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• A total of 256 companies are scheduled to announce their Q1 FY27 earnings for the April-June quarter this week. • High-profile firms reporting include Infosys, Bajaj Auto, Nestlé India, UltraTech Cement, Adani Power, Paytm, and TVS Motor. • Investors are focusing on these results and management commentary to gauge current business performance and emerging demand trends.

More than 100 Democrats voted to cut military aid to Israel as US public opinion shifts – Republicans are noticing tooSomewhere in the days before Wednesday’s vote, Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, sat down and wrote his caucus a letter urging Democrats to reject an amendment that would strip security assistance to Israel. For most of his tenure as Democratic leader, that kind of internal whipping operation would have been unnecessary, because the outcome would have been assumed.His own second-in-command voted the other way anyway. Continue reading...

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has identified significant gaps in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls currently utilized by several cryptocurrency firms. • The regulator specifically flagged deficiencies in critical areas, including customer due diligence checks, transaction monitoring, and the management of token transfers. • This move highlights the urgency for digital asset providers to strengthen their compliance frameworks to prevent financial crimes and maintain the integrity of the Singaporean financial ecosystem.

• Indian markets are eyeing a positive start on Thursday, with Gift Nifty trading near 24,106, up 39 points from the previous close. • Jio Financial Services reported its highest-ever quarterly Profit After Tax (PAT) of ₹785 crore for Q1 FY27, representing a 38.3% year-on-year increase from ₹568 crore. • The company's growth was driven by robust revenue increases and improved operating leverage, causing net profit to more than double compared to the previous year.

Fire broke out last Thursday in the southeastern province of Almería, which is home to many foreign residentsSeven Britons are among 12 foreign nationals killed in wildfires in southern Spain, authorities said.Officials said 12 of the 13 victims were foreign nationals after completing postmortem examinations after the fires that swept through Andalusia. Continue reading...

Mission: Impossible star to appear in a pre-game show that will also feature Robbie Williams and Jennifer HudsonA wide array of performers, from actor Tom Cruise to streamer IShowSpeed, will help close out the World Cup, Fifa announced on Tuesday.Soccer’s governing body released the lineup for the closing ceremony, which will take place 90 minutes before Sunday’s final. The show is meant to “celebrate the 48 teams’ unforgettable journey” through 16 host cities across three countries, Fifa said in a statement. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Experts fear rise in education ‘cold spots’ and social immobility as 4,000 academic posts lost in one yearThousands of university job cuts in humanities and social sciences are creating widespread cold spots for languages, classics and theology degrees, the British Academy has warned.Universities’ finances are so precarious that redundancies are also occurring in business studies, law and English – subjects considered strategically important and traditionally popular courses. Continue reading...

Experts say most cases used to be seen in pets after exertion or being left in cars, but they are now being affected at restExtreme temperatures are causing heatstroke in pets even when they are restricted to homes and gardens, vets have warned, as parts of the UK enter a third heatwave of the year.Experts say that in the past cases of heatstroke in pets typically occurred when owners walked their dogs in the heat of the day or left them in a hot car, but cases are now being seen in animals resting at home. Continue reading...

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given South Korea the largest growth outlook upgrade among the world's 30 major economies. • This upward revision is primarily driven by a massive boom in semiconductors fueled by the global surge in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. • The growth in the tech sector is significant enough to offset economic headwinds caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Mark Gatz was arrested at illegal campsite in June and had faced multiple citations for residing in Tonto national forestA man in Arizona has pleaded guilty to violating federal fire restrictions and unlawfully residing in a national forest, after authorities said he spent years living at a makeshift campsite surrounded by what officials described as “approximately 1,000 pounds of trash”.Mark Aaron Gatz was arrested on 25 June at his illegal campsite in Arizona’s Tonto national forest, according to court records. A United States Forest Service (USFS) officer wrote in documents submitted to court that Gatz had been operating an “illegal campsite” with a “hot wood burning campfire” despite fire restrictions and that he had told investigators that he had been living in the forest for about eight years. Continue reading...

• UN agencies warned on Monday that Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world's most severe displacement crises. • The crisis is being driven by a combination of extreme poverty, persistent drought, and devastating earthquakes. • To combat the emergency, critical food aid for Afghan students is being transported 15,000 kilometers from Indonesia to Kabul.

• Recent surveys highlighted by Xinhua indicate a significant decline in the United States' image and reputation among its global allies. • The data suggests a growing distrust in U.S. foreign policy and its ability to maintain stable international partnerships. • This shift matters as it potentially weakens Western diplomatic coalitions and diminishes U.S. influence in strategic geopolitical regions.

• Indian equity indices are expected to start favorably on Friday, July 3, 2026, with GIFT Nifty futures rising 150 points to 24,415. • Key stocks to watch include Adani Enterprises, Tata Motors PV, BPCL, Coal India, Hindustan Zinc, Bajaj Housing Finance, LG Electronics India, PB Fintech, and Titagarh Rail Systems. • The positive outlook comes amid mixed global cues, as Asia-Pacific markets fluctuate following technology stock losses on Wall Street, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.86%.

• Several key Indian stocks, including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Motors, and Bajaj Auto, are expected to be in focus on July 1, 2026. • Market activity will be driven by significant corporate events, such as Kotak Mahindra Bank's acquisition announcement, Tata Motors' launch of the Sierra EV, and a buyback from Bajaj Auto. • Other critical factors influencing trading include revised fuel export taxes, June auto sales figures, and business updates from RailTel, NCC, and HUDCO.

• The 2026 AAFCA TV Honors have announced their top winners, with the series 'Paradise' leading the awards. • Key individual honors were awarded to acclaimed actors Sterling K. Brown and Jurnee Smollett, while 'Abbott Elementary' also secured a headline win. • These awards recognize excellence in television, highlighting the most impactful performances and productions of the year.

• The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has identified Afghanistan as one of the world's most neglected humanitarian crises of the year. • Funding for aid programs has fallen sharply despite a simultaneous increase in the needs of the Afghan population. • This funding gap threatens the delivery of essential services and life-saving assistance to millions of vulnerable people.

• The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that children born in the United States are citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment, regardless of their parents' legal or temporary status. • The ruling highlights deep ideological rifts among the justices, with some arguing that the court ignored historical evidence from Reconstruction-era debates. • This decision is critical as it reinforces the legal standard for birthright citizenship, a point of contention regarding the definition of a "relationship" to the country.

• Teyana Taylor, Clipse, and Kendrick Lamar emerged as the top winners at the 2026 BET Awards. • Teyana Taylor received the Icon of the Year award, presented by Janet Jackson, while veteran music executive Sylvia Rhone was honored with the Ultimate Icon award. • During her acceptance speech, Rhone emphasized the power of Black creativity in shaping global culture and warned against the dominance of technology over the creative process.

• HSBC warns that the current "explosive" rally of the US dollar represents one of the most significant "pain trades" for investors. • The bank forecasts that the greenback will continue to strengthen gradually through the first half of 2027. • This trend matters as it signals prolonged US dollar dominance, potentially pressuring other global currencies and complicating investment strategies.

• Comedian Druski hosted the 2026 BET Awards, which honored top achievements across the music, film, sports, and entertainment industries. • Major wins included Cardi B, who took home Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, and Kendrick Lamar, who was named Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. • The ceremony expanded its scope this year by introducing two new award categories to recognize a broader range of talent.

• Postmaster General David Steiner announced that the U.S. Postal Service will cease delivering mail ballots in states that refuse to provide necessary voter data. • The decision has sparked immediate alarm among Democrats and voting rights advocates who fear the move could disenfranchise voters and undermine election integrity. • This policy shift highlights a growing conflict between federal postal operations and state-level data privacy or administrative regulations.

• Investors are closely monitoring renewed tensions between the US and Iran as they enter the coming trading week. • A primary focus for market participants will be the potential impact of these geopolitical frictions on global crude oil prices. • These factors are among 10 key drivers identified by Moneycontrol that could influence volatility on Dalal Street.

• India and 34 other nations signed the "Joint Statement on AI Opportunity" during the second Pax Silica Summit held in Washington on Thursday. • The US-led initiative focuses on establishing trusted and resilient global supply chains to support the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. • This collaboration matters as it aims to secure the critical infrastructure and hardware necessary for AI, reducing dependencies on unstable or adversarial sources.

• The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has identified Turkey as one of the top 10 global perpetrators of transnational repression. • An accompanying report details alleged operations by Turkish intelligence targeting exiled journalists and individuals associated with the faith-based Gülen movement. • This designation highlights a systemic pattern of Turkey extending its domestic security apparatus to harass and attack dissidents living outside its borders.

• Team India secured second place among 11 competing Asian nations at the Pokémon UNITE international tournament sanctioned by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). • The competition included teams from regions such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, beginning with an online qualification stage on June 14. • After topping their group during the qualifiers, Team India advanced to the Grand Finals held in Bangkok, Thailand, this past Sunday.

• The EU has sparked outrage among Afghan women by initiating talks with the Taliban, signaling a shift in how the bloc balances security concerns against human rights. • This diplomatic engagement occurs amidst a broader climate of rising anti-immigration rhetoric across Europe. • Separately, France's health ministry confirmed the country's first case of Ebola in a doctor who recently returned from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In today’s newsletter: Amid rising anti‑immigration rhetoric across Europe, the decision to engage with the Taliban signals a profound shift in how the EU balances security and human rightsGood morning. It’s a slap in the face. That’s the phrase I kept hearing – in furious overnight messages, in blazing opinion columns – as Afghan women responded to the meeting between EU officials and the Taliban that took place in Brussels on Tuesday.The talks, to discuss how to scale up the deportation of Afghan migrants, were met with widespread outrage, and disbelief that Europe would countenance offering legitimacy to a regime that affords a bird better protections than a woman.World news | Venezuela’s interim leader has declared a state of emergency after the country was struck by two powerful earthquakes that collapsed dozens of buildings and killed at least 32 people, with experts warning the death toll could rise significantly.Heatwave | The UK has broken its all-time temperature record for June and France has recorded its hottest day ever for the second day running, as a heatwave affecting more than 90 million people sweeps across swathes of Europe.UK politics | Donald Trump has labelled Andy Burnham “extremely liberal”, in his first public comments about the former Greater Manchester mayor since he emerged as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer.Europe news | The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in France, the country’s health ministry has said, in a doctor who had returned from a humanitarian mission to an area affected by the outbreak in the DRC.UK news | A little-known system in which US military personnel are tried through a court martial for alleged crimes committed in the UK is under growing scrutiny. Continue reading...

• The KISF 2026 Global OTT Awards has announced its winners, recognizing top talent from one of Asia's most significant over-the-top (OTT) streaming award ceremonies. • High-profile honourees including Shin Hae-Sun, Jung Sung-il, and Tseng Jing-Hua were among those named as top winners for their performances. • The awards highlight the growing global influence and critical success of Asian streaming content and the actors driving its popularity.