Losing

• J.P. Morgan reports that while the United States maintains its global leadership in the AI ecosystem, China is rapidly closing the gap. • China is gaining ground by developing cost-efficient AI models that are increasingly attractive for enterprise adoption. • Despite this competition, U.S. frontier models remain essential for high-level tasks including cybersecurity, scientific discovery, and large-scale reasoning.

• JP Morgan reports that while the United States remains the global leader in AI development, China is rapidly closing the gap by producing more cost-efficient models. • Chinese firms are gaining traction in corporate environments by offering AI systems with significantly lower operational costs than American competitors. • Despite this, US-developed frontier models remain essential for high-level applications, including cybersecurity, scientific discovery, and large-scale reasoning tasks.

• The U.S. government has abruptly reversed its policy of providing limited access to advanced AI models with cybersecurity capabilities to specific partners. • This shift was triggered by reports that unauthorized parties accessed restricted models and that guardrails in public versions were bypassed in certain instances. • The move is criticized for undermining critical cybersecurity outcomes and damaging the trust between the U.S. government and private frontier AI labs.

• U.S. companies and Silicon Valley firms are increasingly adopting affordable, open-source artificial intelligence models developed in China. • This trend suggests that China may be closing the technological gap with the U.S. more rapidly than previously anticipated by industry experts. • The shift matters as it challenges the perceived dominance of American AI firms and highlights the global competitiveness of Chinese open-source innovation.

• Stanford's 2026 AI Index suggests that the opportunity window for AI enterprise startups is closing more rapidly than founders anticipate. • The report identifies a critical gap in the market for practical tools focused on policy, auditing, model inventory, incident response, and workflow control. • A related study by the Stanford Digital Economy Lab using ADP payroll data reveals that employment for software developers aged 22 to 25 dropped nearly 20% through mid-2025 in AI-exposed roles.

Thanks to rushed deadlines, financial pressure and overworked staff, titles are going to market before they’re ready – and then sliding from view immediatelyA Sydney author – I’ll call her Rebecca – vowed never to write another book after the deranging experience of publishing her first. She’s using a pseudonym because one day she might change her mind; the notoriously small Australian publishing industry does not tend to look with favour on authors who complain.When Rebecca was proofing her debut – a work of nonfiction published by one of the big five – she discovered that a pivotal chapter had been cut. “I thought it was a mistake, that it had somehow been left out of the papers they’d sent,” she says. “Turns out they’d deliberately excised it and thought I wouldn’t notice.” Continue reading...

The process to renew Daca immigration status used to take a few weeks – now it drags on for monthsIt’s been six months since Claudia first applied to renew her US immigration status – a process that, for the last 14 years, would only take a few weeks.But now, the prolonged delay has put her life on hold. Claudia, who moved to the US when she was four, has maintained legal status as a “Dreamer” with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program, which was created in 2012 to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children from deportation. Continue reading...

• European shares closed higher on Thursday, ending a four-day losing streak as investors moved past rhetoric from US President Donald Trump. • The European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates by 25 basis points, marking its first borrowing cost increase in nearly three years. • Along with the hike, the ECB increased inflation forecasts and lowered its growth outlook due to price pressures from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

• PV Sindhu suffered another defeat against An Se-young in the second round of the Indonesia Open 2026, marking consecutive losses to the player following their match at the Singapore Open. • An Se-young continues her dominant form in 2026, having lost only one of the 36 matches she has played so far this year. • India's men's singles campaign ended as Ayush Shetty was defeated by Hong Kong China’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the round of 16 with a score of 16-21, 21-13, 21-14.

• South Korea's ruling party has won the majority of seats in the recent local elections, marking a significant victory for the administration. • Despite the overall sweep, the ruling party faces a potential loss in the critical capital city of Seoul. • The election results serve as a pivotal "report card" evaluating President Lee Jae Myung's performance during his first year in office.

• A top media expert has warned the Thai government that the country is facing a digital sovereignty crisis due to the growing influence of foreign tech giants. • The adviser specifically highlighted Elon Musk's Starlink, noting that its ability to beam internet from space could allow users to bypass national networks and government regulators. • This shift matters because it threatens the state's ability to control information, manage data, and enforce domestic media regulations.

• The Sensex and Nifty extended their losing streak to a fourth consecutive day, with the Nifty settling below the 23,400 level. • Market declines were driven by escalating US-Iran tensions, a sharp rise in Brent crude oil prices, and a weakening rupee. • Sectoral performance was mixed, as FMCG, PSU Bank, and realty shares dropped while IT, media, and metal stocks saw gains.

• An actress from the HBO series *Euphoria* has alleged that she feared losing her role if she refused to film nude scenes. • The production, created by Sam Levinson and featuring stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, is facing scrutiny over its workplace environment. • These allegations highlight ongoing concerns regarding performer safety and the pressure to comply with explicit content requirements in high-profile television dramas.

At least six new pubs and taphouses have opened in recent months, including the Pig & Swill in Cardiff On a hot Thursday evening in Canton, a buzzy Cardiff neighbourhood, a steady stream of people in sunglasses, shorts and dresses went back and forth between bar and garden at the city’s newest pub, the Pig & Swill.Next door, in Victoria Park, the splash pad was still heaving with families making the most of the tail-end of the May heatwave. Many parents and carers stopped by for takeaway pints and small plates. Continue reading...

• The KOSPI index reached a new all-time closing high on May 29, surpassing its previous record. • This surge was primarily driven by strong institutional buying, signaling positive investor sentiment in the South Korean market. • The milestone reflects a significant recovery or growth phase for the index, marking a historic peak in valuation.

• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record closing highs on Tuesday, driven by strong investor optimism surrounding artificial intelligence. • Micron Technology notably joined the $1 trillion market capitalization club, contributing to the broader tech rally. • Market gains occurred despite geopolitical tensions and anxiety regarding Middle East peace talks and recent U.S. strikes on Iran.

• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record closing highs on Tuesday, diverging from the performance of European markets. • West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices fell, while Brent oil prices spiked, reflecting market volatility. • This shift occurred as investors balanced optimism regarding a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal against the risk of a ceasefire collapse.

Kentucky conservative says ‘I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run’Thomas Massie is planning his comeback.The conservative Kentucky congressman filed to run again for the US House of Representatives in 2028, less than a week after losing to Donald Trump’s hand-picked challenger Ed Gallrein 55-45 in a bruising primary. Continue reading...

• Former Tencent AI lead Liu argues that China is losing the Large Language Model (LLM) race due to a lack of "fanshi," or paradigm-shifting technical breakthroughs. • Liu claims Chinese AI companies are primarily copying the core technical levels of U.S. firms or DeepSeek rather than innovating original architectures. • This reliance on following established paradigms creates a systemic risk where Chinese developers may find their technological foundations suddenly obsolete.

• The Indian stock market closed in the red on Thursday, with the Sensex ending 135 points lower and the Nifty 50 slipping below 23,700. • Markets erased morning gains due to expiry day volatility, rising bond yields, and selling by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), impacting stocks like Bajaj Finance (-2%) and IndiGo (+3%). • In a major corporate move, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Jaypee Fertilizers & Industries for Rs 1,500 crore.

People’s party wins regional election but loses absolute majority, opening door to possibly months of negotiationsSpain’s conservative People’s party (PP) won Sunday’s Andalucían regional election, but lost its absolute majority, leaving it dependent on the support or abstention of the far-right Vox party to form a new government.After the poll in Spain’s most populous region – which will serve as a barometer of wider electoral opinion ahead of next year’s general election – the socialists slumped to an all-time low and Vox picked up one additional seat. Continue reading...

Jury set to deliberate and return a verdict on whether they believe AI firm and Altman are liable in caseClosing arguments began on Thursday in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI, bringing the weeks-long courtroom battle between the two tech moguls nearer to a decision. A nine person jury is set to deliberate and return a verdict on whether they believe the AI firm and Altman are liable in the case.The trial, which began last month in an Oakland, California federal courthouse, has gripped Silicon Valley and featured some of the tech industry’s biggest names as witnesses. Attorneys for both sides have presented testimony and documents that have exposed Musk and Altman’s private dealings, as well as provided a window into the contentious history of OpenAI. Continue reading...

• The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 6-2 to the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, marking their fourth consecutive defeat amid a troubling slump. • This latest loss highlights ongoing struggles for the Dodgers, who have now dropped four straight games against divisional rivals. • The skid raises concerns for Los Angeles in the competitive NL West, potentially impacting their playoff positioning as the season progresses.

Court in Hanover says man entitled to payout after he and his family had to lie on concreteA German holidaymaker has won a payout of almost €1,000 after being unable to find a sunlounger for himself and his family because other guests had got there first.The man, whose identity is not known, holidayed on the island of Kos, in Greece, with his family in 2024. He said that, despite waking up at the crack of dawn every morning to carry out a 20-minute search, he had not been able to lay claim to a lounger. Continue reading...

• The New York Mets snapped a 12-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field, ending their two-week-long skid when Luke Weaver struck out Byron Buxton for the final out. • Shortstop Francisco Lindor was removed from the game with left calf tightness after scoring from first base in the fourth inning and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. • The victory marks a crucial turnaround for the struggling Mets, who had not won since early April and faced mounting pressure during their extended drought.

In today’s newsletter: As political tensions rise abroad and economic pressures mount at home, ​D​onald Trump faces a shifting landscape that is testing the loyalty of his ​M​aga supportersGood morning. Starting a war of choice that is rapidly spiralling out of control, poll ratings at a second-term low, and a cost of living crisis intensifying for millions.Any conventional US president would be in big trouble. But Donald Trump is not a conventional president, and normal rules do not seem to apply to him. More than a third of Americans continue to believe he is doing a good job despite the global chaos he has unleashed.UK politics | Keir Starmer was looking increasingly isolated over the Peter Mandelson scandal as the Guardian learned of concerns around the cabinet table, a senior minister refused to say the dismissal of Olly Robbins was fair and several mandarins called for Robbins to be reinstated. One Labour MP called on Starmer to quit.Middle East | Iranian forces seized two ships in the strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran doubled down on imposing separate blockades of the shipping waterway.West Bank | Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old schoolboy, were killed in the occupied West Bank after Israeli settlers opened fire near a school, witnesses and local officials said. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed a journalist after rescuers were blocked from accessing the building where she was buried under rubble because of further Israeli fire, according to several witnesses.UK news | Britain’s high military dependence on the US is “no longer tenable” and the UK has to become increasingly independent of the special relationship, a former Nato chief has said.Palantir | The Metropolitan police has held talks with Palantir that could lead to the London force buying the US spy-tech company’s AI technology to automate intelligence analysis for criminal investigations. Continue reading...

• The New York Mets lost 2-1 in extra innings to the Chicago Cubs, extending their losing streak to 11 games, matching their longest skid since 2004. • The defeat capped a winless 0-6 road trip for the Mets, who have not lost 12 straight since 2002. • Despite the struggles, Mets players emphasized they are still 'fighting for each other' amid the mounting losses.

• Cal.com co-founder Peer Richelsen stated on April 15, 2026, in San Francisco that AI has upended open source security, forcing commercial apps to close code for data protection. • Anthropic's Mythos model in early April demonstrated breaching secure systems like OpenBSD, exposing open source vulnerabilities. • Third-party experts like Hex Security CEO Huzaifa Ahmad note open source apps are 5-10 times easier to exploit than closed source.