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• Indian equity markets closed lower on Tuesday, June 30, with the Nifty declining 80.50 points (0.34%) to 23,865.75 and the Sensex dropping 249.70 points (0.33%) to 76,478.67. • The downturn was primarily driven by selling pressure in information technology stocks, causing the Nifty to slip below the critical 24,000 mark. • Conversely, electric vehicle (EV) companies saw gains following the Delhi government's announcement of a new EV policy designed to increase adoption and improve air quality.

• India is implementing subsidized GPU programs to lower AI compute costs and bridge the capability gap in artificial intelligence. • The initiative has established a national platform designed to support academic research, indigenous model development, and public-interest AI projects. • Industry experts argue that hardware alone is insufficient, citing the need for reliable infrastructure, specialized datasets, skilled researchers, and robust cybersecurity.

• The South Korean boy band BTS has contributed approximately $50 billion to the national economy during their first decade of activity. • This economic impact is significant enough to be comparable to the GDP share of a major South Korean airline. • The group was signed in 2013 by Big Hit Entertainment, a small label founded in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk that nearly faced bankruptcy before the band's debut.

• S&P 500 futures rose on June 30, 2026, following a record close driven by a technology sector rally and optimism regarding peace in the Middle East. • A Reuters report on an OMFIF survey reveals that more global central banks plan to decrease their U.S. dollar allocations than increase them over the next ten years. • This shift marks the first time public investors have collectively signaled a move away from the dollar, citing rising political risks associated with the U.S. currency.

• The Indian startup ecosystem ended June with significant activity, highlighted by Incuspaze raising Rs 150 crore and multiple AI startups securing fresh capital. • EBG Group signed a licensing deal with South Korea's POSCO International for the Daewoo brand, planning to invest Rs 100 crore over three years to open nearly 100 stores by 2027. • Maruti Suzuki further integrated innovation into its operations by selecting five startups for collaboration.

Hospitality trade bodies’ data published as celebrity chefs and restaurateurs launch campaign for VAT cutNearly a quarter of UK pubs, bars and restaurants are losing money, according to new survey data that came as a group of celebrity chefs and business owners stepped up their campaign for a sector-specific VAT cut.Spearheaded by chef Tom Kerridge, leading figures in the hospitality sector are calling for VAT on the industry to be cut from 20% to 10%. Continue reading...

Federal and NSW police say more than 100 letters sent to MPs and community leaders since 2015Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice are appealing for help in tracking down the mystery author of more than 100 letters, some threatening, sent to high-profile community figures.The Australian federal police and New South Wales police have released excerpts of anonymous letters sent by someone who goes by “Scorpio” and “Bullit”. Continue reading...

• Major stock markets in China, India, and Hong Kong are experiencing a decline in market capitalization share among their top firms due to a lag in the global AI race. • This trend contrasts sharply with Taiwan and South Korea, where AI-focused leaders have significantly boosted their market benchmarks. • The lack of dominant AI players in these specific Asian markets is hindering overall stock performance and limiting growth potential.

• On June 29, 2026, the Indian stock market saw a downturn with the Sensex falling 372 points to close at 76,728 and the Nifty 50 settling below the 24,000 mark. • Kotak Bank and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) were identified as the top losers during the trading session. • In a significant corporate development, the Boards of Directors for Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and REC approved a merger scheme between the two state-run power sector NBFCs.

• The Straits Times Index (STI) closed 0.3% higher, with DFI Retail Group leading the gains among Singapore's blue-chip stocks. • Market activity was positive overall, as 365 gainers outperformed 211 losers, with 1.3 billion securities traded for a total value of S$1.5 billion. • Regional performance was mixed, featuring gains in Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (1.6%) and Japan's Nikkei 225 (0.2%), while South Korea and Malaysia saw slight declines.

• The BSE Sensex and Nifty50 benchmark equity indices ended lower on Monday, with the Sensex dropping 372.10 points (0.48%) to close at 76,728.37. • Market sentiment was negatively impacted by renewed hostilities between the US and Iran, alongside a rise in global crude oil prices. • This downturn reflects investor anxiety regarding geopolitical instability and the potential for increased energy costs to disrupt economic growth.

Judge says ‘no legitimate forensic purpose’ to former Liberal staffer’s subpoena requesting footage, ahead of his Queensland trialGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer political staffer Bruce Lehrmann has lost a legal bid to access copies of all footage from a documentary featuring Brittany Higgins.Lehrmann had subpoenaed the producers of the documentary Silenced and signalled a possible attempt to ban its broadcast before his Queensland trial for rape. Continue reading...

• Chinese AI developers are rapidly narrowing the technological gap with the U.S., specifically with the emergence of the GLM-5.2 model. • The new model demonstrates advanced capabilities in cybersecurity, challenging the previous dominance of American AI systems in this critical sector. • This shift is expected to impact global AI stock valuations, pricing power for tech firms, and the trajectory of international regulatory frameworks.

As Labor pushes on with reforms, the Coalition must decide whether to join in the parliamentary deal-makingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt’s the last week of parliament before the winter break, and not a minute too soon; tensions have been running a little high lately.The lower house speaker, Milton Dick, has been yeeting MPs mere moments into question time and accused Angus Taylor of “demeaning” the parliament by calling Anthony Albanese a liar; Andrew Hastie claimed One Nation “has declared war on me, so they shall have war”; Labor has been goading the Coalition and its media “cheer squad” for opposing the budget; the Greens hate Labor’s NDIS bill; and people in the Coalition seem to be mad at everyone, including themselves. Continue reading...

Pugnacious speech invokes Trump’s ‘vanity projects’ to makeover Washington and the ‘brazen, blatant corruption’Joe Biden called Donald Trump “a loser” in a pugnacious speech on Saturday that invoked his presidential successor’s attempted makeover of Washington DC to portray him as incompetent, corrupt and vain.He delivered those remarks while giving the keynote address at a gala in Hanover, Maryland, hosted by the state’s Democratic party, which is hoping to help wrest control of Congress away from Trump and his Republican allies during November’s midterm elections. Continue reading...

• U.S. stock markets are concluding a solid first half of the year, though recent volatility in semiconductor stocks suggests growing investor concern over AI-driven profits. • Markets are now focusing on upcoming jobs data, which will serve as a critical indicator of the overall strength of the U.S. economy. • Strong employment figures could prompt the Federal Reserve to implement further interest rate hikes, potentially triggering market jitters and impacting high-growth tech shares.

• Establishment Democrats are reportedly prioritizing the marginalization of the party's left wing over forming a broad alliance to defeat Donald Trump. • These centrists are threatening to either abstain from the election or expel leftist factions if their demands are not met, effectively holding the party hostage. • This internal conflict is significant because it risks empowering Republicans by fracturing the Democratic base in a highly competitive two-party system.

• U.S. stock markets closed the first half of the year on a solid note, though investors remain cautious ahead of new economic data. • Market participants are closely monitoring the monthly jobs report due this Thursday, as a "hot" economy could prompt the Federal Reserve to implement further interest rate hikes. • This volatility comes as Federal Reserve policy-makers remain laser-focused on containing inflation, making employment data a critical signal for future monetary policy.

Environmentalists and immigrant-rights advocates demand accounting of damage done by notorious Everglades facilityWhile they welcome the recent closure of the controversial Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center, leading environmental groups and their allies say they want an independent investigation into the environmental damage the facility inflicted on the surrounding wilderness during its 12 months of operations.Those groups made that demand alongside immigrant-rights advocates and members of Florida’s Miccosukee Tribe at a news conference on Friday outside the entrance to the shuttered detention center, where the Friends of the Everglades (FOE) executive director, Eve Samples, condemned the camp as a “failure, an obscene waste of taxpayer dollars and an abuse of the Everglades”. Continue reading...

• Asian equity markets experienced a significant rout on Friday, June 26, 2026, capping a week of extreme volatility. • Seoul's KOSPI index was the hardest hit, diving as much as 9% during the session before closing nearly 6% lower. • The sell-off is driven by intensifying investor concerns regarding a potential bubble within the technology sector.

New structure to be built above 194-year-old Mitchells Causeway as residents face months of delays to reopening of Victoria Pass section of highwayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA vital road connecting Sydney with New South Wales’ central west will remain shut for at least another year, leaving Blue Mountains and Central Tablelands residents facing extended travel times and detours for longer than expected.Transport for NSW closed the Victoria Pass section of the Great Western Highway in March after critical structural cracks were detected at Mitchells Causeway, or “Convict Bridge”, a 194-year-old, convict-built infrastructure. Continue reading...

• The European Commission is developing a new scheme to offer candidate countries specific EU benefits and perks before they achieve full membership. • To avoid previous political failures, these perks will be granted without providing the political rights associated with full membership. • Commissioner Kos stated that the plan includes new, stringent safeguards designed to "bite hard" if new members backslide on democracy or the rule of law after joining.

• Spain's Council of Ministers has approved a €300 million voluntary contribution to the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). • This funding is designed to support the development of AI factories and the establishment of AI gigafactories within the region. • The move is critical for Spain's ambition to become a leading European hub for advanced computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

• European stocks closed higher on Thursday, June 19, 2026, driven by strong performance in the technology sector and easing geopolitical tensions. • Investor confidence in AI was renewed following a positive earnings report from U.S. tech giant Micron, which beat expectations and raised its revenue forecast. • The market activity coincided with critical policy decisions from the central banks of the U.K. and Switzerland.

• The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday that restricts the ability of American citizens to sue pesticide manufacturers over alleged health harms caused by their products. • The decision is viewed as a significant legal setback for the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, which advocates for stricter chemical regulations and corporate accountability. • This ruling matters because it limits the legal recourse available to individuals seeking damages for pesticide-related illnesses, potentially shielding chemical companies from future litigation.

Guy accuses Deeming of making ‘ridiculous and unsubstantiated’ claims as state Liberal party grapples with falloutFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice have concluded their investigation into Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming’s allegation that her colleague Matthew Guy assaulted her, making the finding “no offence detected”.Deeming had reported to police on 16 June that Guy, the opposition’s public transport spokesperson, had assaulted her at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine on 23 May. Continue reading...

Blaze on Tintwistle Moor, Glossop, has burned more than 500 square metres, forcing road closures and smoke warningA major wildfire close to Greater Manchester has torn through large areas of moorland for more than 24 hours, forcing road closures and smoke warnings as fire crews battle to bring it under control.The blaze, on Tintwistle Moor, near Glossop, has burned an area of more than 500 square metres of moorland and woodland, with thick plumes of smoke directly affecting the villages of Tintwistle, Hollingworth and Woolley Bridge. Continue reading...

Florida immigration jail that became byword for cruelty and cost state taxpayers $1.2m a day shuts down after a yearRon DeSantis, Florida’s Republican governor, boasted on Thursday of deporting 21,000 people from Alligator Alcatraz, as he confirmed the closure of the notorious immigration jail hastily erected in the Everglades that became a byword for cruelty and human rights abuses and environmental damage.Standing beside Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s so-called border czar, at a press conference at the now dismantled site in Ochopee in the environmentally sensitive region in south Florida, DeSantis presented its year-long operation as a victory for the president’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda. Continue reading...