Sixth

• Japan's manufacturing sector expanded for the sixth consecutive month in June, according to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). • The PMI rose to 54.8 in June from 54.5 in May, aligning with previous preliminary flash estimates. • This growth is significant as any reading above the 50.0 threshold indicates sector expansion, while readings below signal contraction.

• South Korea has surpassed India to become the world's sixth-largest stock market by market capitalization. • The shift was driven by a massive surge in the valuation of semiconductor heavyweights, which are critical to the global artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout. • This transition highlights the significant economic impact of the AI boom on South Korea's chip-centric economy compared to India's growth trajectory.

• South Korea has surpassed India to become the world's sixth-largest stock market. • The East Asian nation achieved this ranking in 2024 by vaulting past several major economies, including Canada, Germany, the UK, and France. • This shift highlights a significant increase in the valuation and global competitiveness of South Korean equity markets relative to other G7 and emerging nations.

Deputy PM says the public will not forgive weeks of internal debate on the EU and Labour leadership, warning it will play into Reform’s handsGood morning. Harold Wilson was right; a week is a long time etc etc. Seven days ago, the biggest threat to Keir Starmer was a half-baked challenge from Catherine West. A week on, with Andy Burnham on a viable path back to Westminster within the next few weeks, it now seems more likely than not that Burnham will be prime minister by the autumn, perhaps earlier, and that Keir Starmer will be out.We are likely to hear from Starmer himself this morning. In the meantime, David Lammy, the deputy PM, has been doing a broadcast round. As Peter Walker reports, Lammy has insisted that Starmer is not about to set out a timetable for his departure. Continue reading...

Two fatalities have been reported so far, with warmer spring resulting in the reptiles being out on trails earlierA sixth person has been bitten by a rattlesnake in southern California’s Ventura county in just under a month, two-thirds of the number of people bit in all of 2025.Andrew Dowd, a Ventura county fire department spokesperson, said paramedics responded to a call on Sunday for a man who had been bitten by a rattlesnake. The victim said he’d been bitten near CSU Channel Islands. Continue reading...

A U.S. military aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 14, 2026, killing its entire crew of six, as disclosed by U.S. Central Command, bringing total confirmed American deaths in Iran operations to 13. The incident follows a prior refueling plane crash that killed four, heightening scrutiny on operational safety during escalated regional tensions. Pentagon officials cite mechanical failure pending investigation, while congressional calls grow for briefings on mission risks. Families demand transparency as recruitment challenges intensify.

A U.S. military aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 14, 2026, killing all six crew members, as disclosed by U.S. Central Command via social media amid ongoing operations. This incident raises the confirmed U.S. death toll to 13 in the military campaign against Iran. The crash underscores operational risks in heightened regional tensions, impacting troop morale and public support. Investigations into causes and potential policy adjustments are expected soon.