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Man – referred to as MM by court – will keep his identity hidden after legal challenge against suppression dismissed The identity of a high-profile Queensland man drawn into a Cairns extortion case will remain secret, after the state’s supreme court threw out a legal challenge against a suppression order.The man – referred to as MM by the court – was drawn into an extortion case earlier this year. He is not a party to the case and is not accused of any offence. Continue reading...

• Massive flash floods in central Nepal have resulted in numerous deaths and left over 750 people missing, including 133 Indian nationals. • Indian authorities report that at least 290 Indian citizens currently remain "uncontactable" following the deluge. • Both Nepal and China have issued warnings regarding fresh flood risks, indicating that the region remains under significant threat.

• Crude oil prices remained stable near $82 on Thursday, despite a second commercial vessel being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. • Iran and Oman are scheduled to meet next week to negotiate a deal regarding the establishment of fees for ships using the waterway. • The situation is critical as rising energy and pump prices are increasing political pressure on U.S. officials ahead of the November congressional midterm elections.

• Six months into the conflict between the US and Iran, reports indicate that Donald Trump's original strategic goals remain unfinished. • Iranian Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has criticized those avoiding negotiations with the enemy, warning that labeling diplomatic achievements as "betrayal" is a form of comfort-seeking. • Ghalibaf emphasized that loyalty to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei requires maintaining national unity and avoiding political polarization to prevent adversaries from creating internal divisions.

• The Bank of Thailand has unanimously decided to maintain its policy interest rate at 1% to continue supporting the country's economic recovery. • While overall credit has increased due to lending to large corporations for investment and working capital, loans to SMEs continue to contract as banks remain cautious. • Thai government bond yields have remained stable, resisting the upward trend seen in the bond yields of other major global economies.

• Financial markets are focusing on key economic indicators today, specifically the German IFO survey and the US Consumer Confidence report. • Investors are anticipating a massive volatility swing for Nvidia, with approximately $280 billion at stake as the company prepares to release its earnings. • The upcoming Nvidia report is viewed as a critical litmus test for the sustainability of the artificial intelligence boom and investor faith in AI growth.

• The US PCE price index is the primary economic data release scheduled for today, serving as the main highlight for market analysts. • Geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran remain a critical focal point for investors despite the lack of major economic catalysts. • European market activity is expected to be quiet, with only low-tier data releases including the Swiss economic sentiment index and UK CBI distributive trades.