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Announcement comes after White House meeting with Lebanese president in which Trump vowed to help ‘a lot’Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon more than 40 years after the US suspended the route.Direct flights between the US and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by Ronald Reagan’s administration following the hijacking of TWA flight 847. Continue reading...

• Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Tuesday during the 2026 Monsoon Session due to relentless opposition protests. • Opposition members demanded immediate discussions regarding the NEET paper leak, protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. • The disruptions highlight significant political tension and a lack of consensus between the government and opposition over critical national and religious issues.

• Crude oil prices have retreated from a one-month high, with Brent crude currently trading at $88 per barrel amid ongoing US-Iran war tensions. • The cryptocurrency market is seeing a rally driven by renewed institutional demand, declining Bitcoin exchange reserves, and capital rotating away from technology stocks. • Bitcoin's sentiment has reached its strongest level since early June, with key technical levels identified at $64,000 for support and a potential target of $70,000 if it breaks $67,000.

• Parliament's Monsoon Session 2026 was adjourned on its second day following protests from opposition members over various national issues. • DMK MP Tiruchi Siva submitted a Suspension of Business Notice under rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to demand a discussion on the proposed Mekedatu Reservoir on the river Cauvery. • The request emphasizes the reservoir's negative impact on Tamil Nadu and calls for the urgent constitution of a tribunal to resolve the dispute.

• NASA is preparing to launch the first of six new airborne science campaigns starting this summer. • These missions will utilize aircraft to study Earth's systems, environment, and climate patterns. • The initiative is part of NASA's broader Earth Observatory effort to gather critical data and imagery of the planet.

• Activist Sonam Wangchuk and supporters held a massive "CJP" protest march at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, featuring chants of "Ladenge, Jeetenge." • Wangchuk has vowed to continue his fast to draw attention to regional grievances, while political analyst Yogendra Yadav called for a political shift in favor of the youth. • The protests coincide with intense parliamentary clashes as the Opposition attacks the government over NEET irregularities and alleged theft regarding Ram Temple donations.

• Moonshot AI has launched Kimi K3, a new AI model that gained such rapid popularity that the developer was forced to temporarily pause new subscriptions shortly after release. • The model's success highlights the strategic interests of tech giants Alibaba, which acquired a 36% stake in Moonshot during February 2024, and Tencent, another known investor. • This breakthrough is reigniting critical industry debates regarding the sustainability of AI spending and the valuation of semiconductor stocks.

• Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 model is gaining significant acclaim for its performance, highlighting China's rapid advancements in large language model capabilities. • Simultaneously, President Xi Jinping launched the WAICO Alliance, a political initiative involving 29 founding member countries, including Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa. • The alliance aims to expand Chinese influence by establishing AI application centers and providing 5,000 training and seminar opportunities over the next five years.

One Nation leader posts network’s proposal to travel to UK to explore what Australia faces ‘if we don’t take back control of who comes to our country’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Seven producer urged Pauline Hanson to travel to Britain to meet Nigel Farage and film a Spotlight special highlighting so-called “uncontrolled immigration”, according to a pitch posted to social media by the One Nation leader.The pitch also suggested that Seven might cover some of the travel costs for the One Nation leader and her team and that the program wanted the Reform UK leader to “invite Ms Hanson to Britain”. Continue reading...

• Russia launched a deadly attack near Odesa, Ukraine, contributing to ongoing conflict and regional instability. • In legal news, Mexican drug kingpin Ismael Zambada has been sentenced in the United States, marking a significant blow to organized crime networks. • Spain achieved a notable sports victory by defeating Argentina in soccer, while Hungary progressed with its presidential nomination process.

• Scientists have identified a potentially habitable planet located 48 light-years away that possesses three critical requirements for life: a rocky composition, an atmosphere, and a suitable temperature. • This discovery is being highlighted as one of the closest approximations humans have found to a planet capable of supporting biological life. • The finding is significant because it provides a prime target for astronomers to study the chemical makeup of distant atmospheres in search of biosignatures.

• Moonshot AI launched its latest large artificial intelligence model, Kimi K3, on Friday to advance open-source AI development in China. • The launch emphasizes a shift from individual technical breakthroughs toward collective progress and collaborative innovation within the AI sector. • According to Zhongguancun Academy president Liu Tieyan, the move aims to foster openness and circulation to provide new approaches for global AI growth.

• ASEAN top diplomats are meeting in Manila on Tuesday to discuss critical global security issues, including renewed hostilities in the Middle East and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. • The talks will include representatives from major global powers, including the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union. • A primary focus is the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where tensions have spiked specifically between Chinese and Philippine naval and coast guard forces.

• Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered at Jantar Mantar to prepare for a planned march to Parliament on Monday. • Authorities have removed CCTV cameras and barricades from the protest site, while activist Sonam Wangchuk remains hospitalized. • The movement is seeking judicial intervention, with a related case scheduled for a 2:30 pm hearing before Justice Mini Pushkarna at the Delhi High Court.

• The FTSE 100 is projected to open slightly lower on July 20 as investors react to global market weakness and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. • Market participants are closely analyzing oil price fluctuations and corporate earnings reports to gauge the current state of global economic growth. • Investors are prioritizing upcoming economic data from China and the United States, specifically focusing on inflation trends and their impact on interest rates.

• ASEAN diplomats are gathering in Manila for annual ministerial talks to address critical regional and global security threats. • The agenda focuses on renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, and escalating territorial disputes in the South China Sea. • Tensions are particularly high between Chinese and Philippine naval and coast guard forces, involving other claimants like Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

• Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reported record financial results for the second quarter of 2026, driven by strong client activity across its investment management, wealth management, and institutional securities divisions. • Executives attributed the success to the firm's integrated business model and a favorable environment for mergers and acquisitions, fueled by normalized regulations and robust economic conditions. • Leadership noted that the investment banking cycle, which started with debt issuance, has expanded into equity activity and may gain further momentum from financial sponsors.

• PV Sindhu is set to face home favorite Akane Yamaguchi in the final match of the Japan Open 2026. • The matchup features two of the world's top badminton players competing for the championship title in Japan. • This final is significant as it pits Sindhu's international experience against Yamaguchi's advantage of playing in front of a home crowd.

• The BSE Sensex surged 965 points and the Nifty50 closed above 24,300 during a volatile trading session on Thursday. • Gains in IT stocks helped the indices remain resilient, offsetting significant profit booking in heavyweight banking and financial shares. • Market sentiment remains cautious due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, rising crude oil prices, and pressure on global chip stocks.

• Global AI investment cooldown triggered a massive sell-off in chip stocks, causing Japan's market to briefly plunge 4% and Zhipu to drop over 12% at the open. • Significant losses were recorded by major players, including Kioxia, which hit its daily limit down, and SK Hynix ADR, which plummeted 13.69% in its previous session. • The Hong Kong market saw heavy losses in leveraged ETFs, with CSOP Hynix 2x Long falling 13.24% and CSOP Samsung 2x Long dropping 3.61%.

Mykhailo Fedorov, celebrated by many for innovative, tech-driven approach, was sidelined for military old guardThe abrupt dismissal of Ukraine’s youthful and innovative defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, by Volodomyr Zelenskyy at precisely the moment Kyiv appeared to be gaining advantages in several spheres of its war with Russia has exposed, not for the first time, a troubling flaw in the president’s leadership.The move, which has startled senior European officials and caused consternation in Ukraine – where it has prompted demonstrations – is all the more shocking given Fedorov’s role in pushing a clear strategy to prosecute the war, leveraging Ukraine’s rapidly developing technological advances in drone and missile technology. Continue reading...

• PV Sindhu is scheduled to face Nozomi Okuhara in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open 2026. • Sindhu currently holds a slight advantage in their head-to-head rivalry, leading the record 11-9. • This match represents a high-stakes clash between two veteran players competing for a spot in the semifinals.

• Astronomers have confirmed the presence of an atmosphere on LHS 1140 b, a rocky exoplanet located 48 light-years from Earth. • The planet is situated within its star's habitable zone, making it a primary candidate for studying the potential for liquid water and life. • This discovery is significant as it may be the first rocky planet in a habitable zone to have a confirmed atmosphere, a major milestone in two decades of exoplanet research.

• An Iranian army spokesperson announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States agrees to accept the Iranian legal system. • The statement, reported by the Iranian Students' News Agency, establishes a direct link between the reopening of the critical waterway and U.S. diplomatic concessions. • This escalation is significant because the Strait of Hormuz is a vital global chokepoint for oil shipments, meaning a prolonged closure could trigger severe global economic instability.

• President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address alleging that China has engaged in a yearslong effort to interfere in United States elections. • Trump claimed the U.S. election system falls "catastrophically short" without proper support and released intelligence documents on the White House website detailing "five major areas of concern." • The move highlights the administration's ongoing efforts to review election security and underscores tensions regarding foreign influence in domestic democratic processes.

• The Nifty and Sensex indices ended the trading session largely unchanged, reflecting a mixed market sentiment driven by weak global cues. • Mid-cap stocks saw declines, with the Nifty MidCap 150 falling nearly 0.5%, led by significant drops in ITC Hotels (5.5%) and HDFC AMC (4.5%). • Market stability was noted in the rupee and India VIX, while MSCI adjustments for RBL Bank and Torrent Pharma were implemented at the close.

• Spain secured the first spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final by defeating France with a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals. • The result stunned tournament favorites France, leading to a massive $7.1 million payout for a punter who placed a high-risk bet on the outcome. • This victory marks a significant shift in the tournament's momentum, eliminating one of the strongest contenders and establishing Spain as a dominant force.

• The Indian stock market closed with mixed results, as the BSE Sensex ended 100 points higher while the NSE Nifty50 remained flat. • Market volatility was driven by a combination of geopolitical developments, macroeconomic trends, crude oil fluctuations, and foreign institutional investor activity. • Despite the Sensex gain, broader markets and several sectoral indices declined, signaling widespread caution among investors.