11:11 | Swiss talks shelved, Telegram ban stays, Pentagon seeks $80 billion war bill

Good morning!

A key next step in the US-Iran peace process has hit a pause after Switzerland confirmed that Friday's implementation talks are off for now. In Washington, the Pentagon is reportedly seeking $80 billion to cover the cost of the war in what seems like an urgent funding need.

Back home, the Delhi High Court has rejected Telegram's challenge to the Centre's temporary ban

On the markets front, IT stocks are under pressure after Accenture's results, and Cult.fit is back on the IPO track. Here

are top updates of the day so far.

The Day Ahead

Reliance AGM at 2 pm: Investors will closely watch the annual general meeting of Reliance Industries for updates on the much-anticipated listing of Jio Platforms. The Street will also be looking for fresh commentary on Reliance's new energy business, which is expected to see a significant ramp-up in solar and battery manufacturing over the next year, as well as broader growth plans from Chairman Mukesh Ambani. CNBC-TV18 will bring you all the key announcements and takeaways from the AGM.

US-Iran War Live Updates: Swiss confirms Friday talks shelved; Pentagon seeks $80 billion to foot war bill

Talks scheduled for Friday to begin implementing interim US-Iran deal remains called off for now, Swiss Foreign Ministry has confirmed hours after the White House announced that JD Vance has postponed his trip to Switzerland. The meeting was to take place at the Burgenstock resort and was expected to bring together US and Iranian negotiators along with officials from mediator countries.

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Gold moves towards third weekly decline as US Fed rate hikes loom

Gold prices are on track for a third weekly decline as the completion of an interim peace agreement between the US and Iran was offset by hawkish Federal Reserve and rate-hike predictions. After down 1.1% on Thursday, bullion dropped below $4,200 an ounce in early trading.

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Delhi HC upholds Telegram ban, rejects plea against govt's order

The Delhi High Court on Friday, June 19, rejected Telegram's plea challenging the government's decision to temporarily block the messaging platform till June 22.

Telegram has found itself in the midst of the NEET-UG paper leak controversy that angered thousands of Indian youth. The government earlier this week placed a temporary ban, alleging students and middlemen used the app to leak questions from the nationwide entrance exam for aspiring medical students.

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Rain deficit could hurt sugar output, but ethanol story keeps sector attractive: Elara Securities

The delayed and deficient rainfall in June could weigh on India's sugar sector if the situation persists, according to Prashant Biyani, Vice President-Institutional Equity at Elara Securities. Biyani said Maharashtra and Karnataka are the most vulnerable states during years of weak monsoon and El Niño conditions.

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Indian Rupee opens flat at 94.35 against US dollar

The Indian rupee opened largely flat against the US dollar today (June 19). The Indian currency started the day at 94.35/$, against Thursday’s close of 94.33/$. This comes as the domestic currency has gained around 1.2% over the last six trading sessions as easing oil prices improved sentiment towards India.

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Analysts pick Siemens Energy, Olectra Greentech, GE Vernova and Ambuja Cements as top trading bets

Market tech analysts Mitessh Thakkar and Sudeep Shah have recommended a mix of buy and sell trading opportunities across various sectors based on technical and derivative indicators.

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Zomato-backed Cult.fit revives shelved IPO, eyes up to ₹4,000 crore: Sources

Cult.fit is now looking to raise between ₹3,500 crore and ₹4,000 crore through the issue. The IPO is expected to be a mix of a fresh issue and an offer for sale (OFS) by early investors. The company will soon file its DRHP, people familiar with the matter added.

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Explained - Why Infosys, TCS, HCLTech and other IT stocks fell up to 8% after Accenture results

Shares of Indian IT companies, Infosys Ltd., TCS Ltd., Wipro Ltd., HCLTech Ltd., and others fell up to 8% in early trades on Friday, June 19, as they will all react to results reported by consulting firm Accenture on Thursday, which triggered a sharp sell-off not just in the stock, but also in shares of its peer companies overnight.

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Watch | Mumbai BEST workers protest over salary hike, pending dues and merger demand

BEST employees staged a large-scale protest across 27 Mumbai depots, demanding salary hikes, pending dues and a merger with the BMC budget, while opposing the proposed PPP model for depots.

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Foreign travel rules change in Rajasthan border districts; tourist spots stay exempt

The Centre has amended the Immigration and Foreigners Order, 2025, updating the list of protected areas in Rajasthan where foreign nationals may require special authorisation to travel or stay. The Ministry of Home Affairs on June 18, updated the schedule of protected areas across border districts of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Barmer, Phalodi, and Jalore.

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Macron bids Modi farewell in Hindi, calls India-France friendship 'amar rahe'

French President Emmanuel Macron gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi an unexpected send-off in Hindi at the close of the Indian leader's visit to France. In a video message on X, Macron said, "Priya mitra Narendra, mujhe bahut khushi hai, daure ke liye swagat karte, France Bharat ki dosti amar rahe."

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