Driving

• Chinese artificial intelligence and semiconductor companies are spearheading a rebound in onshore initial public offerings (IPOs). • Ho-Yin Lee, Citigroup's Asia-Pacific co-head of technology and communications, notes that mainland listings allow companies to access a deeper pool of domestic capital. • This shift is significant as it enables firms previously traded in Hong Kong to reach a broader investor base and enhance their domestic branding.

Russian president says Ukraine’s attacks on infrastructure are causing ‘obvious’ but not critical problemsThe Russian president, Vladimir Putin, acknowledged that the country was suffering from “a certain shortage” of fuel in an interview published by the Kremlin on Sunday, after repeated Ukrainian strikes in their four-year war.Kyiv calls the attacks fair retribution for Russia’s near-daily barrages on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure since its February 2022 offensive. Continue reading...

• Dalal Street investors are monitoring a combination of domestic economic indicators and global geopolitical developments as the new trading week begins. • Market sentiment is expected to be driven by the fallout from recent military exchanges between the US and Iran, alongside fluctuating crude oil prices. • Analysts suggest that the overall direction of the stock market will depend heavily on how Middle East tensions evolve and their subsequent impact on energy costs.

• European markets in 2026 are being shaped by rising inflation and strategic interest rate adjustments by the European Central Bank (ECB). • Analysis focuses on sector performance and the identification of top-performing funds via the Wealth Shortlist to navigate these economic shifts. • One highlighted fund is currently yielding 3.83%, though it has struggled to keep pace with rapidly rising, economically sensitive sectors.

• J-pop streaming in South Korea has surged by 30%, fueled by a rising demand for Japanese artists, anime soundtracks, and live concert experiences. • Yusuke Nakagawa of Aobisystem notes that direct exposure on Korean music shows, such as appearances by Cutie Street, triggers immediate global interest, including growth in markets like India. • This trend signifies a shift in the music industry where traditional cultural and geographic boundaries dividing East Asian markets are increasingly dissolving.

As datacenters’ connections to electric grids are held up, big tech is forced to throw money at producing its own powerDatacenters are driving unprecedented growth in the US clean energy industry, paradoxically boosting a sector that was sputtering before the artificial intelligence boom even as AI’s rollout creates immense environmental challenges.However, observers caution that while the centers are propelling wind, solar, and other clean energy companies, datacenters remain a climate nightmare. Continue reading...

Progressive Jewish group calls for more focus on the threat from the far right and the recognition of a diversity of views within the communityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFar-right extremism and the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel are the main drivers of antisemitism in Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) says.In its submission to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, the liberal Jewish group calls for more focus on the “often overlooked” threat from the far right, and recognition of the diversity of views within the Jewish community instead of the “tendency to treat Jews collectively as representatives of Israel”. Continue reading...

Flatlining figure confounds forecasts of an increase to 3% as Bank of England prepares to set interest ratesUK inflation unexpectedly remained at 2.8% last month despite the Middle East war driving up energy prices, official figures have shown.May’s annual price rise reading recorded by the Office for National Statistics confounded economists’ forecasts of a rise to 3%. Continue reading...

Fired journalist accuses CBS News chief of interfering with report because it echoed what Trump said of the shootingFired CBS 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley has accused editorial management at his old network of interfering with a broadcast segment looking at an immigration officer’s killing of Minneapolis protester Renee Good in January.The veteran broadcaster, who was recently dismissed from the show, said CBS News’s editor-in-chief Bari Weiss had sent an email to his supervisor requesting changes be made soon before the airing of the segment in question. Continue reading...

• The 2026 stock market is being primarily shaped by the Trump administration's policies, specifically focusing on tariffs, tax cuts, and oil prices. • Market performance is driven by a combination of corporate earnings, inflation rates, interest rates, and overall economic growth. • This environment highlights the importance for investors to focus on broad economic trends rather than reacting to isolated short-term events like single policy shifts or war headlines.

• South Korea experienced a significant tourism boom in April, with Seoul alone welcoming over 1.5 million foreign visitors. • China emerged as the primary driver of this surge, leading other major contributing markets including the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. • The influx of tourists resulted in a massive economic boost, with total visitor spending soaring to 1.15 trillion won.

Centrepoint warns young people facing ‘huge scarcity of work opportunities’ after Alan Milburn’s report on crisisThe growing number of young people not in work or education is driving more into unstable housing or homelessness, charities have warned.A government-commissioned review into the crisis facing young people in the UK said there could be a 25% rise in young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) to 1.25 million by the early 2030s without intervention. Continue reading...

• Europe is experiencing a significant boom in digital entertainment, specifically across the gaming, streaming, and esports sectors. • The growth is supported by robust regulatory frameworks, including the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), as well as specific licenses in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. • These regulations and infrastructure improvements are critical because they establish a baseline of consumer protection and higher quality standards for players.

Musician says ‘we’ve lost that direction for our energy’ as his play The Last Ship returns to West EndThe fact many men no longer use their hands and physicality on a daily basis may be driving some of the toxic traits in modern masculinity, according to Sting.The singer, who on Wednesday announced that his musical about the last days of a shipyard was coming to the West End this autumn, told the Guardian that one of the byproducts of deindustrialisation was the loss of physical productivity for men.The Last Ship will be at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 22 Sep to 3 Oct. Tickets go on sale from midday on 28 May. Continue reading...

• On May 21, 2026, DoubleRock Managing Partner Suraj Rajwani identified the primary innovation trends currently driving Silicon Valley's venture capital landscape. • The analysis highlights a strategic shift in investor priorities toward AI infrastructure, cybersecurity resilience, and advanced healthcare technology. • This pivot reflects DoubleRock's expanded focus on integrating AI with health-tech to address critical systemic vulnerabilities and improve delivery.

• Asia has emerged as the new center of the global AI boom, surpassing Silicon Valley, fueled by surging demand for AI chips that propelled Asian tech stocks higher. • The AI-driven rally boosted South Korea's Kospi to a fresh record close of 7,981.41, up 1.8%, supported by technology shares amid robust corporate results in Japan. • Investors monitored U.S. approvals for around 10 Chinese firms, including Alibaba and Tencent, to purchase Nvidia AI chips, highlighted during Trump’s China visit with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Farrer win casts shadow over budget as government signals it’s alive to populist rightwing threat Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation has cast a shadow over the federal budget and influenced decisions to reform negative gearing and taxes, with Jim Chalmers admitting many Australians are feeling economic anxieties that are “driving them to consider” rightwing populist parties.The treasurer and Anthony Albanese have conceded that many people are locked out of the housing market and that the problem is getting worse, not better, under Labor. With Pauline Hanson’s party winning a historic byelection in Farrer – its first lower house seat win in its 30-year history – the government was alive to the threat of a populist wave of grievance similar to those in the United States, Britain and Europe. Continue reading...

Report using research from senior Blair and Clinton pollster comes as Labour braces for dismal election resultsMay elections: What’s at stake across England, Wales and Scotland?UK politics live – latest updatesProgressive voters have been driven away from Labour by a lack of argument and vision from Keir Starmer, according to a report using research from a senior pollster to Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.Downing Street is understood to have been briefed on the research, which has also been handed to allies of the potential leadership candidates Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner. Continue reading...

Jonathan Rinderknecht’s attorneys say he’s being used as scapegoat for Los Angeles fire department’s failure to fully extinguish earlier blazeSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe man accused of sparking the deadly Palisades fire in Los Angeles was upset over a failed relationship and his lack of plans for New Year’s Eve – and he ranted about being angry at the world before the initial blaze was ignited, according to court documents filed by prosecutors.Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. It began on 7 January 2025 in the hillside neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu and killed 12 people. Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started a fire on 1 January that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up a week later. Continue reading...

Pop star did not appear in court after being arrested in March for allegedly driving erraticallyBritney Spears pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of reckless driving in the driving under the influence case against her, sparing the 44-year-old from any jail time.The pop star, who had been accused of driving while under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, did not appear in court in Ventura county. Because she faced a misdemeanor, she was not required to attend proceedings. Continue reading...

Exclusive: amid unrest, President William Ruto promised to give all Kenyans access to healthcare. But the algorithm favours the rich, an investigation has found An AI system used to predict how much Kenyans can afford to pay for access to healthcare, has systemically driven up costs for the poor, an investigation has found.The healthcare system being rolled out across the country, a key electoral promise of President William Ruto, was launched in October 2024 and intended to replace Kenya’s decades-old national insurance system. Continue reading...

Pop star was arrested in March after she was pulled over for driving erratically on US 101 in CaliforniaSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxBritney Spears was charged in California on Thursday with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, authorities said.The 44-year-old pop star was charged with a single misdemeanor count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, the Ventura county district attorney’s office said. Continue reading...

• Stocks surged following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid a 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and President Donald Trump's blockade measures, signaling reduced energy supply constraints. • The market reaction reflects investor optimism over improved shipping lanes and normalized energy flows, with financial commentators attributing the gains to Trump's diplomatic efforts. • The reopening of this critical global shipping chokepoint addresses a major source of market volatility tied to Middle East tensions.

Conflict is pushing up price of energy and food, fuelling higher borrowing costs and hitting growth, report saysIran war escalation could trigger global recession, IMF warnsBusiness live – latest updatesThe Iran war risks triggering a rise in global debt levels, forcing governments to choose between cushioning a cost of living shock and maintaining sound public finances, the International Monetary Fund has warned.Against a volatile backdrop of the Middle East conflict, the Washington-based fund said the war could add to the already strained position of government finances throughout the world. Continue reading...

UK motoring group fined £4.2m for not showing full price of lessons at time of bookingThe AA has been fined £4.2m and ordered to make payments to more than 80,000 learner drivers for not showing the full price of lessons at the time of booking, an illegal practice known as “drip pricing”.The UK competition watchdog, which launched an investigation into the practices employed by the AA Driving School and BSM Driving School last year, said that the AA-owned businesses must repay more than £760,000 as a result. Continue reading...

• Tesla shares rose 7.2% Thursday after the company announced successful deployment of advanced autonomous driving features in two additional states, bringing the full self-driving beta program to 15 states nationwide. • Multiple Wall Street analysts upgraded Tesla's stock, raising average price targets by 12-15%, citing accelerated path to profitability and potential for robotaxi revenue streams beginning in late 2026. • The autonomous driving announcement offset broader semiconductor sector weakness, with Tesla demonstrating differentiation from legacy automakers lacking comparable self-driving capabilities.