- S&P 500 closed down 1.01% at 7,457.69, marking a 1.6% weekly loss
- Nasdaq Composite fell 1.4% to 25,520.24, down 2.9% for the week
- VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) posted a near 9% decline over the week
- WTI crude rose 4.5% to $82.49/barrel and Brent up 4.6% to $88.10/barrel
- Netflix shares dropped more than 7% after a weak earnings forecast
July 17, 2026
▲ 45▼ 76◆ 20– 188
Markets 34
- Friday's trading saw major US chip stocks drop roughly 2%, capping a week of sharp losses
- The decline was spurred by concerns that China's aggressive AI developments could intensify competition for semiconductor firms
- Analysts warn the selloff could pressure broader tech-heavy indices if the AI rivalry escalates
- Nvidia's market value fell to $4.84 trillion after a ~3% share dip, briefly behind Apple
- Apple hovered near $4.88 trillion market cap, up ~23% YTD, after recent AI‑driven gains
- Nvidia closed slightly above Apple, ending the day with a 9% YTD gain, while memory stocks benefit from data‑center build‑out
- HSBC upgraded Apple to buy, citing AI capabilities and a strong product pipeline
- Japanese and Taiwanese equity benchmarks fell up to 6% as a global tech rout intensified
- Brent crude traded around $84.30/barrel and WTI at $79, up roughly 12% for the week on renewed US‑Iran tensions
- South Korea's central bank raised its policy rate to 2.75% from 2.5%, its first hike in over three years
- US CPI rose 3.5% YoY in June, below expectations, prompting traders to unwind Fed‑rate bets
- Thailand's SET index closed at 1,639.04, up 1.1% week‑over‑week, with foreign investors net buying 8.52 bn baht
- iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) down >10% week-to-date, VanEck SMH down ~9%
- Oil prices rebound above $80 a barrel amid renewed US‑Iran hostilities
- S&P 500 outperforms; small‑cap IWM up 19% YTD, earnings growth >20% expected
- Big banks crush Q2 expectations, signaling a strong start to earnings season
- DJIA fell nearly 300 points, trading around 52,250.
- Fed speech lifted odds to ~86% of a hold, ~57% chance of a hike by September and ~80% chance by December.
- Crude oil rose above $82 per barrel (WTI) and Brent above $86 amid sixth night of US strikes on Iran.
- Consumer sentiment jumped to 54.4, its strongest since February, but the rally was erased.
- SEC is expected to amend the rule allowing companies to skip quarterly earnings releases
- More than 200,000 comments urged the agency to keep mandatory quarterly reporting
- President Trump has historically backed making quarterly reports optional
- The change could alter corporate disclosure practices and affect market transparency
- Dollar index at 100.76, set for a weekly decline of 0.2%
- Fed July hike probability fell to 14% from 25% last week
- Euro flat at $1.1436 (+0.2% weekly); sterling at $1.3455 (-0.2% daily)
- Japanese yen at 162.44 per dollar, near its 40-year low of 162.84
- USD/CHF down 0.22% on the day, trading around 0.8070
- Swiss Franc supported by rising Middle East tensions
- US consumer confidence improves, but Fed outlook remains cautious
- A 'RiskDex' metric, comparing out-of-the-money call/put prices, suggests high demand for calls in key 'Magnificent Seven' stocks.
- Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, and AMD showed uniquely high call demand relative to their historical trading patterns.
- Meta's RiskDex score (0.75) and Microsoft's (0.79) were in the 91st and 93rd percentiles of call-heavy readings over the past year.
- Nations Indexes President Scott Nations views this extreme bullishness as a 'contrary indicator,' suggesting stocks are 'priced for perfection' and setting up for disappointment.
- If these stocks reward bullish positioning, it could signal a significant rotation in market leadership, as some have lagged recently.
- Nasdaq index declines for a second consecutive session
- Chip sector leads losses amid earnings concerns
- Netflix shares tumble after growth outlook downgrade
- Average‑priced stocks posted gains across Wall Street this week
- Semiconductor shares fell, pulling down the sector
- The divergence is viewed as a sign of market breadth and health
- 19 tech stocks fell at least 25% during July.
- Seven of those stocks remain up over 100% year‑to‑date for 2026.
- The drops underscore heightened volatility in the sector after recent earnings.
- Peso drops over 0.65% to 17.53 per USD, after hitting a daily low of 17.41
- USD/MXN trades above the 50/100/200‑day SMA cluster at 17.3856, with resistance near 17.5456
- Dollar strength rises, DXY up 0.05% to 100.76 amid safe‑haven demand from US‑Iran conflict
- Upcoming Mexican releases (July retail sales, employment, inflation) could steer MXN direction
- Cleveland Fed President's hawkish remarks keep rate‑hike expectations alive, pressuring the peso
- USD/JPY stayed near current levels despite aggressive verbal intervention from Finance Minister Katayama
- Katayama warned of "decisive action at any time," one of the strongest intervention warnings in recent weeks
- Local retail FX traders show a marked shift toward yen, indicating heightened sensitivity to intervention risk
- DXY trades around 100.70, flat after earlier rise
- Housing starts rose to 1.43 million (vs 1.31 M forecast) and consumer sentiment hit 54.4, supporting the dollar
- Building permits fell to 1.37 million and industrial production grew only 0.1% MoM, limiting further dollar gains
- Fed President Beth Hammack warned inflation remains broad‑based, keeping upside modest
- EUR/USD flat around 1.1438, on track for modest weekly gain
- ECB expected to hold rates at 2.25% at June meeting, with September hike priced in
- Fed rate‑hike probability by December about 75% per CME FedWatch
- Oil prices up roughly 12% this week, supporting tighter monetary policy expectations
- US Dollar Index near 100.76 after three‑week low of 100.35
- AUD/USD climbs back to around 0.6980 after an earlier decline
- US housing starts rise to an annualized 1.43 million, beating the 1.31 million forecast
- US building permits drop to 1.37 million MoM, 3% lower year‑over‑year
- Consumer sentiment index jumps to 54.4, ahead of the 51.0 market expectation
- GBP/USD fell earlier in the day, retreating from its one-year peak near 1.38 reached earlier this week
- Investors anticipate incoming PM Burnham will pursue market‑friendly policies, providing support for the pound
- Technical analysis points to firm support around the 1.34 level if the pair dips
- USD/JPY stays near four‑decade highs, around 150, as the yen weakens
- Higher oil prices keep hawkish Fed expectations alive; markets price a 73% chance of a rate hike by December
- US Dollar Index (DXY) trades flat near 100.75 after a three‑week low of 100.35
- Japan's net foreign assets total $3.6 trillion (~83% of GDP), offering potential yen support if repatriated
- USD Index (DXY) stalled around 100.5 support after late‑June highs, risking a bearish weekly close
- Risk‑off sentiment pushes equities lower and oil higher, while bonds firm across core markets
- OIS pricing for a year‑end Fed hike appears too rich, suggesting further USD weakness as swaps repriced
- EUR/USD trades slightly lower around the mid‑1.14 level
- Key support at 1.1395‑1.1405 could be tested if the pair breaks down
- ECB policymakers in quiet period; market expects a rate hold at the June meeting
- Eurozone CPI was -0.1% m/m and 2.8% YoY in June; current‑account surplus €25.1bn in May
- CAD modestly outperforms USD, holding near the low 1.40 area
- USD/CAD target support set at 1.3981 (38.2% retracement)
- Recent aggressive CAD short builds are being adjusted, adding tailwinds
- Mild USD rebounds above the low/mid-1.41 range seen as short opportunities
- Firmer crude oil prices bolster CAD despite weaker equity markets
- Majority of investors failed to exceed the S&P 500's quarterly performance
- Semiconductor stocks led declines, pulling down the broader market
- The quarter's earnings were strong, yet market breadth remained narrow
- Japanese equities dropped sharply, with the Nikkei briefly falling 4,100 points
- Kioxia Holdings plunged 16% as investors unwound AI‑related leverage
- AI‑linked tech stocks led the sell‑off across Asian markets
- Number of Asian companies listing in the US fell sharply after tighter regulations targeting pump‑and‑dump schemes.
- Despite fewer listings, total IPO proceeds from Asian firms this year already surpass last year's total.
- Chinese and Hong Kong IPO activity has stalled after a two‑year boom in the first half of the year.
- USD/CNH trading in a narrow 6.7670‑6.7780 range, closing at 6.7734 (+0.07%).
- UOB maintains a 1‑3 week downside target of 6.7600 as long as resistance at 6.7820 holds.
- Medium‑term upside only if key resistance above 6.7820 is broken.
- Dollar Index slipped 0.11% over the week, closing at 97.09.
- The index recorded a second consecutive session rise despite the weekly decline.
- Modest movement indicates limited directional bias in foreign‑exchange markets.
- S&P/BMV IPC rose 0.42% by market close
- Broad Mexican equity index led gains across the market
- Positive investor sentiment noted amid domestic factors
- Stock-index funds can be quickly rebalanced to capture market shifts
- Bond market dynamics are evolving, influencing fixed‑income returns
- Housing market presents new investment opportunities
- Spot USD/SGD is near 1.2905, confined to a tight band.
- Key support level identified at 1.2860, resistance at 1.2930.
- Downward momentum could trigger a deeper decline if USD/SGD breaks below 1.2860 within 1‑3 weeks.
- USD/SGD rebounded to close at 1.2908, up 0.18%.
- Pair fell to around 0.8074 after hitting 0.8149, its highest level since August 2025
- Key resistance at 0.8150 remains untested; support at 0.8000 and 100‑day SMA near 0.7920
- RSI at 54 and ADX around 26 signal modest bullish momentum but a weakening trend
- EUR/GBP trades around 0.8501, still on track for a fourth consecutive weekly loss
- Pair broke multi-month support at 0.8600 on July 1, reaching a one‑year low
- RSI stays below 33, just above the oversold 30 level; ADX at 31 points to a strengthening downtrend
- Immediate resistance at 0.8550 and 0.8600; next support at 0.8450
- High capital gains may trap investors in positions due to tax implications
- Tax-loss harvesting can offset gains and reduce liability
- Strategic charitable donations or gifting may lower tax burden
Macro/Economy 25
- Chinese crime rings are using digital fraud, including tap-to-pay and retail app scams, to steal billions from US banks and retailers.
- These organized retail crime operations are estimated to generate up to $1 billion annually for Chinese gangs.
- Fraudsters exploit retailers' lower security compared to banks, often using phishing texts and AI to acquire sensitive consumer data.
- Schemes involve 'foot soldiers' converting stolen credit card information into gift cards or high-value goods for resale in China, circumventing banking regulations.
- The rise in these scams coincides with an increase in Chinese nationals at US land crossings, with individuals often owing debt to crime groups.
- US Treasury debt-to-GDP ratio at record high
- Fed may intervene in bond market during crises
- Risk of higher borrowing costs for US government
- US import prices rose 0.3% in June, defying forecasts of a 0.7% decline
- Import prices surged 7.1% in the 12 months through June, the largest annual increase in nearly four years
- Core imported inflation increased 4.6% in the 12 months through June, driven by a 0.4% rise in imported capital goods prices
- National housing prices stay L‑shaped, with Tier‑1 cities diverging from lower‑tier cities
- Real estate investment at 53% of its July 2021 peak; housing starts at 24% of former levels
- Housing completions at 55% of previous levels, largely policy‑driven
- Demographic slowdown ends real estate as primary growth engine
- Beijing redirects capital to green tech, EVs and advanced industrial equipment
- ECB expected to hold main refinancing rate at 2.40% and deposit rate at 2.25% on July 23
- UK core CPI forecast at 2.5% YoY (headline 2.8%); earnings excl. bonuses +3.4%, employment +100K, unemployment 4.9%
- US initial jobless claims projected at 212K; latest composite PMI 51.9 with manufacturing 53.9 and services 51.2
- WTI crude near $82/bbl, up about 3% on heightened geopolitical risk
- Gold around $4,015/oz, buoyed by safe‑haven demand amid uncertainty
- Wells Fargo raises global GDP forecast to 2.7% for 2026
- Trims global CPI inflation forecast to 4.3% due to lower oil price path
- Expect final hikes from ECB, RBA, and BoJ, and possible short cycle from BoE
- Headline CPI projected at 2.9% YoY in June, down from 3.0% in May
- Energy price decline (WTI ~40% from Q2 highs) expected to shave ~0.4pp from monthly CPI and ~1.0pp YoY
- Core measures (CPI‑trim/median) forecast to hold near 2.0%‑2.1% for a third consecutive month
- Shelter inflation continues to disinflate, while food prices remain a source of upward pressure
- CPI outlook aligns with BoC Q2 projection, giving the bank flexibility on policy stance
- Homebuyer affordability declined in June for the fifth consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors' housing affordability index.
- The income needed to qualify for a mortgage was $109,152 in June, up from $93,552 in January.
- Affordability is expected to improve slightly as the market moves beyond the busy spring and summer buying season.
- EU targets parity with Chinese electric‑vehicle rivals by 2028 through technology sharing and joint ventures
- The automotive sector underpins more than 13 million jobs across the European Union
- Policy measures will focus on integrating Chinese battery and software expertise into European EV production
- Trump blames Canada for smoke from hundreds of wildfires that blanketed the US Midwest to Northeast
- He pledged to add the "incalculable cost" of addressing the pollution to existing tariffs on Canadian imports
- Detroit was ranked the world’s most polluted city during the episode, according to IQAir
- 61% of surveyed voters say the economy is getting worse, highest since Dec 2023
- Only 25% remain optimistic about the economy now and future
- President Trump's net approval falls to 40% with 59% disapproval, a 1‑point drop from April
- 47% report cutting back on essentials and two‑thirds cut non‑essential spending amid high prices
- Democrats hold a modest 4‑point advantage for congressional control despite economic discontent
- New Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-III) rules to start on April 1, 2027
- Standards aim to raise average fuel economy for passenger cars and lower emissions
- Testing methodology will shift from the Modified Indian Driving Cycle to a more realistic cycle
- Policy targets a reduction in India's growing crude oil import bill
- Proposal: one‑time 5% tax on net worth above $1 billion, payable in up to five installments with a 7.5% deferral charge
- State analysis projects an initial windfall of tens of billions but potential revenue loss of hundreds of millions annually if billionaires relocate
- Opponents include Gov. Gavin Newsom and both major party nominees, citing competitiveness concerns; supporters argue revenue will fund healthcare and preserve quality of life
- Norway’s experience shows wealth outflows can surge (518% increase in 2022‑23) while its economy grew modestly (1.1% in 2023) despite a high exit tax
- 10Y Treasury yield falls to 4.11%
- Solid economic indicators offset Middle East tension
- Geopolitical risks weigh on investor sentiment
- Visa estimates $36T in baby boomer wealth transfer over 20 years, excluding top 1% and retirement spending
- Cerulli projects $105T total wealth transfer by 2048, including all generations and ultra-wealthy families
- Gen X to inherit $14T in next decade; millennials to receive $46T over 25 years per Cerulli
- Top 1% hold $28T of baby boomer wealth, spending far less than average consumers
- Wealth management industry faces major adaptation as 25% of clients now come from inherited wealth
- Johor authorities investigate Network School, a co‑living/co‑working hub in Forest City.
- The community was founded by Balaji Srinivasan, former Coinbase CTO and US tech investor.
- Online claims allege Israeli involvement, prompting political and immigration scrutiny.
- The probe could slow Malaysia's push to attract digital nomads and global tech talent.
- China’s Bank of China, UnionPay International and UAE’s Al Etihad Payments will enable cross‑border QR payments between the two countries
- Users can scan QR codes with domestic mobile apps to pay in either yuan or dirham
- The initiative aims to boost the yuan’s global use and reduce reliance on Western payment systems
- Funds-supplying operations approved to channel loans for climate-change mitigation projects
- Disbursement mechanism targets developing economies seeking low-carbon investments
- Initiative aligns with global climate finance commitments under the Paris Agreement
- Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves climb back to the level last seen in 2022
- Remittance inflows increase, boosted by higher transfers from Saudi Arabia and other sources
- Malaysia's reopening to Bangladeshi workers is expected to add further remittance growth
- External finance pressures ease as the reserve and remittance trends improve
- Japan's drug pricing ties reimbursement to effectiveness, lowering prices for innovative medicines
- Eli Lilly CEO says the system restricts patient treatment options and discourages R&D investment
- The pricing model may make Japan less attractive for global pharmaceutical investment
- Spot container freight rates from China to the U.S. rose to their highest level in almost two years.
- Shippers are accelerating deliveries to stock up for the holiday season before a potential tariff increase.
- The tariff change could raise duties on U.S. imports from China, adding cost pressure on retailers.
- Months of deficient rainfall have led to widespread crop failures in Karamoja.
- Child malnutrition rates are rising, with vulnerable groups most affected.
- Humanitarian agencies are urging urgent emergency assistance.
- Armenian parliament passed the bill on July 16 to formalize participation in the TRIPP project.
- TRIPP is positioned as a key node in the emerging Middle Corridor trade network linking Europe and Asia.
- The United States is slated to hold a 74% ownership stake, with Armenia retaining the remaining share.
- The framework agreement outlines operational and ownership structures for the TRIPP initiative.
- Defense budget cuts reduce funding for new soldier pensions and healthcare
- Recruitments from remote villages face delays as cost-saving measures are implemented
- Existing soldiers retain lifetime pension, but future entrants may see reduced benefits
Central Banks 6
- BoK lifted the base rate to 2.75% from 2.50% at its July 16 meeting.
- Policy rate is projected to reach 3.25% by year‑end 2026 after two additional 25‑bp hikes.
- CPI inflation is expected to rise to around 3.5% YoY in H2‑2026, overshooting the target.
- Growth outlook relies on AI‑driven semiconductor sector, with limited real GDP upside.
- ECB's Piero Cipollone says stablecoin adoption could erode bank deposits
- Digital euro will keep banks at the center of payments
- Stablecoin growth poses a threat to traditional banking
- Mobile payments now exceed 10% of POS transactions in Ireland, the Netherlands and Finland
- Two‑thirds of euro‑area card payments are processed by non‑European schemes; 13 of 21 countries lack a national card scheme
- ECB argues a digital euro is needed to preserve monetary sovereignty and give banks a role in the digital payments ecosystem
- Banks risk losing fees and transaction data as consumers shift to mobile payments and potentially stablecoins
- June CPI forecast to fall to 2.8% year‑over‑year, down from 3.2% in May
- Core inflation (ex‑food & energy) expected to hold near 1.6% YoY
- RBC expects the Bank of Canada to keep rates on hold through 2026 as inflation nears 2% target
- Headline easing driven by lower energy prices while underlying pressures remain stable
- Inflation pressure is still broad‑based, affecting both businesses and consumers
- Companies cite higher energy, insurance costs, supply‑chain disruptions and AI data‑center expansion as key drivers
- Consumers are growing more desperate as expenses outpace income
- Fed is monitoring the situation alongside business and community leader feedback
- HSBC's HSBC Orion platform approved for Digital Securities Sandbox
- First Digital Gilt Instrument transaction expected in Q1 2027
- BoE's sandbox aims to facilitate digital securities innovation
Energy/Oil 25
- WTI crude expected to rise ~5% this week, the biggest weekly gain since April
- Brent crude set for a similar weekly increase, targeting around $80 per barrel
- Price surge driven by heightened geopolitical risk after Iran escalates its war with Israel
- Analysts warn further volatility could tighten global oil supply
- Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthis to prepare to disrupt the Red Sea oil route if the United States attacks Iranian infrastructure.
- Missiles and drones have reportedly been deployed near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Houthi forces are awaiting an order, reportedly from the IRGC, to begin attacks on shipping.
- This move expands Tehran's leverage on oil routes, adding the Red Sea threat to existing Hormuz pressure.
- WTI price reached around $81.10, up 2.76% on the day and over 13% for the week.
- US strikes on Iran and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Strait heighten supply‑risk fears.
- Commerzbank warns a blockade of these chokepoints could push oil prices even higher, with Chinese crude imports likely to rise.
- IEA cautions that prolonged disruptions could become a major global energy‑security concern.
- Iraq to build two oil export pipelines via Syria and Turkey
- Pipelines to carry southern Iraqi crude to the Mediterranean
- Chevron, Capital TI, and UCC to conduct technical and financial studies
- Crude oil prices jumped about 12% over the past week.
- Gasoline retail price to increase by 300 yuan (≈$44.3) per ton from July 18.
- Diesel retail price to rise by 290 yuan (≈$42.8) per ton.
- Price caps adjusted by the National Development and Reform Commission in line with global oil markets.
- ConocoPhillips agreed to buy 42% stake in BP’s Kirkuk oil fields for redevelopment, closing by year-end pending approvals
- Deal supports U.S. goal to reduce Iraq’s energy reliance on Iranian-disrupted routes and bolster regional production
- Iraq seeks $10B+ in energy investments to expand oil/gas output and develop natural gas resources by 2030
- Germany receives its first LNG cargo from Algeria's Sonatrach, opening a new supply route.
- Algeria supplies 18.5% of EU gas imports now, projected to reach 20% in Q1 2026.
- Berlin and Algiers sign 30 agreements covering hydrocarbons, renewables, hydrogen and rare earths.
- The 3,300‑km Southern Hydrogen Corridor targets up to 4 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year.
- Russia's EU pipeline gas share fell from ~40% in 2021 to ~6% in 2022, boosting Algerian deliveries.
- At least nine oil tankers attacked since July 6, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.
- Transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell to eight vessels on Thursday, down from 15 the day before and far below the pre‑conflict level of over 100 daily.
- The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade and disabled an unladen tanker, while Iran launched missile strikes, escalating regional tensions.
- Shippers are turning to the Red Sea as an alternative route for Saudi oil exports amid Hormuz disruptions.
- Iran claims U.S. night strikes killed 8 people and wounded 20, hitting bridges, a train station and an airport.
- Iran says it attacked a U.S. command center in Syria's al‑Tanf region and expanded strikes to Bahrain.
- Brent crude rose 1.7% to $85.72 per barrel and WTI up 2.2% to $80.63, both up over 11% for the week.
- U.S. Central Command reports more than 50,000 service members operating across the Middle East.
- Global oil market has moved from a temporary supply deficit to a structural shortage, according to Jeff Currie.
- Refined product crack spreads have surged to roughly $70 per barrel, a historic level.
- Processing spreads now nearly equal crude prices, indicating tight supply in refined markets.
- Currie's warning suggests continued upward pressure on oil prices and heightened market volatility.
- Iran threatens to block the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for Saudi oil exports.
- Brent crude has risen roughly 12% since last Friday amid escalating tensions.
- Commerzbank says a blockade could push oil prices higher and boost crude imports in July.
- WTI crude oil price forms a bull flag pattern
- US fuel inventories hit a record low
- Bullish oil sentiment persists despite supply concerns
- September WTI crude oil rallied over 11%, marking its strongest weekly gain in months.
- Prices climbed from approximately $72.50 to above $80, driven by a rapid rebuilding of geopolitical risk premium.
- Renewed military action between the United States and Iran shifted market focus back to supply risk.
- The move reversed previous weeks' declines, which were based on optimism over Strait of Hormuz oil flows.
- China's state LNG importers in talks for long-term LNG deals beyond Strait of Hormuz
- Seeking to reduce exposure to gas deliveries from Persian Gulf
- 30% of China's LNG supply came from Qatar last year
- IEA and 31 other countries pumped 400 million barrels of crude into the market
- Extra supply helped Asian economies avoid a sharp slowdown despite the Iran war
- Japan's report underscores the role of global strategic oil releases in stabilising growth
- Bangladesh aims to invest $12.65 bn in nuclear capacity totaling up to 2.4 GW.
- Project financing hinges on Russian and Chinese loans, with repayments slated to begin around 2030.
- Delays and cost overruns could increase total spend by as much as 20 % over the original budget.
- Projected energy demand growth of roughly 5 % per year adds pressure to meet the nuclear rollout timeline.
- Current law limits licences to one 10‑year renewal; amendment would permit multiple renewals
- Erawan gas field output dropped from 1,200 MMSCFD to 200 MMSCFD in 2022 after licence expiry
- Thailand spent over 150 billion baht subsidising electricity due to costly LNG imports
- Amendment targets up to 60% of power‑generation fuel from domestic gas and extends concessions like the Malaysia‑Thailand Joint Development Area expiring in 2029
- Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia's presidency by a 1% margin over Iván Cepeda
- He will be sworn in on 7 August 2024 and plans to reverse Petro's energy policies
- The new government aims to revive fossil‑fuel production, hinting at upward pressure on global oil prices
- Natural gas futures rose after previous session's losses
- Weekly close was slightly weaker despite the daily gain
- Market eyes upcoming inventory and demand data for direction
- Total US oil and gas rigs increased to 588, up 44 from a year ago
- Active oil rigs rose to 452, 30 above the same time last year
- Gas rigs held steady at 126, 9 above a year earlier
- Brent crude price gained 4% during the same period
- Climate attribution science can now answer questions with greater confidence than a decade ago
- Report highlights limits and suggests steps to address them
- Fossil fuel industry views climate attribution as a problem, threatening liability for damages
- U.S. expands maritime blockade targeting LPG carriers tied to Iran
- Multiple Iran-affiliated tankers abort voyages and return to port
- Potential reduction in global LPG supply could lift spot prices
- Production slated to begin in September 2024.
- Project targets shale gas exports to Japan and broader Asian markets.
- Development driven by heightened energy security concerns after the Iran war.
- Energy stocks climb as companies report robust earnings
- Major oil majors post double‑digit profit increases
- Analysts upgrade sector outlook amid strong demand
- Article provides only a title with no substantive content
- No data on crude, WTI, Brent, or other energy metrics
- No market impact or price levels mentioned
Gold/Metals 12
- Gold (XAU/USD) around $3,992, near its lowest since July 1, marking a second weekly loss
- US Dollar Index at ~100.76 after a three‑week low of 100.35, capping gold upside
- CME FedWatch Tool shows ~73% chance of a Fed rate hike by December
- Technicals keep XAU/USD below Bollinger middle band at $4,072, with support near $3,945
- Oil price rise from Strait of Hormuz tensions revives inflation concerns, supporting a hawkish Fed view
Read on FXStreet ↗
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- IEA says copper supply outlook has deteriorated sharply amid geopolitical tensions
- Middle East conflict and China's export ban on sulphuric acid are disrupting copper processing
- Agency highlights heightened risk of supply shortages for copper producers
- Warning signals bearish pressure on copper markets despite no specific quantitative forecast
- Silver (XAG/USD) fell to a new YTD low of $54.77, trading at $56.00.
- RSI signals bearish momentum; next support levels at $55.00, $54.39, and $48.64.
- Price remains below the $60.00 psychological barrier; upside targets $63.28 and $65.00 if reclaimed.
- June physical gold withdrawals in China fell to their lowest level in a decade.
- Demand stayed weak despite gold prices dropping roughly 5% over the month.
- World Gold Council says cheaper valuations have not revived the market.
- China remains the world's largest gold consumer, but consumption is slowing.
- Artificial intelligence identified as an emerging source of rare earth demand alongside military and clean‑energy uses
- Western governments are allocating billions of dollars toward AI and related technologies, boosting material needs
- Sprott expects rare earth consumption to rise as AI applications expand across sectors
- Gold up 0.92% on Friday, trading near $4,013 after a low of $3,959.
- Money markets assign ~61% probability to a Fed rate hike at the Oct 28 meeting; July meeting seen steady with 76% odds.
- Technical outlook stays bearish: key support at $4,000, downside target $3,886 if breached.
- US‑Iran escalation revives safe‑haven demand for gold despite recovering equity markets.
- Gold miners have slipped more than 30% YTD, pushing RSI indicators below 30
- Analysts project earnings growth of 15% to 20% for the sector in the upcoming quarter
- Spot gold remains above $1,950 per ounce, supporting mining valuations
- Sector outperforms broader market indices, gaining roughly 5% versus a flat S&P 500
- Gold fell 2.23% over the week to $4,012.70
- Gold rose 0.7% on Friday but still closed lower for the week
- Silver gained about 0.3% on Friday, yet also posted a weekly loss
- Higher real yields are pulling investors away from gold as a safe‑haven asset.
- Gold prices have slipped amid the strengthening of Treasury real yields.
- Analysts warn that continued yield growth could further pressure gold demand.
- Gold price swings within a $150 band, bounded by $3,950 support and $4,100 resistance
- Recent volatility spikes have raised the risk of a breakout either side of the range
- Technical indicators suggest limited upside unless a catalyst pushes gold above $4,100
- Gold slipped into bearish territory, falling below the $1,950 per ounce support level
- Momentum indicators turned negative, signaling potential further downside
- Traders watch the upcoming candle close for possible panic‑selling pressure
- Gold price stalled, missing expected upward move
- Bullish momentum weakened as price failed to break key resistance
- Analysts warn of potential downside risk for gold bulls
Crypto 30
- Bitcoin fell 1.2% to under $63,000, while Ether dropped 1.74%
- Nasdaq 100 futures slid 1.91% and S&P 500 futures down 0.96% amid AI fatigue and Middle East tensions
- Crypto‑wide RSI dipped to 42.23, nearing oversold levels
- Long‑short ratio in crypto futures fell to 0.94, the lowest since June 2, signaling bearish bias
- Dollar Index rose to 100.75 and gold climbed above $4,000 as risk‑off sentiment intensified
Read on CoinDesk ↗
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- Polymarket odds for the Clarity Act drop to 32% by year‑end, the lowest since the market launched.
- Odds have fallen roughly 30 percentage points from launch, after peaking at 82% on Feb 19.
- Senate negotiations stalled over a bipartisan ethics provision, pushing the bill's timeline further out.
- Japan's SBI Group acquired a majority stake in Singapore-based crypto platform Coinhako as part of its regional digital asset expansion.
- SBI partnered with Ondo Finance and the Solana Foundation to tokenize real-world assets and develop yen-based on-chain settlement using its JPYSC stablecoin.
- The strategy aims to build a full digital asset value chain across Asia, including exchanges, tokenization, and stablecoins, rather than chasing short-term market cycles.
- JPYSC stablecoin currently has a limitation, as it does not yet support withdrawals to external wallets or remittances via public blockchains.
- Recent investments include planned acquisition of Tokyo exchange Bitbank and stakes in EDX Markets and Gauntlet, reinforcing SBI's long-term infrastructure focus.
- Kimi K3, a 2.8T-parameter open-weight AI model from Moonshot AI, topped coding benchmarks, challenging U.S. closed models (Claude Fable 5, GPT-5.6)
- Bitcoin fell alongside semiconductor stocks as Kimi K3’s release raised doubts over AI scarcity and crypto’s leverage to the AI capital cycle
- Bitcoin miners’ pivot to AI data centers faces risk if open-weight models reduce demand for premium compute leases
- FTX's fifth distribution round will deliver $900 million to creditors
- Total payouts since the November 2022 bankruptcy filing have reached about $10 billion
- The distribution targets users and other claimants still awaiting funds
- The recovery trust continues to liquidate assets to meet creditor claims
- Bolivia proposes regulatory framework to recognize Tether's USDT as a payment method alongside boliviano and USD
- The move responds to a prolonged USD shortage and widening official‑parallel exchange rate gap
- CleanSpark signed a 20‑year data‑center lease worth up to $11.6 bn to accelerate its AI infrastructure push
- The TEM AI Infrastructure Growth Index fell 16% in the past month, prompting insider stock sales at miners like TeraWulf and Riot Platforms
- Bitmine generated $45.7 million from Ethereum staking, with staking revenue representing 98% of its quarterly earnings
- OKX Europe adds a one‑way conversion letting customers deposit USDT and receive USDC.
- The service complies with EU MiCA rules that do not authorize USDT, prompting platforms to limit the stablecoin.
- USDT accounts for about 59% of the $310 bn stablecoin market, while USDC holds roughly $73 bn.
- The feature is available to users in 30 EU/EEA countries under OKX’s MiCA license.
- Revolut will stop supporting USDT in the EEA and Switzerland by Aug 31, converting remaining balances.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren asked for Trump’s crypto earnings data for Jan‑Jul 2026 ahead of a 2027 deadline
- The request follows a disclosed $1.4 billion in crypto earnings by the former president
- Congress is poised to vote on a new crypto‑related bill within days
- Warren’s move signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of high‑profile crypto holdings
- Control of the Haskell node, Plutus, Hydra and Daedalus wallet will shift to external teams starting in August, with the handover extending to 2027
- ADA is trading around $0.16, roughly 95% below its September 2021 peak of $3.10
- Cardano's total value locked sits at about $70 million, far behind rivals like Tron and Solana each exceeding $4 billion
- Florida student Zyaire Wilkins arrested for distributing malware‑laden games on Steam.
- Malware infected ~8,000 victims and compromised about 80 crypto wallets, stealing at least $220,000.
- Games were promoted on Discord, LinkedIn and Telegram; authorities seized devices and digital wallets.
- Robinhood Chain generated $878 million in 24‑hour DEX volume on July 12, briefly ranking second behind Base and Ethereum.
- Only $211 million of the $734 million bridged assets are deployed in lending or yield products, while tokenized real‑world assets total $12.66 million market cap.
- Memecoin CASHCAT surged 2,100% in its first week, reaching a $156 million market cap, 12 times larger than the chain’s RWA market.
- Perpetual futures volume was $5.9 million on July 13, far below Hyperliquid’s $8.9 billion same day.
- Bitcoin slipped under $62,500, its lowest level in recent sessions
- Price reversal followed a key rejection at local highs
- Iran's strikes added downside pressure on US equities, pulling crypto lower
- Bitcoin tracked US stock moves for a second consecutive day
- SBI Holdings acquired a majority stake in Singapore-based crypto exchange Coinhako.
- The acquisition received regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
- SBI aims to expand its operations into stablecoins, onchain finance, and tokenized assets through this acquisition.
- Kraken, Bitstamp, 1inch, and Bitfinex have set up operations in the British Virgin Islands.
- The BVI offers a favorable regulatory environment for crypto companies.
- The islands' secrecy and lack of transparency may make it difficult to book on-site meetings.
- Knaken declared bankrupt by Rotterdam court
- Lack of assets to repay users necessitates bankruptcy
- Orderly settlement to be implemented
- Kospi 30‑day implied volatility rose to 81% annualized, over twice Bitcoin’s BVIV of ~38%
- Korean retail traders faced over $2 trillion in forced liquidations in the past three months
- Bitcoin trades below its 50‑day moving average while spot CEX volume rose 15.3% to $1.11 trillion in June
- AI‑related stocks have driven a 25% drop in the Kospi index over four weeks
- Two individuals were sentenced in the UK after pleading guilty to cybercrime charges.
- The hackers were linked to the Scattered Spider cybercrime group.
- US prosecutors allege the group extorted dozens of companies.
- The scheme involved an estimated $115 million in crypto ransoms.
- Fourteen new CASPs, including banks and Ripple Payments Europe, were added to the MiCA register.
- The total number of registered crypto asset service providers in the EU now stands at 294.
- Regulatory licensing for MiCA continues to lag, slowing the onboarding of new providers.
- Bitcoin supply in loss crossed the 50% threshold about 50 days ago
- Historical patterns link a 50% loss supply to bear-market bottom formations
- Analysts estimate roughly 50 days remain before a potential price bottom
- Federal prosecutors allege the investor raised $20 million through false promises
- Funds were allegedly recycled to earlier investors and laundered via crypto exchanges
- Indictment cites use of multiple cryptocurrency platforms to conceal proceeds
- Ether dropped ~4% to $1,850, falling twice as hard as Bitcoin, which slipped 2% to $63,400.
- Hyperliquid's HYPE token fell 10% on the day and 12% for the week, its steepest decline since June.
- Asian semiconductor stocks slumped, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 5% and Taiwan Semiconductor posting its biggest one‑day decline since April 2025.
- Brent crude rose about 12% on the week to $85 a barrel as Middle East tensions escalated.
- U.S. spot ether ETFs drew nearly $97 million in inflows this week, largely into BlackRock funds.
- $28 million notional long straddle on ether at $1,875 strike, 7,500 calls and 7,500 puts, expires July 24
- Premium paid $852,000, representing the maximum loss if ether remains range‑bound
- Ether trading around $1,825, down 2% overnight, after recent swing between $1,500 and $1,900
- Bet highlights growing interest in volatility as a separate crypto asset class
- CEX spot volume rose 15.3% to $1.11 trillion in June, with RWA perpetual volume hitting $311 billion
- US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $79.2 million net inflow on Thursday
- Three-day inflow total reached about $368 million (Tue $181M, Wed $108M)
- Cumulative inflows now $51.2 billion, AUM $77.7 billion
- Bitcoin price around $62,851, down ~28% YTD after briefly topping $65,000
- July could become first month of net positive ETF flows since April if trend continues
- Raises max standard transaction size from 400,000 to 3.9 million weight units (≈full block)
- Cuts dust limit from 294‑546 satoshis to 1 satoshi, freeing an estimated $25 million in padding
- BIP‑110 has near‑zero miner support (low single‑digit node backing, 0% signaling)
- DOG Mode exists only as an announced plan with no code repository yet
- Bybit completed the acquisition of Indonesia's NOBI to establish a locally operated exchange.
- Indonesia hosts more than 21 million crypto exchange users, one of Asia's largest markets.
- The launch expands Bybit's presence in the region and could boost crypto trading volumes locally.
- BTC price hovering near $58,500 as futures buying adds upward pressure
- Crypto liquidations have topped $875 million, indicating strong market activity
- Liquidity clusters on the liquidation heatmap suggest potential support and resistance levels
- Consensys engaged a developer via a reputable third‑party service provider
- Investigation revealed the developer had ties to North Korea
- The case underscores supply‑chain and security risks for crypto firms
- Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky confirmed his X account was compromised and later regained control.
- The hacker posted AI‑generated commentary on tokenizing real‑world assets such as buildings and bonds, without any investment links.
- In June, centralized exchange spot volume rose 15.3% to $1.11 trillion and RWA perpetual volume hit a record $311 billion.
- Malware on macOS can steal Telegram credentials to hijack sessions
- It can decrypt cryptocurrency wallets or lure users into entering recovery phrases via fake apps
- Attack vector involves malicious applications masquerading as legitimate software
- Security firm SlowMist reports the new threat targeting crypto users
- Leonidas introduces $DOG Mode, a new Bitcoin client targeting ordinals transactions
- The client aims to bypass Bitcoin Core's gatekeeping of certain transaction types
- Proponent argues economic incentives will drive adoption of $DOG Mode
Geopolitics 53
- US President Donald Trump accuses China of interfering in US elections
- Trump claims China stole 220 million US voter files
- Move strains fragile thaw in US-China ties
- US bombed bridges in Iran; Iran retaliated by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait
- Two oil tankers exploded after passing a mined route south of the Strait of Hormuz
- Escalation expands to critical energy infrastructure, threatening Gulf oil supplies
- US forces strike Iranian sites for 6th consecutive night
- Tehran retaliates with action across the Gulf
- Diplomacy still considered a viable option
- India operationalizes first batch of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) with 5,000-6,000 troops
- IBGs designed to conduct pre-emptive operations against Pakistan, maintain operational edge under nuclear overhang
- Rudra brigades to continue existing, but with different role as rapid-response units
- Andy Burnham elected leader of the Labour Party
- Burnham set to become UK prime minister within a week
- He promises a break from four decades of existing policies
- Pledges a new political and economic course for Britain
- US and Iran have resumed military exchanges, leading to a US blockade on Iranian oil and closure of the Strait of Hormuz
- Pakistan reiterates the Islamabad MoU as the framework for de‑escalation despite the renewed fighting
- Pakistan is seeking a $6.7 billion, 15‑year concessional oil financing facility from Saudi Arabia to offset rising oil prices
- China, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are being engaged to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz
- Oil markets anticipate price pressure as the Hormuz closure threatens global supply
- Trump threatens to impose additional tariffs on Canada due to wildfire smoke
- US President blames Canadian governance for wildfires, despite scientific consensus on climate change factors
- Tariffs to be added to existing costs, with estimated 'incalculable' expense
- US Central Command said strikes began at 19:00 GMT, marking the seventh night of attacks.
- Iran reported five explosions in Yazd and three in Sirik, with additional blasts in southern provinces.
- Iran warned it will launch full‑scale offensive operations if US strikes continue for another two to three days.
- IRGC claimed to hit a depot housing US UAVs in Bahrain; the US has not confirmed the attack.
- Kuwait’s power plant was damaged by Iranian fire, leading authorities to urge electricity rationing.
- US‑Israel alliance is framed as a litmus test for America's global credibility
- Congressman Ro Khanna, after a West Bank visit, questions if US policy can prioritize principle over power
- Debate underscores rising scrutiny of US foreign policy amid Middle‑East tensions
- No immediate policy changes announced, but geopolitical stakes remain high
- China and the US vie for nuclear reactor exports to ASEAN, with China touting cost and schedule, the US emphasizing safety and nonproliferation
- Southeast Asian electricity demand projected to increase by over 100 TWh by 2030, driving nations like Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam to target first reactors before 2035
- The US, Japan and South Korea signed a NATO‑summit memorandum to accelerate SMR deployment in the Indo‑Pacific, while several ASEAN states have signed 123 Agreements with the US
- Russian nuclear export capabilities are constrained by sanctions, reducing its competitive edge in the region
- EU and China agreed on a “stable and balanced key trading partners” definition on June 29, launching a trade and investment consultation mechanism.
- The EU’s strategic assessment, endorsed July 8 and adopted July 13, labels China a “critical long‑term strategic challenge” and a “crucial enabler for Moscow.”
- Upcoming TIC round in Beijing this fall and joint monitoring of Chinese imports aim to reduce the EU trade deficit before the October deadline.
- EU sanctions target China‑based firms linked to Russia’s war effort, while Ukraine may source Chinese drone components using a €6 billion EU defense loan.
- Divergent narratives raise questions on the long‑term coherence of EU‑China relations amid geopolitical tensions.
- PNG foreign minister announced the closure of Taiwan’s economic office in Port Moresby on July 16, 2026.
- Taiwan receives about 6% of its LNG imports from PNG, a route that bypasses major maritime chokepoints.
- China welcomed the decision, underscoring its expanding influence in the Pacific and potential strain on Taiwan’s energy corridor.
- Chinese-linked projects in PNG (ports, data centers, submarine cable) could boost Beijing’s strategic leverage in the region.
- China threatens countermeasures after US tightens visa rules for students and journalists
- New regulations target groups including students, journalists, and other visa applicants
- Changes part of White House crackdown on immigration, fueling concerns among Chinese students
- China and North Korea held high-level exchanges, including meetings between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un, marking 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty
- China refrained from mentioning North Korea's nuclear program, signaling de facto recognition of its nuclear status
- Beijing's shift away from mediating North Korea's nuclear issue aligns with Pyongyang's growing ties with Moscow
- 2025 U.S. tariffs initially varied for South Korea, Japan and the EU, later converging on a 15% baseline rate
- All three partners face demographic headwinds – South Korea’s aging is fastest among OECD, Japan’s working‑age population has been shrinking for decades, and the EU’s fertility hit a record low in 2024
- Shared reliance on China’s strategic inputs (e.g., gallium, germanium) drives calls for joint risk‑mapping and alternative supply‑chain investments
- Proposed EU‑Japan‑South Korea trilateral dialogue would start with Track 1.5 talks focusing on critical minerals, export‑control coordination, AI/cyber standards, and monitoring North Korea‑Russia cooperation
- Ten European countries, including France, Germany and Britain, signed a joint declaration to create the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.
- The coalition is presented as a strategic "insurance" policy rather than a break from the United States.
- Analysts say the move reflects Europe’s preparation for a potentially less predictable U.S. security role.
- The initiative responds to Ukrainian President Zelensky's call for faster missile‑defence cooperation.
- President Trump claims Beijing orchestrated the "largest compromise of election data in history"
- Chinese-American leaders warn the community could be scapegoated if midterm results disappoint the White House
- No concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate the alleged data breach
- The accusations add tension to already strained US‑China relations ahead of upcoming elections
- Philippines lodged a formal diplomatic protest after a 58‑second AI video posted by China Daily on July 10 depicted Filipinos as a monkey.
- The video mocked the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award that upheld the Philippines' claims, prompting condemnation from the defense secretary and foreign affairs undersecretary.
- The protest comes as the 10‑year anniversary of the Hague ruling is marked, with 14 nations and the EU reaffirming its binding status.
- China continues to reject the award and its coast guard has recent confrontations with Philippine vessels in disputed waters.
- Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims that Beijing interfered in U.S. elections during a prime‑time address.
- Asian‑American advocacy groups condemned the speech as a dangerous threat to minority communities.
- Pro‑China officials praised the president's message and tone despite domestic criticism.
- Trump claims Canadian wildfires have caused dangerous smoke levels in major U.S. cities
- He announced that the associated pollution costs will be added to existing tariffs on Canada
- EPA warns of significant harm from the smoke and urges Canada to extinguish the fires quickly
- Wildfire activity has surged in Northwestern Ontario, forcing thousands to evacuate
- Scientists attribute the rise in wildfires to human‑influenced climate change
- EU calls on Israel to stop legalising settlement outposts and land appropriation in the occupied West Bank.
- Israel's security cabinet allocated 1.3 billion shekels to build 34 new settlements.
- EU foreign ministers could not reach consensus on trade restrictions against settlements.
- Thailand and Kazakhstan discussed expanding cooperation in AI, energy, rare earths and other sectors
- Kazakhstan invited Thailand for an official visit in 2027, marking 35 years of diplomatic ties
- Thailand seeks Kazakhstan's support for a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union
- Both sides agreed to increase air routes and promote tourism and people-to-people exchanges
- The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route highlighted as a key link for regional connectivity
- Test conducted on July 6 using a nuclear-powered Type 094 Jin-class SSBN
- Missile demonstrated intercontinental range capability
- China becomes the fifth permanent UN Security Council member with this capability, joining the US, Russia, UK and France
- PM Anutin met President Xi in Shanghai, pledging joint development in AI, semiconductors and clean energy
- Thailand will open its fourth overseas BOI investment promotion office in Chengdu to attract advanced‑technology investment
- More than 150 executives from 48 Thai firms participated in business‑matching sessions with Chinese investors
- Both governments proposed a Thailand‑China “2+2” mechanism for foreign and defence ministers to enhance security cooperation
- ICE officer David Brouillette, who killed a man in Maine, had a documented history of violent behavior and mental‑health issues.
- ICE added 12,000 agents in January, a 120% increase in manpower, amid criticism of hiring standards.
- At least 10 people have been killed by ICE agents since the Trump administration intensified immigration enforcement.
- Thousands gathered in Sanaa on July 17, 2026 to protest the Saudi-led blockade
- Rally follows accusations that Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa airport days earlier
- Houthis retaliated with missile attacks on Abha International Airport
- Pirates boarded the Asana about 26 nautical miles off Yemen's Hadramawt province on Friday.
- The seizure is the latest of 18 piracy incidents recorded since April, with three vessels still held for ransom.
- EU naval mission Aspides signed a new agreement with Djibouti to boost patrols in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
- Acting IRS chief counsel Ken Kies announced his resignation, citing disagreements with the White House.
- His exit follows controversy over a $1.8 bn IRS settlement that was recently struck down by a U.S. judge.
- Sources say Kies opposed the settlement and warned against political interference in tax audits.
- U.S. outspends Europe in securing critical minerals outside China, widening the strategic gap.
- European manufacturers risk continued dependence on Chinese supply chains for key minerals.
- The disparity may undermine EU competitiveness in high‑tech and clean‑energy sectors.
- Malaysia's parliamentary committee is reviewing Lynas Rare Earths' $96 million supply agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense.
- The investigation examines whether the deal could compromise Malaysia's strategic interests or affect its support for the United States.
- Lynas (ASX: LYC) may face regulatory scrutiny that could delay or alter the rare‑earths shipment schedule.
- Declassified US intel shows Chinese actors gathered voter data on millions of Americans, but not the alleged 220 million records.
- The documents do not substantiate President Trump's claim that China stole 220 million voter records or manipulated the 2020 election.
- Beijing has developed capabilities that could be used to influence political opinion, according to the records.
- No concrete evidence links the data collection to actual election interference.
- The findings may shape the political debate on foreign election meddling.
- Germany will take part in a French nuclear drill before the end of 2024, its first such participation.
- The cooperation is presented as complementary to NATO's nuclear umbrella, not a replacement.
- The move underscores growing European defence self‑reliance amid doubts over US security commitments.
- France's nuclear arsenal expansion and joint Rafale‑Eurofighter refuelling exercise signal broader EU interest.
- 32% of voters say they'd be more likely to support a democratic socialist candidate, while 50% say they'd be less likely.
- Only 27% would be more likely to vote for a MAGA‑identified candidate, with 57% saying they'd be less likely.
- Trump‑endorsed candidates draw 29% favorable response versus 52% unfavorable.
- Democrats lead the generic ballot by 4 points (49% vs 45% for Republicans).
- President Biden's approval sits at 40% with 59% disapproval; 60% disapprove of his handling of the economy.
- US national emergency on Hong Kong expired after a year without renewal
- Executive order ending Hong Kong's preferential trade treatment remains in effect
- Hong Kong government welcomed the expiration but noted continued restrictions
- China confronts aging population, shrinking workforce, deep property crisis and slowing growth
- Weak domestic demand drives Chinese firms to export aggressively, pressuring European manufacturers with low‑price competition
- EU's leverage in research, technology and industry is eroding, prompting calls for diversification and stronger diplomatic tools
- Recommended shift to a leverage‑based strategy: protect tech advantages, diversify supply chains, and employ credible escalation mechanisms
- Younger Americans view China 20‑30 points less threatening than older generations (Reagan Institute 2026 survey).
- Bipartisan US support for Taiwan is aging, with older voters more likely to see China as a major threat.
- US political discourse is shifting toward interest‑based foreign policy, emphasizing economic and strategic returns over democratic values.
- Former President Trump has framed Taiwan as a cost‑center, demanding reciprocity for US protection.
- Snap state election scheduled for Aug 1 amid a royal family dispute.
- Existing semiconductor and aerospace projects are expected to stay, but new investments may be delayed.
- Analysts warn the outcome could reshape Negeri Sembilan’s policy framework and heighten uncertainty over a potential national snap election.
- State’s goal to become Malaysia’s next hi‑tech industrial hub is now threatened by political risk.
- CKU Railway project signed final construction agreement in June 2024, with 530 km route including 104.83 km of tunnels and 50 bridges
- Project valued at $4.7B for Kyrgyzstan section, with China financing $2.35B via 25-year loan; 5% completion targeted by end-2026
- Track gauge compromise: 1,435 mm (narrow) from China to Makmal, transitioning to 1,520 mm (broad) toward Uzbekistan at transshipment station
- Environmental and social challenges persist: 214 homes to be demolished, ecological risks in Tien Shan mountains, and ongoing land compensation disputes
- Russian activist Ilya Remeslo, 42, was arrested on Friday, state media reported.
- The arrest occurred a day after he unexpectedly denounced President Vladimir Putin and the Ukraine offensive.
- Remeslo faces charges of 'spreading fakes on the Russian army' under censorship laws introduced by Moscow.
- The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Cathay Pacific has postponed resuming direct passenger flights to the Middle East.
- Daily flights to Dubai are now delayed until October 25.
- Four weekly flights to Riyadh are delayed until October 26.
- The airline had originally planned to resume services to these destinations on September 1.
- The decision is attributed to recent signs of the Iran crisis rekindling.
- Chemical tanker Asana was boarded by armed assailants off Yemen's southern coast in the Gulf of Aden.
- Maritime security sources believe the incident is related to Somali piracy, not Yemen's Houthi militia.
- The small tanker, with no confirmed flag, had listed the Somali port of Bosaso as its next destination.
- Puerto Princesa City Council approved a Department of National Defence proposal to set up a Coastal Defence Regiment in Palawan.
- Analysts say the installation could hinder Chinese naval operations near the Spratly Islands but will not close Manila's military gap with Beijing.
- The new assets may turn the key naval hub of Puerto Princesa into a higher‑risk target in a crisis.
- Three women and two men, aged 30-59, were arrested on suspicion of sedition.
- They were released on bail two days after a raid on Have a Nice Stay and Greenfield Bookstores.
- National security police continue the investigation into the case.
- Proposal to swap 1.4 square miles of land in Manipur's Chandel district with Myanmar
- Border fence project funded with $3.22 billion, covering 1,643 km of the 398 km frontier
- Demarcation of border pillars 65‑68 slated for completion within three months
- Nine unresolved border pillars remain after failed attempts in 2000 and 2018
- Territorial talks referenced during Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing's recent visit to India
- Bill approved to legalise a "co-location" arrangement at the upgraded Huanggang border crossing.
- Passed after a special four‑hour session, the quickest review since the 2021 Legislative Council overhaul.
- Security chief stipulated the arrangement must be approved by July 31.
- Indonesia received three Rafale jets and is pursuing a total order of 42 aircraft worth $8.1 bn.
- Indonesia launched its first Merah Putih frigate and is building a second, while delivering two extra Tarlac‑class LPDs to the Philippines.
- South Korea is competing for a $530 million contract to supply Thailand with a 4,000‑ton frigate and may sell KF‑21 fighters to Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia have signed deals for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, expanding India's defence footprint in the region.
- Malaysia's Littoral Combat Ship program faces a setback after Norway revoked export licences for a key missile system.
- Parliament passed the first substantive imperial family law change since 1947, ending a 79‑year gap.
- Reform seeks to stem the decline of the imperial household but retains male‑only succession.
- Female royals can keep their titles after marriage, yet remain barred from the throne.
- Princess Aiko, Emperor Naruhito's only child, remains excluded from succession under the unchanged rule.
- The changes are expected to have limited immediate impact on Japan's political or economic landscape.
- President Trump claims China illicitly accessed election data of hundreds of millions of Americans
- Trump says deep‑state officials covered up the breach
- Beijing rejects the allegation, stating it has no factual basis
- Accusation comes as Chinese President Xi prepares a visit to Washington
- Iran warned it could damage undersea data cables in the Persian Gulf amid its conflict with the U.S.
- The region hosts roughly 500 cables that carry about 99% of global internet traffic.
- Disruption could affect up to 30% of worldwide data flow, highlighting vulnerability of critical digital infrastructure.
- A few hundred demonstrators gathered in Venice to protest US ambassador Tilman Fertitta
- Fertitta arrived aboard a 117‑metre (384‑foot) superyacht
- Authorities heightened security ahead of Venice's major festival, drawing criticism
- Police launched a large‑scale crackdown targeting undocumented Afghan residents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Authorities carried out housing demolitions and roadside identity checks, ordering Afghans to leave
- Residents in Mattani near Peshawar hurriedly packed belongings or hid at home amid the operation
- The proposed AI and semiconductor hub will be built on a 1,620‑hectare site north of Manila.
- The project is part of the US‑backed Pax Silica initiative targeting critical minerals for AI.
- Critics argue the development threatens local livelihoods and water supplies, calling it a land grab.
- New memoir recounts repression and upheaval under Suharto's three-decade rule
- Highlights ongoing caution among Indonesians toward free speech due to past authoritarianism
- Author hopes the book warns a new generation about the ease of authoritarian takeover
Tech/AI 34
- The United States and China are each promoting distinct AI governance frameworks abroad.
- A US-sponsored program in Burkina Faso is training dozens of youths on digital and AI basics.
- The contest signals a broader geopolitical struggle over global AI standards and regulation.
- White House launches "Gold Eagle" program to approve company access to frontier AI models
- Administration previously blocked Anthropic's Claude Mythos 5 and Fable 5 over national security concerns
- OpenAI and Anthropic now limit new models to "trusted partners" in response to government requests
- Chinese startup Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 model matches or exceeds U.S. frontier models in benchmarks
- Policy shift moves AI oversight from private firms to government, affecting industry dynamics
- Semiconductor index drops 10% in largest weekly fall in over a year
- AI-exposed stocks and momentum names pulled back by investors
- Leverage concerns raised as retail margin and levered ETF assets rise
- Amazon's Zoox is recalling 105 autonomous vehicles due to a software issue that may prevent them from detecting heavy smoke, potentially impeding emergency responders.
- The recall follows a June 20 incident where an unoccupied Zoox vehicle entered an active fire scene obscured by smoke before braking and stopping.
- U.S. auto safety officials (NHTSA) have highlighted a 'clear pattern' of self-driving vehicles interfering with first responders, citing multiple incidents.
- NHTSA is investigating other self-driving vehicle incidents, including Waymo vehicles blocking emergency paths and passing stopped school buses.
- Zoox plans a software update to enhance its vehicles' capability to detect and respond to heavy smoke.
- AI inference cloud startup General Compute secured a $400 million loan from Upper90, a tech investment firm.
- The financing is notable as it's potentially the first deal to use inference-specific chips (SambaNova SN50) as collateral.
- This deal reflects a market shift towards more cost-efficient AI inference infrastructure for open-source models, moving beyond expensive training GPUs.
- General Compute's SN50 chips are designed for power efficiency and faster inference (16x vs. GPU-based clouds), requiring less cooling.
- The financing signals capital diversifying away from Nvidia's dominance, supporting alternative chip ecosystems and a fragmented market.
- San Francisco attorney general David Chiu issued cease‑and‑desist letters to Apple and Google
- The letters target 13 apps that use AI to generate deepfake pornography
- The action cites California law prohibiting services that create deepfake porn
- Apple and Google face pressure to enforce stricter AI content policies
- Xi Jinping said AI should not be dominated by a single country, urging global cooperation at the World AI Conference
- China's AI market valued at 1.2 trillion yuan in 2025, projected to grow more than 30% in 2024
- Over 1,000 Chinese tech firms and 3,000 products showcased; 29 countries signed an intergovernmental AI cooperation agreement
- AI token usage in China has risen a thousandfold in two years and the country logged over 43,000 generative‑AI patent filings (2024‑25)
- AI sector expansion is accelerating, becoming a prominent contributor to China's growth
- Policy emphasis places AI at the core of the country's economic strategy
- Analysts suggest AI could overtake manufacturing as the main growth engine
- Survey shows a rise in frequency of cyber incidents targeting US firms
- Companies report heightened concerns over data security and operational disruption
- Increasing attacks may lead to higher spending on cybersecurity measures
- 34% of Thai shoppers purchase internationally each week, the highest worldwide
- Shopee is the preferred platform for 90% of shoppers and used by 100% of e‑commerce businesses
- 63% of Thai e‑commerce firms use AI, with 58% planning to increase AI usage over five years
- 92% of shoppers prefer home delivery, but only 37% of merchants prioritize ultra‑fast fulfilment
- 46% of shoppers will only buy from retailers with sustainable delivery partners
- SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense are discussing a joint data-center deal.
- The initiative aims to improve secure data processing for defense operations.
- Financial terms and timeline were not disclosed.
- Semiconductor stocks have slipped into bear-market territory.
- Historical data shows the sector tends to underperform in the third quarter.
- BofA analyst cautions investors not to panic despite the reset.
- The reset may extend through the remainder of the year.
- India's smartphone shipments fell 10% YoY in Q2, the steepest decline in six years.
- The sub‑₹15,000 segment dropped 45% as RAM/storage cost hikes raised phone prices 4%‑68%.
- Samsung posted a 2% YoY shipment increase, while Apple shipments fell 3% in the quarter.
- OnePlus will stop launching new products in Europe and North America, focusing on India where its share fell to 19%.
- Consumers are extending upgrade cycles to about four years and moving toward higher‑priced devices.
- Anthropic is in preliminary talks to lease AI compute from Meta, potential deal valued around $10 billion
- Meta's shares rose after NYT report of the $10 billion deal discussion
- Meta may spend up to $145 billion on capex by 2026, including AI infrastructure
- Anthropic previously secured compute from SpaceX's Colossus 1 data center
- Former AWS exec Dave Brown set to join Meta, signaling push into cloud AI services
- Three FireSat microsatellites were launched on July 7, 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg.
- Google contributed over $15 million, while the Bezos Earth Fund pledged $26 million to support the constellation.
- The satellites will provide twice‑daily coverage of fire‑prone regions worldwide, targeting small fires in the US, Australia and Europe before year‑end.
- SDA, created in 2019, is only now launching its first operational satellite batches after seven years.
- Congress has backed the agency's closure in drafts of the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act.
- The Pentagon will fold SDA into the Space Force procurement pipeline under new program acquisition executives.
- S&P 500 down >1% and Nasdaq down >2% for the week as equities pulled back Friday
- Hyperscaler shares (Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft) led the weakness in major averages
- Former AWS executive Dave Brown, who ran Trainium AI chip division, is in talks to join Meta
- Anthropic reportedly negotiating a compute‑leasing deal with Meta worth up to $10 billion over two years
- Jim Cramer’s quick hits flagged aerospace stocks up ~3% and urged focus on transport names like FedEx
- xAI's Colossus I/II data centers in Memphis face local opposition due to noise from gas turbines and unmet community benefits
- New York and New Jersey impose moratoriums/regulations on AI data centers citing Memphis precedent
- 70% of Americans oppose local AI data center construction per Gallup poll
- Vikram-1 rocket to launch on July 18 at 11:30 am local time in India
- First commercial rocket developed in India to attempt reaching orbit
- Targeting 450 km orbit at 60-degree inclination
- SpaceX to provide billions of dollars of computing capacity to the Department of Defense
- Deal aims to power the agency's AI models
- Shares of SpaceX (SPCX) down 4.4% on the day
- Xi highlighted AI's dual nature of opportunity and challenge, calling for openness with security controls
- AI named a national strategic priority as China pursues greater tech self‑reliance amid US rivalry
- US political figures, including Trump, criticized China and warned of possible tariff measures
- Chinese firms have mastered social‑media marketing playbooks but lack experience with AI‑driven recommendation systems
- AI personal concierges will increasingly select products based on price, quality, reliability, sustainability and user preferences
- Brands will need to adapt strategies to win the trust of AI agents that shape discovery, consideration, and purchase decisions
- President Xi warned against creating "new historical injustices" in the AI era
- Called for greater support for AI adoption in the Global South
- Advocated a more open and inclusive approach to AI development worldwide
- Speech delivered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai
- Followed a recent critical statement by U.S. President Donald Trump toward Beijing
- Moore Threads projects H1 revenue up 135.1%–149.4% YoY
- Hygon expects double- to triple‑digit revenue growth for the first half
- Domestic AI computing demand fuels surge in Chinese GPU market
- Both firms position as home‑grown alternatives to Nvidia
- South Korea aims to launch a home‑grown AI system for cyber defence by Dec 2024.
- The move follows a brief US clampdown on advanced AI tools, exposing reliance risks.
- Long‑term goal: build a frontier AI model to compete with leading global systems.
- Analysts say Korea must close gaps in AI software, computing capacity, and large‑scale training.
- Professor Lu Yaxiang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reports a decade‑long effort yielding a high‑performance sodium‑ion battery prototype
- The new cell demonstrates energy density comparable to lithium‑ion batteries while using abundant, low‑cost sodium material
- Researchers claim the breakthrough could cut battery costs by up to 30% and accelerate adoption in electric vehicles and grid storage
- Launch scheduled for 5:45 pm local (6:45 EDT, 22:45 UTC) on Thursday
- More than 11.5 million lb of methane and oxygen were loaded before abort
- Super Heavy booster engines failed to ignite, prompting a scrub
- Propellant tanks are being drained; new launch date not yet set
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Namo Green Rail hydrogen train in Haryana on July 17
- It is India's first hydrogen‑powered passenger train, built domestically
- The launch supports clean‑energy and rail‑modernisation goals, aiming to cut emissions and boost energy security
- Vertu's Alphafold starts at $6,880 and targets ultra‑wealthy executives
- Hermes AI agent can automate multi‑step workflows and outperforms Samsung's Gemini in local file analysis
- Hardware built on ZTE/Nubia $1,100 Nubia Fold platform, wrapped in leather and titanium
- Initial software bugs (file upload, image analysis) were fixed after user feedback
- Weighs 264 g, heavier than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (215 g), and ships in premium packaging
- VC Jeremy Levine adds a Zoom name tag to opt out of AI transcription and recording
- AI note‑taking apps are increasingly set to record meetings by default
- Legal and privacy concerns grow as ubiquitous recordings threaten spontaneous conversation
- China recovered its first reusable orbital booster last week, joining the reuse club.
- Japan's space agency is conducting hop tests and Honda completed vertical reuse trials.
- SpaceX lands and re‑launches reusable rockets multiple times per week; Blue Origin's New Glenn is temporarily grounded.
- U.S. firms Stoke Space, Rocket Lab and Relativity Space are progressing toward partial or full reusability.
- Kid-focused smartphones from Bark, Gabb, Pinwheel, and Teracube priced $99‑$240 with monthly plans $7.99‑$35
- Bark Phone includes monitoring software, GPS, and plans starting at $29/month; higher tiers add internet access
- Gabb phones omit browsers and social media, start at $159.99 with service at $24.99/month
- Pinwheel devices begin at $119 and require a $14.99/month caregiver portal subscription
- Home/landline options Ooma MyPhone ($99.99 device, $7.99/month) and Tin Can ($100 device, $9.99/month) target younger children
- Patreon now uses Cloudflare's AI Crawl Control to actively block AI training crawlers, moving beyond robots.txt requests
- Weekly AI bot access attempts dropped from thousands to zero after the new blocking measures were applied
- Cloudflare's updated policy blocks "mixed-use" crawlers on ad‑supported pages and offers a Pay Per Crawl marketplace for publishers
- AI startups are attracting record seed funding, tightening pre‑seed capital availability
- Disrupt 2026 panel will address how founders can secure pre‑seed money without a working product
- Speakers include Sandhya Venkatachalam (Axiom Partners $52 million fund), Puneet Agarwal (True Ventures with 12 funds and >60 acquisitions) and Austin Clements (Slauson & Co., economic‑inclusion focus)
- Event runs Oct 13‑15, 2026 in San Francisco; tickets available at discounted rates through year‑end
Companies 59
- Swift is expanding its blockchain settlement network, now working with over 40 financial institutions after a pilot with 17 banks.
- Stripe has made an unsolicited $53 billion offer to acquire PayPal, targeting its 439 million active accounts and merchant network.
- PayPal processed $1.79 trillion in payments in 2025 and operates a Paxos‑based USD stablecoin, positioning it in tokenized payments.
- Analysts say the competition is shifting from proving blockchain technology to controlling distribution and settlement layers.
- Experts warn that integrating a deal of this size will be challenging and could reshape the global payments ecosystem.
- Databricks' new round, led by Coatue, pushes valuation to $188 bn (raise estimated at ~$3 bn, closing summer)
- Valuation rose from $134 bn five months earlier, $100 bn in Sep 2025, and $62 bn in Dec 2024
- Company rebranded as AI provider, launching products like Lakebase, Unity, and Omnigent
- Benchmarks show open‑weight model GLM 5.2 and open‑source harness Pi cut AI costs versus proprietary models
- Starship's 13th test flight aborted when 4 of 33 engines failed to ignite
- SpaceX shares fell about 6% to $124.30, erasing roughly $100 billion in market value
- Launch is targeted for Monday, July 20, after replacing two Raptor engines
- Flight will carry 20 Starlink satellites, with operational launches aimed for year‑end
- SpaceX stock dropped 5.5% to $122.12, about 9% below its $135 IPO price
- Shares are down 44% from the intraday high of $225.64
- $350 million of options premium traded, $290 million in puts, yet over half of put premiums were sold and nine of the top ten volume trades were bullish
- Underwriters added $11 billion of equity after the IPO
- Around 500,000 options contracts made SpaceX the 11th‑heaviest traded ticker on the day
- Apple’s market value hit $4.88 trillion, surpassing Nvidia’s $4.86 trillion.
- Nvidia shares dropped about 3.5% as it fell to the second‑largest valuation.
- Apple’s AI strategy leans on services and ecosystem lock‑in rather than heavy capex, boosting investor sentiment.
- The ranking shift underscores broader AI investment beyond the ‘Magnificent Seven’, with memory chipmakers gaining attention.
- CEO Tim Cook will hand over the role to John Ternus in September.
- A group of investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), is set to win EU approval for its $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts.
- The deal, which also involves Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and Silver Lake, is the largest leveraged buyout in history.
- The European Commission is expected to clear the deal under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) by July 30.
- The acquisition underscores PIF's strategy to become a global hub for games and sports, diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy from oil.
- Unconditional EU clearance under merger rules is also anticipated by July 22.
- Goldman Sachs predicts an "earnings super cycle" for European utilities due to surging data center electricity demand.
- Analysts estimate European electricity bill increases will average +2% to +4% annually over the next decade, lower than the +5% of the past decade.
- Goldman recommends specific wind energy stocks: Danish offshore wind giant Ørsted, Portuguese renewables firm EDPR, and German onshore wind provider Nordex.
- The bullish outlook is supported by a pivot towards offshore wind, a softening U.S. stance on wind farms, and strong Q1 results from wind companies.
- Trump Media & Technology Group discussed charging up to $100,000 per month for the fastest Truth Social feed, with a discounted $60,000 three‑year option
- The "Truth API" would deliver posts from the 10 most influential accounts within milliseconds, targeting high‑frequency traders
- TMTG shares have fallen about 27% YTD and closed flat at $9.66, valuing the company at roughly $2.7 billion
- Democrats and ethics watchdogs criticize the plan as a potential conflict of interest and profit from presidential statements
- Zoox recalled software for its fleet of 105 robotaxis after a June incident involving heavy smoke at an emergency fire scene.
- The update adds detection and response capability for heavy smoke in active emergency situations.
- Recall follows NHTSA warning to autonomous vehicle firms and follows earlier Zoox recalls in March and May 2025.
- Zoox's commercial launch hinges on obtaining an NHTSA exemption from steering‑wheel and pedal requirements.
- Etched is negotiating a valuation of roughly $20 bn.
- A separate capital raise is at a $10 bn valuation, led by Sequoia.
- The combined funding could place Etched among the top AI chip firms.
- Boeing keeps its 20‑year jet demand outlook unchanged
- Forecast projects steady demand growth of roughly 2% annually
- Company says the Iran‑Israel conflict will not affect its long‑term demand outlook
- GameStop now holds 43.4 million eBay shares, representing 9.8% of outstanding stock.
- Ownership grew from about 5% in early May to nearly 10% after buying 3.5 million shares for roughly $381 million.
- The increase includes settlement of 39 million eBay shares from put/call pairs on the filing date.
- The stake follows GameStop's earlier unsolicited $56 billion bid to acquire eBay.
- SpaceX delayed a critical launch after an aborted mission
- Shares slipped roughly 4% in premarket trading on Friday
- The stock closed below its IPO price for the second consecutive day
- DOJ has dropped the criminal case against Gautam Adani and his companies.
- Top US prosecutor said he will not dispute the department's decision.
- The case closure removes a legal cloud over the Adani Group.
- Adani-listed stocks could see a short-term price boost.
- CDC linked shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states to a cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting >1,600 people
- Yum Brands (YUM) shares dropped nearly 7% over five days; Sweetgreen (SGE) fell ~13% and Cava (CAVA) fell >3% before partial rebounds
- Analysts expect a limited one‑quarter sales dip, with stock likely to recover within two quarters
- Supplier Taylor Farms removed all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, representing <1% of U.S. supply
- Alphabet (GOOGL) and Intel (INTC) are set to release earnings this week, sparking AI‑related trading activity
- Analysts expect Alphabet's AI‑driven ad revenue to grow faster than its prior quarter performance
- Intel's results are anticipated to reflect its recent AI chip rollout and ongoing cost‑cutting measures
- SpaceX stock has fallen about 23% since joining the Nasdaq-100.
- Shares dropped 5.43% on Friday, marking a sixth straight losing day.
- The company raised $85.7 billion in its June IPO at $135 per share.
- A Starship test flight was aborted after engine ignition failure; another attempt is planned early next week.
- Agility Robotics will launch a 60,000‑sq‑ft training site in Fremont, California.
- The firm has secured $300 million in robot contract orders and is in talks with over 30 customers.
- It is pursuing a reverse merger to become the first pure‑play humanoid robot listed publicly later this year.
- Tesla aims to begin manufacturing its Optimus humanoid robot at the same Fremont location next year.
- Digit robots have already moved 100,000 totes at a GXO logistics facility.
- Updated preliminary economic assessment values the Carangas silver‑gold project at $2.65 bn after‑tax NPV
- Project is located in Bolivia and targets both silver and gold resources
- New Pacific Metals (TSX: NUAG, NYSE‑A: NEWP) expects stronger project economics to enhance future cash flow
- FAA will again allow Boeing to self‑issue airworthiness certificates for 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner
- The authority was removed after the 2018‑19 Max crashes and a Jan 2024 door‑plug incident
- FAA cited comparable production quality findings over the past eight months before restoring the role
- Boeing will continue operating under FAA oversight despite regaining certification responsibility
- SpaceX is negotiating a multi‑billion‑dollar contract to supply the Pentagon with data‑center capacity for AI workloads.
- The deal would expand the DoD’s existing partnership with SpaceX beyond launch services into cloud computing.
- Competitors such as CoreWeave and AWS are also courting government AI cloud business, with AWS pledging up to $50 billion for U.S. government customers.
- Recent SpaceX cloud deals include a multi‑year agreement with Google for 110,000 Nvidia chips and a partnership with Anthropic for 300 MW of capacity.
- Valar Atomics aims to raise a $1 billion equity round, targeting a $6 billion valuation.
- The startup previously raised $450 million (including $340 million equity, $110 million debt) at a $2 billion valuation.
- Sequoia is expected to lead the new financing round.
- Valar partnered with Nvidia to explore nuclear power for AI data centers, demonstrating a reactor powering an Nvidia AI chip.
- The company has sued the Nuclear Regulatory Commission over licensing rules for small reactors.
- Apple filed a trade‑secrets lawsuit against OpenAI on Friday.
- Complaint alleges more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, including senior hardware staff.
- The legal action coincides with OpenAI's reported plans for an IPO, potentially delaying the offering.
- 26 Meta employees sued, alleging AI-driven layoffs discriminated against disabled and medically-leave workers
- Meta notified roughly 8,000 staff (about 10% of its global workforce) of upcoming cuts scheduled to start July 22
- Judge William Orrick rejected a temporary restraining order, saying plaintiffs did not show irreparable harm
- The lawsuit claims Meta used AI tools like 'Metamate' and productivity scoring to select employees for termination
- Apple and the DOJ are in early discussions to settle a 2024 antitrust case alleging smartphone market monopoly
- The lawsuit cites five mechanisms—super apps, cloud gaming, messaging, smartwatches, and digital wallets—used to suppress competition
- Apple shares slipped 1.1% after the news, despite a 23% gain year‑to‑date
- No guarantee of a settlement; state attorneys general have not confirmed participation in talks
- Meta is negotiating a compute lease with Anthropic valued up to $10 billion over two years
- The deal would let Anthropic pay monthly and could diversify Meta’s revenue beyond advertising
- Meta shares fell more than 2% after the news amid a broader tech sell‑off
- The arrangement would position Meta against cloud rivals like CoreWeave and Nebius, though it remains early‑stage
- Bug in AWS billing subsystem surfaced late Thursday, showing false charges up to $2.5 billion for some customers
- Amazon says estimates do not reflect actual usage and customers are not liable for the erroneous amounts
- Rollback of a recent change failed to fix the issue; Amazon expects the problem to persist for several more hours
- No comment on whether any AWS accounts were suspended; the incident is being tracked on Amazon's status page
- Kevin Milsom named head of Platforms AI Transformation within BofA’s Global Markets group
- Sonali Theisen added as head of Global Digital Assets Platform while retaining FICC e‑trading role
- Amy Avery’s Analytics, Modelling & Insights team joins the Global Platforms group to drive data‑driven insights
- BofA has pledged to spend "billions of dollars" on AI and related technologies to boost productivity
- X Corp and publishers including Universal Music Group and Sony Music asked courts to dismiss lawsuits, ending the dispute
- The original suit sought more than $250 million in damages for alleged infringement of nearly 1,700 copyrights
- Courts dismissed most claims with prejudice, barring refiling, while a contributory infringement claim remains
- FCC officials attended the Kennedy Center Honors gala, an event sponsored by CBS and its parent company, Paramount.
- Attendance at the exclusive gala typically required donations exceeding $75,000.
- The regulatory decisions made by these FCC officials were crucial for Paramount's pending deals.
- The situation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and undue influence in regulatory approvals.
- Fifth Third Bank reports Q2 profit of $763 million, or 83 cents a share
- Comerica acquisition drives earnings growth
- Net interest income rises 15% year-over-year
- Malaysia's transport minister says government can't interfere in company management
- Regulation limited to shareholding structures, not operational matters
- MMC Port Holdings appoints Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem as new chief
- IBM stock fell 25% following a boardroom debate over strategy
- The drop is the steepest decline for IBM in recent years
- Analysts point to governance concerns and weak earnings outlook
- The plunge adds pressure on the broader tech sector in the S&P 500
- Ishihara Sangyo will double its titanium dioxide production capacity
- Expansion targets material used in AI server components
- New capacity to be added at the company's plant in Mie prefecture
- Company already holds a high market share in titanium dioxide for ceramic capacitors
- Kyocera forecasts continued growth in demand for semiconductor manufacturing parts up to 2030
- CEO says the firm will carefully assess capacity expansion as earnings benefit from AI‑related semiconductor sales
- Positive outlook supports higher earnings, though no specific growth rate was disclosed
- Form 4 filing disclosed insider transactions for Adaptive Biotechnologies
- Filing date: July 17, 2026
- No immediate market impact indicated
- Director Joshua Hug disposed of $17.2 million worth of Remitly common shares.
- The sale represents a significant insider transaction but does not disclose share count.
- Analysts may view the offloading as a neutral to mildly bearish signal for REM stock.
- CEO Michael Corrigan sold EXPO common stock worth $109,044
- The transaction is a modest insider sale, under $200,000
- No additional insider trades were reported in the filing
- CPO Lo disclosed a sale of ADPT shares worth $2.39 million.
- Transaction filed with the SEC under Form 4.
- Sale appears to be a routine divestment with no further insider activity indicated.
- Two separate unauthorized access events: one at the cancer diagnostics unit, another at the LabCentral portal
- Operations and customer services remain uninterrupted; no material impact expected
- No known exposure of sensitive customer or business information reported
- Abbott has engaged external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate
- TrueMoney introduced both closed-loop (BlueTap) and open-loop (EMV) tap-to-pay options in Thailand
- BlueTap has attracted over 1.5 million users and recorded more than 5 million taps, targeting over 50,000 paypoints by September 2026
- Open-loop tap-to-pay covers over 900,000 contactless points in Thailand and 150 million points across 220 markets via Alipay+ partnership
- Service rolled out to Android users on July 21, with plans for 6,000 BRT bus terminals and MRT gate integration in Q4 2024
- Taylor Farms and Sysco recall iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico
- Recall linked to a parasite outbreak affecting U.S. consumers
- Products removed from distribution channels pending investigation
- Unusual login activity detected on July 4, leading to discovery of breach
- Hacker gained access to three non‑managerial employee accounts via social engineering
- Accounts could view personal and protected health information, but not financial or claims systems
- Company says breach is unlikely to have material impact on business or results
- Investigation ongoing with external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement
- BC Supreme Court placed Ekati mine into receivership, prompting shutdown
- Arctic Canadian Diamond will cease operations at the Northwest Territories site
- Closure ends Canada’s inaugural diamond mine, with limited broader market impact
- New drilling at Tower Mountain confirms main mineralized trend extends to greater depth
- Assay results show the deposit remains open for further expansion
- Thunder Gold (TSXV: TGOL, US-OTC: TGOLF) will continue exploration to define resource potential
- Greenland has effectively seized one of the world's largest rare earth deposits outside China.
- The Kvanefjeld project, pursued by Energy Transition Minerals (ASX: ETM), is now blocked.
- The dispute could hinder ETM's expansion into rare earth production.
- Galaxy Digital signs a 15-year naming rights agreement for Texas Tech's football stadium.
- The deal expands Galaxy's brand presence in West Texas amid rising regional crypto investment.
- Financial terms of the naming rights contract were not disclosed.
- New customers can earn up to $1,200 bonus by depositing at least $10,000 by July 31 2026
- Full bonus requires a recurring deposit of at least $100 and two additional deposits within 90 days
- Balance must be maintained for 90 days; credit is issued within 30 days after requirements are met
- No monthly fees; accounts are FDIC/NCUA insured through partner banks
- Target price set at $330, indicating lower outlook
- Analysts recommend selling the stock
- Recommendation issued by Carter Worth based on chart analysis
- Fubo increases monthly subscription fees by $15 across its plans.
- Price hike follows the restoration of NBCUniversal channels after a dispute that began in November 2025.
- December price cuts had lowered the Essential plan to $74, Pro to $75, and Elite to $84 per month.
- New pricing brings plans to roughly $89 for Essential, $90 for Pro, and $99 for Elite.
- Paper Pure priced at $399, with an optional $449 bundle that adds a Marker Plus stylus and sleeve folio
- Features a 10.3‑inch monochrome display with a wider, shorter resolution for more text per line
- Adds calendar sync, improved handwriting search, and one‑tap note conversion for email sharing
- Supports cloud integration with Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive for importing/exporting documents
- PDF handling remains limited, with edge‑cut issues, and reading experience lags behind dedicated e‑readers
- Bravo Mining disclosed a new drill program at the Luanga project targeting copper and gold.
- The drilling campaign was announced at the Rule Symposium on Resource Investing in Boca Raton.
- The initiative aims to expand the resource estimate for the Luanga deposit.
- Base price for the 2026 Gravity Touring starts at roughly $82,000 in the US
- Standard features include a 22‑speaker audio system, Nappa leather seats, and third‑row seating
- Optional Dynamic Handling package adds rear‑wheel steering and three‑chamber air suspension
- Truth Media offers a paid API targeting high‑frequency trading firms
- API promises the fastest delivery of market‑moving Truth Social content
- Includes posts from U.S. President Donald Trump for real‑time analysis
- Service priced for institutional clients, potentially enabling algorithmic trading on political news
- Balaji Srinivasan contacts Malaysian prime minister to negotiate a deal for Network School.
- He states that if Malaysia is not welcoming, he will look to other countries for opportunities.
- The outreach follows a recent probe into the operations of Network School.
- Olympus aims to shift endoscopy from bedside procedures to a robotic console
- Robots and AI are expected to take a larger share of physician workload in endoscopic surgery
- The company is developing a robot-assisted system to automate parts of the procedure
- Japanese chipmaker Rapidus and US software firm Cadence announce partnership
- Collaboration will deliver agentic AI tools to accelerate chip design for customers
- Partnership disclosed on Friday as part of Rapidus' mass‑production push
- Nichirei suffered a cyberattack that disrupted its cold-chain warehouse and delivery systems
- The company aims to resume normal cold-chain operations as early as next week
- Nichirei is a major Japanese frozen-food supplier and cold-chain logistics provider
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries is exploring a hydrogen-based process to synthesize naphtha.
- The initiative seeks to mitigate supply disruptions from the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Naphtha is a critical feedstock for Japan's plastics and ink production.
- No commercial timeline or scale has been disclosed.
Thai Markets 4
- SET index hovered around 1,640, with forecast range 1,600‑1,650 for next week
- Profit forecasts for the SET rose 0.4% over the past month
- Tourism arrivals rose 5.4% to 562,454, with Thai‑China flights up 9.5% YoY and 24.5% MoM
- Earnings upgrades broadened beyond energy/electronics, with upgrade‑downgrade ratio turning positive
- Analysts suggest rotating from high‑valuation leaders to laggards in finance‑leasing, consumption, healthcare, retail, and IT retail
- Shrimp production fell from 640,000 tonnes in 2010 to about 270,000‑280,000 tonnes today
- Malaysia, Thailand's 11th‑largest shrimp market, halted imports affecting roughly 100 tonnes daily (≈3,000 tonnes per month)
- Farm‑gate shrimp prices dropped 50‑60 baht per kg after the ban, later rebounding 20‑30 baht per kg
- Industry targets 400,000 tonnes production in 2024, which could lift exports above 250,000 tonnes
- Disease outbreaks (EMS, white spot, etc.) remain the primary long‑term challenge, raising costs and limiting yields
- Commerce Ministry proposed a 40‑baht meal scheme with subsidies of 3,000‑10,000 baht per outlet, targeting 100,000 vendors for at least three months
- Existing stalls like Pee Pen’s already sell 40‑baht meals, with daily sales of 10,000‑35,000 baht and operating costs exceeding 25,000 baht
- Critics say subsidies could distort competition, cause payment delays, and do not address higher rent, wages and energy costs
- The proposal has been paused for further review amid political criticism
- Senate committee found Dr Sarana failed to meet qualifications under Article 8(2) of the NBTC Act
- Evidence showed he kept temporary physician roles and a Bangkok Bank directorship from Jan to Apr 2022
- NBTC chairman salary is 450,000 baht per month, commissioners receive 360,000 baht
- Disqualification is expected to be appealed in the Administrative Court
- Regulator work had slowed, prompting concerns from telecom and broadcast industry executives
Other 47
- Two fatalities reported, including a mobile‑home resident in Kerrville.
- More than 230 people rescued; over 800 vehicles, 75 boats and 20 aircraft deployed.
- Rainfall of 25‑60 cm (10‑20 in) fell in parts of central Texas, prompting flood watches for ~6 million residents.
- Governor Abbott declared a disaster for 59 counties and mobilized 2,350 emergency responders.
- Federal senators introduced the "Mystic Alerts Act" to enable satellite‑based emergency alerts.
- Victims described Blanche as condescending and said the meeting was a "check‑the‑box" exercise
- All 10 Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee oppose his confirmation, and at least one Republican (Sen. Tillis) may also vote against
- Blanche would remain acting AG if the Senate does not confirm him
- Republican senators raised concerns about the DOJ's $1.8 billion "Anti‑Weaponization" fund tied to a Trump‑IRS lawsuit
- Uncertainty remains on whether Tillis will advance the nomination out of the committee
- State enacts law to start competitive procurement for a minimum of 1,100 MW of nuclear capacity
- Projects will focus on next‑generation small modular reactors (SMRs)
- SMR rollout aims to boost U.S. nuclear renaissance and provide affordable clean power
- Procurement process will select multiple vendors and could influence other states
- France ordered ISPs to block Polymarket on July 16, 2026, citing gambling loss risks
- Regulator warned bets could be manipulated and expose users to significant losses
- Spain imposed a temporary ban in May, while US regulators draft new prediction‑market rules
- Polymarket's annualised revenue is reported to have surpassed $1 billion
- Smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the Midwest and Northeast this week
- Record-breaking heat swept the East Coast, with temperatures exceeding 100°F in several cities
- Texas experienced catastrophic flooding, displacing thousands and causing widespread damage
- Experts label the overlapping disasters as "compound events" and warn climate change raises their frequency
- Uzbekistan has seen a surge of green‑energy deals since 2020, described as a "tsunami" of projects
- The country enjoys over 300 sunny days per year, boosting its solar potential
- Investors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Japan are focusing on wind and solar opportunities
- FDA traced contamination to a single Mexican iceberg lettuce supplier used by Taco Bell in five states
- CDC confirmed over 1,644 cases of cyclosporiasis with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths
- Taco Bell is removing the affected lettuce from its supply chain nationwide and will replace it within 24 hours in the impacted states
- Outbreak reported in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia
- The Justice Department announced that federal workers may install TikTok on official devices
- Policy shift follows internal review of security and compliance considerations
- No specific usage restrictions or monitoring guidelines were detailed
- Jensen Huang's signed leather jacket fetched $960,000 at auction, far above the $40,000‑$60,000 estimate.
- The jacket received 65 bids from 45 collectors, highlighting strong demand for AI‑related memorabilia.
- Proceeds will be donated to the Edge Institute for innovation fellowships and grants.
- Retail price of the jacket is under $10,000, making the auction price nearly 100× higher.
- Applications close July 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. AEST; only 48 hours left
- Eight Australian startups will pitch at Stripe Tour Sydney on Aug 19, with three prize tiers
- Grand prize: $15,000 in Stripe fee credits and automatic entry to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco
- Second and third place receive $5,000 and $2,000 in Stripe fee credits respectively
- No equity taken; all applicants invited to attend the event
- More than 60 people suspected in a fraudulent birth registration scheme.
- 40 arrest warrants executed; about 22 suspects, including two ringleaders, remain at large overseas.
- Investigations now cover eight hospitals in Bangkok, with four to five hospitals under scrutiny.
- Authorities will use DNA tests and ID verification to confirm paternity and curb future fraud.
- No state-run hospitals have been found involved so far.
- 5,924 candidates' appointments revoked after exam score irregularities were identified
- 279,000 exam scores reviewed out of roughly 400,000 applicants
- New recruitment list to be issued early next week after scores are rechecked
- Independent body to re‑examine over 800,000 answer sheets from more than 400,000 candidates
- Three suspects arrested; additional charges pending against 11 individuals
- Messi is joint top scorer with eight goals in the tournament
- Merino scored late winners in the last‑16 win over Portugal and quarter‑final win over Belgium
- Spain face Argentina in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Dense smoke from over 200 Canadian wildfires triggered "very unhealthy" air quality alerts in Washington, DC and hazardous AQI in Detroit and Chicago.
- FIFA says current smoke levels do not threaten the Spain‑Argentina final, but monitoring continues as forecasts warn possible thickening overnight.
- Approximately 80,000 fans are expected at the open‑air Meadowlands stadium, with health advisories for sensitive groups.
- At least three people dead after torrential rain and winds hit central and southern Chile
- Over 466 people remain in shelters, with 158 isolated by rising waters in the Coquimbo region
- Around 257,000 customers are without electricity, mainly in the south
- Codelco halted surface operations at the Andina mine due to the storms
- President Jose Antonio Kast traveled to the Biobio region to assess damage
- All active duty and reserve personnel aged 30+ will be required to undergo testosterone deficiency screening during annual health checks.
- Service members under 30 can request screening voluntarily, but treatment is optional for all.
- The initiative is framed as a way to "optimize performance, resilience, and long‑term health" of warfighters.
- Medical experts warn the policy could create a clinical minefield, questioning its efficacy and safety.
- A 7.3 magnitude quake struck offshore Chiapas, Mexico on Friday
- Buildings in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador reported shaking but no immediate casualties
- Emergency protocols activated in Chiapas and Tabasco; authorities confirm no deaths
- WHO estimates over 5,000 Gaza residents have undergone limb amputations since the war began.
- The Palestine Amputee Football Association fields an 11‑player women's team, with nine lower‑limb and two upper‑limb amputees.
- The team offers physical therapy and psychological support, helping members regain confidence and social connection.
- The broader Palestinian athletic community lost 1,009 members and much of its sporting infrastructure.
- Five leading scientists were removed from the ADA conference on June 5 for handing out an editorial.
- The editorial criticized the Trump administration's attacks on scientific research.
- Deputy editors posted the editorial and seven accompanying opinion pieces to a preprint server after ADA refused publication.
- New documents allege ADA leadership knew of the distribution plan and coordinated a security ambush.
- Amnesty International report described Rowling's women's crisis centre as "anti-rights"
- Rowling expressed anger over the label and criticized the report
- Britain's charities regulator has opened an inquiry into the Amnesty report
- Three‑day event in Kota Kinabalu gathered 170 local and global organisations
- Focus on scaling impact investing to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Sabah
- Participants included WWF, businesses, investors and policymakers discussing climate action
- SEBI issues warning against cyber fraud targeting finance executives and employees
- Fraudsters impersonate CEOs or senior executives via email, WhatsApp, and social media
- Victims instructed to transfer funds to mule bank accounts, with malware used to hijack WhatsApp sessions
- Fire engulfed Wang Fuk Court residential complex in November, the deadliest Hong Kong blaze in decades
- The tragedy claimed 168 lives and forced nearly 5,000 people to evacuate
- SCMP's multimedia series covers the rescue effort, public hearings, and ongoing cause investigation
- Entrepreneurs raise financing on a per‑deal basis to purchase HVAC firms
- Targeted acquisitions include specialized manufacturers in related niches
- The model aims to generate rapid wealth, potentially reaching millionaire status
- Landslide in Pengshui county, Chongqing municipality killed 8 people
- Hundreds of rescuers deployed amid incoming thunderstorms
- Heavy rainfall has triggered multiple landslides across southwestern China
- Beijing dispatched senior rescue officials to the scene
- Ban took effect on Friday, prohibiting smoking at all construction sites
- Authorities issued eight fixed‑penalty notices to workers for violations
- A contractor faces prosecution over suspected breaches of the new rule
- Many workers expressed support for the ban, hoping to quit smoking
- The measure follows the November fire that killed 168 people
- More than 140 students flagged for perfect scores on the high-school graduation exam
- Authorities launch a nationwide review of exam procedures and oversight
- The case underscores persistent pressure and corruption within Vietnam's education system
- At least 32 people died in the July 13 fire at a Bangkok bar.
- The tragedy highlights recurring safety rule violations in Thailand's nightlife venues.
- Authorities are facing renewed pressure to enforce existing fire safety regulations.
- The incident has sparked public debate over enforcement and compliance standards.
- Revised legislation approved to curb unauthorized export of seeds and seedlings
- Targets high‑value varieties such as Shine Muscat grapes, which lose over $100 million annually to illegal overseas shipments
- Expands rights for creators of new crop varieties, giving them stronger legal recourse
- Aims to protect Japanese agricultural brands and reduce seed‑theft losses
- Legal team submitted a 627‑page closing report outlining safety reforms.
- Recommendation to gradually replace bamboo scaffolding with metal alternatives.
- Proposals include legislative changes and measures to curb bid‑rigging.
- Hearings began in March and concluded after examining the November Wang Fuk Court fire.
- Winning team projected to receive $50 million in prize money
- U.S. Internal Revenue Service will claim a portion of the earnings
- Tax treatment applies regardless of which nation wins the tournament
- Revenue impact is limited to tax collection, not broader economic effect
- Lucas Herbert posted a 62, matching the lowest 62‑rounds ever recorded in a men's major
- Herbert sits two shots ahead at eight under par after the second round
- Only five rounds of 62 have ever been logged in majors; two were recorded in this round
- More than 1,200 participants representing 53 countries
- Event takes place in the Netherlands over the weekend of July 17, 2026
- Competitors will attempt blindfolded solves and solves while wearing oven mitts
- 30 bespoke rings will be presented to the winning team, with captain and coach receiving temporary versions immediately after the match
- Players' rings are part of a limited edition of 2,026 numbered pieces, with 1,996 available for public sale
- The initiative signals FIFA's effort to Americanise the tournament by adding US-style traditions
- $35,000 in credit-card debt accumulated
- Considering credit-counseling agency or hardship program
- Evaluating filing for bankruptcy as a possible solution
- The FIFA World Cup trophy was created by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzola in 1970
- The design has become the iconic symbol for football tournaments worldwide
- Spain and Argentina will contest the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday
- Brother is unable to think clearly or communicate his wishes due to illness
- Siblings report they are not close and have limited prior contact
- The author questions moral and legal responsibility to assist the brother
- Sir Garfield Sobers passed away at age 89
- Scored a record 365* in 1958, a record that stood for 36 years
- First player to reach 8,000 Test runs
- Finished career with 8,032 runs, 235 wickets and 109 catches in 93 Tests
- Retail price is $499 for the 2-in-1 unit
- Weighs just under six pounds and stands 23 inches tall
- Operates at 26 dB in Sleep mode, with oscillation angles of 15°, 40° or 70°
- Cooling mode functions as a high‑powered fan, not an air‑conditioner
- VAR controversies sparked debate over officiating consistency
- Cinderella stories highlighted the tournament's unpredictability
- Football's ties to politics were evident throughout the event
- Diaspora communities showed intense support and cultural influence
- Ars Technica is hiring a senior technology reporter
- Role requires several years of professional writing experience
- Candidate must be a hands‑on technologist who enjoys tinkering with hardware
- Job posting includes salary range and details on Conde Nast career portal
- Low‑budget Teochew‑language film 'Dear You' emerged as one of China's top‑grossing titles in late spring/early summer 2024.
- Lead actress Li Sitong, who played Zia Lamgi, recently graduated from university and aims to pursue further acting roles.
- Directed by Lan Hongchun, the film follows a young Teochew man's journey to Thailand to find his estranged grandfather.
- Coroner concluded infant died of natural causes despite medicine tube being closed for 30 minutes
- Baby was born at 27 weeks gestation in June 2023 at Prince of Wales Hospital NICU
- Inquest found repeated staff checks failed to detect the tube blockage
- 14-year-old arrested on suspicion of wounding after allegedly shoving a classmate.
- Incident reported on July 3; victim, 16, remains in serious condition two weeks later.
- Suspect released on bail and must report to police in late July.
- Video recorded on July 9 in Guigang, Guangxi shows firefighter Liang Huan eating during heavy rain
- Liang Huan is a firefighter from Zhaoqing station in southern Guangdong province
- The clip spread widely on Chinese social media, attracting millions of views
- Suspect, identified only as MZ, was detained within three hours of the incident
- Victim was a 26-year-old woman from Central Java
- Body discovered in a rental unit in Denpasar, Bali
- Guided tours give public access to the airport apron and other restricted zones
- Fans can view rare aircraft, such as the ANA Flying Honu Airbus A380, up close
- Tours have become popular among aviation hobbyists seeking close encounters
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