- The Canadian Press
India begins counting votes in marathon election expected to bring Prime Minister Modi a third term
NEW DELHI (AP) — India began counting more than 640 million votes Tuesday in the world’s largest democratic exercise, which was widely expected to return Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a third term after a decade in power.
- Reuters
UBS lifts MSCI AC World index's end-2024 forecast to 830
The brokerage's current forecast gives a 6% 'upside' potential by the end of the year for the benchmark index, which is used to gauge the broader global equity market performance. Expectations of monetary policy easing by major central banks, weaker global economic data and euphoria around AI has supported global equities this year. On the AI front, UBS added, "If GenAI pushes up productivity growth by 1% from 2028, then the equity risk premium is 4.7%."
- Reuters
Myanmar junta arrests dozens in bid to stabilise currency
State media said these include five people charged with illegally selling condominium units in Thailand and 14 people arrested for allegedly destabilising the foreign currency exchange rate. The kyat currency hit a record low last week, plummeting to around 4,500 per dollar on the black market, according to five foreign exchange traders. Black market rates for the kyat have for years been significantly higher than the reference rate of Myanmar's central bank, currently set at 2,100 kyat per do
- The Canadian Press
Silence and heavy state security in China on anniversary of Tiananmen crackdown
BEIJING, China (AP) — Checkpoints and rows of police vehicles lined a major road leading to Beijing's Tiananmen Square as China heightened security on the 35th anniversary of a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests. China has long quashed any memory of the killings, when the Chinese government ordered in the army to end the months-long protests and uphold Communist rule. An estimated 180,000 troops and armed police rolled in with tanks and armored vehicles, and fired into crowds as they pus
- The Independent
Artificial cornea makes 91-year-old an NHS first for sight-saving surgery
‘I can still see my wife after 63 years of marriage,’ says patient Cecil Farley
- Reuters
Analysis-China sees property silver lining but can't shake Japan comparisons
A plunge in China's new housing construction is fuelling hopes the battered property sector is finally coming to terms with chronic oversupply, but a clean-up of bad assets is the missing policy piece that keeps Japan-like stagnation fears alive. This could indicate, analysts say, that home building activity may find a bottom within a year or so, removing some of the weight China's real estate troubles are placing on economic growth. "It's reasonable to expect that construction will stabilise
- BBC
Customers to get new supply of ‘sustainable water'
Affinity Water says the taste might vary in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.