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Montgomery died in a single-vehicle crash in Sydney just one day after completing his latest fundraising cycling trip with his teenage grandsonFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBob Montgomery, a charity cyclist who has just finished a 5,200km bike ride from Broome to Bowral, died on Monday at the age of 82.His family confirmed his death on social media, saying he had died unexpectedly just a day after completing the cycling feat alongside his grandson, Tom, as a fundraiser for motor neurone disease. Continue reading...

• On August 3, 2004, NASA launched the MESSENGER spacecraft, marking the first mission designed to orbit the innermost planet, Mercury. • The spacecraft was specifically tasked with exploring the planet's composition and hunting for evidence of water. • This mission was significant as it provided the first detailed orbital data on Mercury, helping scientists understand the planet's geological history and magnetic field.

• Microsoft experienced its strongest market performance since 2008, signaling that investor interest in the AI trade remains strong despite becoming more selective. • Other semiconductor stocks saw significant gains, with Micron Technology jumping 18.4% and Lam Research soaring 18% following better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue reports. • These surges provided a critical lift to the S&P 500, helping Micron trim its weekly losses to 5%.

• Day eight of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games featured a mix of results for Australian athletes, including a gold medal win for Isaac Beacroft in race walking. • In a setback for the Australian team, cyclists Felicity Wilson-Haffenden and Sophie Edwards were disqualified, while Nina Kennedy narrowly missed out on pole vault gold. • The event highlights the competitive nature of the Games and the personal journeys of athletes, such as a triple Olympian utilizing sports psychology to pursue gold.

• An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surged to 3,200 confirmed cases and 1,405 deaths, marking the fastest growth rate ever recorded for any Ebola outbreak. • The crisis is exacerbated by a strike of healthcare workers who have walked off the job due to unpaid wages, severely hindering the medical response. • In a critical development, Oxford University has launched trials for the ChAdOx1 viral vector vaccine, the first shot specifically designed to target the Bundibugyo strain.

• HSBC is launching its first global AI centre of excellence in Singapore, which is scheduled to open later in 2026. • The bank plans to hire over 200 specialized staff in the fields of artificial intelligence and wealth management to form the center's core team. • This initiative aims to develop advanced technology specifically for HSBC's global payments operations and wealth management services.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched a €200 billion AI initiative in Paris on February 11, 2025, to strengthen the EU's industrial policy. • The plan includes a proposed €20 billion fund to establish four AI gigafactories, each equipped with roughly 100,000 advanced processors. • This scale represents a significant upgrade, providing approximately four times the chip count of existing facilities in the EU’s supercomputing network.

• Asian semiconductor stocks surged following reports that Alphabet Inc. plans to spend up to $200 billion this year on AI computing power. • Key beneficiaries included SK Hynix Inc., which saw shares climb 6.5% in Seoul, and MediaTek Inc., which rose 5.2% amid reports of developing custom processors for Alphabet. • The rally reflects growing investor optimism regarding the "trickle-down" benefits that massive AI infrastructure investments provide to hardware suppliers.

• SBI Funds Management is partnering with venture capital firm 3one4 Capital to launch a $200 million technology-focused alternative investment fund (AIF). • This initiative marks SBI Funds Management's official entry into India's rapidly growing AIF market to target private technology investments. • The move reflects a broader trend of increasing institutional interest in alternative assets as they gain popularity among high-net-worth investors.

‘Ratepayer Protection Pledge’ president has touted is non-binding as people continue to struggle with rising billsDonald Trump has announced that some 200 entities have signed onto his non-binding “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” expanding a voluntary commitment which claims to ensure US consumers will not bear the cost of the AI datacenter build-out.Trump delivered remarks on Thursday at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters, alongside Lee Zeldin, the agency’s administrator, and Chris Wright, the energy secretary. Other attendees included governors who signed onto the pledge, including Brian Kemp of Georgia, Mike DeWine of Ohio, Spencer Cox of Utah and Jeff Landry of Louisiana. Continue reading...

Government agency announces status in north Wales and Upper Severn after series of heatwaves and lack of rainfallParts of Wales are now in drought and all other areas of the country are experiencing prolonged dry weather conditions, according to a government agency.Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said on Thursday that record-low river flows, back-to-back heatwaves and widespread wildfires have prompted the declaration of drought status in north Wales and the Upper Severn. Continue reading...

• The S&P/ASX 200 is expected to rise on Wednesday, July 22, following a positive overnight session for commodity prices and a recovery on Wall Street. • Market attention is focused on potential new Section 301 tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% that could be announced this week as current global duties expire this Friday. • In corporate news, SpaceX shares rose 3% on Tuesday, breaking a seven-day decline ahead of its first earnings report scheduled for August 4.

• The Indian stock market experienced a significant downturn, with the BSE Sensex dropping over 670 points and the NSE Nifty50 falling below the 24,200 mark. • This decline is attributed to a combination of recent corporate earnings announcements, global market cues, and shifting macroeconomic developments. • Investors are closely monitoring monsoon patterns and crude oil prices, as these factors directly impact food inflation and the Reserve Bank of India's future policy decisions.

• Indian stock markets declined on Monday, with the Sensex slumping 600 points and the Nifty testing the 24,200 level. • The selloff was primarily driven by escalating Iran-US tensions and investor concerns over rising Brent crude oil prices. • Market performance was mixed across sectors, as Axis and HDFC Bank shares dropped while Tech Mahindra and Bharti Airtel saw gains.

• Mira Murati has officially launched Thinking Machines Lab, introducing a new AI architecture called "Inkling." • TSMC is significantly scaling its U.S. presence with a massive $100 billion expansion of its facilities in Arizona. • OpenAI has entered the hardware market with its first branded physical device, a $230 developer control pad created in partnership with Work Louder.

Ronald Fischer, 70, was sentenced to life in his absence after telling lawyer he planned to ‘enjoy life in another country’A “master yachtsman” who went on the run for more than two decades after fleeing a sexual assault trial in Rhode Island which resulted in his conviction despite his absence was captured on Thursday on a sailboat off New Jersey’s coast, according to authorities.Ronald L Fischer, 70, had been considered one of Rhode Island’s most wanted fugitives before his arrest, state police officials said in a statement on social media. And his case had been mentioned repeatedly over the years on the true-crime television program America’s Most Wanted. Continue reading...

• Indian stock markets saw gains with the Sensex rising 200 points and the Nifty climbing above 24,100, driven by strong performances from ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. • Sectoral trends were mixed, as Nifty Financial Services, Auto, and Bank indices rose by 1.08%, 0.90%, and 0.83% respectively, while Nifty IT dropped 1.51%. • Global sentiment was bolstered by a rebound in semiconductor stocks, highlighted by an 11% surge in South Korea's SK Hynix following a volatile week in US tech.

• The KOSPI index surged 404.76 points (5.90%) to reach 7,260.59 by 9:11 a.m. on the 15th, briefly recapturing the 7,200 level shortly after the market opened. • A market trigger was activated just six minutes after the opening bell due to a rapid surge in the price of index futures. • This volatility highlights extreme short-term fluctuations in the Korean stock market, potentially driven by aggressive futures trading.

• The KOSPI index surged by over 6%, closing in the high 7,200s, while the KOSDAQ index also rebounded to close above 820. • This significant market rally was driven by a strong influx of capital from both foreign and institutional investors. • The growth reflects a positive shift in investor sentiment toward South Korean equities, signaling a potential trend of continued recovery.

Konstantin Sokolov, who gave undisclosed sum and has not held government job before, to chair Tripp+ trade project Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor in Chicago, will serve as chairman of a new state department enterprise fund overseeing more than $200m designated for a central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals, the Guardian has learned. The state department confirmed his appointment on Friday.Sokolov was one of 36 donors, including 21 corporations and 15 individuals and family foundations, who Trump said contributed over $350m to Donald Trump’s ballroom project. Continue reading...

Woman dies after her home is swept away as heavy rainfall batters parts of state, forcing rescues and evacuationsA woman was found dead in Missouri on Saturday after heavy rainfall battered parts of the state the previous day, forcing numerous emergency rescues and evacuations, including at a summer camp with more than 200 children.The body of Faith Gregory, who went missing in Missouri’s Crawford county after her home was swept away from its foundation, was found by volunteers late Saturday morning. Her body was discovered about 1.8 miles (3km) downstream from her residence in Huzzah creek, according to the county sheriff’s office. Continue reading...

Another 20 people were rescued from a campground after a building collapsed due to heavy rain and floodingHeavy rainfall and widespread flooding battered parts of Missouri on Friday, forcing the helicopter evacuations of more than 200 children and staff from a summer camp and the rescues of about 20 people who had moved to safety on a campground building that then collapsed.With nearby roads washed away and more rain in the forecast, the children were trapped at Camp Taum Sauk in the small south-eastern community of Lesterville, according Sgt Eddie Young of the state’s highway patrol. The army national guard used Black Hawk helicopters to fly them to a nearby elementary school and reunite them with their families, he said. Continue reading...

• The KOSPI index rebounded after a four-day decline, potentially signaling a bottom around the 7,200 level. • The previous slump was driven by investor concerns regarding a potential peak in the semiconductor sector. • Market recovery is being fueled by "bargain hunting," as investors believe stock prices fell excessively relative to company earnings and fundamentals.

• Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, is set to import Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and technical expertise from India's Election Commission (ECI). • The move aims to support Indonesia's massive electoral process, which involves approximately 200 million voters. • This partnership positions the ECI as a global consultancy for democratic infrastructure, challenging the traditional dominance of Western institutions and UN bodies.

Varenna’s authorities say wandering around the village shirtless or in swimwear is now bannedA fishing village by Lake Como has imposed fines of up to €200 (£171) for those who wander around with bare chests or in swimwear, in the latest attempt by an Italian holiday destination to crack down on uncouth tourists.Varenna has been feeling the strain from an increasing number of visitors and so authorities were moved to introduce a raft of new rules aimed at preserving the village’s appearance and guaranteeing a smidgen of peace and quiet for its year-round population of roughly 650. Continue reading...

Shipment discovered at airport in Monrovia and valued at £14.2m had been falsely declared as seasoning cubesAuthorities in Liberia have charged five suspects over one of the largest drug seizures in the country’s history, after police found more than 200kg of cocaine falsely declared as Maggi seasoning cubes.The shipment, with an estimated value of $19m (£14.2m), was discovered at the international airport in Monrovia on 8 June, but the suspects were not named until a press briefing at the weekend. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Economists warn Labor’s removal of caps could be pushing up prices as support flows to people in better financial positionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMost Australian first home buyers are using the government’s 5% deposit scheme, with one in three new participants earning more than the scheme’s previous cap for high income earners.The influx of high income earners into the first home guarantee program, economists warn, has pushed up property prices by increasing buying capacity for people who would have bought anyway. Continue reading...

• The ASX 200 index opened higher on Monday, gaining ground despite mixed corporate news and futures suggesting a weaker start. • Market growth is being driven by stabilizing consumer sectors and easing expectations for further interest rate hikes. • Gains are tempered by softening corporate earnings forecasts and price declines in key commodities, including gold, copper, and oil.