Focus

• Manu Kapur of the Singapore-ETH Centre argues that Singapore must look beyond immediate productivity gains from AI to focus on how the technology is learned and adopted. • Kapur proposes a "learning track" where businesses create environments that prevent employees from outsourcing their critical thinking to AI tools. • This approach requires staff to actively experiment with solutions, critique AI-generated outputs, and conduct post-mortems on failures to build internal playbooks.

• China is expanding its mediatory diplomacy to address intensifying international conflicts and a weakening global order. • The strategy consists of three reinforcing components: multi-level peace-brokering roles, the Global Security Initiative (GSI) conceptual framework, and the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). • This structured approach matters as China seeks to position itself as a primary global peacemaker and alternative to traditional Western-led security architectures.

• A global sell-off in technology stocks continues to rattle markets, with the decline spreading through Asia and Europe on Tuesday. • The volatility has extended to precious metals as investors reassess the potential trajectory of interest rates. • MSCI has maintained South Korea's status as an emerging market, stalling the country's efforts to be recognized as a developed market.

Inquiry will compel individuals and institutions to explain what they did or did not do to protect children from sexual abuseLondon, Oldham, Bradford and Keighley will be the first towns and cities investigated by an independent grooming gangs inquiry, it was announced on Wednesday.The independent inquiry into grooming gangs has confirmed that its three-part hearings will investigate Whitehall departments and politicians alongside local councils, the NHS and national police institutions. Continue reading...

• AI-driven demand is significantly reshaping the global semiconductor industry, leading to major shifts in market valuations. • SK Hynix has officially overtaken Samsung Electronics to become the most valuable company in South Korea. • This shift highlights the growing dominance of high-bandwidth memory and AI hardware over traditional consumer electronics.

• The Munich Industry Days will return with a specific focus on the five Nordic countries, featuring the fifth edition of the CineCoPro Conference from June 30 to July 2. • The event will host 25 emerging producers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden to foster regional partnerships and professional growth. • This iteration marks the launch of First Cut+ Munich, a new initiative designed to support and integrate fresh talent into the industry.

Norway is supposedly one of world’s most gender-equal countries, yet sexual violence remains prevalent across societyIn many ways, the case of Marius Borg Høiby, who was sentenced to four years in prison last week after being found guilty of offences including domestic violence and two counts of rape, was exceptional.The king’s 29-year-old step-grandson grew up in the public eye alongside the royal family, mixing in Oslo’s wealthiest circles, partying at exclusive nightclubs and having afterparties at his family’s official royal residence. Continue reading...

• The Sensex and Nifty are expected to open with a sharp gap-down on Friday after the GIFT Nifty dropped 200 points. • This downward trend follows a strong five-session market rally, suggesting that investors are engaging in profit booking despite positive cues from US and Asian markets. • Market sentiment remains cautious as domestic traders focus on Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) flows to determine the next direction.

• Asian stocks declined, with the MSCI regional equities gauge down 0.1% and South Korea’s Kospi dropping 0.6%, following a tech sell-off on Wall Street. • The downturn was driven by a pullback in semiconductor makers, which pushed the S&P 500 down 0.6% and the Nasdaq 100 down nearly 2%. • Investors are currently cautious as they await the first Federal Reserve policy decision under Chairman Kevin Warsh to determine the future path of interest rates.

• G7 leaders concluded their summit on Wednesday, shifting their final discussions toward the contentious future of artificial intelligence and the United States' dominance in the sector. • Previous sessions on Tuesday focused heavily on the Russia-Ukraine war and a tentative agreement to end the conflict with Iran. • President Donald Trump indicated that a formal deal with Iran is expected to be signed this Friday at a resort on Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne, though specific details remain undisclosed.

• Indian equity markets are bracing for a volatile week as investors focus on May WPI inflation data, crude oil price fluctuations, and the US Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision. • Market sentiment is heavily tied to a potential US-Iran agreement, with President Donald Trump suggesting a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be signed Sunday. • These factors are critical because they influence global liquidity, energy costs, and geopolitical stability, all of which directly impact foreign investor activity in India.

Exclusive: The work will feature some of the photographer’s most powerful images from his 70-year careerAfter more than seven decades of covering conflicts around the world, Don McCullin will return to Vietnam and his best-known images for his final book.The photographer, who got his start aged 23 when his image of a gang in Finsbury Park was published in the Observer, has decided to revisit the war and his 12-day stint with US marines during the battle of Hue in 1968. Continue reading...

• The FTSE 100 is trading higher as investors monitor critical economic indicators, including US Consumer Price Index (CPI) and labor-market data. • Market attention is shifting toward the Bank of England's upcoming policy meeting next week to determine potential interest rate movements. • Investors are weighing the impact of persistent inflation and slowing economic momentum alongside Oracle's AI spending plans and geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

Labor talking points this week concede Australians are frustrated with an economy that ‘isn’t working for them’. The goal will be to convince voters One Nation isn’t eitherGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt was mid-January when Anthony Albanese publicly admitted his “worry” about the rise of One Nation.The prime minister’s concern was not the political risk to himself or to Labor but rather the threat Pauline Hanson posed to the stability of Australia’s two-party system. Continue reading...

• Regional tensions persist in the Middle East nearly four months after the latest crisis erupted, despite a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. • The UN Security Council is convening for a high-level debate to discuss advancing political solutions to address ongoing conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. • The situation remains volatile as US-Iran negotiations falter and strikes have reportedly resumed, threatening regional stability.

• Cybersecurity firms continued a trend throughout May 2026 of prioritizing the acquisition of AI-driven tools to integrate advanced capabilities in-house. • The M&A activity reflects a broader strategic shift in the industry to consolidate artificial intelligence assets to enhance threat detection and response. • These acquisitions matter as vendors race to automate security operations and maintain a competitive edge in an AI-dominated threat landscape.

Aaron Spencer never denied fatally shooting Michael Fosler, 67, the sexual abuser of his daughter, aged 13An Arkansas sheriff’s candidate who was alleged to have killed his teenaged daughter’s sexual abuser says he is focused on “family and getting back to a normal life” after the dismissal of a murder charge filed against him.“I’m grateful this chapter is closed,” Aaron Spencer also said in a statement after the dismissal on Thursday. Continue reading...

• Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) celebrated its 35th Foundation Day by hosting the Tech Summit 2026 to promote national technology growth. • The event featured the launch of the Sayuj AI platform and several new startup initiatives designed to accelerate innovation and support SMEs. • This initiative matters as it aims to strengthen India's emerging technology ecosystems and position the country as a global leader in world-class tech solutions.

• US equity futures declined, with the S&P 500 falling 0.4% and Nasdaq-100 futures dropping 1% as investors unwind positions in the AI trade. • The downturn follows a sharp selloff in semiconductor stocks on Thursday, disrupting a strong momentum in tech-driven growth. • This volatility puts the S&P 500 at risk of missing a historic milestone of 10 consecutive weeks of gains.

• India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed on June 5 that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable solutions to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. • The statement comes as a response to an open letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposing direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. • This position underscores India's strategic commitment to a peaceful resolution and its role as a neutral mediator between the two warring nations.

• Major foreign media outlets from the United States and Japan are closely monitoring South Korea's nationwide local and National Assembly elections held on June 3. • Most international reports predict a victory for the ruling Democratic Party, citing current polling and political momentum. • Nikkei highlighted a potential risk for the ruling party, noting that South Korean elections often experience sharp shifts in balance due to last-minute variables or opposition supporter consolidation.

• Accenture announced on Tuesday its acquisition of Ammagamma, a Modena, Italy-based firm specializing in helping businesses advance their use of artificial intelligence. • Ammagamma was established in 2013, though Accenture has not disclosed the specific financial details of the agreement. • This acquisition allows Accenture to strengthen its AI capabilities and expand its technological footprint within the European market.

• China's Communist Party journal, Qiushi, has signaled a regulatory shift urging internet platforms to pivot their business strategies. • Tech giants including Alibaba, Meituan, and PDD Holdings are being encouraged to prioritize investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. • This move aims to steer companies away from aggressive subsidies and destructive price wars that hinder sustainable growth.

• Asian stock markets surged, led by South Korea’s KOSPI which jumped 3.2% to near record levels and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index which rose 1%. • The rally was primarily driven by strong gains in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-linked shares, alongside optimistic hopes for peace in Iran. • The surge reflects growing investor confidence in the AI sector and a shift toward risk-on sentiment across regional markets.

• Inflation rose across the Eurozone's four largest economies in May, primarily driven by an increase in energy prices. • The trend has intensified expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will raise interest rates during its upcoming June meeting. • Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta highlighted that ongoing conflict in Iran and potential supply chain disruptions necessitate a hawkish intervention.

• Two women have accused the Channel 4 reality show *Married at First Sight UK* of fostering a "toxic" culture after alleging they were raped during filming. • Participant Soraya Spiers, who spoke publicly, described the production environment as being "toxic from the top down" with an unhealthy focus on sex. • These revelations highlight serious concerns regarding the duty of care and safety protocols for contestants on high-pressure reality television sets.

Crew members claim hit Channel 4 show’s culture was ‘toxic from the top down’ amid allegations of rape by female cast membersMarried at First Sight UK had an “unhealthy” focus on whether cast members were having sex, former and current workers on the show have said.One former crew member said the culture on the hit Channel 4 show was “toxic from the top down”. The claims from crew members were reported by the BBC, which previously broadcast allegations from two female cast members that they were raped by their on-screen partners. Continue reading...

After CEO’s comments to investors, opponents urge miner to ‘stop stringing everybody along and spike the project finally’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSantos chief executive, Kevin Gallagher, has told an investor briefing the company will not be “exerting any effort” on its Narrabri gas project while it awaits outstanding approvals, prompting fresh questions about the future of the controversial development.Gallagher told investors this week the company was prioritising exploration in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin, where it is pursuing an expansion. Continue reading...