Drive

• The 61st ACM Awards, broadcast via a global Prime Video livestream, triggered significant streaming surges for several country music artists. • Post-show data from Luminate highlights massive commercial growth for performers including Ella Langley, Parker McCollum, and other emerging talents. • The event underscores the power of high-visibility award shows and digital streaming platforms in driving immediate listener discovery and consumption.

• Antique has maintained a 'Buy' rating for ICICI Bank, setting a target price of Rs 1,622 for 2026. • The target price represents a potential upside of 17% compared to the current trading price of Rs 1,387.70. • This valuation is driven by two near-term triggers expected to catalyze an earnings rerating for the bank.

• Meta Platforms (META) is experiencing significant top-line growth driven by the company's accelerating expansion into artificial intelligence. • Key technological drivers include the release of the Muse family of models and the deployment of an upgraded Meta AI assistant. • This strategic AI push is positioning the company for further financial upside by enhancing its product offerings and competitive edge.

• South Korea's KOSPI index doubled in 2026, fueled by retail investors heavily betting on semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix. • Many investors amplified their positions using leveraged ETFs and trading platforms based in Hong Kong to maximize potential gains. • The surge has sparked warnings regarding concentration risk and growing uncertainty over the long-term sustainability of AI chip demand.

• Women are emerging as a primary growth driver for Asia's live music industry, significantly influencing both attendance and spending across the concert ecosystem. • A study by The Collective, the advisory arm of THE·TEAM, found that 91% of women surveyed in China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong are willing to increase their spending on live music. • This spending growth is contingent on brands providing experiences that are more seamless, immersive, and rewarding for female attendees.

• Turbo Energy (Nasdaq: TURB) and HiTHIUM have announced the deployment of 366 MWh of industrial energy storage across 15 facilities in Europe. • The project integrates Turbo Energy’s AI optimization platform with HiTHIUM’s advanced battery systems to maximize energy efficiency and stability. • This initiative represents one of Europe's largest industrial storage deployments, aiming to reduce operational costs and carbon footprints for industrial users.

• The global Artificial Intelligence Trust, Risk and Security Management (AI TRiSM) market is projected to grow from USD 3.20 billion in 2025 to USD 20.66 billion by 2035. • This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.5% over the forecast period. • The surge in adoption is primarily driven by the need for governance platforms to ensure compliance with the EU AI Act's strict regulatory obligations.

Debate in Labour and union movement over climate commitments as many call for Burnham not to allow drilling in North SeaAnalysis: ‘Act on the evidence outside the window’: Andy Burnham urged to stick to net zero targets if he becomes PMBacksliding on climate action would drive the Labour party into political obscurity, Zack Polanski has warned, as trade union leaders said more drilling in the North Sea would not help UK workers.The Green party leader, speaking to the Guardian as searing heat swept the country for the second time this year, urged Andy Burnham – widely expected to be the UK’s next prime minister – to be bold on climate justice. He said any move to water down the party’s commitments would have dire consequences at the ballot box. Continue reading...

• David Chao, Global Market Strategist–Asia Pacific at Invesco, identifies AI as both the primary market driver and a significant risk for the upcoming quarters. • The investment outlook for India is improving due to expanding corporate margins, strengthening earnings expectations, and a decrease in crude oil prices. • Despite relatively expensive valuations, Chao expects Indian equities to perform strongly in the second half of the year.

• Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG) saw its stock price increase by 8.12% on June 24, driven by a combination of market sentiment and strategic upgrades. • The surge was fueled by lower crude oil prices boosting the broader tourism sector and the integration of Anthropic’s AI models into Priceline to improve operational efficiency. • Institutional investors increased their positions in the company, citing that the stock had reached historically attractive valuation levels.

Bahrain Mujagata is just 21 years old and balances taxi driving with university studies and acting classes“I’ve got T-shirts older than you!” The joke draws laughter from a table of black-cab drivers gathered in the Astral cafe on Regency Place in Westminster. Around the table, cabbies swap stories accumulated over decades behind the wheel: picking up the England World Cup hero Geoff Hurst, ferrying senior politicians around London, and navigating the capital long before smartphones and satnavs existed.At just 21, Bahrain Mujagata is an anomaly among them. In late 2025, he became London’s youngest licensed black-cab driver after completing the Knowledge – the notoriously demanding test of the capital’s streets – in just two years and five months. Most candidates take three to four years to qualify, according to Transport for London. Continue reading...

• On June 22, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance issued a joint warning that frontier AI models could fundamentally transform cyber attack and defense capabilities within months. • The group emphasized that cyber risk is now a core business risk and a leadership responsibility, urging national leaders to treat the shift as an immediate priority. • To mitigate these threats, the alliance called for urgent risk assessments, the prioritization of basic cybersecurity controls, and granting security leaders full authority and resources.

Prominent Florida real estate broker found not guilty by Miami jury of manslaughter and felony vessel homicideThe family of a teenager left with a permanent disability from a birthday party boat crash that killed another girl has reacted with dismay at the acquittal of the prominent Florida real estate broker helming the vessel.George Pino was found not guilty by a Miami jury on Monday evening of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide after the 4 September 2022 boat wreck during a celebration that he and his wife, Cecilia, were hosting for their daughter’s 18th birthday, with 11 of her friends as guests. Continue reading...

• Top intelligence agencies have warned organizational leaders that AI-driven cyber catastrophes are imminent, stating the timeline for these breaches is measured in months rather than years. • The warning emphasizes that AI is rapidly accelerating the ability of attackers to execute sophisticated breaches, making systemic vulnerabilities more critical. • This alert follows a recent security lapse where journalist Brian Krebs discovered CISA had exposed plaintext usernames and passwords on GitHub for approximately six months.

Firms including BP and 7-Eleven accused of coordinating prices to ‘wring more money from pockets of consumers’Gas ⁠station ​operators including BP, Circle K, Marathon, 7-Eleven, Walmart and Albertsons were sued on Monday by California drivers ⁠who accused them of using artificial intelligence to boost prices at the pump.According to a proposed class action, the defendants ⁠violated California’s main antitrust law, the Cartwright Act, by using an AI-based tool that ​uses data from competing gas ‌stations to “coordinate high prices ‌and wring more money from the pockets of consumers”. Continue reading...

Texas man using ‘automated driving assistance system’ crashed into house and Connecticut man drove into pool while trying to parkSeparate crashes in Texas and Connecticut involving Tesla electric vehicles left a woman dead when a car barreled into a house; and a driver rescued after plunging into a municipal swimming pool.A doorbell video camera captured the Friday night episode in Katy, Texas. Authorities said 76-year-old Martha Avila Mantilla was standing in the front room of a relative’s home when the Tesla Model 3 car crashed at speed into the residence. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets rose, driven primarily by gains in the artificial intelligence sector. • Conversely, Asian currencies declined as a stronger U.S. dollar and uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran peace talks discouraged investment in emerging market assets. • The MSCI EM currencies gauge fell 0.3% for the third straight session, with the Indonesian rupiah weakening to 17,818 per dollar and the Indian rupee dropping to 94.405.

• OpenAI is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) as artificial intelligence firms target a historic wave of public market debuts in 2026. • Broadcom (AVGO) reported record revenue and profit, yet saw its market value drop by $300 billion due to escalating investor expectations. • Qualcomm is expanding its data center footprint by deploying energy-efficient AI accelerators, highlighted by a strategic new deal with ByteDance.

• Stock market movements this week will be primarily driven by crude oil prices, foreign institutional investor (FII) trading activity, and the outcome of US-Iran diplomatic talks. • Technical-level discussions between the US and Iran are scheduled to take place this Sunday in Burgenstock, Switzerland. • Analysts indicate that the trajectory of the domestic monsoon will also be a critical factor for market performance.

• Singapore's listed technology manufacturers are experiencing significant gains and increased institutional inflows driven by the global artificial intelligence boom. • The growth is fueled by massive capital expenditure from global tech giants who are increasing demand for advanced semiconductors and chips. • This trend highlights Singapore's strategic position in the global tech supply chain, attracting investment into local manufacturing capabilities.

National Highways agency uses virtual reality test to see if drivers are distracted by introduction of low-flying dronesI’m barrelling down the motorway at 70mph, swerving from lane to lane, with cars speeding past me. There’s just one problem, I don’t have a driving licence.Or at least it would be a problem were this a real road test. But despite the life-like surroundings, I am in fact trialling a complex simulation created by virtual reality company MXT on behalf of National Highways, the government-owned agency responsible for the UK’s major roads. Continue reading...

• The European Union is deploying 19 AI Factory hubs and planning nine new supercomputers to integrate industrial AI into its manufacturing sector. • This strategic push aims to close the competitive gap with the US and China, leveraging Europe's existing manufacturing expertise as a "competitive moat." • A significant funding disparity persists, with the US receiving 75% of global AI venture capital compared to less than 12% flowing into Europe.

• Streaming executives from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted the importance of Asian IP, local storytelling, and fan communities for global growth during the APOS 2026 conference in Bali. • Disney is leveraging strategic partnerships to expand, specifically citing its collaboration with Hulu Japan and the distribution of ESPN via Disney+ in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan. • Warner Bros. Discovery executive James Gibbons emphasized that established franchises like "Harry Potter" drive significant value by tapping into powerful fan bases, particularly in China and Japan.