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Residents of Deir Jarir say series of raids late on Sunday, also involving security forces, is part of a pattern of violenceEven by the brutal standards of militant settler violence in the West Bank, the raid on Deir Jarir late on Sunday night that killed two Palestinians and left another in hospital with a gunshot wound was extreme.Palestinians in the town said settlers from a nearby outpost arrived after 9pm on Sunday claiming that they were searching for stolen livestock. Israeli soldiers and police soon joined them, protecting them as they sought to take several villagers’ sheep by force. Continue reading...

Catholic order with a record of child abuse could be subject to hundreds of redress claims worth up to $65mFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian taxpayers could be forced to cover up to $65m in payouts to hundreds of abuse victims when a failing arm of the Catholic church disappears, new court documents reveal.Last month, the Christian Brothers, a Catholic order with a shocking record of child abuse, informed a court it was going broke and would not be able to afford to pay out survivors. Continue reading...

• Goldman Sachs stock is trading steadily as a recovery in investment banking and strong advisory and trading revenues support the firm's earnings outlook. • The company's financial trajectory depends on the sustainability of fee income and its ability to adapt to evolving regulatory, technological, and competitive pressures. • To maintain shareholder value, Goldman Sachs utilizes dividends and share repurchases, though these actions remain subject to strict US regulatory stress-test frameworks.

Campaigners hope move will force commercial banks to rethink holding assets linked to the fossil fuelClimate campaigners have declared a victory after the Bank of England said it would no longer accept bonds linked to one of the most polluting industries on the planet for key loan arrangements.The ban, which comes into force in October, marks a fresh crackdown on thermal coal, which is burned in power plants to create electricity, and has long been a target of green policy activists. Continue reading...

• Goldman Sachs stock has edged higher following quarterly results that revealed an increase in investment banking revenue, specifically within advisory and underwriting. • The company reported a solid return on equity, signaling strong financial performance and capital strength despite broader macroeconomic volatility. • This growth is significant as the stock typically fluctuates based on central bank policies and investor sentiment toward large US financial institutions.

Netanyahu coalition seeks to extend control with ‘Nahal’ outposts in Gaza and over $400m in West Bank fundingIsrael’s defence and finance ministers announced plans for three illegal settlements in Gaza and more than $400m (£300m) in funding to expand construction in the occupied West Bank, as Israel’s military commander for the region celebrated violent outposts as his “security partners”.With national elections scheduled for 27 October, Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition is racing to expand control of land in occupied Palestine and drive out Palestinians before its mandate expires. Continue reading...

• On July 17, 2026, the European Commission published a Communication on the Competitiveness of the Banking Sector and the Single Market in Banking. • The European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG) welcomed the roadmap, noting that it incorporates key recommendations from the group. • This initiative aims to strengthen the overall competitiveness of Europe's banking sector and improve the functionality of the single market.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is preparing to transition to plastic (polymer) banknotes, marking one of the most significant makeovers in the history of Indian currency. • To facilitate this shift, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) has issued a global Expression of Interest (EOI) to establish a polymer substrate manufacturing facility within India. • This move aims to enhance currency durability and security while reducing the environmental impact and costs associated with replacing worn-out paper notes.

• Investment expert Gaurang Shah has identified Indian Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, and Federal Bank as his preferred banking stocks for long-term investment. • Within the public sector banking segment, Shah specifically highlighted Indian Bank Ltd and State Bank of India Ltd as top picks. • These recommendations serve as a guide for investors seeking stability and growth within the Indian financial sector over a prolonged horizon.

• Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is urging the EU to shift from a "defensive" banking strategy to one focused on scale and growth to better compete with U.S. giants. • The push for deregulation follows a stark disparity in market power, noting that JP Morgan's market capitalization exceeds that of the 10 largest EU banks combined. • Letta proposes facilitating cross-border mergers to overcome fragmented national markets and expanding the mandate of financial watchdogs to prioritize growth alongside stability.

• A consortium of 44 Japanese companies, led by SoftBank, Sony, and Honda, launched a project on Thursday to develop a sovereign AI foundation model using domestic data. • To support the development of "physical AI," Tokyo plans to purchase 27,500 Nvidia Rubin chips to provide the necessary computational power. • This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign AI technology by creating a localized infrastructure tailored to Japan's specific industrial and linguistic needs.

• The KOSPI plummeted over 6% to close at 6,820.60 on the 16th, driven by a sharp decline in global semiconductor stocks and domestic monetary policy shifts. • Major tech-related shares saw significant losses, with SK Square preferred shares dropping 12.30%, Samsung Electronics falling 10.42%, and Jusung Engineering sliding 10.31%. • The sell-off was further intensified by the Bank of Korea, which signaled the start of a full-fledged interest rate hike cycle.

• Deutsche Bank's stock remains steady as the institution undergoes a global restructuring process to reshape its business model and long-term outlook. • The bank is focusing on a shifting revenue mix and implementing tighter risk controls to stabilize performance for its shareholders. • Key operations include providing medium and long-term financing, such as revolving credit facilities and term loans, alongside M&A advisory services.

• 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 Sensex and Nifty 50 indices recovered from a sharp decline on Tuesday to close higher on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. • Gains were primarily driven by strong performance in bank stocks and the Bank Nifty index, though benchmark indices retreated slightly from their intraday highs. • The market rally was fueled by softer-than-expected US inflation data, which increased investor confidence that the Federal Reserve will adopt a less aggressive monetary policy.

• The World Bank recently upgraded the income status of four Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, while India remains categorized in the lower-middle-income group. • Despite being the world's fastest-growing major economy, India has failed to move up, highlighting a disconnect between its aggregate GDP growth and the actual rise in per capita income. • This disparity underscores a critical economic challenge for India: ensuring that national wealth translates into higher individual living standards across its vast population.

• Stock markets climbed following reports that June inflation cooled, signaling a potential slowdown in price increases. • JPMorgan Chase reported a record quarterly profit of $21.2 billion, driven by a surge in trading activity and corporate dealmaking. • These combined factors suggest a resilient financial sector and a possible shift in macroeconomic conditions that could benefit investors.

• Quarterly earnings reports from the five largest U.S. banks have challenged recession fears by showing unexpected strength in key financial sectors. • Investment banking revenue grew as corporate executives increased spending on mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, and debt issuance, signaling confidence in capital investment. • Consumer banking remains stable with contained credit-loss provisions, suggesting that households are successfully managing loan and credit card payments despite high interest rates.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) reports that economic policy uncertainty and escalating trade tensions have weakened credit dynamics across the euro area. • Banks with high exposure to firms exporting to the United States have responded by tightening lending conditions and reducing loan demand. • These shifts impact "credit quality," specifically affecting non-performing loan (NPL) ratios and other key financial indicators.

Exclusive: Andrew Bailey says he does not regret meeting Reform UK leader to discuss cryptocurrency regulationThe Bank of England governor has said he would have put off a controversial meeting with Nigel Farage last autumn had the Reform UK leader’s £5m gift from a crypto billionaire been under investigation at the time.Andrew Bailey said he did not regret meeting Farage to discuss the Bank’s plans for cryptocurrency regulation last September, months before the controversial donation from Thailand-based investor, Christopher Harborne, was revealed by the Guardian in April. Continue reading...

Police say suspect stole three-and-a-half-month-old tuxedo kitten Magnolia before attempting to rob a PNC bankIn this day and age, law enforcement agencies worldwide are accustomed to dealing with cat burglars – but now a Maryland police department is saying it grappled with a cat-wielding bank robber.The Prince George’s county police department said its officers arrested a man suspected of stealing a cat and then taking the animal with him to a PNC bank branch in the local community of Beltsville to rob the establishment on Monday morning. Continue reading...

• A dozen state attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, are suing to block the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance. • The lawsuit cites antitrust concerns, arguing that the merger would harm U.S. audiences by reducing available content and increasing prices for consumers. • The group has formally requested that the companies halt the completion of the deal until the judicial process has concluded.

• Wall Street indices rose as investors reacted positively to softer inflation data and strong bank earnings, helping the Nasdaq recover from a previous 1.6% decline. • The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) surged 3.1%, signaling a stabilization in chip stocks, though IBM experienced a significant plunge. • Geopolitical instability persists as the U.S. and Iran exchanged attacks in the Gulf, driving oil futures to their highest levels in four weeks.

• Major banks reported strong revenue growth driven by equities trading, with Goldman Sachs highlighting a significant surge in investment banking activity. • CEO David Solomon announced that Goldman Sachs' deals backlog has reached its highest level in five years, signaling strong potential for future revenue. • The firm is leveraging its reputation as a premier C-suite advisor to expand business into trading, financing, risk management, and wealth management.

Chief executives of Australia’s 100 biggest companies earned a median $4.8m in the 2025 financial year. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChief executives of Australia’s 100 biggest companies earned a median $4.8m in realised pay in 2025’s financial year, a 16% increase from 2024, a new report has found.The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors has calculated take-home pay, which includes reported pay plus bonuses, vested shares and other extras. Continue reading...

Andrew Bailey warns that US will not be able to achieve its ambitions aloneThe Bank of England governor has called for international cooperation to tackle growing AI threats, warning that the US and Trump administration would not be able to achieve their ambitions alone.Andrew Bailey’s comments come weeks after the US president, Donald Trump, temporarily banned foreigners from using Anthropic’s powerful Claude Mythos model. Continue reading...