arora warns token costs need to fall up to 90% to enable large‑scale AI use
- He cites a 54% efficiency gain as a start, targeting 20% efficiency in 12 months and 90% in a year
- High token prices are seen as a barrier, pushing enterprises toward cheaper open‑weight models
- AI spending remains high, with firms like SpaceX and Amazon each raising $25 bn in recent bond sales
- Gradium raised a total of $100 million in its seed round, reopening it to new investors including Nvidia.
- The funding will be used to open a Bay Area office and expand talent recruitment.
- Since its December launch, Gradium has secured customers such as Renault and competes with firms like ElevenLabs and Google Gemini.
- The company initially raised $70 million from investors including FirstMark, Eurazeo and DST Global.
- Stanford-led researchers unveiled Biomni, the first general-purpose biomedical AI agent for hypothesis generation
- Biomni is open-source with a web interface, allowing biologists to use it without coding
- More than 10,000 scientists worldwide have been invited to test and contribute to the platform
- The agent aims to assist across multiple biomedical specialties, reducing reliance on specialist teams
- Meta will start manufacturing its latest MTIA AI chips in September, using TSMC for production.
- The chips are designed with Broadcom and will incorporate RAM from Samsung, storage from Sandisk, and fiber‑optic equipment from Sumitomo Electric.
- Meta expects the new chips to reduce reliance on Nvidia and AMD GPUs as part of its $125‑$145 billion capex plan, targeting 7 GW of compute this year and double next year.
- A modular chiplet architecture is used to accelerate cadence and adapt to rapidly evolving AI workloads.
- Tennessee ranks #6 in 2026 infrastructure with $0.1185/kWh electricity price and 1,110 MW computing capacity
- Pennsylvania secured Amazon's $20 bn data center investment and ranks #2 in computing load capacity at 14,110 MW
- South Carolina boosted site‑readiness funding >250% to $80 million, listing 51 shovel‑ready sites
- Michigan's $16 bn OpenAI/Oracle data center faces grid stress despite a 4/4 water availability score
- Anthropic's Claude introduces 'Reflect' feature for tracking AI usage habits
- Reflect aims to shape user sentiment on AI by framing it as a productivity tool and part of daily workflow
- Feature available in beta for Free, Pro, and Max users with memory turned on
- UN agency to establish Focus Group for AI agent trust frameworks
- Group to develop frameworks for AI agent identification, trustworthiness, and human control
- First meeting in Paris in November, second in Geneva in January
- Humain to dedicate 50 MW of AI compute capacity to support Cohere's foundation models
- Collaboration to focus on enterprise AI solutions and sovereign AI models
- Expansion expected to be live by Q4 2027 with potential for scaling over 5 years
- EU lawmakers supported reinstating temporary rules allowing Google, Meta, and other platforms to detect and remove child sexual abuse material.
- End-to-end encrypted communications (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram) were exempted from these rules to protect user privacy.
- The decision underscores the ongoing tension between online safety measures and privacy concerns regarding mass scanning.
- EU countries have three months to decide whether to back the European Parliament's proposed changes.
- Permanent rules have not been agreed upon due to disputes over the scope of detection and privacy implications.
- US Space Force expands eligible launch bidders to include Impulse Space and Relativity Space
- Relativity Space advances its heavy‑lift Terran R rocket under former Google CEO Eric Schmidt
- Impulse Space, a spacecraft builder for in‑space operations, joins despite not being a traditional launch provider
- Participation opens a new revenue stream for both firms in the lucrative military launch market
- US KOSA and EU Chat Control bills dropped controversial provisions but kept mandatory age verification
- Age verification mandates require platforms to collect identity data, creating centralized pools of sensitive info
- Zero-knowledge proofs exist to verify age without collecting personal data, but laws rarely mandate this method
- UK's Online Safety Act already enforces face scans/ID uploads for age checks on 60% of sites requiring verification
- Legislators frame debate as safety vs. freedom, ignoring privacy-preserving technical solutions
- US-China AI war becomes a contest over electricity output and price
- Open-source AI models proliferate in China, driven by low electricity costs
- American AI community argues China's low electricity prices give it a competitive edge
- Starship can lift over 100 metric tons (220,000 lb) to low‑Earth orbit.
- In‑flight refueling could enable the same payload to reach lunar, Martian or higher orbits.
- NASA, the US military and satellite manufacturers are redesigning missions for the new capacity, while China seeks a comparable heavy‑lift vehicle.
- AI token usage in China is accelerating rapidly, underpinning AI services.
- Experts say the digital economy is moving from data/computing stages to a token economy.
- Tokens are becoming the primary unit for delivering and pricing AI services.
- Crypto venture firm Paradigm has successfully raised a new $1.2 billion fund.
- The firm is broadening its investment scope beyond traditional crypto assets.
- New investment areas for Paradigm include artificial intelligence (AI) and other frontier technologies.
- Samsung and SK Hynix plan a new semiconductor hub in the country's southwest.
- Project timing is questioned due to the cyclical nature of the memory chip market.
- The hub aims to capture AI-driven demand despite uncertain near‑term demand.
- Temasek plans to boost AI‑related investments by roughly 2.5 times by 2029
- The increase will focus on data‑center infrastructure and semiconductor companies
- The move is part of a five‑year strategy to capture growth in artificial intelligence
- Temasek cites "compelling opportunities" in AI despite concerns about a tech bubble
- Teleoperated humanoid robots completed two minimally invasive gallbladder removals on live pigs.
- The procedures were fully controlled by human surgeons, not autonomous robots.
- Developers say the system costs and occupies far less space than conventional surgical robots, enabling use in remote hospitals, battlefields, or space.
- New "How this ad was made" option shows if an ad was created or edited with AI.
- Disclosure auto‑enabled for ads generated using Google's own generative AI tools.
- Advertisers must manually flag AI use for ads created outside Google's platform.
- Feature rolls out globally across Google Search, YouTube and Google Discover.
- Garante imposed a €158,000 ($180,500) fine on Character Technologies for data‑protection violations
- Authorities cited inadequate user information, weak safeguards for minors, and poor age‑verification processes
- The company was also late in completing a Data Protection Impact Assessment and appointing an EU representative
- Garante previously banned OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2023 over similar age‑check and data‑collection concerns
- AI-powered demand forecasting system to be implemented by mid-2027
- StreetSights system aims to help taxi drivers find customers on high-demand streets
- Interim research results show up to 90% accuracy in forecasting demand
- 40% of DSE candidates cite AI and economy as top stressors
- Fewer students report high stress levels compared to last year
- Concerns over AI replacing entry-level jobs drive anxiety
- JCB and Resona plan to pilot a hands‑free bus fare system using ultra‑wideband technology.
- Passengers could board and alight without tapping a card or phone.
- Pilot testing is targeted for the fall season.
- Companies aim to secure a leading position in next‑generation payments.
Companies 51
- SEC removes 7 false Form 246-2 filings from disclosure system
- Investigation finds discrepancies in reported transactions and shareholder registers
- Regulator to enhance verification procedures and back-office monitoring systems
- Temasek aims to raise AI exposure from 6% to 15% of its $400bn portfolio by 2031.
- The fund holds no direct crypto assets after a $275m loss from the 2022 FTX collapse.
- Temasek will still explore blockchain technology but will prioritize AI investments.
- Fidji Simo will leave her full-time position as CEO of AGI deployment at OpenAI, shifting to a part‑time advisory role
- She has been on medical leave for three months after a severe exacerbation of a chronic illness
- Simo joined OpenAI's board in March 2024 as one of three new directors following Sam Altman's return as CEO
- CEO Sam Altman publicly thanked Simo for her contributions and friendship
- Paul Grewal, Coinbase's chief legal officer, resigns after six years, will stay on as adviser.
- Molly Abraham promoted to general counsel; Ryan VanGrack named first vice chair and head of corporate affairs.
- Grewal led defense against the SEC lawsuit filed in 2023, which was dismissed last year.
- He also helped advance the Clarity Act, a federal crypto‑regulation bill that moved out of Senate committee in May.
- CCC hired Morgan Stanley to advise on a potential sale and contacted prospective buyers
- Shares jumped 13% to $6.09 in after‑hours trading following the Reuters report
- Market value fell to roughly $3.3 bn, down from $6.4 bn a year earlier
- Stock has declined about 44% over the past 12 months amid slowing growth concerns
- CCC's platform connects more than 35,000 businesses in the property‑and‑casualty insurance ecosystem
- Signed A$2.3bn (US$1.6bn) senior debt to fund expansion
- Total senior debt capacity rises from A$6.4bn to A$8.7bn
- Adds A$500m to the A$1.8bn commitments announced in May
- Pro‑forma contracted utilisation jumped ~60% to 667 MW as of March 31
- Financial close expected in mid‑July
- Nestlé commits 23 billion baht to build a new Nescafé manufacturing facility in Samut Prakan.
- The plant, slated to start operations in the second half of 2028, will create over 520 local jobs.
- Annual local ingredient spend at the factory is projected at 4.3 billion baht.
- The project received investment support from Thailand's Board of Investment.
- Nestlé has invested more than 27.8 billion baht in Thailand between 2018 and 2025.
- SK Hynix's Nasdaq debut offers US investors a new way to bet on the AI boom
- Cramer warns of significant risks due to the historically boom-and-bust nature of the memory chip business
- Stock trades at just over 7x this year's earnings, making it look inexpensive
- SK Hynix announced a $26.5 billion capital raise via a U.S. offering
- American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) were priced at $149 each
- The proceeds are intended to fund the company's expansion and R&D plans
- South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix plans to list shares/ADRs on a U.S. exchange
- The move aims to give U.S. investors direct exposure to the fast‑growing DRAM and NAND market
- Listing expected later this year, with proceeds earmarked for R&D and capacity expansion
- Solaris Energy was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 index
- The stock price jumped on the news of the index addition
- Inclusion may attract new institutional investors to the shares
- B. Riley Securities highlighted a specific aerospace & defense company as its top pick
- Analysts point to a strong order backlog and rising defense spending as key catalysts
- The firm projects double‑digit earnings growth for the company over the next year
- Recommendation is expected to boost the stock relative to sector peers
- Meta stock rallied on Thursday following the debut of an agentic AI coding model
- Company announced a significant custom-chip achievement, easing investor spending concerns
- The positive news helped offset recent market skepticism about tech‑sector capital expenditures
- Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf says the firm will not rush to IPO, citing hype-cycle concerns
- Defense tech spending is projected to hit $1.5 trillion, with Anduril valued at $61 billion after May round
- IPO market remains tepid despite recent SpaceX offering; shares fell about 25% from peak after debut
- AI firms OpenAI and Anthropic have filed confidential IPOs but have not set timelines, reflecting valuation doubts
- Bitdeer stock jumped 14% on the news.
- Company will invest $36 million to build a Nevada manufacturing facility.
- The plant will produce SEALMINER Bitcoin mining machines, expanding its hardware business.
- High‑grade gold zones at the Cariboo project were intersected at depths beyond the current resource envelope.
- Drilling extended the zones to greater depths, expanding the known mineralized area.
- The positive results lifted Osisko Development shares on the TSX and NYSE.
- Cariboo is located in central British Columbia, strengthening Osisko's gold pipeline.
- Mercor seeks new funding round at a $20 bn valuation, double its October $10 bn level
- Company reports annualized revenue run rate of $2 bn, a 100% increase in four months
- Mercor has received a term sheet at the $20 bn valuation
- The firm announced acquisition of AI‑agent trainer Deeptune, adding its team
- Former Fed chair Ben Bernanke (2006‑2014) added to Anthropic's Long‑Term Benefit Trust
- Anthropic valued at $965 billion, eyeing a potential IPO later this year
- Trust now includes four members, all paid for service without equity stakes
- Bernanke will advise on AI's economic implications for the company
- MARA stock rose about 15% following the announcement of a Texas site purchase.
- The acquired site can provide up to 2 GW of power capacity for AI and digital infrastructure.
- The deal expands Marathon's AI capabilities and may improve its Bitcoin mining efficiency.
- The move reflects a broader trend of crypto miners diversifying into AI-related assets.
- Block agreed to a $45 million settlement with 46 U.S. states over Cash App fraud allegations
- States said Cash App lacked basic identity checks and customer support, facilitating scams
- The settlement follows a prior $175 million penalty from the CFPB for similar fraud‑related issues
- Block will enhance fraud detection and provide live customer support for Cash App users
- BP to make fewer but better investment choices
- Portfolio simplification and cost-cutting underway
- CEO Meg O'Neill prioritizes long-term shareholder value
- Palantir agreed a two‑year, £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police for AI tools.
- London mayor’s office rejected the deal, citing lack of open competition and misalignment with “London’s values”.
- Palantir is taking the decision to the High Court, with a trial set for January; a £330 million NHS contract is also under review.
- Tokopedia refutes reports of large-scale layoffs, citing ongoing restructuring.
- The e‑commerce platform remains majority‑owned by ByteDance, linking its fate to the Chinese tech giant.
- Analysts warn Indonesia's "tech winter" persists, with no clear signs of recovery.
- Xiaomi to launch new SUV line, Sky Nomad, with extended-range battery tech
- Product range aims to compete with Tesla in mainland China
- Company doubles down on R&D to combat domestic sales slowdown
- Investors are re-evaluating tobacco companies.
- The shift away from traditional cigarette products is a key driver for this renewed interest.
- The sector is potentially 'coming in from the cold' after a period of investor disinterest.
- SK Hynix's $25B U.S. ADR listing oversubscribed 7x, second-largest foreign U.S. listing after Alibaba
- SK Hynix fell 11% and Samsung 6% as leveraged AI ETFs dominate South Korea's $4.3T market
- SpaceX's $350B IPO demand failed to sustain price, pulling capital from crypto amid Bitcoin's $62.7K range
- CSBC aims to launch its first domestically built submarine within the next year
- The Endeavor Manta, an uncrewed surface vessel, is being readied for patrol and combat missions
- CSBC is urging legislators to fund naval drones as Taiwan expands its maritime force against Chinese vessels
- Foundation Healthcare Holdings (FHH) debuted on the Singapore Exchange on July 8
- IPO values the hospital operator at roughly $780 million market capitalization
- Listing occurs as Southeast Asia's aging population drives demand for private medical services
- Company was founded only three years ago, achieving a sizable valuation quickly
- Momenta raised roughly $750 million in its Hong Kong debut, backed by Toyota and other automakers
- Shares opened higher but finished unchanged, indicating cautious investor sentiment
- Profitability concerns linger despite the strong backing and high expectations for autonomous‑vehicle technology
- Zentoshin's debt reached about $710 million, the largest Japanese bankruptcy filing this year
- The processor was widely used by restaurants in Osaka's Minami nightlife district
- Bankruptcy may leave many eateries awaiting unrecovered payments, risking further SME bankruptcies
- Potential chain reaction of bankruptcies among small and medium-sized businesses in the region
- Webull becomes first brokerage in Japan to eliminate US equity trade fees
- Move expected to spark trend among rivals in the market
- Webull app has been downloaded 55 million times since its founding in 2016
- Samsara Inc (NASDAQ: IOT) submitted a Form 4 filing on July 9
- The filing discloses insider transactions for the reporting period
- No significant changes to the company's capital structure were reported
- Chief regulatory officer disposed of shares valued at $2.6 million
- Transaction disclosed in a recent SEC filing
- Analysts may view the sale as a bearish signal for NBIX
- Two Hands finalized its removal from the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE).
- The firm announced a corporate name change to Quantum X.
- Delisting ends public trading of its shares on the CSE.
- CEO Eric Remer sold $199,734 worth of EverCommerce (EVCM) shares
- The sale was disclosed in a recent insider filing
- No additional insider transactions were reported in the same filing
- CEO Sanjit Biswas sold $9.67 million worth of Samsara shares
- The sale was disclosed in a recent insider filing
- The transaction is viewed as a routine insider divestment
- Alisa Bowen, former Disney+ president, becomes CEO of FuboTV effective July 10
- Co‑founder David Gandler steps down after eight years and resigns from the board
- Bowen's compensation: $1.58 million base salary with a target bonus of 120% of base
- Employee applied AI to pinpoint inefficiencies in a core process
- Generated cost savings estimated between $100,000 and $999,999
- Solution was quickly rolled out across the organization with minimal expense
- Retired commander and Democratic congressional candidate quits NovaRed's advisory board.
- Departure follows NovaRed's hiring of former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
- NovaRed Mining trades on the CSE under ticker NRED.
- The exit raises governance questions for the copper mining firm.
- Allstate claims Broadcom launched license audits after Allstate terminated contracts with VMware and CA Technologies.
- The audits are alleged to be retaliatory, according to Allstate's June 12 filing.
- Broadcom previously sued Allstate in December 2025 over alleged audit non‑compliance.
- Federal judge approved a $1.5 million settlement between Elon Musk and the SEC.
- Judge Sparkle Sooknanan voiced significant misgivings but said the court cannot block the deal.
- Settlement addresses alleged rule violation that harmed Twitter investors, with no additional penalties.
- The ruling highlights limited judicial power to overturn SEC consent judgments.
- Slate Auto’s base EV truck starts at $24,950 and offers 205 miles of range
- Crayola partnership adds five signature‑color vehicle wraps priced at $1,549.99 each
- Wraps include matching Crayola key fob and dashboard “Slatelet" accessories
- Slate Auto has not yet made its first deliveries, with preorders ongoing
- Company also collaborating with NYC artist Max Kolo on additional wrap designs
- FanDuel allegedly used VIP managers to cultivate high‑roller Terry Thompson, who has wagered $18.5 million since 2020.
- Thompson reportedly took out a second and third mortgage, lost his home to foreclosure, and sought psychiatric treatment.
- MLB star Bryce Harper recorded a 21‑second personalized video for Thompson as part of FanDuel’s VIP treatment.
- The lawsuit highlights potential conflicts between professional athletes and gambling platforms amid broader MLB betting partnerships.
- Indian government cleared a JV between Dixon Technologies (51% stake) and Vivo Mobile India (49% stake).
- The partnership will set up domestic smartphone and electronic device manufacturing as an OEM.
- Approval required senior‑level clearance under rules for investments from land‑border nations.
- The JV may also produce electronic products for other brands beyond Vivo.
- Ruf demonstrated its first flat‑eight engine publicly at the Goodwood event.
- The German firm is recognized as a distinct manufacturer, not just a Porsche tuner.
- Previous Ruf models include the BTR (1983), CTR3 (2007) and carbon‑monocoque cars like the SCR and Rodeo.
- Airbus A330‑300 (flight CX509) tail contacted runway during a go‑around at Hong Kong International Airport.
- Incident occurred on Friday, with the aircraft arriving from Tokyo Narita.
- Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department ordered Cathay Pacific to submit an incident report.
- Waymo's expansion into new parts of Northern and Southern California is delayed due to a state regulatory agency decision.
- The regulatory holdup means Waymo cannot yet charge passengers for rides in its new 'Ojai' vehicles.
- Free rides in the new Chinese-made Ojai robotaxis could continue until at least the end of September.
- Waymo continues to charge for rides in its existing Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis, which comprise most of its fleet.
- Horizon Aircraft selected BETA Technologies to supply fly-by-wire flight-control computers and software for its Cavorite X7 aircraft.
- The Cavorite X7 is a hybrid-electric aircraft designed to carry one pilot and up to six passengers with a 1,500-pound payload.
- This deal is critical for advancing certification efforts, with the piloted demonstrator expected to begin testing in 2027.
- Using BETA's existing flight control computer hardware aims to lower component costs and enhance manufacturing efficiency.
- The agreement adds to Horizon's partnerships, including deals with RAMPF, Motion Applied, and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
- Yoovidhya family net worth rises 6% to $47bn, driven by 8% revenue growth to $13.9bn from Red Bull sales
- Combined wealth of Thailand’s top tycoons expands 10% to $187bn, boosted by surging market
- Jareeporn Jarukornsakul’s net worth surges 69% to $1.25bn as WHA benefits from AI data centre demand
- VinFast introduced the VF2 EV at 188 million dong (about $7,148), the lowest price in its lineup.
- The new model aims to broaden car ownership in Vietnam by targeting mass‑market affordability.
- Launch comes as Hanoi tightens rules on gasoline‑powered motorcycles, potentially boosting EV demand.
- Mitsubishi will reintroduce the Pajero off‑road SUV in Japan.
- Boutique showrooms will target affluent urban customers.
- The strategy underscores a shift toward the domestic market for growth.
- Mitsubishi also plans to promote other off‑road models such as the Triton.
Thai Markets 6
- Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled the government's B400-billion emergency loan decree lawful.
- Funds are earmarked for the 'Thais Help Thais Plus' consumer subsidy scheme and green energy transition.
- Opposition lawmakers challenged the decree, citing a lack of 'urgent and unavoidable necessity' and vague energy funding plans.
- The government maintained the borrowing is essential due to high energy prices and Thailand's heavy reliance on imported energy (nearly 10% of GDP).
- The ruling removes uncertainty over the government's state spending plans amidst a flagging economy.
- Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) approved $1.99 billion in new investment projects.
- Nestle's Thai unit will invest $689 million to expand its coffee production facilities.
- Thai Airways International received approval for $430 million to lease eight new passenger planes.
- Datasection (Thailand) will invest $235 million in high-performance GPU server infrastructure.
- Donsan Group's local unit plans $180 million for copper-clad laminate and prepreg production.
- Consumer Confidence Index rose to 50.7 in June, first increase in four months
- Thai Chamber of Commerce confidence index fell to 41.4, down 0.3 points from May
- 50 billion baht co‑payment scheme deemed insufficient by businesses amid higher costs
- Falling oil prices and easing Middle East tensions boosted consumer sentiment
- Sluggish border trade and weak foreign arrivals continue to weigh on business outlook
- IMF lifts Thailand 2026 GDP forecast to 1.9% from 1.5%
- 2027 forecast raised to 2.2%, up 0.1 percentage points
- Thai exports up 17% Y/Y in first five months, but AI‑related manufacturing remains low (computers 3.3% of MPN)
- IMF upgrades Vietnam 2026 growth to 7.5% (+0.4 pp) and cuts Philippines to 3.9% (-0.2 pp)
- Global growth projected at 3.0% in 2026, down from 3.5% average in 2024‑25
- Amendment shifts foreign guest reporting to householders or hotel managers, with a 24‑hour electronic notification requirement
- Only 50‑60% of the 20,000 legally registered accommodation providers have submitted guest data to the Immigration Bureau
- Opposition warns the draft applies only to licensed hotels, excluding unregistered and illegal accommodation operators
- Lawmakers urge clearer definitions of "householder" and "owner" to ensure proper reporting responsibility
- House unanimously approved two Hotel Act amendment bills in principle
- Current law caps home‑based rentals at 4 rooms and 20 guests without a licence
- Opposition says amendments fall short of broader regulatory reforms
Other 50
- Death toll from twin earthquakes climbs to 3,889
- At least 16,740 injured and 17,907 displaced
- PAHO warns of disease outbreak risk due to limited water and medical access
- UN seeks $300 million aid; $15 million emergency funds still pending
- Over 1.3 million people need urgent assistance
- Super Typhoon Bavi is moving toward Taiwan and eastern mainland China, highlighting immediate risk
- Benjamin Horton, recipient of the Axford Medal, says the climate system is approaching a tipping point
- He cautions that historical weather patterns can no longer be relied upon for future forecasts
- 11-year-old Lyhanna was raped and murdered, prompting national outrage in France.
- The case highlights perceived failures and delays within the French justice system.
- Politicians and NGOs are calling for reforms and greater transparency in criminal investigations.
- Public protests have intensified, demanding accountability for law enforcement and prosecutors.
- Goldman bans employees from trading contracts linked to the bank, elections, macro data and geopolitics
- Only 3 of 50 surveyed companies have formal prediction‑market trading policies; 2 are reviewing them
- CFTC charged a Google employee with $1.2 million profit from insider trading on Polymarket contracts
- JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America are drafting or updating policies, while 36 firms gave no response
- Legal experts warn insider‑trading risk grows as prediction‑market contract variety expands
- WHO confirms 1,759 Ebola cases in DR Congo since mid‑May
- Death toll rises to 600 confirmed fatalities
- Outbreak labeled the fastest‑growing Ebola event on record
- Health authorities warn of accelerating spread across affected regions
- U.S.-funded rare‑earth projects are exporting billions of dollars worth of output to Asia.
- Japan and South Korea together receive the majority of the shipments.
- Domestic U.S. magnet production has not yet scaled to absorb the supply.
- COE for Category A cars rose to S$129,000 ($99,756), a record high.
- Category B premium increased to S$130,889 ($101,192), while commercial vehicle COE rose to S$95,000 ($73,447).
- COE prices have more than quadrupled since pre-pandemic levels, making car ownership unaffordable for most middle-class households.
- At least 28 workers died in the blaze, with many more trapped on the roof
- The incident occurred at a shoe manufacturing plant in eastern China
- Dozens of firefighters battled the fire while authorities began investigations
- President Xi Jinping demanded strict accountability for those responsible
- Palm Beach International Airport officially renamed to "Trump International Airport"
- Renaming announced Thursday, marking latest effort to attach Trump's name to public sites
- Eric Trump arrived in a private Boeing 757, dubbed “Trump Force One”, to celebrate the change
- The airport had retained its original name for nearly 50 years before the rebranding
- NM Attorney General Raul Torrez says DOJ has withheld requested records for over 130 days.
- State reopened probe after DOJ released millions of Epstein files, including Zorro Ranch documents.
- Torrez vows to complete investigation despite DOJ's claim of cooperation and continued redactions.
- The House is scheduled to vote on legislation that would make daylight saving time year‑round.
- The proposal would eliminate the biannual clock changes for U.S. residents.
- The bill still requires Senate approval and the President's signature to become law.
- More than 1,000 Michigan residents reported parasite-related illness
- Taco Bell is removing produce from select locations as a precaution
- Health officials have not identified a specific menu item linked to the outbreak
- NACC found sufficient grounds to charge former deputy interior minister Krieng Kaltinan and associates over 43.2 million baht road contracts
- Contracts were split into pieces of ≤2 million baht to bypass competitive bidding, covering 26 projects worth >43 million baht
- Investigators say municipal payments were funneled to Krieng, his family and associates
- Charges will be forwarded to the Attorney General; some company representatives were dropped due to insufficient evidence
- Five of six Guatemalan defendants have now pleaded guilty in the 2021 truck crash case.
- The crash near Tuxtla Gutierrez killed 55 migrants and injured over 100 others.
- Defendants Ventura and Zavala face up to life imprisonment, with sentencing set for October.
- Approximately 166 migrants were packed into the tractor‑trailer that overturned.
- SEC and CFTC both lack Democratic commissioners at leadership level
- President Trump has not announced any appointments to fill the vacancies
- White House reports receiving no Democratic response regarding the positions
- Leadership gaps continue at both U.S. financial regulators
- IUCN assessment finds >60% of vent mollusc species face extinction from proposed seabed mining
- Mining projects target hydrothermal vent habitats that host unique, rare biodiversity
- Conservation groups call for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable vent ecosystems
- High valuations can trap founders; big rounds may limit flexibility and increase pressure to meet lofty expectations
- Founders should vet investors by confirming promised recruitment, GTM support, and cultural fit before accepting capital
- Venture capital is suitable only for businesses capable of returning a fund; not every great business needs VC backing
- Fundraising expectations have risen, with AI startups scaling 2‑4× faster, raising the bar for growth metrics
- Elorian secured a $30 million pre‑seed valuation, illustrating the new scale of early‑stage funding
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, up from 75,000 points previously
- Card carries a $95 annual fee and provides 5x points on travel, 3x on dining, gas, streaming and groceries
- Additional perks include a $100 annual hotel credit, $120 Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit every four years, and a complimentary Apple TV (value $156) if activated by Dec 31, 2026
- Points transfer 1:1 to Chase travel partners such as World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and other airline/hotel programs
- Pak Shek Kok station on East Rail line to open by 2033
- Project to be financed by MTR Corporation building and selling private flats
- Original plan for private and public homes scrapped
- Authorities are investigating a suspected fuel leak from a cargo aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport.
- The incident involved a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, flight CV531, parked outside the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal.
- The leak, reported around 8:32 AM on Thursday, was confirmed to be from the aircraft's left wing.
- A three‑year‑old livestreamer was shown eating heavily, reaching a weight of about 35 kg
- Videos depict children in staged intimate scenes and bizarre acts, such as eating live worms and snails
- Authorities and platforms face criticism for allowing the content, citing distortion of societal values
- The "online celebrity children" trend has grown over years, prompting calls for stricter regulation
- Indonesia removed or deactivated 4.8M suspected underage social media accounts in 3 months
- Government aims to make digital world safer for children
- Major platforms reportedly complying with policy
- 176 reports of suspected child abuse in 5 months
- 188 minors involved, nearly half possibly victims of sexual abuse
- Mandatory reporting regime introduced on January 20
- Nikkei analysis finds roughly 20% of Amazon's recommended USB drives show multiple reviews flagging capacity misrepresentation.
- The problem is concentrated in low-cost Chinese-branded drives and counterfeit name‑brand products.
- Weak seller vetting on Amazon lets fake drives appear in search results, exposing buyers to risk.
- Reviews indicate storage capacities are overstated, leading to consumer dissatisfaction.
- France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarterfinal
- Kylian Mbappe scored his eighth tournament goal at the 60th minute
- Ousmane Dembélé added a second goal six minutes later
- France will meet the winner of Spain vs Belgium in the semifinal
- 22-year-old Oussama Thiangkham earns his first senior Thailand call-up for the ASEAN Championship.
- Previously featured for Thailand U23, including the AFC U23 Championship finals in Saudi Arabia.
- Competes with three other left-backs for a starting spot, but can also play as defender or winger.
- Homo floresiensis inhabited Flores until about 60,000 years ago.
- New research indicates they scavenged remains left by Komodo dragons rather than hunting pygmy elephants.
- Findings challenge previous assumptions about early hominin dispersal beyond Africa.
- Evidence comes from co-occurring hominin and pygmy elephant bones in the same cave sediment layers.
- Suspect Tyler Robinson reportedly expressed regret a day after the killing, according to former roommate Lance Twiggs
- Twiggs testified in court, stating Robinson planned to turn himself in to police
- Prosecutors presented the interview as part of their case to demonstrate sufficient evidence for trial
- Servicer left two voicemails and then called a personal contact after a missed payment.
- Borrower was unaware how the servicer obtained the friend’s phone number, suggesting a possible privacy breach.
- Legal experts question whether the outreach violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or other consumer protection laws.
- No regulatory action reported yet, but the case highlights broader concerns over loan servicer practices.
- Michigan reports 1,251 confirmed cases as of July 9, up from 572 on July 4
- 44 patients have been hospitalized due to the parasite infection
- July 8 saw a single-day high of 239 new cases, the largest daily tally so far
- Ohio is also seeing a rise, with reported cases exceeding 500
- Palm Beach International Airport officially renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport
- New signage installed throughout the terminal to reflect the new name
- Renaming sparks mixed reactions, with supporters praising the tribute and critics calling it in poor taste
- Karolina Muchova (29) saved a match point to defeat Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) in the semi‑final.
- Linda Noskova (21) beat 12th seed Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 in 79 minutes to reach the final.
- This will be the third Czech woman in four years to contest the Wimbledon title, after Krejcikova (2024) and Vondrousova (2023).
- World Cup revenues now exceed $1 billion, driving higher ticket prices
- Average ticket costs have risen about 45% since 2010
- Cape Verde’s surprise run shows compelling stories can still emerge
- Commercialisation has shifted focus from traditional sport values
- Trump says he's the most‑followed person on TikTok, citing 16.7 million followers.
- The platform’s top account is Khabane Lame with 162.3 million followers; Charli D’Amelio follows with 159.2 million.
- Among world leaders, Trump ranks #1 with 16.7 million, ahead of El Salvador’s Bukele (12.9 million) and Mexico’s Sheinbaum (9.3 million).
- Taylor Swift actually has about double Trump’s TikTok following at 33.5 million, placing her at #11.
- Jarell Quansah suspended for two matches after a studs‑up tackle in the round‑of‑16.
- He will miss England’s quarter‑final against Norway and any potential semifinal.
- The ban follows a video‑review decision; England had considered appealing a similar suspension earlier.
- England also lose midfielder Jordan Henderson for the tournament after wrist surgery.
- France’s appeal over Michael Olise’s yellow card was rejected by FIFA.
- Allen announced a partnership with sleep‑aid brand Natrol.
- He said a post‑NFL broadcasting job would be "cool" but not as a full‑time broadcaster.
- Former quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees have recently transitioned to TV roles.
- Artists in Gaza crafted a sand portrait of Egypt's Hossam Hassan.
- The tribute acknowledges his support for Palestinians during the World Cup.
- The sand portrait was publicly displayed in Gaza.
- 67‑year‑old Hearn charged with felony for allegedly removing a 2‑sq‑ft sealant piece, causing over $1,000 in damage
- Originally arrested on June 19 on a misdemeanor after reaching into the Reflecting Pool
- Indictment carries a maximum 10‑year prison sentence, though a lighter term is expected if convicted
- Attorney calls the prosecution a political scapegoat by the Trump administration
- Hearn was not required to post bail and remains free pending trial
- School emphasizes confidence, resilience, and a global outlook for students
- Targets families seeking education beyond academic exam results
- Advertising highlights preparation for future challenges in a competitive world
- 71-year-old patient undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair.
- Surgeons found a live 26 cm (10‑inch) worm inside the abdominal cavity.
- Patient reported a prior similar incident, referenced in a NEJM case report.
- A new trailer for 'Dune: Part Three' has been released, following an extended teaser dropped in March.
- The trailer is described as 'jam-packed with tantalizing hints' and 'plenty of Easter eggs' for avid book fans.
- The article recaps key plot points from the first two films, including Paul Atreides' journey and the defeat of House Atreides.
- Key characters mentioned include Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and Chani (Zendaya).
- Parent company New Frontier Group apologizes for embryo biopsy specimen mix-up at Hong Kong clinic Heal Fertility
- Comprehensive internal review launched, cooperating with authorities' investigation
- Support pledged for affected patients
- 31-year-old tutor pleaded guilty to two child-abuse counts, one grievous hurt count, and one false-information count
- Six-year-old Chinese child was abused for 18 hours, forced to drink his own urine
- Abuse methods included beating with a clothes hanger, forced push-ups, punching, and starvation
- Devolution scheduled for roughly nine months from now
- Transfer of authority will allow Nunavut residents to pursue local industry initiatives
- Potential for a "Made-in-Nunavut" model to boost regional economic activity
- 26-year-old man sentenced to 10 years in prison
- Attack occurred during ticket inspection in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Conductor died from brain haemorrhage after being struck
- Court hearing held in Zweibrücken
- Assailant convicted of bodily harm resulting in death
- Incident occurred in Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany
- Four-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in the dog bite
- Dog identified as an American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull type)
- Authorities said attempts to separate the dog failed; death confirmed on scene
- Incident occurred on May 28 during a PLA Air Force parachute refresher drill.
- First Lieutenant Wang Rui performed his 16th jump from 800 meters (2,600 feet).
- Wang untangled the parachutes and rescued the unconscious teammate mid-air.
- Eight teens (four boys, four girls) detained alongside a 24‑year‑old man.
- Arrests made during a citywide police operation on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Suspects allegedly recruited via social media by a crime syndicate.
- Scheme involved splashing paint on doors to intimidate debtors.
- Charges include criminal damage and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
- Welsh pop star Bonnie Tyler has passed away at 75
- Cause of death was an illness, details not specified
- Tyler was best known for her hit song 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'
- Over 900 restaurants in Hong Kong now allow dogs inside
- Scheme marks end of 30-year ban on dogs in restaurants
- Some owners turned away due to unprepared licensed premises
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