Spotlight

Washington-Rabat ties under scrutiny as questions swirl over what led to deadly influx into tiny Spanish territoryThe cosy relationship between Washington and Rabat has long been flaunted by both sides, from Morocco’s announcement this year that it would be the first African state to join Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to the congratulatory message recently sent by Trump to mark King Mohammed VI’s 27 years in power.The latest example landed this week. As Spain grappled with the aftermath of the sudden influx – and swift return – of more than 70,000 people into Ceuta, Morocco’s monarch confirmed he had named a $1bn highway flanking the disputed territory of Western Sahara after Trump. Continue reading...

• Streaming platforms are reducing spending on original web series as viewership shifts toward sports, blockbuster films, and traditional TV shows. • To achieve profitability, platforms are pivoting their growth strategies toward leaner, regional original content rather than high-budget productions. • This shift reflects a broader industry trend where "big-budget" originals are losing their dominance in the spotlight to more cost-effective or high-draw content.

• WEPSEA 2026 will be held in Shanghai to showcase innovations in the packaging value chain, including digital printing, corrugated packaging, and food packaging technologies. • The event will feature over 20 conferences, workshops, and networking activities designed to provide technical insights and market intelligence for industry professionals. • The exhibition addresses the rapid transformation of Southeast Asia's manufacturing and consumer markets, focusing on digitalization, sustainability, and supply chain diversification.

• Experts highlighted the growing significance of public opinion surveys in Indonesia's democratic transition during a recent awards ceremony. • The surveys are increasingly used to shape election strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of government policies. • This trend underscores the critical role of public sentiment in influencing political decision-making and democratic accountability.

• Major European stock markets trended higher during premarket trading on Monday as investors positioned themselves ahead of key economic reports. • Market participants are awaiting inflation data from Switzerland and Turkey, alongside manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reports from the Eurozone, Germany, and the United Kingdom. • These indicators are critical for assessing the current economic health and inflationary pressures across the Old Continent, which influence central bank policy.

• Asian cinema is increasingly challenging Hollywood's dominance at the Malaysian box office heading into 2026, driven by a surge in regional productions. • Filmmakers from China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia are gaining traction by prioritizing cultural identity, emotional depth, and authentic, independent storytelling. • Industry experts, including actress Pearlly Chuah, note that while Hollywood focuses on commercial franchises, Asian films offer distinctive artistic voices that resonate more deeply with local audiences.

• Former Fed official Kevin Warsh highlighted significant discrepancies in how the Federal Reserve measures inflation, questioning whether the actual rate is 3.7% or 2.2%. • In separate retail news, Costco has reached a $14 million email settlement, allowing eligible customers to claim payments up to $500 by the August 24 deadline. • Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a warning during his latest earnings call regarding a potential "hundred year flood" in memory chip pricing.

• Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) has reintroduced three bills designed to increase transparency and curb conflicts of interest within the federal judiciary. • Two of the proposed measures would prohibit Supreme Court justices and lower court judges from overseeing litigation in which they hold a financial interest. • The legislation seeks to expand existing executive branch conflict-of-interest rules to the judiciary and would allow for public records requests.

• The UN Security Council is conducting its monthly debate on Syria as Secretary-General António Guterres travels to Damascus. • The session occurs amid reports of an Israeli attack in occupied territory and ongoing tensions regarding the US-Iran war. • Members are discussing the development of a multi-national oil pipeline to mitigate the economic risks of closing the critical Strait of Hormuz.

• 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.

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...

• 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.

• 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.

• Investors are monitoring whether AI-driven earnings reports from companies like Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) and ASML will overshadow the upcoming financial results from major banks. • The market is looking to these semiconductor giants for critical clues regarding the current global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. • Market attention is also shifting toward the latest headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which is expected to show a cooling trend in inflation.

• Pennsylvania's voting laws could undergo significant changes if Democrats secure a "trifecta" by winning control of the state Senate, state House, and the governorship in the 2026 midterms. • Current efforts for bipartisan election solutions have stalled, as a legislative advisory board meant to find common ground remains idle. • A Democratic sweep would allow Governor Josh Shapiro and the legislature to bypass current gridlock and prioritize new election policies.

• Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is scheduled to lead a high-level delegation on a crucial visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, in the coming days. • The visit is planned to take place following the funeral proceedings for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. • Diplomatic sources indicate the trip is significant for strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional security concerns between the two neighboring nations.

Exclusive: Pentagon files suggest some new facilities will store nuclear arsenal, with $163m also earmarked for secretive spy baseMore than $4bn (£3bn) is to be spent upgrading the US government’s military and spy bases in the UK, according to official documents that shed light on the UK’s apparent role as a secretive site for American nuclear weapons.The construction plans include building new bunkers in Suffolk, which will seemingly be used to store nuclear weapons, and modernising facilities to help covert units run secret operations. Continue reading...

• A global selloff in US tech and semiconductor stocks has spilled over into the London market, putting pressure on UK AI-linked shares. • Companies such as ARM and Sage are currently in the spotlight as investors react to the volatility in the chip sector. • The downturn reflects growing investor anxiety regarding the sustainability of massive AI spending and overall market sentiment in late June.

Reports claim replacement being lined up for co-founder amid concern over high pay and company’s struggling share priceThe boss of Ocado has collected nearly £100m since the online grocery company floated on the stock market in 2010, despite its share price now languishing below its flotation level, analysis has shown.Tim Steiner, a former Goldman Sachs trader who co-founded the British technology company in 2000, is thought to be in discussions over his future after it emerged Ocado had approached at least one potential replacement. Continue reading...

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) hosted its annual "Summer Davos" conference in China this week, gathering global policymakers and cross-sector experts. • Discussions focused on how breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) can serve as primary drivers for global economic growth. • Speakers highlighted significant headwinds, specifically the risk of widespread job losses and escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding tech integration.

A blooming new wave of musical theatre is exploring the plight of the planet with a playful and hopeful approachEarth is a single woman with a lot to give; Humanity is a charismatic bad boy who turns out to be an inveterate taker. Their toxic relationship is told in Hot Mess, a musical created by Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote, which works both as an eccentric romcom with broad commercial appeal and a serious analogy for our abuse of the once fecund, now depleted planet. A hot ticket at the Edinburgh fringe last summer and now on in London, it is at the vanguard of a newly blooming genre of musicals about the environmental crisis.The RSC’s The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind uses exuberant song and dance for the true story of a teenager who builds a wind turbine from an old bicycle in drought-ridden Malawi. Bryony Kimmings’ Bog Witch is a one-woman show with music and standup about the plight of the planet, while in New York the folk-pop musical Dear Everything was a response to climate emergency co-written by V (formerly Eve Ensler) and narrated by Jane Fonda. Meanwhile, in the West End hit Hadestown, hell is strewn with empty oil drums. Continue reading...

Pupils say LPS Hybrid’s combination of remote and in-person classes has transformed their school experienceTwo years ago, Ellie Ball could barely bring herself to attend school. Today, the 16-year-old is planning to take four A-levels and hopes to study astrolaw – “It’s basically space law,” she explains – at university.The transformation happened largely through a screen. Continue reading...

Autobiographical work Free Me aims to encourage victims to speak out in country where violence against women is risingThere are audible gasps in the auditorium in Nairobi as a husband launches a volley of blows and slaps on his wife and pushes her to the floor. “I wish I could spare you this,” the wife tells the audience. “My husband beat me up as if we were in a bar fight. Except, in a bar someone fights back.”The scene comes from Free Me, an autobiographical play by Gathoni Kimuyu, a Kenyan theatre and TV producer who lived through an abusive marriage. Continue reading...

Other western acts have attempted to crack country’s music scene since singer’s breakout success in 2018One week after announcing she was “cancer free”, the British pop star Jessie J did what any recovering patient would do and travelled thousands of miles around the world to perform for an audience of more than a billion people.On 29 May, the singer-songwriter, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, belted out a stage-rattling rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way on the stage of Singer, a hugely popular Chinese singing competition similar to The Voice. She also performed her new song, California, briefly adapting the lyrics to change California to Changsha, the Chinese city where Singer is hosted. Continue reading...

• TechCrunch has announced a strategic partnership with VivaTech 2026 to identify and spotlight promising European enterprise AI startups. • The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between Paris and San Francisco by providing selected founders with a platform to showcase their innovations. • This initiative matters as it creates a direct pipeline for European AI entrepreneurs to gain visibility and access to the U.S. market.

New film revives story of Taylor Parker, convicted in 2022 of cutting unborn daughter from womb of friend she killedIn an America so often saturated with brutal crime stories, it takes special circumstances to truly register shock.But the story of Taylor Parker, now sitting on a Texas death row after being convicted of murdering her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock in 2020 and cutting her unborn daughter Braxlynn from her womb, is horrific in part because it appears almost against nature itself. Continue reading...

Four-part TV documentary examines the aftermath of Operation Peyzac, where officers posed as music industry figures to gather intelligence on crimeIt was the undercover police operation that led to 37 people being jailed for more than 400 years in total after officers set up a fake recording studio and record shop on a north London housing estate.Now, a four-part television documentary has brought Operation Peyzac back under the spotlight, prompting renewed scrutiny of the tactics used by undercover officers and calls for the operation to be examined by the UK’s ongoing spycops inquiry. Continue reading...

• The US Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new regulations under ERISA to clarify fiduciary duties of prudence regarding the selection of designated investment alternatives. • The proposal establishes a process-based safe harbor for fiduciaries, specifically those incorporating alternative asset exposure, to prioritize decision-making processes over final investment outcomes. • This shift aims to mitigate litigation risks for fiduciaries and encourage the inclusion of diverse asset classes in retirement portfolios.