Urge

• Apple stock has surged to new 52-week highs, with share prices reaching near $320. • The rally is primarily driven by the company's strategic focus on custom AI chip deals and significant growth in its services sector. • This historic valuation reflects strong investor confidence in Apple's ability to integrate artificial intelligence into its ecosystem to drive future revenue.

• Global oil prices surged over 4% and Asian stock markets declined following fresh military strikes between the US and Iran. • The escalation has reignited critical concerns regarding the security of the Strait of Hormuz, global inflation, and overall economic stability. • Market volatility hit the tech sector hard, with Samsung Electronics dropping over 6% and Japanese chip equipment makers Advantest and Tokyo Electron each losing more than 1%.

• An expert panel has recommended that the European Union implement restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 13. • The European Commission is expected to follow these recommendations by presenting a formal legislative proposal within the coming months. • This move aims to protect young children from the potential risks associated with social media platforms across EU member states.

• The BSE Sensex plummeted 670 points and the Nifty fell below 24,015, driven by rising crude oil prices and escalating tensions between the US and Iran. • This domestic downturn mirrored a broader Asian market crash, with Japan's Nikkei 225 dropping 1,237.73 points (1.81%) and South Korea's KOSPI sliding 7.25%. • Despite the geopolitical instability in the Persian Gulf, analysts remain positive on Indian markets due to strong domestic flows and improving corporate earnings.

• The United States and Iran experienced a significant escalation in conflict on Monday following a new wave of U.S. strikes against Iranian targets. • In response, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks targeting American-linked military facilities located across several Gulf countries. • The confrontation centers on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint for oil shipments.

• Barisan Nasional (BN) achieved a landslide victory in Johor, effectively erasing gains made by Pakatan Harapan (PH) as voters converged behind the coalition. • The surge was driven by voter perceptions of stability and visible development under the leadership of Onn Hafiz, turning the election into a referendum on his performance. • PH struggled to disrupt BN's momentum, as investment announcements and a sense of regional progress became politically dominant themes.

• A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is urging federal agencies to coordinate efforts to protect election integrity against threats posed by artificial intelligence. • The lawmakers are specifically concerned about AI-driven misinformation, such as chatbots providing voters with inaccurate information during the election cycle. • AI companies have acknowledged the limitations of voluntary safeguards in addressing political bias and are focusing on neutrality-by-design and citation transparency.