- Major Asian stock indices climbed 0.5%‑0.8% after softer US CPI data reduced rate‑hike expectations.
- US consumer price inflation came in below forecasts, easing concerns over near‑term monetary tightening.
- Oil prices rose roughly 1% as the United States restarted a maritime blockade, supporting crude markets.
July 15, 2026
▲ 57▼ 56◆ 21– 198
Markets 38
- USD/JPY trades near 162.00, flat on the session after a round trip between 162.42 and 161.90.
- A soft producer-price print buys the Yen half a figure; the 275-basis-point carry takes it back within hours.
- Tokyo's intervention silence keeps the topside honest below the cycle high at 162.84.
- AUD/USD trades near 0.7005 after tagging 0.7021, its first look above 0.7000 since mid-June.
- China's Q2 GDP growth misses expectations, but industrial production and retail sales beat estimates.
- AUD/USD stalls at 50-day EMA at 0.7016, ahead of Thursday's inflation expectations and next week's employment report.
- Momentum trade unwind reaches its largest since 2001
- S&P 500 remains largely unchanged despite broader selloff
- Other sectors and stocks offset losses, limiting impact on the index
- DJIA rose to 52,830 before falling back to around 52,500, ending down ~0.12% after a 370‑point rally
- June PPI fell 0.3% MoM, annual rate 5.5% versus 6.0% forecast; core PPI rose 0.2% MoM
- Fed rate‑future pricing still shows ~60% probability of a hike by the October meeting
- Semiconductor stocks slumped, with Micron down 9% and SanDisk off >11%, while Apple, Microsoft and Amazon each rose ~3%
- WTI held above $78 and Brent above $83 as strikes in the Strait of Hormuz added a war premium
- Margin debt rose 54% year‑to‑date, reaching $1.4 trillion in May.
- Growth outpaced S&P 500’s 22% total return over the same period.
- Debt growth exceeds historic 40% trigger seen before 2000, 2007 and 2021 peaks.
- Leveraged ETF assets nearly doubled in two months last spring.
- Analysts warn high margin debt precedes a one‑year decline in S&P 500 returns.
- MSCI's global equities index rose 0.63% to 1,128.63
- U.S. producer prices dropped 0.3% in June, beating forecasts
- Oil prices rose 0.33% to $79.60 a barrel, despite U.S.-Iran hostilities
- DTCC will run tokenized transactions with more than 25 firms on Wednesday
- JPMorgan will convert the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) into a tokenized asset
- DTCC processed $4.7 quadrillion in securities transactions in the prior year
- The trial will showcase tokenization across equities, ETFs, Treasuries and collateral functions
- Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Vanguard and the NYSE are among the participating firms
- US equity indexes rose modestly before trimming gains
- Positive earnings from megacap tech firms supported the rally
- Overall market momentum remained limited
- Dow futures up 15 points (0.03%); S&P futures +0.05%; Nasdaq futures +0.11%
- Recent PPI data points to cooling inflation, bolstering equity sentiment
- Investors await retail sales and jobless claims later today for direction
- UnitedHealth earnings pre‑market and Netflix after‑hours could move markets
- EUR/USD up 0.41% to 1.1466, trading near 19‑day highs after softer US inflation data
- RSI shifts bullish, suggesting a move toward the 1.1500 psychological resistance
- Break above 1.1500 could target 1.1542 (50‑day SMA) and 1.1592 (100‑day SMA); downside support at 1.1400, 1.1377, 1.1324
- GBP/USD up >1% to around 1.3540, crossing the 200‑day EMA and 1.3400 support in one session
- US June PPI fell 0.3% MoM, annual rate 5.5% versus 6% forecast, easing Fed rate‑hike expectations
- BoE September rate hike fully priced; market anticipates another hike this year, bolstering Sterling
- Resistance at 1.3550; a close above could target 1.3600‑1.3658, while support lies at 1.3500‑1.3385
- USD/KRW failed to break the June peak of ~1,561 and retreated toward 1,488, with the 200‑day moving average around 1,475 as key support
- KRW delivered a 4% YTD total return against the USD, the best‑performing Asian currency halfway through July
- Bank of Korea expected to tighten policy by 25 bps to 2.75% to counter inflation
- Non‑resident sales of Korean equities and bonds totalled $100.93 bn in H1‑26, underpinning KRW strength
- Real yields on Treasury Inflation‑Protected Securities have risen to multi‑year highs
- Current TIPS pricing offers a generous inflation payout compared with recent years
- Locking in TIPS now can provide a long‑term hedge against rising consumer prices
- 15 quality small-cap stocks identified with dividend yields above 4%
- Small-cap index has outperformed large-cap peers over the past quarter
- Investors may shift focus from large caps to small caps for higher income
- USD/MXN up 0.29% after US PPI cools, easing Fed tightening expectations
- Middle East tensions keep Oil-linked Dollar risks alive
- Moody's downgrade and core inflation temper Peso upside
- The dollar slipped for a second consecutive session, trading lower against major currencies.
- US Producer Price Index growth slowed, reducing immediate inflation pressures.
- Market participants trimmed expectations for near‑term Fed rate hikes.
- BlackRock shares surged as megacap tech stocks propelled the Nasdaq higher
- PayPal stock rose 16% after a buyout proposal was announced
- Semiconductor stocks declined, offsetting some of the market gains
- 10-year Treasury yield slipped, extending the recent downward trend
- Core CPI data showed slower price growth, supporting expectations of lower inflation
- Middle East geopolitical tension eased, removing a risk premium from bonds
- Investment‑grade munis posted 2.16% total return in H1 2026, high‑yield munis 3.74%
- Tax‑adjusted returns were 3.7% for investment‑grade and 5.59% for high‑yield munis
- Vanguard Tax‑Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) recorded a 30‑day SEC yield of 3.5%
- Analysts expect solid muni performance through year‑end despite elevated supply and rate volatility
- Credit selection emphasized, focusing on AAA/AA, general‑obligation, airport and affordable‑housing bonds
- US Dollar Index fell 0.5% to about 100.40 after PPI showed a 0.3% MoM decline and annual rate of 5.5% versus 6.2% forecast
- EUR/USD rose 0.45% to 1.1475 as the euro gained on USD weakness
- GBP/USD climbed over 1% to 1.3550, backed by political expectations and energy‑price risk concerns
- Gold advanced around 0.2% to $4,068 per ounce, supported by the weaker dollar and falling Treasury yields
- WTI oil stayed near $80 per barrel, close to a one‑month high amid renewed Middle East supply worries
- FCC plans to eliminate the 39% national TV household ownership limit.
- New rule would assess each merger individually instead of enforcing a fixed cap.
- The change follows a waiver that let Nexstar acquire Tegna, giving it control of over 50% of TV households.
- Chair Brendan Carr says the FCC has authority to modify the rule, likely leading to court challenges.
- US core CPI came in softer than expected, easing near‑term Fed hike expectations and weakening the USD.
- Elevated oil prices continue to weigh on energy‑sensitive currencies, keeping the Indian rupee and Philippine peso under pressure.
- The renminbi and Singapore dollar are expected to stay relatively stable thanks to lower oil sensitivity and stronger policy anchors.
- EUR/USD climbed above 1.1460, trading near 1.1451 after US PPI missed forecasts
- US headline PPI fell 0.3% MoM and annual rate slowed to 5.5% from 6.0%, below the 6.2% consensus
- Spain's HICP held at 3.6% YoY in June, supporting the euro and limiting ECB easing expectations
- Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said inflation data remain imperfect and the Fed is not ready to declare victory
- Cantor will use its equity capital markets expertise while Securitize provides tokenization infrastructure for on‑chain IPOs.
- The partnership issues tokenized securities directly on blockchain, avoiding wrappers or synthetic structures.
- The deal follows DTCC's recent announcement to tokenize stocks with major banks, indicating a broader industry shift.
- USD/JPY around 162.14, down 0.07% on the day
- US PPI fell 0.3% in June; annual rate 5.5% versus 6.0% prior, below 6.2% forecast
- DXY eased to ~100.70 after softer US CPI and PPI data
- Yen near 40-year lows as wide US‑Japan rate gap and rising oil prices weigh on the currency
- US June PPI fell to 5.5% YoY, below the 6.2% forecast
- Core PPI eased to 4.7% YoY, under the 5.2% estimate
- GBP/USD rose ~0.6% to 1.3460, eyeing resistance near 1.3492
- WTI crude dropped from $97 to $68 then rose 15% to $80, affecting inflation outlook
- Money markets price ~36 bps of BoE tightening by year‑end, with 87% odds of a rate hold at the July 30 meeting
- Buffett says the market is increasingly driven by gambling, especially one‑day options trading.
- Equities have hit all‑time highs this year despite concerns over speculation and AI‑related hype.
- He stresses that meaningful investment opportunities are scarce and require patient, disciplined investing.
- Q2 earnings for major U.S. banks rose roughly 10% YoY, beating consensus forecasts
- Net interest margins expanded to about 2.5% as rates remained elevated
- Loan growth stayed modest at roughly 5% annualized while credit losses stayed low
- Analysts warn higher rates and tighter credit conditions could erode the current upside
- Hong Kong fell to second place in global IPO rankings, losing its top spot
- Financial Services Development Council calls for broader range of listing issuers and investors
- Diversification seen as key to attract more tech firms and overseas capital
- Multiple companies have announced sizable secondary offerings, increasing share supply.
- Analysts warn that the influx of new shares may dilute earnings per share and valuation multiples.
- The heightened issuance could test the resilience of the current equity rally.
- Investors shift capital to Japanese drone firms as AI hype wanes
- Military demand for unmanned systems fuels sector rally
- Drone equities outperform traditional defense stocks
- USD/SGD reversed its NY session plunge, closing near 1.2910 after softer US CPI
- UOB projects intraday range of 1.2874–1.2939, indicating short‑term consolidation
- 1‑3 week outlook limits movement to 1.2860–1.2955, with low likelihood of breaking below 1.2860
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- Defendant James Patten faces sentencing for a $100 million stock‑manipulation scheme involving two thinly traded companies.
- Prosecutors request 12–18 months in prison, lower than the 70–87 months suggested by sentencing guidelines.
- Co‑defendants received sentences of six months (Peter Coker Sr.) and 40 months (Peter Coker Jr.) for the same scheme.
- Patten’s defense cites his prior six‑month home detention, health issues, and remorse to argue for no jail time.
- The scheme temporarily pushed the market capitalisation of the two companies above $100 million.
- WSJ Dollar Index fell 0.30% to 96.86
- Marks a second consecutive trading day of decline
- Signals modest weakening of the U.S. dollar against its basket
- The S&P/BMV IPC index slipped 0.17% at the close of trade.
- Broad market participation was negative, pulling the index down.
- No major sector or corporate news drove the move; it reflects routine market drift.
- COLCAP slipped 0.29% in the latest trading session
- Trading volume was modest with no clear sector catalyst
- The move aligns with recent regional equity weakness
- USD/CHF fell 0.62% to 0.8041, breaking a rising wedge and the July 14 low of 0.8067
- RSI at 50.5 near neutral, signaling weakening buyer momentum
- If below 0.8042, key support levels are 0.8000, 0.7961 (50‑day SMA) and 0.7918 (200‑day SMA)
Macro/Economy 22
- Q2 GDP grew 4.3% YoY, missing the 4.5% forecast and down from 5% in Q1
- Fixed‑asset investment fell 5.7% YoY in H1, with real estate down 18%, infrastructure 2.4% and manufacturing 1.2%
- Retail sales rose 1% in June after a 0.6% decline in May; industrial output up 5.3% YoY in June
- Exports posted strongest growth since late 2021, widening the EU surplus by 24% in the first half
- Analysts expect possible policy stimulus, including a rate cut, as growth falls short of the 4.5‑5% target range
- ₹625 billion ($6.5 bn) Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme offers 2.25‑5% incentives, plus 1.5% for local component sourcing
- Additional ₹1.28 trillion ($13.3 bn) allocated to expand semiconductor incentives, building on a $10 bn program
- Scheme targets production of ₹39 trillion ($405 bn) phones by 2031 and aims to create ~60,000 direct jobs
- India’s share of global smartphone output is 18% vs China’s 63%; goal to raise its share to 35‑40% over time
- Apple already assembles ~25% of its iPhones in India, benefiting from the new incentives
- Wholesale prices declined 0.3% MoM in June, below consensus of flat; annual PPI inflation at 5.5%
- Gasoline prices dropped 12% MoM, driving 6.4% decline in energy costs and 1.4% fall in goods prices
- Core PPI rose 0.2% MoM (vs 0.3% est.), with core PPI less trade services up 5.1% YoY
- FedWatch now sees 50% chance of September rate hike, down from prior expectations
- The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased to 6.65% from 6.58%, reaching its highest level since August 2025 (as per article).
- Total mortgage application volume decreased by 2.7% week-over-week.
- Applications for home purchases fell 7% from the previous week and were 2% lower year-over-year.
- Refinance applications rose 4% week-over-week and 7% year-over-year, with FHA and VA refinances seeing 9% and 10% increases respectively.
- The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 43.2% of total applications from 40.6%.
- Rural elderly in China receive avg. 500 yuan/month pension, forcing adult children to support them
- 33.6M rural residents on subsistence aid in 2024, including 13M+ elderly, per Ministry of Civil Affairs
- Migrant worker avg. salary 4,961 yuan/month (≈$750) often supports spouse, children, and aging parents
- 2024/25 pension hikes (+40 yuan total) deemed insufficient to ease financial dependence pressures
- Below average and uneven rainfall during India's monsoon sowing season is fueling food inflation concerns.
- Planting of key crops has decreased by up to 39% compared to last year.
- Uneven rainfall distribution is particularly impacting dry states like Karnataka.
- The situation keeps fears of increased food inflation alive in India.
- S&P kept Indonesia's sovereign rating unchanged with stable outlook, citing fiscal discipline and a -3% of GDP deficit target.
- DBS warns West Asia tensions and higher US yields have pushed USD/IDR above 18,000, weakening the rupiah.
- The IDR 2‑year yield has risen about 200 basis points, flattening the curve and limiting a sustained rally in local markets.
- U.S. electricity consumption set a new record high in 2023 and is on track for further all‑time highs in 2024‑2025
- AI boom and data‑center expansion identified as the main drivers of the rising power demand
- Electrification growth and natural gas‑fueled generation both contributing to record‑level electricity output
- Analysts expect elevated electricity demand to persist over the next few years
- Median World Cup ticket price topped $900, according to TicketData
- Boston hotel bookings initially soft, later met forecasts after room-price cuts
- Bars reported higher beer sales, with some running out of beer during matches
- Consumer spending growth slowed as higher oil prices curbed discretionary outlays
- Visitor traffic from Canada remained below historical averages in New England
- Tiered Standard Plan payments will not count toward the 120 required PSLF payments; only the Repayment Assistance Plan qualifies for new borrowers after July 1
- Parent PLUS borrowers are excluded from income‑driven repayment and PSLF unless they consolidate into a Direct loan
- A court decision overturned a rule that could have barred nonprofits from qualifying as PSLF employers
- PSLF still grants forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments (10 years) for eligible borrowers
- PJM's 2028 capacity auction is 6.8 GW below the amount needed for reliability
- Shortfall raises risk of supply constraints during peak demand spikes
- Rapid data center expansion is identified as a key driver of higher electricity demand
- PJM serves about 67 million customers across 13 states and Washington, D.C.
- No additional generation commitments were secured to fill the gap
- Foreign arrivals fell 3.09% YoY to 16.7 million in the Jan 1‑Jul 11 period
- Visa‑free period halved to 30 days for visitors from 59 countries
- Visa privileges expanded for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, India, Malta and Maldives
- Tourism revenue target set at 2.76‑2.9 trillion baht for 2027
- UK and EU agreements eliminate up to 12% tariffs on Indian textile exports
- Indian textile orders rise after months of uncertainty
- Tariff removal levels the playing field with duty‑free rivals Bangladesh and Pakistan
- Vietnam estimates $1.5 trillion needed for infrastructure projects through 2034
- Domestic financing gaps will push the government to attract foreign capital starting 2027
- Goal is to transition to a high‑income economy by 2045
- Projects will span transport, energy, and digital infrastructure
- Bangladesh Bank rolls out a nationwide interoperable QR platform, allowing any bank or mobile money user to pay any merchant with a single code
- The system targets reduction of cash reliance and formalisation of the large informal sector
- Authorities expect the QR network to boost tax revenue and broaden financial inclusion across the country
- Eight major Japanese power companies will build or expand 30 substations nationwide.
- Projects target increased transmission capacity for rising electricity demand from AI data centers.
- Key expansions include new substations in Kobe and Osaka.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises report difficulty raising prices despite higher input costs
- Domestic demand remains weak, leading to excess inventory accumulation across sectors
- Middle East conflict adds to supply‑chain costs, further squeezing profit margins
- Intensified price competition limits inflationary pressure from the SME segment
- Claiming at age 62 cuts monthly benefits by up to 30% versus full retirement age.
- Delaying past full retirement age raises benefits by about 8% per year until age 70.
- Survivor benefits depend on the deceased's benefit amount at the time of death.
- Government will allocate 2.45 bn baht across three travel stimulus schemes
- Domestic co‑payment scheme (Thai Teaw Thai Plus) costs 1.75 bn baht, targeting 32 bn baht economic value
- Flight discount scheme (Fly Thai All the Feelings) provides 200 mn baht for 400,000 seats, aiming for 1.6 bn baht impact
- International flight subsidy (Thailand Air Connect) allocates 500 mn baht to attract 400,000 inbound travelers, projected 23.2 bn baht revenue
- Total expected economic contribution from the measures is about 56 bn baht
- 32,800 entry-level PMET vacancies were recorded in March, representing 43.6% of all openings
- Vacancy numbers have been steady, with 32,500 in Dec 2025 and 34,600 in Dec 2024
- Graduates reported applying to more than 120 jobs each, with many still without full-time offers
- Median starting salary for IT graduates is S$5,500, below the S$6,000 many expected
- A MOM study found fresh graduates often earn less than expected, prompting some to reject offers
- Frank Bisignano, IRS chief and SSA commissioner, will lead the rollout of the Trump Accounts program
- More than 6.5 million families have enrolled; over 1.5 million eligible children have signed up
- Families can contribute up to $5,000 per year per child under 18, with a one-time $1,000 government contribution for children born 2025‑2028
- Withdrawals before age 59½ are taxed and penalized, except for qualified education expenses
- Expansion aims to broaden household participation in equity market gains, with 58% of U.S. households currently invested
- Custom samurai swords priced around $40,000 are being promoted to attract affluent travelers
- The initiative targets Gifu prefecture, a less‑visited rural area of Japan
- Local officials hope high‑spending tourism will revitalize the region’s economy
Central Banks 11
- BOJ raised its short‑term policy rate to 1.0% in July, up from 0.75%
- 44% of surveyed firms report a somewhat negative impact, 5% say the impact is significant
- Nearly half (49%) of firms say higher rates hurt operations, only 5% see a positive effect
- 28% of firms target a USD/JPY range of 140‑149.9, 27% target 150‑159.9; yen fell to a 40‑year low of 162.84
- 12% say a 1.25% policy rate would curb investment, while 27% would be affected only above 1.5%
- Annual inflation at 3.7%, still 1.7 percentage points above the 2% target and five years since target was met
- Unemployment steady at 4.2% in June, aligning with the natural rate
- GDP growth was 2.0% in 2025 and forecast to rise to 2.2% in 2026, up from prior 1.6% outlook
- Labor productivity up about 2.5% per year, supporting resilient output
- Fed now views inflation risks as greater than employment risks, hinting at possible tighter monetary policy
- Warsh testified that inflation pressures are temporary, calling current measures “imperfect gauges.”
- He noted that monetary policy has contributed to inflation and that the labor market stays “broadly balanced.”
- Warsh highlighted AI as a long‑term driver of jobs and wages despite near‑term disruption.
- The FXS Speechtracker rating for his remarks was 5.4/10, below the historical average of 7/10.
- The FXS Fed Sentiment Index held steady at 126.13, keeping the USD on a hawkish footing.
- ECB rate hike odds rise to ~20% for July 22 meeting as Brent crude surges above $85/bbl amid Hormuz Strait hostilities
- Eurozone inflation peaked at 3.2% in May; energy costs up 8.7% YoY, but core inflation at 2.4% limits second-round effects
- ECB hiked rates to 2.25% in June after four cuts in H1 2025; policymakers now weigh recession risk vs inflation persistence
- UK aims to issue its first digital sovereign bond (DIGIT) by early 2027
- Bond will be listed on HSBC’s Orion platform within the BoE and FCA Digital Securities Sandbox
- BoE Governor says the digital gilt could be eligible as collateral for central bank funding operations
- Treasury has not disclosed the bond's size, maturity, coupon, or investor eligibility
- HSBC has previously issued over $3.5 bn of digital bonds on the Orion blockchain
- European Parliament approved the digital euro with roughly 70% support.
- A pilot program will launch in September 2027 with 36 selected payment providers.
- Development cost for the Eurosystem is estimated at €1.3 billion, with annual operating costs of about €320 million.
- Over 50 payment service providers applied; the ECB will not charge transaction fees to merchants or banks.
- Digital euro aims to provide cash‑like privacy and reduce reliance on non‑European payment infrastructure.
- John Harold Rogers, 64, received a prison term of more than three years.
- Convicted of making false statements about sharing confidential monetary‑policy information with Chinese intelligence.
- Verdict was delivered at trial on Feb 3; sentencing announced by the Justice Department on July 10.
- Warsh confirmed regular communication with the White House but declined to disclose any direct talks with President Trump.
- He emphasized that Fed independence remains “sacrosanct” despite the administration’s interest in lower rates.
- Inflation has stayed above the Fed’s 2% target for 63 consecutive months, with June data showing a modest decline.
- The FOMC remains split, with some governors signaling possible rate hikes later this year.
- Warsh has created a task force to review the Fed’s balance‑sheet policy and inflation outlook.
- Warsh reaffirmed the Fed's commitment to fighting inflation, calling it a "tax" on Americans
- He offered no guidance on the future direction of monetary policy or interest‑rate moves
- The testimony avoided fiscal and political topics, emphasizing the Fed's core mandate
- BoC kept its policy rate unchanged at 2.25%, its sixth consecutive hold
- Governor Macklem said the Canadian dollar's weakness will not influence future rate decisions
- Inflation expected to ease to about 2.5% in the second half of 2026 and hit the 2% target by early 2027
- Growth projected at 1.8% for 2027‑2028, with Q2 GDP seen around 2.5%
- USD/CAD hovered near 1.4050 with little reaction to the decision
- Warsh says recent inflation data are an imperfect gauge of underlying price pressures
- He notes AI's impact on inflation will hinge on the Fed's policy response
- Wages have risen at a "reasonable" pace, though the timing of stronger gains remains a puzzle
Energy/Oil 21
- Nearly 135 million barrels of Russian crude are stranded at sea.
- Ukrainian strikes have reduced Russian refining capacity by about one‑third to ~3.91 million bpd.
- Moscow is ramping up export volumes to offset the domestic shortfall, adding to global supply.
- Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is deemed off-limits in the near term by Japan's Foreign Trade Council chair.
- Renewed hostilities and threats to vessels have led to a spike in transit risks for the key tanker and container shipping lane.
- Masahiro Okafuji stated that no one would go there due to danger.
- Re-routing shipping lanes around the Cape of Good Hope is expected to increase costs and transit times.
- U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and struck dozens of coastal targets
- Tehran retaliated by attacking tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz
- Brent crude jumped from the mid‑$70s to over $85 per barrel, its highest level since the truce
- The price surge underscores heightened geopolitical risk to oil supply routes
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- EIA reports a 1.7 million barrel draw in U.S. crude stocks for the week ending July 10
- Total commercial crude inventories stand at 409.7 million barrels, 6% below the five-year seasonal average
- API had previously shown a smaller 564,000 barrel draw for the same period
- The inventory decline coincides with heightened Iran tensions, adding upward pressure on oil prices
- U.S. gasoline retail price may top $4 per gallon, the highest level in over a decade
- Crude oil prices have climbed back above $80 per barrel, driving the gasoline price surge
- Higher fuel costs could lift headline inflation by up to 0.2 percentage points in the next CPI report
- Elevated energy prices may keep central banks on a tighter policy path, sustaining market volatility
- The Brent crude futures curve has inverted, a phenomenon known as backwardation.
- This curve flip indicates that the market is increasingly factoring in geopolitical or wartime risks.
- Backwardation suggests expectations of tighter supply in the near term due to potential disruptions.
- US CENTCOM launched a new wave of strikes against Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open
- Iran's IRGC said it hit US assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, claiming damage to the Fifth Fleet headquarters
- WTI crude rose 0.55% to $79.60 amid the escalation
- Ukraine has struck at least 24 of Russia's 34 refineries since March
- Russian crude processing fell to 3.91 million barrels per day in early July
- Processing is 1.4 million bpd below last year's average, the lowest since March 2005
- Moscow banned exports of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel in response
- Global diesel prices have risen as supply tightens
- WTI August futures up 26¢ to $79.60 per barrel
- Brent September futures up 22¢ to $84.95 per barrel
- U.S. reinstated naval blockade near Strait of Hormuz and carried out a seven‑hour strike on Iranian missile, drone and naval assets
- Analysts warn oil could retest $100 per barrel if hostilities persist for weeks
- WTI trades around $78.70, up roughly 10% for the week.
- U.S. crude inventories fell by 1.693 million barrels, below the 2.6 million‑barrel forecast.
- Technical resistance is near $80, with the 200‑day SMA at $73.67 offering support.
- Recent U.S. strikes on Iran heighten geopolitical risk premium in oil markets.
- China's crude buying slump may be ending, removing a key market cushion
- Renewed US-Iran tensions put Gulf supplies at risk
- Global oil market faces increased volatility
- Ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz persisted throughout Q2 2026, tightening crude flows
- Crude oil prices rose and volatility increased for most of the quarter as supply concerns mounted
- International buyers shifted to U.S. sources, lifting refinery margins, production and export volumes
- Oil futures edged higher after US reinstated Iranian blockade
- US abandoned a proposed 20% fee on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz
- Uncertainty over future US‑Iran actions kept oil prices elevated
- Natural gas futures posted modest gains for a second straight session
- Slight warming in weather outlook supported the price uptick
- Market awaits upcoming storage data to gauge supply balance
- CNOOC launched a 16-MW tension-leg platform floating wind turbine in June 2024.
- The turbine will provide power to the Lufeng oil fields in the South China Sea.
- It is the first floating wind system designed to run offshore oil extraction platforms.
- Proposed tolls on oil pipelines could add roughly $0.30 per barrel to transport costs
- U.S. regulators are reviewing toll structures for major freight corridors, citing possible 1‑2% price impact
- Analysts expect any tolls to modestly compress margins for major oil producers, with limited effect on global crude prices
- Energy Transition Minerals' Kvanefjeld project in Greenland faces uncertainty due to government dispute
- Project's future hangs in balance as government and company negotiate terms
- Rare earths project's status remains unclear with no clear timeline for resolution
- Refining margins widened, lifting earnings for formerly underperforming plants
- Several refiners reported profit jumps of over 30% year‑over‑year
- Elevated oil price volatility continues to support margin expansion
- IBM (Big Blue) missed earnings expectations, weighing on tech stocks
- WTI and Brent prices have been swinging sharply in recent sessions
- Trader sentiment flagged as elevated anxiety and uncertainty
- Analysts warn that volatility could persist amid supply concerns
- First Mexican crude shipment to Japan since the Iran war started in February 2024
- Tanker slated to arrive at Yokkaichi refinery Friday, then proceed to Chiba refinery
- Cargo routed from the Gulf of Mexico around the Cape of Good Hope
- April phone call between Japan's PM and Mexico's president to deepen energy cooperation amid supply disruptions
- Japan's Petroleum Association seeks to diversify away from Middle East crude, eyeing U.S. crude as an option
- Current refinery setups favor Middle Eastern grades, limiting capacity for large U.S. crude volumes
- UAE aims to double Fujairah export capacity by 2027; Saudi Arabia considers expanding its Red Sea pipeline
- Japan's energy resilience package, due by end‑August, will support supply stability and refinery flexibility
Gold/Metals 13
- Gold price at 6-month low, faces breakdown test at $1,600
- Fed's 50bps rate hike expected in July, adding to gold's pressure
- Hormuz Strait tensions and global economic uncertainty support gold
- XAU/USD down 0.53% to $4,034 amid Middle East escalation
- US Producer Price Index slipped to 5.5% YoY, below 6.2% forecast
- Fed rate‑hike odds cut to 22 bps from 35 bps after data
- Higher oil prices boost the dollar, adding pressure on gold
- Technical: support at $4,000, resistance at $4,100‑$4,150
- Gold (XAU/USD) trades around $4,060, up 0.15% after falling to $4,017 intraday low
- US Producer Price Index fell 0.3% MoM; annual rate 5.5% versus 6.2% forecast
- Oil prices rise amid Middle East tensions, keeping inflation risks alive
- Technical: gold below 50/100/200‑day SMAs, support at $4,000, resistance at $4,200
- Fed officials signal focus on inflation, easing near‑term rate‑hike expectations
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- Gold holds recent gains following U.S. CPI inflation reading
- Geopolitical tension rises as Iran threatens oil supply disruptions
- China's latest GDP growth miss limits upside for gold as demand outlook weakens
- Silver closed at its lowest level since Dec 4, 2025.
- It recorded its fifth decline into the close in the past seven trading sessions.
- The slide underscores continued weakness in precious‑metal markets.
- US Producer Price Index for June came in at 5.5% YoY, below the 6.6% forecast
- Gold (XAU/USD) trades around $4,062, just above the $4,000 support level
- Gold sits below its 100‑day SMA ($4,073.52) and 200‑day SMA ($4,188.21), indicating a bearish bias
- Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s congressional testimony kept focus on inflation, supporting a weaker USD
- Key resistance at $4,073.5 and $4,100; downside support at $4,048 and $4,000
- Silver (XAG/USD) down 1.90% on the day, trading around $57.55.
- US Dollar Index eased to about 100.46 from a high of 101.03, but Fed hawkishness keeps silver under pressure.
- Technical support zone at $55.50‑$56.00; resistance near $59.42‑$59.57.
- June CPI and PPI missed expectations, yet Fed Governor Lisa Cook reaffirmed a hawkish stance.
- Codelco now expects first lithium output from Maricunga in 2034, a four‑year postponement.
- The project was previously scheduled to begin production in 2030.
- The delay highlights ongoing challenges in scaling lithium extraction in Chile.
- Gold prices down 4.5% from June highs
- Silver prices down 6.3% from June highs
- CPI-driven pullback may be a buying opportunity
- Dollar index has risen, putting pressure on gold prices.
- Gold's recent gains could be capped ahead of the US Producer Price Index release.
- Traders will watch the PPI data for clues on inflation and Fed policy.
- Hong Kong introduced the Delivery Connect gold scheme on July 7.
- The program expands the city's gold clearing and settlement system, linking mainland investors to global markets.
- It signals Beijing's preference for a gradual, selective opening of its financial sector rather than full liberalisation.
- The scheme could boost international demand for Chinese gold and improve market access for foreign investors.
- Indika Energy to start gold production in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province early next year
- Company bets on gold to mitigate coal price volatility and policy uncertainty
- President stresses importance of gold business in navigating decarbonization push
- Revival Gold (TSXV: RVG) conducted new drilling at the Mercur mine in Utah
- Assays returned shallow gold mineralization, confirming ongoing expansion
- Company plans to further develop the past-producing mine to increase resources
Crypto 28
- Open USD targets USDC's distribution economics by sharing reserve income with partners.
- Circle's USDC circulating supply has fallen to $73 billion from $80 billion in March.
- Open USD's launch in 2026 could squeeze Circle's margins and raise the cost of maintaining USDC distribution.
- Hacker exploited Ostium's PriceUpKeep oracle, submitting future-dated price reports to trigger an $18 million USDC payout
- The breach follows recent DeFi oracle attacks, including a $6 million drain from Summer.fi last week
- Ostium, an Arbitrum-based platform, had raised $27.8 million and processed over $50 billion in trading volume before the hack
- Bitcoin up ~3.6% to about $64,800 after June CPI showed headline inflation 3.5% and core inflation 2.6%
- Fed rate‑hike odds dropped from 43% to 13% and the two‑year Treasury yield fell 6 basis points
- Ether jumped 5.3% to roughly $1,880, while other top altcoins rose 2‑7% in the session
- CEX spot volume rose 15.3% to $1.11 trillion in June, with RWA perpetual volume hitting a record $311 billion
Read on CoinDesk ↗
also: CoinDesk
- President Trump to meet with senators to work on ethics concerns in crypto bill
- Meeting aims to resolve contentious piece of Digital Asset Market Clarity Act
- Time running out for Senate passage before summer recess
- South Korea to revise 1950 National Property Act to classify virtual currencies and intellectual property as national assets
- Pilot program for tokenized government bonds to start in 2027, linked to Bank of Korea's central bank digital currency infrastructure
- Tokenization of state-owned real estate to be explored for retail investors
- Crypto firms may struggle with compliance as users rush to withdraw assets following MiCA transitional period
- Licensed crypto companies may face onboarding challenges as they absorb new users
- AMLA to publish report on money laundering risks in crypto sector by year-end
- BlackRock's digital asset funds fell 39% to $48.8 billion from $79.6 billion a year earlier
- Net inflows of $15.1 billion were outweighed by $45.8 billion in market losses
- Digital asset products recorded $3.1 billion in net outflows during the second quarter
- Noxa, Robinhood Chain's largest token launchpad, earned ~$12M in fees before abruptly shutting down on July 13
- CASHCAT memecoin, which drove most of Noxa's activity, fell over 33% in 24 hours to $12.66M market cap vs. peak 12x higher
- Robinhood Chain's intended use case—tokenized real-world assets—currently holds just $12.66M in market cap
- Noxa redirected 100% of transaction revenue to creators, sparking debate over spam vs. golden goose killing
- Cryptocurrencies reclassified as financial instruments, with new rules effective in 2027
- Top crypto income tax rate to drop from up to 55% to a flat 20% starting in 2028
- Maximum prison term for unregistered operators raised to 10 years and fines to ¥10 million
- Legislation removes hurdle for future spot Bitcoin ETFs and tightens insider‑trading rules
- Bitcoin up 3% in 24h but down 0.5% since midnight; Ether up 4.7% in 24h but also pulled back 0.5%
- Fed rate hike odds fell from 34% to 6.7% after CPI data; 93% chance of unchanged rates this month per Polymarket
- Brent crude above $85/barrel amid Iran's threat to block Middle East energy exports, keeping inflation risks elevated
- ECB July rate cut effectively off the table despite cooling inflation, per Fed Chair Warsh comments
- US Treasury froze roughly $131 million in crypto tied to Iran.
- The move targets illicit financial activity amid rising Middle East tensions.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. is committed to disrupting Iran's digital‑asset abuse.
- The action highlights increased scrutiny of crypto for sanction evasion.
- Polymarket's five‑minute Bitcoin prediction contracts create incentives to manipulate spot price at settlement
- Researchers propose longer settlement windows as a remedy to reduce manipulation risk
- Findings raise regulatory concerns for short‑duration crypto derivatives
- UAE's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority granted in‑principle approval to Revolut
- Approval covers broker‑dealer, management, investment and exchange services
- Revolut can now offer crypto services to customers in the United Arab Emirates
- Senate Judiciary Committee members question the nominee's approach to crypto enforcement
- Critics say the nominee plans to dismantle the Treasury's crypto unit
- The nominee defended the pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao
- Aave V4 launched on Avalanche, marking its first rollout beyond Ethereum
- New lending infrastructure is built to support tokenized real‑world asset markets
- The upgrade aims to create a foundation for tokenized credit and broader DeFi use cases
- Securitize and Cantor Fitzgerald are collaborating to build a platform for tokenized IPOs
- The system will support both primary tokenized offerings and secondary equity trades
- Infrastructure is designed to operate within the current US securities regulatory framework
- SOL's weekly correlation with Bitcoin was 0.72 versus ETH's 0.78 over the four-year period to Apr 2026
- SOL's volatility was about 44% higher than Bitcoin, while ETH's was roughly 35% higher
- Bitcoin spot ETPs have drawn over $55 bn in inflows since their launch in Jan 2024
- Circle secured OCC approval for a federally regulated trust bank, expanding crypto custody services
- Strategy sold $216 m of Bitcoin, marking its first major HODL break
- Bitcoin reached $65,500, its highest level since June 22.
- US Producer Price Index (PPI) came in higher than expected, marking a second surprise inflation reading this week.
- The data lifted Bitcoin to a three‑week price high, supporting bullish sentiment in crypto markets.
- Robinhood Chain's surging volumes may be bullish for Ethereum
- However, success depends on 'ETH is money' narrative
- Uncertainty remains around impact on Ethereum's investment case
- Ethereum Foundation cut 54 staff (20% of workforce) and reduced annual budget by 40% in June restructuring
- Nine senior leaders departed since February, including co-executive directors Tomasz Stańczak and Hsiao-Wei Wang
- Foundation refocused mandate around CROPS framework (censorship resistance, resilience, openness, privacy, security)
- New spinout organizations (ETHLabs, Ethereum Institutional, EthSystems) emerging to take over ecosystem roles
- Largest reorganization in Ethereum Foundation's 12-year history
- Strategy feels 'very secure' until bitcoin reaches $8,000-$10,000
- CEO Le highlights increasing U.S.-dollar reserve as key lever in STRC's recovery
- MSTR's preferred stock STRC has fallen below $75, restricting new share issuance
- Bitcoin steadied around $64,850, near a three‑week high of $65,200
- Ether stayed near its June‑3 peak at $1,895, up about 5% over 24 hours
- Altcoin Season index fell to 46/100 as strength concentrated in BTC and ETH
- CEX spot trading volume rose 15.3% to $1.11 trillion in June, with RWA perpetual volume hitting a record $311 billion
- BTC options call/put ratio moved to 66/34, indicating a bullish tilt despite market consolidation
- Adds insider trading rules specific to digital assets
- Imposes harsher penalties for crypto violations
- Mandates new oversight requirements for crypto businesses
- Economy Ministry plans to bring digital assets under state-asset management system
- Intellectual property will also be covered by the new framework
- Policy aims to improve oversight and attract investment in the crypto sector
- Analysts project Bitcoin could reach $68,000 within two weeks
- Target price of $80,000 is forecast for August
- Forecasts contrast with warnings of a prolonged bear market through 2026
- Parliament passed amendment moving crypto from the Payment Services Act to the financial assets category
- Reclassification will impose stricter regulations, including insider‑trading rules and higher penalties for unregistered trading
- The new regime is slated to take effect within a year as exchange user accounts continue to rise in Japan
- Polymarket placed on Czech blacklist of unauthorized online gambling sites
- Internet service providers must block access to the platform within 15 days
- Regulatory move targets crypto‑based prediction markets as gambling services
- Bitmine earned $46 million from Ethereum staking in the most recent quarter
- Staking contributed 98% of the company's total revenue
- Revenue shift followed the March launch of its validator operation
- Ethereum staking now dominates Bitmine's earnings after moving away from Bitcoin mining
Geopolitics 55
- Global mean near-surface temperature in 2023 was 1.45 ± 0.12 degrees C above pre-industrial average.
- Atmospheric concentrations of CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide reached unprecedented levels.
- Extreme weather events, including floods, heatwaves, and landslides, are increasingly becoming the defining challenge of the 21st century.
- US Central Command reports strikes began at 1900 GMT targeting Iranian military assets in the Strait of Hormuz
- US aircraft fired on and disabled an empty oil tanker attempting to breach the blockade
- President Trump warned further attacks could follow unless Iran returns to diplomatic talks
- Trump will speak Thursday at 9 p.m. ET (01:00 GMT) in a primetime address about elections and related topics
- The speech comes 3½ months before the Nov 3 midterm elections, where Republicans hold narrow majorities in Congress
- YouGov poll this month shows 57 % of US voters disapprove of Trump's second‑term performance
- Administration officials say Trump will discuss alleged voting‑machine vulnerabilities and newly declassified intelligence on the 2020 election
- No concrete policy announcements have been detailed; the focus is expected to be on election integrity
- US air strikes on Iranian ports killed seven Iranian troops and hit multiple sites.
- Iran declared the June 17 interim peace memorandum void, calling the conflict an existential war.
- IRGC targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a logistics hub in Kuwait; Gulf states downed dozens of missiles and drones.
- At least six people killed and 20 injured across Ukraine after coordinated attacks
- Strikes hit the southern port city of Odesa early Wednesday morning
- Russia employed both missiles and drones in the assault
- EU's 27 foreign ministers adopted a strategy paper sharply criticizing China and Russia.
- The paper labels China a "key enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine.
- EU alleges China aims to reshape the global order to serve its own interests.
- The document represents one of the bloc's strongest official criticisms of Beijing.
- War has lasted five months with at least two ceasefires
- President Trump reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports
- US forces and Iran exchanged fresh strikes
- Analysts draw parallels to the Vietnam war quagmire
- US lawmakers propose cutting tax breaks to curb corporate reliance on Chinese technology, citing national security risks
- A new Pacific missile launch underscores heightened military tensions in the region
- Supply-chain disruptions affecting Christmas tree imports illustrate ongoing trade frictions
- US prosecutors charge 3 Russians and 2 web hosts with hacking, conspiracy, and money laundering
- Media Land and ML.Cloud allegedly hosted cyberattacks that netted $62M from US businesses
- Web hosts were previously sanctioned by the US Treasury for ties to ransomware gangs
- Bipartisan US senators introduced the 'Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026' on July 14.
- The bill aims to tighten sanctions and tariffs on Russia's oil exports and its 'shadow fleet'.
- Its primary goal is to intensify financial pressure on Moscow's war efforts.
- The legislation is a revised package, designed to overcome previous stalling concerns.
- It has garnered over 26 bipartisan co-sponsors, with expectations for further support.
- China's involvement in Cuba has rapidly expanded in energy, with 49 Chinese-built solar parks connected to Cuba's grid, pushing solar to over 20% of generation.
- China's intelligence footprint in Cuba is growing, with new antenna arrays at signals-collection sites near US military and space infrastructure.
- Washington views China as a substantive concern due to its economic lifeline (solar, credit, food) and intelligence capabilities, unlike Russia's sporadic aid.
- The fall of Venezuela's Maduro significantly impacted Cuba's oil supply and exposed its deep intelligence presence in Venezuela.
- The US pressure campaign on Cuba is seen as misreading the regime's power structure, with economic pain primarily affecting ordinary Cubans, not the military.
- India's diplomatic engagement with the Taliban has significantly increased since early 2025, marked by high-level meetings and phone calls.
- Four Taliban ministers, including the Foreign Minister, have visited India in the last nine months, signaling growing bilateral engagement.
- India reactivated critical air freight corridors (Kabul-Amritsar, Kabul-Delhi) and took over the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, sending a chargé d'affaires to Kabul.
- India is capitalizing on declining Pakistan-Afghanistan trade, with India-Afghanistan trade surpassing $1.5 billion and poised for growth.
- India has expanded its supply of pharmaceutical goods to Afghanistan following the Taliban's ban on Pakistani medicine imports.
- Think‑tank report says Beijing is applying economic pressure and espionage on Dutch strategic industries
- Goal is to create systemic dependency and secure global industrial leadership for China
- ASML, the Dutch chip‑equipment maker, highlighted as a key target of Chinese influence
- Dutch and EU officials warned the moves could reshape technology value chains
- China launched a submarine‑launched ballistic missile over the Pacific on July 6.
- The test is interpreted as an effort by Xi Jinping to gauge President Trump's reaction.
- The missile trajectory was aimed toward the Philippines while avoiding South Korean airspace.
- Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rising as US‑Iran conflict escalates
- Shipping lines are diverting cargo to UAE’s Khor Fakkan and Oman’s Salalah and Sohar ports, with few vessels still using the strait
- Thai Chamber advises firms to monitor energy and transport costs, maintain inventories, and develop contingency logistics plans
- 14 countries, including the US, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and seven EU states, released a joint statement on July 12.
- The declaration marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Hague tribunal ruling on the South China Sea.
- It urges all parties to comply with the ruling and frames the decision as a cornerstone of a rules‑based international order.
- Critics say the statement is an expansionist overreach and is out of touch with realities on the ground.
- US‑brokered framework calls for Hezbollah disarmament and phased Israeli pull‑out from 600 km² of southern Lebanon
- Since March, Israeli strikes have killed over 4,000 Lebanese civilians and displaced more than 1 million people
- Lebanon demands full Israeli troop withdrawal; Israel insists Hezbollah surrender its weapons, but Hezbollah has rejected the deal
- Talks in Rome aim to advance the agreement, yet doubts remain about the Lebanese army's ability to assert control in the south
- July 15, 2016 coup attempt failed; a decade later Turkiye remains split on its legacy
- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stays in power, with no clear path to national reconciliation
- Debates over past purges, arrests, and constitutional reforms highlight deep societal rifts
- International observers cite the anniversary as a reminder of Turkey's strained democratic credentials
- President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged to protect every inch of Iran's territory
- Remarks were delivered at a ceremony honoring late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Senior Iranian officials and foreign ambassadors attended the event
- The statement reinforces Iran's defensive posture amid regional tensions
- Nominee for director of national intelligence pledges to be "extremely helpful" on US-China economic strategy
- Senate intelligence hearing frames China as a leading economic and geopolitical challenge
- Lawmakers question nominee on top three threats facing the United States
- Iraqi prime minister travels to Washington to discuss deeper economic cooperation
- US-Iraq relationship spans nearly 100 years, including the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 invasion
- Both nations aim to shift focus from past conflicts toward trade and investment
- Regional stability and reconstruction remain key topics in bilateral talks
- Jay Clayton, Trump's pick for DNI, refused to state who won the 2020 election during a Senate hearing.
- Democrats, including Sen. Ossoff, questioned Clayton's credibility and his knowledge of Tulsi Gabbard's role in a Georgia election office raid.
- The Senate Intelligence Committee is slated to vote on Clayton's nomination next week, with the full Senate to consider it thereafter.
- Trump previously halted the hearing and linked the nomination to a contested election‑identification bill, causing further delays.
- Clayton's subpoenas to New York Times reporters have drawn additional scrutiny from Senate members.
- Senate panel interrogated Blanche on the rollout of Epstein files and related investigations
- Lawmakers highlighted a $1.8 billion fund created to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS
- Republican Sen. John Cornyn pressed the nominee on the decision to grant Trump sweeping tax immunity
- Blanche, formerly Trump’s personal lawyer, faced bipartisan scrutiny over the Justice Department’s actions
- 14-year-old boy charged with preparing extremist right‑wing terrorist act against mosques in Sutton, London
- Police say no wider threat identified, but have contacted affected mosques to provide support
- Boy was first arrested on July 9 for car damage; court appearance scheduled for Thursday
- Incident follows recent UK arrests of 12 people over a similar right‑wing plot and a prior attempted‑murder case
- Former colonel Ahmed Habib Ali arrested for supervising manufacture of about 20 sarin bombs, each weighing roughly 250 kg
- Ali oversaw sarin storage at Unit 417 near Damascus, tied to attacks in 2013 and 2017
- Arrest follows Syria's reinstatement to the OPCW after its voting rights were stripped in 2021
- Detention is part of a wider crackdown on former Assad-era officials after the regime's fall in Dec 2024
- Israeli military order issued after a series of settler attacks
- Residents of Khirbet Umm al‑Khair cut off from sheep pen, bathroom and parts of their homes
- Villagers claim the measures are intended to pressure them to leave the village
- Nominee Jay Clayton declined to explicitly say Joe Biden won the 2020 election during Senate hearing
- Clayton referenced Biden's certification and the 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232
- Democrats warn the refusal could hinder his confirmation and raise concerns about future independence
- Sixth round of US‑mediated talks ended in Rome, focusing on establishing pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
- June 26 framework envisions Israeli forces pulling back from designated towns such as Zawtar al‑Gharbiyah, Zawtar al‑Sharqiyah, al‑Ghandouriyah, Burj Qalawiyah, Sarifa and Frun.
- No official comments from Israel or Lebanon; next phase will be technical implementation amid a fragile cease‑fire that has left >4,000 Lebanese dead and 32 Israeli soldiers killed since March 2.
- Ali Lmrabet, 66, was freed three days after his arrest on defamation charges at Tangier airport.
- Release followed pressure from media rights groups including Reporters Without Borders and CPJ.
- Investigation remains open; authorities have not clarified whether he can leave Morocco.
- Arrest of rapper Mehdi El Youbi underscores an escalating crackdown on regime critics amid Gen Z protests.
- Kazakhstan's atomic agency chief toured Chinese nuclear sites, including the operational Tianwan plant and the under-construction Xuwei facility.
- The visit covered uranium mining, fuel production and research centres, highlighting cooperation across the full nuclear fuel cycle.
- The tour signals expanding China‑Kazakhstan energy partnership and broader Central Asian trade links.
- Survey of over 45,000 respondents in 37 countries shows China's image rises from pandemic lows
- Favorability toward President Xi Jinping also increased in the same poll
- Confidence in the United States declined among respondents
- Improvements observed across both advanced economies and emerging markets
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down next week
- Starmer leaves office after a stint marked by criticism and praise
- Starmer says UK is 'in better shape than I found it'
- Prosecutors' centralized control over investigations and prosecutions under scrutiny for abuse and political interference
- Reform aims to separate investigation and prosecution functions, aligning with global standards
- Historical legacy from colonial era and military dictatorship entrenched prosecutorial dominance
- Convicted gang leader Shabir Ahmed was released from prison this month and allowed to remain in the UK
- Labour government faces heightened scrutiny over its deportation policy and local authority failures
- Analysts warn the scandal could erode Labour support ahead of upcoming elections
- Public outcry centers on perceived lapses in protecting vulnerable girls
- Five people were arrested during the operation.
- Raids targeted Have a Nice Stay bookshop in Prince Edward and Greenfield Book Store in Mong Kok.
- Police seized books and seized an overseas shipment deemed a security risk.
- National security police carried out the searches following a Customs and Excise Department referral.
- Canada awarded its next‑generation patrol submarine project (CPSP) to Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, ending South Korea’s bid
- South Korea, once the fastest‑growing defence exporter in Asia, now faces scrutiny over price, delivery speed and technology
- Analysts say NATO security ties and pressure on member states to use allied industrial bases are increasingly decisive in procurement
- The setback underscores potential challenges for South Korean defence firms in future Western contracts
- CICIR says a Europe-led “NATO 3.0” will fail to heal US‑Europe strategic gaps
- Expansion of NATO defence cooperation with Asia‑Pacific nations, notably Japan, could increase bloc tensions
- Report cautions the move may pit NATO against a rapidly evolving security environment in the region
- The Rani and Amil are carrying about 1 million barrels of Iranian crude combined.
- Both vessels changed their AIS destination to Karachi on Tuesday.
- The shift follows the US re‑imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian shipping.
- The move suggests the tankers are seeking a safe harbour outside the Persian Gulf.
- Pakatan Harapan shifted to opposition in Melaka after constitutional amendment passed 23‑5
- Amendment permits Melaka to appoint up to seven unelected assembly members with voting rights
- Barisan Nasional suffered a decisive defeat in the Johor state election, prompting the split
- Operation Shaban involves Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police across two geographic fronts
- Security forces have killed around 123 militants since the operation began
- The campaign was triggered by a July 7 attack that killed 27 police personnel
- Northern districts like Ziarat target TTP elements, while southern districts Lasbela and Khuzdar focus on BLA
- Pakistani leadership pledged a sustained effort to restore stability in the mineral-rich province
- Taiwan will procure dozens of sea drones for its Coast Guard, with officials saying hundreds may eventually be needed
- The drones will use U.S. technology through a partnership with American suppliers
- The acquisition aims to counter China's expanding maritime operations around Taiwan
- Fake video claiming Okinawa independence protest went viral after being posted on May 12, 2024
- China's AI tools enable personal, persistent, and low‑cost cognitive warfare
- Vanderbilt cyber‑security expert Brett J. Goldstein highlights the threat of AI‑powered disinformation
- People's Party calls on Thai government to address river contamination possibly caused by Myanmar mining operations
- Delegation met Chinese ambassador and submitted over 500 pages of evidence, citing 2,676 mines and water/sediment tests
- China said it could act under its environmental laws if credible proof is provided, but noted the evidence is not yet verified
- DEA Administrator Terry Cole said the Mexican government and cartels are "one and the same"
- Sheinbaum called the allegation a political statement lacking evidence
- U.S. Treasury designated the Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras as foreign terrorist organizations
- Sheinbaum pledged cooperation on drug trafficking while rejecting U.S. interference in Mexico's sovereignty
- Demonstrations held in Paris and Gaza on July 15, 2026
- Protesters demand release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, detained by Israel since December 2024
- Calls also made for freeing other detained Palestinian healthcare workers
- Billboard installed in Tehran showing US President Donald Trump lying in a coffin
- Nearby statue depicts a raised fist of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Display follows heightened US-Iran tensions amid regional conflicts
- No immediate impact on financial markets reported
- London police arrested a man on suspicion of sending threatening messages to MP Nigel Farage after a May social‑media post.
- The alleged threat said, "I am going to shoot you in the head if you win," targeting Farage's political campaign.
- Arrest follows heightened security concerns after the killing of former MP Ann Widdecombe.
- Investigation continues; no charges have been announced yet.
- Police detained three publishing house executives in Vietnam.
- The book "Stories with Thanh – A New Account of Light" was recalled after pressure from authorities.
- Author Nguyen Thanh Nam and a promoting influencer face anti‑state charges.
- Arrests follow the earlier detention of the book's author in early July.
- Contractor suggests fire alarms wouldn't have saved lives in Tai Po blaze
- Judge questions contractor's motives, potential evasion of responsibility
- Public inquiry into disaster continues
- Former law student Alice Tong Ka-yan sentenced to 2 years 10 months for rioting
- Judge overturned acquittal citing 'overwhelming' circumstantial evidence
- 27-year-old acted under peer influence and social atmosphere, lawyers claim
- Firefighters halted 1km from blaze in Mecklenburg Seenplatte due to unexploded ordnance
- Munitions from abandoned military training ground prevent active fire suppression
- District spokesman confirms emergency services unable to extinguish flames directly
- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that any Israeli nationals found in the Johor start‑up society will be deported immediately.
- Malaysia does not recognise Israel, reinforcing its long‑standing policy of non‑recognition.
- The tech commune, called the Network School, was founded by former Coinbase executive Balaji Srinivasan in Forest City.
- The statement follows an online rumor that prompted a national security investigation.
- Satluj released on Zee5 on July 3, removed within 48 hours after government cited national security
- The OTT release logged 6.58 million Indian views in the first two days despite no marketing
- Censor Board had demanded 127 cuts and the title was changed from 'Punjab 95' to avoid controversy
- The ban comes ahead of Punjab state elections scheduled for February 2027, raising political sensitivities
- Chinese embassy cautions against using brokers or agencies to find brides in Bangladesh
- Travelers could be arrested on suspicion of human trafficking
- Bangladeshi law mandates a minimum 7‑year prison term and at least 500,000 taka fine for trafficking convictions
- Renovation, equipment installation and testing at Huanggang Port will be fast‑tracked.
- The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill must be passed by July 31 to grant jurisdiction.
- Security Secretary Chris Tang announced the accelerated timeline.
Tech/AI 42
- Hachette, Elsevier, Cengage and author Scott Turow filed a lawsuit in New York alleging Google copied books to train Gemini AI
- Complaint claims Google’s actions could expose it to up to $100 billion in fines
- Case adds to a wave of AI copyright suits, including actions against OpenAI and Meta
- DTCC processed live trades of tokenized stocks, ETFs and U.S. Treasuries in its largest production tokenization pilot
- More than two dozen major financial institutions, including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, participated
- The pilot shows tokenized assets can support collateral, repo and equity transactions while preserving legal ownership rights
- DTCC plans to launch a broader tokenization service in October for eligible participants
- Transactions were executed on Hyperledger Besu and Canton Network blockchains
- Google will begin distributing rival app stores on Play Store next week
- The settlement between Google and Epic Games has been withdrawn, ending the antitrust case
- Court order mandates lower fees and placement of alternative stores within Play
- The change could cut Android revenue share and increase competition in app distribution
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman indicates the company is prepared to significantly cut prices for its latest AI models.
- The move comes as competition intensifies with US rival Anthropic and rapidly advancing, cheaper Chinese alternatives.
- OpenAI's flagship GPT-5.6 Sol is currently half the price of Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5.
- Altman stated OpenAI would be "happy to deliver at one-quarter of the price" of its rival.
- OpenAI unveiled the Codex Micro, a $230 light‑up keyboard designed for its AI coding assistant.
- The keyboard features “Agent Keys,” customizable shortcuts, a joystick and a dial to control agent reasoning.
- The product is a limited‑run collaboration with Work Louder and marks OpenAI’s first foray into hardware.
- Apple is suing OpenAI over alleged trade‑secret theft related to a separate, still‑unreleased hardware project.
- The launch is seen as a novelty item rather than a mass‑market device.
- xAI filed a federal lawsuit against Terry Harwood, accusing him of using Grok to generate child sexual abuse material.
- The company says it suspended 52,222 accounts and made 73,604 reports to NCMEC in 2026, resulting in at least 244 arrests.
- The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages and a permanent court order blocking Harwood from accessing Grok.
- The case is among the first legal actions by an AI firm against a user for creating illegal deepfake content.
- Prime Minister Albanese announced a new Office of AI within the prime minister's department to coordinate AI policy across government
- National AI standards will be drafted and legislated by early 2025, building on existing data‑centre expectations
- Large data‑centre operators will be required to underwrite their own power supply, avoid raising household electricity costs, and limit water usage
- Australia will maintain strong copyright protections for creators, requiring AI developers to pay for use of protected content
- Jensen Huang will meet Japanese officials to discuss support for state-backed AI developer Noetra
- Noetra, backed by SoftBank and partners, aims to build sovereign AI systems across Europe and the Middle East
- Nvidia seeks to secure semiconductor supply chains for these AI projects, expanding its global AI footprint
- 43% of Thai firms now use AI continuously, up from 32% last year (≈220,000 more businesses).
- 84% of adopters report productivity gains; 71% see revenue growth; 64% say innovation timelines accelerate.
- Only 19% feel fully ready for next‑gen AI, while 74% are at a basic level and 9% are advanced users.
- 56% cite skills shortages, 48% cite funding gaps, and 41% cite legal uncertainty as adoption barriers.
- 70% of frequent AI users are in non‑IT functions, yet only 19% have extended AI governance to those areas.
- Cramer says companies must show concrete AI-driven revenue or cost‑saving results
- Analysts project AI capital expenditures could exceed $1 trillion by 2027
- Banks and many AI adopters have yet to demonstrate material financial impact
- Only Block and Cloudflare have linked recent layoffs to AI adoption
- Continued lack of tangible returns could fuel growing AI skepticism
- Anthropic Claude is the primary orchestration platform for 40% of surveyed enterprises, more than double the next competitor.
- Microsoft and OpenAI follow with 18% and 13% platform share respectively.
- 71% of firms report that a quarter or fewer of their agents are true multi-step workflows; only 10% have over half such agents.
- By end‑2026, 51% expect a hybrid control plane, while 35% fear vendor lock‑in and 27% lack real‑time cost controls.
- Congress moves forward with new AI export control bills aimed at China
- Administration deepens cooperation with top US AI firms amid Beijing's rapid progress
- Anthropic says US holds a six‑to‑nine‑month lead in frontier AI models over Chinese rivals
- Policy shift underscores growing geopolitical tension over AI technology
- Driver pressed accelerator to 100% and vehicle was traveling over 70 mph in a 30 mph zone
- 44‑year‑old driver charged with manslaughter and sued alongside Tesla for negligence
- NTSB confirms driver overrode Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) system; Tesla maintains FSD not at fault
- Microsoft issued a record 570 security patches in its latest update.
- Researcher NightmareEclypse disclosed a zero‑day that lets low‑privilege accounts modify admin accounts.
- The HiveLegacy exploit targets the Windows User Profile Service registry hive; the researcher has published nine such exploits.
- Apple’s Maps ad policy, effective July 14 2026, bans home‑service categories such as plumbing, HVAC and locksmiths.
- The rules also prohibit ads for cryptocurrency ATMs, bail‑bond providers and other high‑risk services.
- Apple will display only a single ad per search result, marked with a blue halo and “ad” label.
- Data on ad interactions remains on the device and is not shared with third parties.
- Inkling has 975 billion total parameters, using about 41 billion per task
- Trained on 45 trillion tokens spanning text, image, audio, and video
- Uses roughly one‑third the tokens of Nvidia’s Nemotron 3 Ultra for similar coding performance
- Bridgewater test reported 84.7% financial reasoning score at about one‑fourteenth the running cost of leading proprietary models
- Open-weight model can be fine‑tuned by customers via the Tinker customization platform
- Supply‑chain attack in November 2025 compromised employee credentials and Suno source code
- Hackers accessed customer emails, phone numbers and partial credit‑card numbers from Stripe
- Investigation reveals Suno trained AI on copyrighted music scraped from YouTube, Deezer, Genius and other sources
- Major record labels are suing Suno over alleged DMCA violations and unfair use claims
- Amazon Leo will roll out its satellite internet service, branded evry, commercially in 2027.
- Herotel, South Africa's largest fixed ISP with over 350,000 customers across 550+ towns, will handle installation and support.
- The partnership positions Amazon against rivals like SpaceX's Starlink as the African satellite market expands.
- Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- EU approved X's transparency action plan under the Digital Services Act
- Plan will grant researchers and civil society access to X's data and system details
- X was fined €120 million last year for non‑compliance with the same rules
- Acceptance highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of big‑tech platforms in Europe
- China's Cyberspace Administration approved Apple Intelligence services for the Chinese market
- Apple's Greater China sales jumped 28% to $20.5 bn in Q2, regaining No.2 smartphone market share
- Alibaba confirmed Qwen AI will be integrated into Apple operating systems across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS
- Alibaba shares rose roughly 6% in pre‑market trading following the partnership announcement
- Age‑verification breaches exposed 70,000 IDs in 2025 and driver licenses in 2024
- House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on June 29; Senate markup expected this month
- Bill pushes for privacy‑preserving verification, limiting data retention and avoiding broad identity databases
- Anthropic and Blackstone-backed Ode targets enterprise AI deployment with $1.5bn joint venture
- Ode employs 100 elite engineers, focusing on custom AI solutions for top CEO priorities
- Demand for specialized AI implementation talent outstrips supply, posing scaling challenges
- Propellant tank dome's durability and mass production key to space race advantage
- Country that can produce dome faster, cheaper, and more reliably will gain edge
- Component's rounded, capsule-like design poses significant manufacturing challenges
- JPMorgan, BlackRock, and Goldman to tokenize stocks and Treasurys
- DTCC to lead trial run with Wall Street firms
- Digital tokens to facilitate asset transfer and settlement
- SpaceX targets a constellation of roughly 1 million satellites to host orbital data centers
- The network is designed to generate about 120 GW of power, enough for tens to hundreds of millions of GPUs
- Details of the first AI1 satellite’s size and power were revealed in a June promotional video
- Linux Foundation created the x402 Foundation with 40 member firms to standardize internet-native payments
- x402 processed about 75 million transactions totaling $24 million in the past 30 days, averaging 32 cents per payment
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Ripple, Google, AWS and other major firms joined as premier members
- DEX‑tracked x402 daily volume peaked at $970 k on Dec 3, dropping to roughly $16 k by mid‑July
- Forecasts project AI agents could generate $32 trillion in daily payments by 2040 if each makes one 32‑cent transaction
- Active Gemini app users in Southeast Asia more than doubled in the past 12 months
- Thailand accounts for 87% of Gemini prompts written in Thai, the highest language share in the region
- Indonesia leads with 9 million daily custom ideas, while Singapore has the highest per‑capita adoption globally
- 40% of prompts involve generative collaboration (text, music, images, video) and over 40% of interactions are multimodal
- User engagement rose 50% in frequency and average prompts doubled versus a year ago
- Delhi allocates 150 billion rupees (~$1.57 bn) for electric‑vehicle initiatives
- EV push targets vehicle emissions, a major source of the capital’s air pollution
- Program focuses on the Delhi region’s transport sector as part of broader clean‑air efforts
- Japanese AI companies report Nvidia GPU server costs as prohibitive
- NPUs and cache‑based servers are being evaluated as lower‑cost options
- Domestic suppliers are developing affordable AI data‑center hardware
- Taiwan is fast‑tracking a local generative AI system called TAIDE.
- The model will be trained on Taiwanese data to preserve local language and culture.
- TAIDE is built on open‑source foundations, aiming to counter mainland Chinese content bias.
- The initiative reflects growing strategic emphasis on AI sovereignty amid cross‑strait tensions.
- Nvidia will supply AI hardware and software for traffic‑management pilots in Toyota's Woven City smart‑city project.
- The collaboration targets faster adoption of AI across Japan's urban and mobility initiatives.
- Joint work includes edge‑computing platforms for autonomous vehicles and city infrastructure.
- Woven City will serve as a live testbed for integrated AI‑driven transportation and services.
- Cadence introduces an AI‑driven design assistant for PCB and chip packaging workflows
- The agent automates layout and routing tasks to shorten design cycles
- Aims to boost productivity for semiconductor designers and reduce time‑to‑market
- Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order pausing construction of data centers using 50+ MW of power for up to a year
- President Donald Trump blasted the moratorium on Truth Social, urging the state to change the policy immediately
- The ban highlights rising concerns over water and electricity consumption as AI-driven data center demand surges
- OpenAI and Anthropic have placed mission-focused directors in charge, limiting profit-driven oversight
- Critics warn that lack of accountability could trigger a governance crisis similar to Ben & Jerry’s activist disputes
- Authors argue such structures risk stalling AI development without delivering societal benefits
- Microsoft fixed a historic record number of security vulnerabilities across its product lines
- AI tools were used by Microsoft and external researchers to discover many of the bugs
- A critical flaw in Age of Empires II could have allowed remote code execution via a malicious game invite
- No evidence of the Age of Empires II bug being exploited in the wild
- Joint venture backed by Anthropic, Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Goldman Sachs and others
- Aims to replace traditional consulting with forward‑deployed AI engineers for corporate clients
- Founded by former Fractional AI leaders Chris Taylor and Eddie Siegel
- Managed Accounts now available to free-tier users in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany and the Netherlands
- Parents can restrict explicit music and disable video playback by default on child accounts
- Children can create playlists and receive personalized recommendations without affecting parents' algorithm
- Family Plan holders add a member under 13 via the app's account settings to set up a Managed Account
- Spotify says it will expand Managed Accounts to more countries in the future
- Rime secures $24M Series A led by M13 Ventures to advance voice AI models for enterprise call handling
- Focuses on phoneme-based architecture to reduce customization needs for brand/industry-specific terms
- Customers report longer call retention; partners include Mayo Clinic, Dialpad, Upstart, and Asurion
- AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can generate emails, code, translations, and more from simple prompts
- Their widespread adoption is already affecting schools, universities, corporate offices, and courtrooms
- Experts caution that heavy reliance on AI may diminish active mental effort and critical thinking
- Foldable, self‑propelled pontoon barge used in southern China floods
- More than 6,000 staff and students rescued from Guangxi Logistics Vocational and Technical College
- Barge functions as boat, bridge, and life raft, boosting emergency response
- Shows innovative rescue technology amid record rainfall in Guangxi
- Over 20 company and political leaders gathered for the Nikkei APAC Forum in Bangkok.
- Thai Deputy Prime Ministers and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow attend.
- Corporate speakers include Sony Group Executive Chairman Kenichiro Yoshida, Didi founder Cheng Wei, and SGX CEO.
- Agenda focuses on the regional energy crisis, future mobility solutions, and artificial intelligence developments.
- Identified 7 distinct 1990s computer models used on set, including SGI Indy and Sun SPARCstation
- Confirmed the Unix reference in the film matches the actual operating system shown on screen
- Notes the production team’s meticulous sourcing, reflecting writer Michael Crichton’s computing background
Companies 53
- Stripe and Advent have submitted a $53 billion offer for PayPal.
- The bid represents a 28% premium to PayPal’s Tuesday closing price.
- PayPal’s implied valuation from the offer is roughly $41 billion.
- If completed, the transaction would rank among the largest fintech deals.
- No comment has been received from PayPal or regulators.
- Shares fell 0.6% to $135.27, briefly trading at $132.28, below the $135 IPO price.
- The stock is down roughly 13% since its inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index.
- SpaceX raised $25 billion in bonds last month, sparking debt‑funded AI spending concerns amid potential Fed rate hikes.
- First lock‑up expiry in early August could add further selling pressure.
- Uber plans to buy Delivery Hero for about €12.5 bn ($14.3 bn), valuing the target at ~€11.6 bn
- Proposed price is roughly €41 per share, up from an earlier €38 offer
- Deal may require divesting Delivery Hero’s Turkish unit and some European assets to satisfy antitrust regulators
- Transaction could be announced as early as Thursday, pending regulatory approval
- Anthropic filed a confidential IPO prospectus and may debut as early as October 2024
- The AI startup closed a $65 billion funding round, valuing it at $965 billion
- Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase are leading the IPO process
- Anthropic could become the first major AI firm to go public ahead of OpenAI
- China Southern Airlines expects a $1.33bn net loss, the largest among the big three.
- Higher fuel prices due to the Middle East war are the main cause of the losses.
- Air China and China Eastern also expect deeper net losses than last year.
- SpaceX stock slipped under the $135 IPO price for the first time
- The decline coincided with a drop in the tech‑heavy Nasdaq composite
- Broader weakness in technology stocks contributed to the sell‑off
- Csquare set IPO price at $21 per share, according to Bloomberg.
- Company operates 64 data center sites across 21 metropolitan markets in North America and the UK.
- Backer Brookfield may buy a portion of the offering.
- IPO proceeds will mainly repay debt, with the remainder for acquisitions, working capital and capex.
- A rebound in IPO activity is lifting market sentiment despite geopolitical uncertainty.
- Shares jumped 8% in after‑hours trading following earnings release
- Tight trucking market cited as strongest in years, supporting pricing power
- Higher fuel charges and growing railroad‑connection business lifted results
- Management expressed optimism about continued demand and margin expansion
- Conagra announced a dividend reduction for the upcoming year
- The company booked a $2 billion charge to earnings in the quarter
- Management forecast ongoing challenges for the packaged‑food sector
- Shares edged higher modestly despite the negative earnings impact
- EQT has raised its proposal to acquire Perpetual for $1.75 billion.
- The bid targets Perpetual, the ASX‑listed financial services group.
- If completed, the transaction would rank among the largest foreign takeovers in Australia's finance sector.
- The offer remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance.
- Partnership targets over 4,000 rai of the Muang Thong Thani mixed-use development.
- AIS will roll out a next‑generation 5G network with carrier aggregation for higher speeds and lower latency.
- AIS will expand 3BB Fibre3 broadband using WiFi 7 technology across residential areas.
- A Smart City Data Platform and Digital Twin will consolidate data for real‑time urban management.
- Contained palladium-equivalent metal increased by more than 50% across resource categories
- Average grades boosted by about 80% in the updated technical report
- Overall PGM ounces lifted 31% for the Skaergaard project
- Upgrade may enhance Greenland Mines' future production outlook
- ROH commits to repurchase the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel for 4.873 billion baht, excluding VAT.
- Dispute concerns the payment method proposed by the REIT trustee, not ROH's ability to fund the buyback.
- Original repurchase deadline was July 14, 2026; trustee may appoint Starwood as interim manager if unresolved.
- ROH retains management rights of the hotel and says it faces no financial or operational constraints.
- ONEAM previously claimed default; ROH has sent a letter requesting correction of the alleged breach.
- First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM) is evaluating a sale of a minority stake in the Taca Taca copper project.
- The Taca Taca project is a large copper development located in Argentina.
- The sale aims to attract strategic investors and other major miners.
- Adjusted EPS $1.99 vs. $1.88 expected; revenue $17.67 bn vs. $17.61 bn expected
- Fuel costs rose 84% YoY to $2.3 bn, adding an estimated $6 bn in expenses for the year
- Forecast Q3 adjusted EPS $2.50‑$3.50, below analysts' $3.60 estimate; full-year EPS $9‑$11
- Revenue grew 16% YoY; unit revenue up 12.1%; net income fell 17% to $805 mn
- Assets under management surpassed $15 trillion
- Q4 profit increased 20% year‑over‑year
- Shares jumped nearly 7% after earnings release
- Management highlighted continued inflows and fee growth
- Jesse Pollak hands Base app leadership to Jordan Fish ('Cobie') after admitting his on-chain social strategy failed
- Pollak says the focus on creator coins and social apps left Base behind in trading, payments and tokenization
- Base will pivot to become a blockchain for global finance, emphasizing trading, payments and AI agents
- Fish, founder of Echo (acquired by Coinbase for $375 million), will now oversee the Base app
- Neko Health secured $700 million Series C, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and O.G. Venture Partners
- The round follows a $260 million Series B raised in January 2025
- More than 100,000 scans completed and over 350,000 people on waitlist or appointments
- Company is preparing its first U.S. location in New York, with existing sites in the U.K. and Sweden
- Additional investors include Atomico, General Catalyst, Lakestar, Liberty City Ventures, Positive Sum, and BDT & MSD
- Q2 revenue rose 6.6% YoY to $25.31 bn, topping the $25.05 bn consensus
- Adjusted EPS came in at $2.90 versus the $2.85 estimate
- Shares fell more than 2% in afternoon trading despite the earnings beat
- MedTech cardiovascular sales missed expectations at $2.4 bn vs $2.55 bn forecast
- Pharma segment grew 6.8% operationally (7.8% reported) and cancer drug sales rose 17.3%
- Bondholders hold about $9 billion of Altice International debt.
- Lenders claim the telecom group stripped collateral through intercompany deals.
- The allegations point to a possible default on the outstanding bonds.
- Legal action could pressure Altice's credit rating and future financing.
- OnePlus will cease U.S. and European sales this week and scale back operations in India.
- Parent Oppo reported a double‑digit year‑over‑year shipment decline in Q2 2026, citing softness across key markets.
- IDC and Counterpoint project global smartphone shipments to drop more than 13% in 2026 due to RAM shortages.
- OnePlus will stay active only in China, while Oppo will focus on Realme phones in regions such as the Nordics.
- JPM rose 2.5% intraday, rebounding from a >2% drop to a near‑6% rally after earnings
- Formed a large bullish engulfing candlestick that covered roughly three weeks of prior price action
- Hit a new all‑time closing high, trading near the middle of an upward‑sloping channel since Oct 2022
- Analyst cites potential breakout from a multi‑year base, suggesting further upside potential
- IBM stock fell ~25% to about $217, its steepest single‑day drop since 1968
- Q2 revenue was $17.2 bn versus $17.9 bn expected, with a 7% decline in the infrastructure division
- One‑month implied volatility is at the 99.6th percentile, the highest since the 2020 pandemic plunge
- Short strangle (190/245 strikes) captures about $11.25 premium, a 5.18% yield over 38 days
- Breakeven levels: $178.75 downside (‑17.6%) and $256.25 upside (+18.1%)
- Buffett confirmed he personally drove Berkshire's purchase of Alphabet, first disclosed in Q3 2025.
- Berkshire expanded the stake after joining Alphabet's $10 billion AI infrastructure private placement.
- He admitted missing an earlier opportunity and said Alphabet ranks below four or five of Berkshire's other holdings.
- Buffett highlighted the huge capital commitments needed for AI competition, while still favoring Apple.
- Whatnot bought Shaped, a machine‑learning recommendation startup, to speed up live‑commerce suggestions
- Recommendation latency was reduced from roughly a day to minutes; Shaped aims to bring it closer to real‑time
- The platform processes over 500,000 hours of live video and millions of interactions each week
- Whatnot now exceeds 1 billion orders and added 20 million buyers, valuing the company at >$11 billion after a $225 million Series F raise
- Shaped’s founder and about a dozen engineers join Whatnot’s new Applied AI Research group
- Engie Brasil raised 8.4 bn reais ($1.66 bn) at 30.50 reais per share in a follow‑on offering
- Around 1.13 bn reais will be used to acquire a 40% stake in the 3,750 MW Jirau hydroelectric plant
- The deal is one of the largest secondary offerings in Brazil's capital market this year
- Microsoft issued patches for 570 security flaws in its latest Patch Tuesday.
- At least two of the flaws are zero‑day vulnerabilities, including a Windows Server privilege‑escalation bug.
- AI was used to help discover the record number of bugs, prompting higher patch volume.
- CISA warned that the SharePoint server bug is actively being exploited by hackers.
- Cigar Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan resumes operations after a temporary suspension.
- The shutdown was linked to operational challenges at the nearby McClean Lake facility.
- Cameco is listed on the TSX (CCO) and NYSE (CCJ).
- Apple is evaluating chip startups for potential acquisition to build AI server processors
- Apple's in-house AI server chip "Baltra" delayed, currently relying on M2 Ultra chips
- Apple holds $45.57 bn cash and has a $30 bn multi‑year supply deal with Broadcom
- Former Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathryn Ruemmler told the House oversight committee that Epstein repeatedly lied to her.
- Ruemmler, who stepped down in June, stayed on in an advisory role while Goldman searches for a permanent successor.
- The testimony covers Epstein's interactions with Ruemmler from 2014‑2019, including luxury gifts and advice on media statements.
- CISPE and four European trade groups urged EU regulators to suspend Broadcom's VMware licensing practices
- The groups asked for a transition period of at least three years while the antitrust probe continues
- Broadcom denied the allegations, calling the complaint hyperscaler‑driven and pledging continued investment in European partners
- The European Commission confirmed receipt of the joint letter
- JPMorgan Chase to lend $18M and grant $6M for a new submarine manufacturing facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard
- Initiative aims to bolster US shipbuilding industry and strengthen regional suppliers
- Part of JPMorgan's $1.5 trillion security project to finance critical US industries
- Antofagasta maintains full-year copper production guidance
- Q2 copper output fell short of expectations, but H2 expected to be stronger
- Company bets on improved production to meet copper goal
- EU Court of Justice hearing appeal on the €1.49 bn ($1.7 bn) fine against Google.
- General Court previously annulled the fine, citing errors in the Commission's assessment.
- Non‑binding opinion from a court adviser is due on Nov 12, with a final ruling expected in the following months.
- The fine was part of a total €9.5 bn in penalties Google has faced from EU competition authorities.
- Google argues the Commission's new arguments are flawed and that rivals had ample competition opportunities.
- Revenue expected to rise 13.6% to $12.59 bn, the slowest growth in over four quarters
- Advertising revenue forecast at $705.8 m, below earlier expectations
- Netflix stock has shed over 20% of its value this year amid growth doubts
- DeepSeek targets a Shanghai Stock Exchange listing in 2025 to raise capital.
- The AI developer seeks additional funding to cover costly research, competing with U.S. firms like Anthropic.
- A domestic IPO could broaden financing options for Chinese AI companies and lessen reliance on foreign capital.
- Cyberattack on Nichirei disrupted frozen food logistics in Japan
- KFC stores could face temporary closures or reduced operating hours
- Nichirei shares fell about 5% as the disruption widened
- Amazon opened a new warehouse near Shanghai port, complementing its existing Shenzhen hub
- A third warehouse is slated to launch in the near term
- The rollout targets sellers needing customs‑friendly logistics amid tighter U.S. import scrutiny
- Lifeway Foods (LIFW) submitted a Form 144 notice on July 15
- Form 144 indicates insiders intend to sell shares of the company
- No additional details on share quantity or selling parties were disclosed
- Dave Brown, senior VP overseeing compute and machine learning services, is leaving Amazon after 19 years.
- He will exit at the end of July; Dave Treadwell will take over the role on August 1.
- Brown was a member of Amazon's S-team, which now comprises 28 senior leaders.
- Airbus is in talks to sell narrow‑body aircraft, likely A320neo family, to Flynas.
- The deal would expand Airbus presence in the Saudi low‑cost market.
- No financial terms disclosed; completion expected later this year.
- Flynas aims to modernize its fleet, potentially replacing older Boeing 737s.
- Vivani Medical highlighted its implant portfolio at the Emerging Growth Conference
- Management said demand for its implant devices is increasing
- Company expects the implant segment to drive future revenue growth
- Revive Therapeutics closed the first tranche of its private placement
- The tranche marks the initial step in a multi‑tranche financing round
- Terms and amount of the tranche were not disclosed
- Hundreds of Bethesda Game Studios and Zenimax Online Studios staff gathered in Rockville, MD.
- The rally was one of five protests held simultaneously in Texas, California and Montreal.
- Layoffs reportedly affect about 3,200 Xbox studio employees across the platform.
- Temperatures neared 100°F as workers and supporters demonstrated.
- Union organizers from Zenimax Workers United and the CWA led the protest.
- Sheetz is moving 838 locations off VMware, aiming to finish in four months
- Migration shifts about 12‑14 virtual machines per store, roughly 11,000 VMs total
- More than 600 stores have already been migrated, averaging 200 stores per month
- The transition replaces VMware vSphere with StorMagic’s SvHCI and adds two VMs for Windows 11 upgrades
- Altius Minerals announced a bought‑deal offering of C$182 million (≈US$130 million).
- The capital raise aims to strengthen the balance sheet after recent royalty acquisitions.
- Shares were issued on the TSX under ticker ALS and on the US OTC market as ATUSF.
- JPMorgan commits $24 million to defense-related projects
- Funding targets a submarine facility and skilled‑worker training
- Investment supports a subcontractor and a Philadelphia shipbuilding firm
- The allocation is part of JPMorgan's broader defense initiative
- Net profit fell 16.8% year‑on‑year to HK$2 billion (US$255 m) for FY 2025‑26
- Revenue rose 11% to HK$18 billion, driven by higher traffic and services
- Higher expenses stem from operating the new third runway and a recent aircraft salvage operation
- Cathay Pacific will serve four new Latin American cities through a code‑share with Iberia
- New destinations: Fortaleza and Recife in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic
- Hong Kong‑Madrid non‑stop flights increase from four per week to daily
- ARK Invest bought a total of 725,517 Circle shares in July, including 220,000 on Tuesday
- The latest purchase was worth $13.9 million
- Circle's stock has slumped sharply, yet ARK continued buying
- This marks ARK's third consecutive month adding to its Circle position
- FamilyAlbum has surpassed 30 million cumulative users to date
- Company aims to reach 100 million users worldwide
- Plans to add local-language services and photo‑printing offerings abroad
- Domestic growth constrained by Japan's declining birthrate
- Fender issued a formal notice to Yamaha over alleged guitar design infringement
- The dispute focuses on Fender's iconic Stratocaster electric guitar design
- Fender says it will enforce copyright protections globally
- Honda plans to begin production of its UC3 electric motorcycle in Vietnam as early as September 2024.
- The UC3 is an electric scooter aimed at urban commuters, signaling Honda's push into city EVs.
- Production will be handled by Honda Vietnam subsidiary, reflecting a broader shift toward electric vehicles in urban areas.
Thai Markets 6
- Government plans three tourism stimulus schemes costing total 2.45 bn baht.
- Domestic co‑payment scheme allocates 1.75 bn baht, covering 50% of accommodation up to 3,000 baht per booking.
- Flight discount scheme provides 200 mn baht for 400,000 domestic seats with 400‑600 baht fare cuts.
- International charter subsidy earmarks 500 mn baht for 600 flights targeting 87,000 inbound travelers.
- Expected economic impact totals about 56 bn baht and 1.66 bn baht in tax revenue.
- ThaiBev obtained a 6.5‑billion‑baht sustainability‑linked loan from Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri).
- It marks the third consecutive SLL with Krungsri after a 10‑billion‑baht loan in 2024 and a 5‑billion‑baht loan in 2025.
- Loan pricing is tied to meeting a 42% cut in Scope 1‑2 emissions and reaching 50% renewable‑energy use by 2030.
- Morningstar Sustainalytics issued a second‑party opinion confirming the loan framework aligns with SLL principles.
- Automotive leaders call for higher local‑content rules for EV components such as seats, wiring and windscreens
- Propose tax deductions and personal‑income‑tax reductions to incentivise use of Thai‑made parts
- Warn US may raise tariffs on Thai‑assembled EVs that rely on imported components amid transshipment concerns
- Thailand's 2026 car production target of 1.5 million units (950,000 for export) could be revised due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions
- TAIA urges restructuring of excise taxes on fully imported EVs and adoption of EV fleets by government agencies
- Cabinet directs Interior Ministry to design insurance model based on Japan's earthquake, flood and windstorm schemes
- Goal is to raise compensation above the current 9,000 baht limit and speed up payouts to disaster victims
- Private insurers would share payout responsibility, lowering the fiscal burden on the state
- Premiums to be set according to regional risk levels; government may provide supplemental aid if losses exceed coverage
- DSI detained Malika Maksalud, executive/director of QRS Education, on multiple fraud charges.
- The scheme allegedly promised 20‑30% returns within seven days, using aggressive online advertising.
- Authorities also arrested 'Coach James' and issued summonses to 22 other suspects, including MP Pawoot.
- USD/THB fell after US CPI decline but quickly retraced, limiting Baht gains; last seen near 33.50
- Elevated oil prices and uneven tourism recovery act as headwinds for the Thai Baht
- Bank of Thailand signals tolerance for orderly THB weakness to support exports and tourism
- Analysts suggest buying USD/THB on dips around 33.40–33.20
Other 43
- French lawmakers adopted a bill creating a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses
- The law applies only to French citizens or residents and requires strict eligibility criteria
- Patients may self‑administer a lethal substance or have it administered by a doctor or nurse if unable
- Implementation will be governed by detailed medical and procedural safeguards
- Ransomware group World Leaks posted ~19,000 files from Reliance servers, including blueprints for Unit 3‑4 ventilation and cooling systems.
- The breach involves a partial compromise of a server hosted by Yotta, prompting investigation by India's CERT‑In and the Nuclear Power Corporation.
- Files also contain supplier lists and a $112 million insurance policy for the plant’s units, raising safety and security concerns.
- This is the second cyber incident at Kudankulam, following a 2019 malware intrusion linked to a North Korean hacker group.
- Former adviser Win Thanaphatcharaphokin arrested in Laos on July 12 over alleged DLA recruitment exam fraud
- Investigators say up to 3,000 answer sheets were altered and bribes of 350,000‑800,000 baht per candidate were collected
- NACC has identified 6,014 people for further investigation; Interior Ministry may revoke affected appointments
- China's 1.5 GW hybrid solar‑storage facility became operational, the biggest of its kind globally
- The plant combines solar PV with battery storage to deliver round‑the‑clock power
- Its launch highlights China's accelerated renewable rollout amid ongoing oil market shocks
- The project supports China's broader goal of expanding renewable generation capacity
- Senator Sheldon Whitehouse repeatedly questioned Blanche's confidence in FBI Director Kash Patel, citing travel and alleged alcohol use
- Blanche defended Patel, stating he has "full faith" in the director's work
- Blanche noted about 1% of redactions on released Epstein files needed correction after errors were found
- Senator Durbin raised concerns over Blanche's past cryptocurrency holdings and the dismantling of the DOJ's crypto enforcement team
- A proposed $1.8 billion anti‑weaponization fund was cancelled after criticism from both parties
- Google purchases output of first two phases, adding 1 GW solar capacity and 1.9 GWh battery storage
- Project will supply roughly 6 % of Arkansas's peak electricity demand
- Full three‑phase plant, due 2029, will total about 1.8 GW solar and 2.9 GWh storage
- Cypress Creek Energy secured $3.5 billion financing for the initial phases
- xAI runs about 60 natural‑gas turbines without clean‑air permits, highlighting a stark contrast
- Pentagon withheld the congressionally mandated annual F-35 report, citing Controlled Unclassified Information
- The decision marks the first public block in more than two decades
- The F-35 program is valued at roughly US$1.6 trillion
- GAO confirmed the report contained CUI, preventing public disclosure
- Hong Kong's Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results were released on Wednesday.
- Among the 24 top scorers, several overcame personal adversity, including one nearly blind student.
- The nearly blind student plans to pursue a career as a legal advocate for the vulnerable.
- Four other top scorers were motivated by childhood illnesses to study medicine.
- DOJ says releasing unredacted files would breach federal law, court orders, and victim privacy protections
- New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez has pursued the records for over five months to support a state probe of alleged abuse at Epstein's Zorro Ranch
- The request involves millions of documents; DOJ previously released heavily redacted files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act
- China's Q2 GDP growth slowed to 4.3%, missing the 4.5% forecast
- Thai travel association calls for renewed bilateral tourism agreement and more direct flights to secondary Chinese cities
- Proposed measures include promotional airfares, joint marketing, and a working committee for traveler safety and data exchange
- SEC can require a gag order as part of settlement agreements
- Settling a case means forfeiting the right to publicly share one's side
- The opinion piece argues the rule reduces transparency for affected parties
- Health officials suspect more than one contamination source for the ongoing cyclosporiasis cases
- The outbreak has spread across multiple U.S. states, affecting thousands of individuals
- Experts warn the outbreak may continue through August before being contained
- Judge James Boasberg granted a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the policy
- The policy allowed immigration investigations of non‑US citizens working on misinformation and content moderation
- The injunction applies until the Coalition for Independent Technology Research's lawsuit is resolved
- The ruling reverses a Trump administration effort to revoke green cards and deport such workers
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- $95 annual fee includes $100 hotel credit and extensive travel protections
- Rewards rate: 5x points on Chase Travel purchases, 3x on dining, gas, streaming, and more
- Additional perks: complimentary Apple TV (value $156) and a year of DashPass
- Points redeem at 1 cent each, making the welcome bonus worth roughly $905 after fee
- Screening program targets service members aged 30 and older.
- Tests will be conducted annually as part of mandatory medical exams.
- Personnel under 30 may volunteer for the testosterone test.
- Goal is to identify deficiency and consider replacement therapy.
- Ruemmler testified before the House Judiciary Committee about her email exchanges with Epstein
- She described Epstein as a "masterful liar" while acknowledging a "friendly" relationship
- The grilling centers on Goldman Sachs' internal communications and oversight of Epstein-related matters
- Lawyer faced intense questioning regarding potential conflicts of interest and corporate governance
- CUHK sets up first clinical trial centre outside Hong Kong in Nansha, Guangzhou
- Centre aims to strengthen research collaboration and develop Greater Bay Area as medical innovation hub
- Partnership with mainland Chinese authorities to drive medical innovation
- Veteran pilot C.B. Sullenberger, 75, has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease
- Sullenberger, known for the 'Miracle on the Hudson' landing, is receiving treatment
- Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older, with 6.9 million cases estimated in 2024
- Award-winning chemist Zhang Wei, former chair at University of Colorado Boulder, has joined China's Great Bay University (GBU).
- Zhang will serve as deputy dean and chair professor of GBU’s physical sciences school.
- The appointment ceremony occurred on July 2 at GBU's Songshan Lake campus in Dongguan, Guangdong.
- The Vera C. Rubin Observatory began a 10‑year survey on June 29
- Its 3.2‑billion‑pixel camera will image the entire southern sky every 3‑4 nights
- The program aims to detect transients, map dark matter/energy, and catalog solar‑system objects
- Artem Oganov, a professor at Skolkovo Institute, was among nine recipients of China's International Science and Technology Cooperation Award
- The award was presented by President Xi Jinping in a ceremony recognizing collaboration with Chinese researchers
- Oganov's remarks highlighted China's claim to be the world's leading science power
- The honor underscores growing scientific ties between Russia and China
- Chinese meteorological agencies caution that extreme weather events are likely to increase following Typhoon Bavi.
- Jilin province issued an emergency flood alert, imposing traffic controls and urging evacuations near affected rivers.
- Heavy rainfall has impacted at least 10 cities in the foothills of the Changbai Mountains.
- Sotheby's opened live bidding on July 14 for a 67-million-year-old T. rex skeleton.
- The specimen, named Gus, is about 61% complete with 183 fossil bone elements.
- Expected hammer price could reach up to $30 million.
- Private collectors increasingly buying fossils, raising concerns for scientific access.
- CFTC instructed Kalshi to keep operating, preventing compliance with Michigan court order to halt sports betting contracts.
- Michigan court had ordered Kalshi to cease offering sports betting contracts to state users on June 29.
- The clash underscores a broader regulatory dispute, with the CFTC having sued nine states over prediction market jurisdiction.
- Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and NYU Senior Vice Chancellor Raghu Sundaram signed an agreement to study a joint campus.
- The partnership aims to boost Tokyo's ability to attract and develop global talent.
- Musashimurayama, a western suburb of Tokyo, is being considered as a potential site for the campus.
- A dedicated cyber investigation team has been created within the Japan Coast Guard.
- The unit will focus on drug smuggling rings that coordinate through social media platforms.
- Goal is to strengthen maritime security against increasingly sophisticated digital crime methods.
- Argentina won 2-1 after trailing 0-1 in the second half
- Lautaro Martínez scored in the 92nd minute to clinch the victory
- Messi assisted the equaliser (85') and the winning goal
- England will contest the third‑place playoff against France
- Ethnic minority students in Hong Kong achieve high scores on DSE exams
- Students face linguistic challenges but persevere with academic goals
- Graduates pursue careers in law enforcement and other fields
- Couple feels the term ‘you guyses’ is unprofessional for a financial adviser
- They consider switching to an adviser closer to their own generation
- The issue raises broader concerns about age and communication style in advisory services
- One driver killed after vehicle entered a residential home in Texas
- National Transportation Safety Board says driver accelerated deliberately
- Incident raises questions about Tesla's Autopilot safety features
- A dried-out felt-tip marker and a broken circuit breaker switch from Apollo 11 fetched $857,600 at Sotheby's.
- The items were used during the 1969 Moon landing, helping resolve a critical engine issue.
- Auction highlights continued high demand for historic space memorabilia.
- England committed 7 fouls while Argentina committed 12 in the first half
- Each side received one yellow card (Anderson 38', Martinez 42')
- Possession was 44% for England and 56% for Argentina
- No shots on target were recorded in the first half
- Thousands of Argentine fans assembled in Atlanta streets
- Fans performed a traditional banderazo celebration
- Event precedes Argentina vs England semi-final on July 15, 2026
- Guidelines titled “Raising the Bar" aim to prevent sexualised camera angles and unnecessary slow‑motion replays.
- Broadcasters advised to avoid prolonged close‑ups of specific body parts, low‑angle shots from behind or beneath athletes.
- Encouraged use of wider angles and technical‑focused replays that highlight performance, not body exposure.
- Guidelines provide positive/negative examples for high jump, pole vault, long/triple jump and running events.
- Sam Neill died at age 78 in Sydney, Australia
- Featured in Jurassic Park (1993) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
- Career included roles in Omen III, The Hunt for Red October, Thor: Ragnarok, and Oscar‑winning The Piano
- A 59-year-old Hong Kong woman was found guilty of criminal damage.
- She was convicted for throwing excrement onto a neighbor's air conditioner.
- She was also convicted for damaging a security camera.
- The incident occurred on May 31 last year in a residential building in Shau Kei Wan.
- 28-year-old camp manager arrested on charges of trafficking minors for sexual exploitation
- Police rescued and placed 12 children into protective custody after raid in Rayong province
- Authorities are searching for a Norwegian national believed to be involved in the scheme
- Applied to NASA astronaut program four times, each time reaching final round but being rejected
- After being told his chances were zero percent, he persisted and eventually flew to space
- His story underscores personal resilience despite repeated setbacks
- Airport set up a designated area for three stray civet cats to stay and interact with passengers
- The cat family includes a father, mother and a daughter born in June
- The initiative drew massive applause on Chinese social media
- Stay-at-home parents increasingly add trigger clauses to prenups to safeguard against divorce.
- Trigger clause activates upon divorce, granting financial protection to the non-earning spouse.
- Legal experts note rising demand as more families rely on a single income source.
- Bosco Lee, 21, and Brian Lam Shing-wai, 22, convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm
- Assault took place on Dec 26, 2023 at Pik Uk Prison in Sai Kung, victim left severely injured
- Main attacker identified as former assistant officer Tam Lik-chung
- Case underscores concerns over prison violence and staff misconduct in Hong Kong
- Two teenage students opened fire in Tacloban, killing 3 and injuring 20
- Drills conducted at a Manila campus with hundreds of students and teachers
- Exercises involve barricading classrooms with desks and chairs
- Authorities cite rising violence as reason for increased preparedness
- Hong Kong's biggest annual book fair launched on Wednesday with numerous exhibitors showcasing new offerings.
- Hundreds of fans of Cantopop group Collar waited overnight for autographs, encountering chaotic queues.
- Fans reported intersecting lines and missed opportunities, labeling the arrangement a "mess".
- A 15-year-old attendee expressed deep disappointment with the crowd management.
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