Global

• Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar and CEPI CEO Richard Hatchett have announced an urgent three-part response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). • The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or medical therapies. • This situation is critical because the lack of specific treatments necessitates an immediate assessment of whether existing Ebola vaccines provide cross-protection.

• The May 2026 Global Digital Policy Roundup highlights key regulatory updates across G20 countries, focusing on AI and data privacy. • The Securities and Investments Commission issued a letter evaluating the cybersecurity impacts of frontier AI models on regulated entities. • The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released implementation opinions defining "intelligent agents" as systems possessing autonomous perception, memory, and execution capabilities.

• On June 11, the World Bank lowered its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5%, the lowest projection since the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. • The downgrade is primarily driven by the war in the Middle East, which has severely impacted energy exports for countries like Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. • The bank warns that growth could plummet further to 1.3% if energy supply disruptions worsen and trigger substantial stress in global financial markets.

• Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued a selling streak on June 10, offloading equities worth Rs 2,124 crore. • Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) countered this trend by purchasing equities worth Rs 3,123 crore, providing critical support to the domestic market. • Asian currency markets showed mixed results, with the Thai Baht and Philippine Peso rising slightly, while the South Korean Won saw the steepest decline at 0.35%.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India remains on a steady growth trajectory despite prevailing global economic uncertainty. • The PM highlighted youth empowerment and women-led development as the primary cornerstones for achieving the vision of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India). • This focus on inclusive growth is intended to ensure a prosperous future by leveraging the potential of India's diverse demographic.

British journalist to become one of most prominent appointments made by embattled editor-in-chief Bari WeissCBS News is planning to hire the prominent British broadcaster Trevor Phillips, currently a Sunday morning presenter on Sky News, as a global affairs correspondent for the network, a significant hire for embattled top editor Bari Weiss.The network has not yet announced the appointment, which was first reported by Breaker, and a spokesperson declined comment when asked about it. Phillips did not respond to a Thursday morning message from the Guardian seeking comment. Continue reading...

There is no narrative to convince the British public that difficult economic decisions on defence will be worth itUK politics live – latest updatesAs Labour MPs set out the case for change in the tea rooms and bars of Westminster, there is usually one caveat. They believed the prime minister was an asset when it came to national security and had performed beyond expectations on the world stage.Now that reputation too lies in tatters, after the resignation of John Healey with one of the most quietly damning letters that many can remember. Not a departure over ambition – though Healey certainly has it – but on principle. It is a rare thing to see a loyalist cabinet minister accuse the prime minister and a chancellor of making the country “less safe”. Continue reading...

• Global Dating Insights (GDI) has announced the first confirmed speakers for its European 2026 Conference, featuring representatives from Happn, Mattr, Inner Circle, and InSparx. • The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16th, 2026, and will be hosted at the five-star Harbour Hotel Richmond on the banks of the River Thames. • The conference serves as a high-level networking hub, bringing together senior leaders, founders, investors, and product specialists within the dating industry.

• Global conflicts have surged to their highest levels since World War II, according to data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program. • Conflict-related fatalities reached a record high in 2025, with approximately 244,600 people killed. • This spike represents the deadliest year for conflict-related deaths since the program began tracking data in 1994.

Amazon and Sony among firms that may have sourced coltan, used in phones, from supply chains controlled by the M23 rebels, says Global WitnessLeading global brands including Amazon, Ericsson and Sony are “likely” to have sourced minerals linked to a militia accused of widespread sexual violence, summary executions and torture, a new investigation claims.The companies allegedlybut unknowingly, acquired coltan smuggled from mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that are occupied by the M23 militia, which has committed myriad atrocities in eastern DRC. Continue reading...

• Indian stock markets rebounded with the Sensex opening 0.70% higher and the Nifty gaining 0.59% following improved global cues. • The recovery was bolstered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announcing new foreign exchange swap facilities to support market stability. • Positive momentum was mirrored across Asia, highlighted by a 1.73% rise in Japan's Nikkei 225 to 65,155.00 and a significant 4.99% jump in South Korea's Kospi.

• New Zealand has been ranked as the second-safest country in the world according to the latest Global Peace Index, which evaluates 163 independent states and territories. • This improvement in New Zealand's standing comes despite a broader global trend where world conflict has reached a historic high. • The ranking highlights New Zealand's stability and safety relative to other nations during a period of significant international volatility.

• Indian AI-linked stocks, particularly those involved in high-performance computing and data centers, are facing increased scrutiny amid global fears of a tech bubble. • Market experts are questioning whether the actual earnings of these "multibagger" companies can justify their current high valuations. • This shift matters as investors pivot from speculative growth to assessing the long-term sustainability of stock prices in the AI sector.

• Global conflicts have surged to their highest levels since World War II, according to data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). • Conflict-related fatalities reached a record high in 2025, with approximately 244,600 people killed. • UCDP senior analyst Shawn Davies notes a significant rise in interstate wars, signaling a shift in the global security order and increasing international tensions.

• The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 exposed critical vulnerabilities in global health systems and their inability to manage large-scale infectious disease outbreaks. • The crisis highlighted several converging risk factors, including agricultural intensification, increased human-animal contact, rapid urbanization, and shifting climatic patterns. • These trends underscore the need for a "One Health" approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health to better predict and prevent future zoonotic spillovers.

• The global media landscape is seeing a surge in vertical video, with Beijing implementing stricter standards for microdramas as the format accelerates. • Asia is dominating Netflix's non-English Top 10, highlighted by a 200% increase in viewership from Indonesia. • In leadership news, Lino Cayetano has been appointed to lead the Philippines' PTV, while two YouTube-native directors are gaining traction in North America.

• Voters in four U.S. states are heading to the polls today to participate in primary elections. • A new report indicates that global conflicts have reached their highest levels since the end of World War II. • These simultaneous events highlight a period of significant domestic political activity coupled with extreme international instability.

Price of dairy product has risen fivefold after users of GLP-1 medications advised to increase protein consumptionThe growing popularity of weight-loss drugs has fuelled global demand for whey protein, sparking concerns among industry experts over a potential shortage.The price of whey has risen fivefold to record levels as companies race to secure supplies amid a boom driven by growing use of GLP-1 drugs, such as Mounjaro, which often require higher protein intake to preserve muscle mass. Continue reading...

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed key foreign policy issues during a defense summit held in Singapore. • Hegseth explicitly informed U.S. allies that the era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations has come to an end. • This shift signals a strategic move toward requiring allies to take greater financial and operational responsibility for their own national security.

• Over 100 EU lawmakers, business experts, and policy specialists will gather in Co Galway, Ireland, for the EPP Group’s Summer University from June 10-12. • The summit will focus on critical issues including global security, the economy, competitiveness, and the state of transatlantic relations. • The event serves as a strategic platform for Fine Gael and Irish government representatives to align with the European Parliament's largest political grouping.

• Global conflicts have surged to their highest levels since World War II, according to data from Sweden's Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). • Senior analyst Shawn Davies notes a significant increase in interstate wars, which had previously been relatively rare for a long period. • This trend signals a shift in the global security order and reflects growing international tensions between sovereign states.

• French producers have issued a formal warning to the Culture Minister regarding a new austerity push targeting public-broadcasting funding. • The industry warns that these budget cuts pose "deep risks" to the national production sector and could significantly diminish content diversity. • This conflict highlights the tension between government fiscal tightening and the need to sustain a competitive domestic media ecosystem.

• Global private equity technology M&A transaction volume plummeted by 70% in the first quarter of this year due to widespread anxiety over AI disruption. • Software asset valuations are under significant pressure, and the profit growth threshold required to hit a 2.5x return target has surged from 5% to approximately 12%. • This shift has created a stark divide in the market, where high-quality assets remain viable while older, overpriced assets with uncertain AI prospects are nearly impossible to offload.

• Global Research criticizes CNN for reporting that Russia is facing a "strategic defeat" and labeling Ukraine as a "military innovator." • The analysis argues that such claims ignore the reality of shifting battlelines and the unreliable nature of casualty counts provided by both sides and their allies. • This critique highlights a perceived bias in mainstream U.S. media, suggesting that the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict remains undecided.

• Global tech stocks have experienced a significant plunge as the previous AI-driven rally undergoes a market correction. • The selloff is being driven by increasing investor bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes and a strengthening U.S. dollar. • This volatility highlights the market's sensitivity to monetary policy and the sustainability of high valuations within the AI sector.

Addressing lawmakers, Leo XIV also highlights migration at a time when Madrid is bucking European trendsPope Leo XIV has used a landmark address to the Spanish parliament to warn the world is undergoing “a deep spiritual and cultural crisis” and to urge the international community to tackle the causes and consequences of what he termed “the tragic drama of migration”.In a wide-ranging speech delivered to lawmakers in Madrid, the pontiff also touched on conflict, artificial intelligence, the climate emergency, and the issues of abortion and euthanasia. Continue reading...