New Delhi: The World Bank raised India’s FY27 growth forecast to 6.6% from 6.5% estimated in January, citing reduced US tariffs and the anticipated benefits of upcoming free trade agreements. These factors are expected to cushion the impact of weaker external demand stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Economic growth, however, is projected to moderate from 7.7% in FY26 as higher energy prices and rising input costs weigh on private demand. According to the latest Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report of the World Bank, reductions in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates are likely to provide some support to consumer demand.

India is projected to remain among the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is forecast to rise to 7.2% in FY28 and 7% in FY29.

“Growth is then anticipated to rebound over the next two fiscal years, driven by firming domestic demand and a pickup in export growth,” the report said.

The World Bank expects trade agreements and ongoing structural reforms aimed at improving the business environment to bolster foreign direct investment inflows over 2027-28. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly disrupted global energy markets.

Assuming the worst supply disruptions ease by July, the World Bank projects Brent crude oil prices to average $94 per barrel in 2026, about 36% higher than 2025 levels.

The report noted that to ease inflationary pressures arising from higher energy costs and shortages of agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers, India has implemented several measures, including cuts in fuel taxes.

NEW YORK — Ubisoft’s popular tactical shooter Rainbow Six Siege faced connectivity issues for hundreds of players on Thursday, with reports of server problems and login difficulties disrupting gameplay across multiple platforms.

Service monitoring sites and social media saw a spike in complaints, with users unable to join matches, experiencing lag or failing to launch the game entirely. The issues appeared to affect a notable number of players, though Ubisoft had not issued a formal statement on the scope or cause as of midday.

Downdetector and similar tracking platforms recorded elevated reports of server connection problems, game launch failures and in-game disruptions. The timing coincided with ongoing seasonal content and regular player activity, amplifying frustration among the dedicated community.

Player Reports and Impact

Players took to social media and forums to share experiences, with many expressing disappointment over interrupted ranked matches and lost progress. The tactical nature of Rainbow Six Siege makes stable connections critical, and even brief outages can significantly affect competitive play and enjoyment.

Some users reported the problems persisting for several hours, while others noted intermittent access. The global player base, spanning North America, Europe and other regions, appeared to encounter varying degrees of disruption, suggesting a widespread but not universal issue.

Ubisoft’s official service status page showed no major outages at the time of peak complaints, but community feedback indicated real-world problems for a significant subset of users. This discrepancy between official status and player experience is common during partial or rolling disruptions.

Ubisoft Response and Technical Context

Ubisoft has a track record of addressing server issues promptly, often through maintenance windows or hotfixes. The company typically communicates via its Rainbow Six Siege social channels and status dashboard when problems arise.

Rainbow Six Siege, now in its 11th year, continues to maintain a large and active player base thanks to regular seasonal updates, operator reworks and competitive esports scene. The game’s demanding server requirements for precise hit registration and tactical gameplay make it particularly sensitive to connectivity fluctuations.

Possible causes for the outage include high concurrent player loads during peak hours, backend maintenance, or unexpected technical glitches. Ubisoft has not confirmed the root cause, but past incidents have often been resolved through capacity adjustments or software patches.

Community and Competitive Impact

The Rainbow Six Siege community is known for its passion and engagement. Outages often spark lively discussions on Reddit, X and Discord, with players sharing workarounds and venting frustrations. Competitive players and streamers were among those affected, potentially disrupting scheduled matches and content creation.

The game’s ranked mode, in particular, relies on stable connections for fair matchmaking and accurate skill rating. Disruptions can lead to frustration and temporary drops in player satisfaction, though Ubisoft has historically worked to restore service quickly and compensate affected users when appropriate.

Broader Context for Online Gaming

Online multiplayer games frequently experience outages as player bases grow and infrastructure scales. Major titles from Ubisoft, EA, Activision and others have faced similar issues, highlighting the challenges of maintaining global server stability for millions of concurrent users.

The rise of live-service models has increased reliance on always-on connectivity, making reliable servers essential for player retention. Companies invest heavily in infrastructure, but unexpected spikes in demand or technical anomalies can still cause disruptions.

Rainbow Six Siege’s longevity and dedicated fanbase demonstrate the strength of its core gameplay loop, but consistent service quality remains key to sustaining long-term engagement. Ubisoft’s ongoing seasonal content strategy helps keep the game fresh, but technical reliability is equally important.

What Players Can Do

Affected users are advised to check Ubisoft’s official status page, restart their devices and routers, and verify internet connections. Clearing cache, updating the game client or trying different platforms (PC, console) can sometimes resolve individual issues.

For persistent problems, contacting Ubisoft support or monitoring community forums for official updates is recommended. Players should avoid using third-party tools or workarounds that violate terms of service, as these can risk account penalties.

Looking Ahead

As Ubisoft works to resolve the issues, players can expect communication through official channels. Historical patterns suggest most outages are resolved within a few hours, though complex problems can take longer.

The incident serves as a reminder of the infrastructure demands of modern online gaming. For Rainbow Six Siege, maintaining a stable experience is crucial to its continued success as one of Ubisoft’s flagship titles.

Fans remain hopeful for a quick resolution so they can return to the game’s intense tactical gameplay. The community’s resilience and passion for the title have helped it thrive for over a decade, and swift action from Ubisoft will be key to preserving goodwill during this disruption.

The Rainbow Six Siege outage on June 11 affected hundreds of players globally, highlighting the challenges of operating large-scale multiplayer services. As the company addresses the technical issues, players are encouraged to stay informed through official sources and prepare for potential compensation or extended maintenance if needed. The game’s dedicated fanbase will be watching closely for a return to normal operations.

Chinese brands are rapidly expanding across Southeast Asia beyond electronics and EVs into beauty, food, and appliances. With $587 billion in exports in 2024, brands like BYD, Mixue, and Haier are succeeding through localization, innovation, and partnerships across the region’s 650 million consumers.

Key Points

• Chinese consumer brands are rapidly expanding across Southeast Asia beyond electronics and EVs into beauty, food service, and home appliances, with China’s exports to the region reaching $587 billion in 2024, up 12% year-on-year.

• Brands like BYD, Haier, and Mixue are dominating markets, with Chinese smartphone share exceeding 60% and beauty brands achieving 115% CAGR from 2019–2024.

• Deep localisation, product innovation, local partnerships, and cultural adaptation are key strategies driving sustainable long-term growth across the 650-million-person region.

Chinese Brands Surge Across Southeast Asia

Chinese consumer brands are rapidly expanding across Southeast Asia, moving well beyond their traditional strongholds in electronics and electric vehicles. According to Euromonitor International’s Rise of Chinese Brands in Southeast Asia report, the six key ASEAN economies account for 95% of the region’s $4 trillion GDP. In 2024, China’s exports to Southeast Asia reached $587 billion, representing a 12% year-on-year increase. With over 650 million people, 63% under 40, Southeast Asia offers an ideal environment driven by e-commerce growth, rising disposable incomes, and accelerating urbanisation.

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Dominance in Established and Emerging Sectors

Chinese brands have long led in EVs, smartphones, and home appliances. BYD now ranks as the top car brand in Singapore, surpassing Toyota, while Chinese smartphone brands command over 60% market share, up from 21% in 2014. Chinese companies are also penetrating previously difficult sectors. Beauty brands achieved a 115% CAGR between 2019 and 2024, while food and beverage chains like Mixue, Luckin Coffee, and Chagee are expanding aggressively. Mixue’s overseas outlets grew 80% between 2019 and 2024, reaching over 4,000 international stores by April 2026.

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Localisation as the Foundation for Long-Term Growth

Deep localisation is increasingly recognised as the defining factor behind Chinese brands’ sustained success in Southeast Asia, surpassing simple price competitiveness. Many companies register as local entities, adapt products for tropical climates, and hire local teams for marketing and livestreaming. Strategic partnerships further strengthen market presence — Eastroc Beverage’s $200 million joint venture with Indonesia’s Salim Group exemplifies this approach. Euromonitor emphasises that Chinese companies must transition from exporters to long-term ecosystem participants, embedding within local value chains and building community trust through local manufacturing and customer engagement to ensure lasting growth.

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Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (ELVN) Discusses Updated Phase 1 ENABLE Trial Data for ELVN-001 in Previously Treated Chronic Myeloid Leukemia June 11, 2026 8:30 AM EDT

Company Participants

Richard Fair – CEO, President & Director
Damiette Smit
Helen Collins – Chief Medical Officer

Conference Call Participants

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Dennis Kim

Presentation

Operator

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Welcome to the Enliven Therapeutics June 2026 Clinical Data Update. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to Rick Fair, CEO of Enliven Therapeutics.

Richard Fair
CEO, President & Director

Greetings from EHA in Stockholm. Thank you all for joining us today. With me from Enliven are Helen Collins, our Chief Medical Officer; and Damiette Smit, our Vice President of Early Clinical Development. We’re also honored to be joined by Dr. Dennis Kim, Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto. Dr. Kim will join us later in the call for Q&A.

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On today’s call, we will be making forward-looking statements. These statements have risks. We encourage you to review our SEC filings for more information. Today, we are thrilled to provide important updates on our lead program, ELVN-001. We will provide an overview of the ELVN-001 opportunity and share exciting new clinical data from the ENABLE Phase I study that will be presented by Dr. Kim later today at the European Hematology Association meeting.

We will also provide an update on recent FDA interactions and next steps for the program. At the end of the call, we will open it up to the audience for a live Q&A. So please submit your questions any time during the call. Today’s data and regulatory updates reinforce our conviction that ELVN-001 has the potential to be the best-in-class tyrosine kinase inhibitor in CML.

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Council commits £1m to make case for scheme to boost city region growth

Manchester City Council is committing £1m to make the ‘urgent’ case for a new underground station at Manchester Piccadilly.

A report discussed by town hall bosses on Wednesday, June 10, called for ‘certainty’ over the plans for a subterranean station to help easy train queues at one of the busiest stations in the North. The document revealed that a loose consensus already exists between the Mayor of Greater Manchester and His Majesty’s Government, agreeing the underground platform ‘could be a catalyst and enabler for major regeneration and economic growth for Greater Manchester and the wider North’.

But now town hall boss Bev Craig says the council is determined to prove the case, with £1m set aside from business rates growth reserves to employ more staff to carry out financial modelling and tests.

Addressing her executive team slightly tongue-in-cheek, council leader Bev Craig said: “You just have to go across Europe and the world to see – it’s not beyond the realms of man to put a train station underground. Even if you go to London, it’s entirely common and reasonable to expect to travel underground.

“Previous governments have made What we’ve tried to create from the ashes of HS2 is a reworked Northern Powerhouse Rail, that for the first time in its history has actually committed some proper money to get stuff done.”

The decision comes less than a month after the King’s speech revealed the government would be committing up to £45bn to Northern Powerhouse Rail, a major overhaul of rail infrastructure in the north. This includes plans for a new rail line between Liverpool and Manchester.

At the time, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham hinted there was an ‘openness’ at Whitehall to an underground station which could transform Piccadilly into ‘the King’s Cross of the North.’

The previous HS2 proposals from the government to solve congestion at Piccadilly included what coun Craig described as ‘big, big stilts across the city centre, ripping up communities in Ardwick and surrounding areas’. Now the Manchester boss claims the town hall has the government’s ear on the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, with plans to ‘sit down and discuss how to increase growth and improve transport in the North West‘.

“Our pitch to successive governments has been really quite straight-forward,” Coun Craig said. “There have been levels of economic growth in this city region that have not been seen anywhere else in the UK. But we know there’ll come a point when our trains and transport infrastructure will hold us back. Anyone who has been stuck in the queue of trains trying to get through platform 14 may as well be sat in the queue of cars driving on the road beneath you. That’s no way to run a modern transport system.”

She added: “The reality is that sometimes you’ve got to make the decision to do harder things for the long-term to make things better in 2050, and this is a classic example where Manchester is asking for that.”

The report approved by the cabinet will see more members of staff hired as part of the City Centre Growth and Infrastructure team. Transport for Greater Manchester will commission several pieces of analysis, which will be put together in a ‘Green Book evidential case’ to persuade the government the long-term benefits will outweigh the financial cost.

Costs for an underground station during the HS2 projects were estimated to cost around £12.3bn.

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

NEW YORK — Investors comparing Intel and Nvidia stocks in 2026 encounter two distinct paths in the semiconductor sector, with Nvidia maintaining dominance in artificial intelligence accelerators while Intel pursues a multi-year turnaround in foundry services and diversified chip production.

Both companies have posted strong results amid the AI boom, but differences in business models, market positioning and valuation create separate risk-reward profiles. Nvidia benefits from overwhelming market share in high-end GPUs, while Intel offers exposure to a broader portfolio and domestic manufacturing ambitions supported by government funding.

Performance and Valuation Snapshot

As of mid-June 2026, Nvidia shares have continued their strong run, driven by data center revenue exceeding expectations and robust demand for Blackwell and future architectures. The company’s CUDA software ecosystem and high margins have supported premium valuations, though some analysts caution that expectations are already high.

Intel has shown signs of stabilization, with improving data center trends and progress on its foundry roadmap. The stock trades at a lower multiple than Nvidia, reflecting execution risks but also offering potential upside if turnaround efforts gain traction. Government support through the CHIPS Act has provided tailwinds for Intel’s U.S. manufacturing expansion.

Nvidia’s AI Leadership

Nvidia remains the clear leader in AI training and inference hardware, with estimates suggesting it holds 80-90% market share in high-end accelerators. Explosive growth in data center revenue has been the primary driver, with customers including hyperscalers and enterprises building out AI infrastructure at scale.

The company’s full-stack approach — combining hardware, software and networking — creates significant competitive moats. Analysts frequently cite Nvidia as the best-positioned pure-play AI stock, though its elevated valuation leaves less margin for error if growth moderates or competition intensifies.

Recent product launches and strong backlog visibility have reinforced confidence, but supply constraints and customer diversification efforts by major clients remain watchpoints.

Intel’s Turnaround Strategy

Intel is executing a broad recovery plan under CEO Pat Gelsinger, focusing on process technology leadership, foundry services and product innovation. The company has secured major funding through the CHIPS Act and announced customer wins for custom chips, including partnerships with Microsoft and others.

While trailing in the high-end AI GPU market, Intel is gaining traction in CPUs, inference accelerators and certain enterprise segments. Its diversified business — spanning client computing, data center, foundry and other areas — provides buffers against sector-specific downturns but also requires successful execution across multiple fronts.

Progress on 18A and future process nodes is critical, as is the ability to attract external foundry customers and improve profitability.

AI Market Dynamics and Capital Spending

The AI chip market continues expanding rapidly, with both companies benefiting from hyperscaler investments. Nvidia captures the majority of high-end training demand, while Intel positions itself for inference, CPUs and custom silicon opportunities.

Capital expenditure across the sector remains elevated as companies build out infrastructure. Nvidia’s vertical integration and software advantages give it an edge in immediate monetization, while Intel’s foundry ambitions aim for longer-term structural benefits supported by U.S. policy.

Risks and Considerations

Nvidia faces risks from potential AI spending slowdowns, increased competition and high valuation multiples. Supply chain concentration and customer efforts to diversify suppliers could pressure margins over time.

Intel contends with execution risks on its technology roadmap, historical market share losses and heavy capital requirements. Geopolitical tensions, regulatory scrutiny and cyclical memory pricing add layers of complexity for both companies.

Analyst Consensus and Price Targets

Wall Street maintains positive outlooks on both names, though Nvidia receives more unanimous Buy ratings due to its clear leadership position. Price targets for Nvidia reflect substantial upside potential tied to AI growth, while Intel targets incorporate successful turnaround scenarios.

Some analysts favor Nvidia for near-term momentum and market dominance, while others highlight Intel’s relative value and potential re-rating if foundry and process goals are met. Longer-term forecasts depend heavily on AI adoption rates and competitive differentiation.

Investment Framework for 2026

Nvidia suits investors seeking exposure to the leading AI infrastructure player with proven execution and high growth visibility. Intel appeals to those comfortable with higher execution risk in exchange for potentially attractive valuations and diversified semiconductor exposure.

A blended approach across both companies can capture varied aspects of the AI value chain while spreading risks. Dollar-cost averaging and regular portfolio reviews help navigate volatility inherent in the semiconductor sector.

Fundamental analysis — including revenue growth, margins, competitive moats and capital allocation — should guide decisions. Neither company is without challenges, but each possesses significant resources and strategic importance in the evolving technology landscape.

Broader Semiconductor Outlook

The semiconductor industry remains one of the strongest performing areas of the market, powered by AI, data center expansion and digital transformation. While Nvidia has captured much of the spotlight, Intel’s role as a key domestic manufacturer and broad technology portfolio gives it unique strategic relevance.

Trade policies, export controls and supply chain resilience continue influencing sector dynamics. Both companies are investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing capacity, aligning with national priorities for technology independence.

Conclusion and Investor Guidance

As 2026 progresses, Nvidia’s market leadership and Intel’s turnaround efforts will provide contrasting but complementary opportunities in the AI-driven semiconductor boom. Investors should align choices with their risk tolerance, time horizon and views on the pace of AI infrastructure buildout.

The sector’s long-term growth prospects remain robust, supported by secular trends in computing, automation and energy efficiency. However, near-term volatility around earnings, guidance and macroeconomic data is expected to continue.

Thorough due diligence and consideration of overall portfolio construction remain essential. While both companies are well-positioned in important technology areas, individual results will depend on execution and market conditions in the months ahead.

Market participants will parse quarterly updates and strategic announcements closely for signals of differentiation and sustained momentum. For now, the comparison between Intel and Nvidia highlights the diverse ways investors can participate in the ongoing transformation of computing and artificial intelligence.