Partners

• The European Union's €20 billion initiative to establish five AI data centers is facing significant delays and funding gaps, with the bidding process pushed back to July. • Interest from potential partners has plummeted, with the number of interested companies dropping from 70 to just 10, leading some consortia to reconsider their involvement. • Key industry players are still involved, including Telefónica leading a Spanish consortium and Germany's Schwarz Group and Deutsche Telekom expressing interest in leading bids.

• Dow Jones reported that Wingman Growth Partners raised $215 million for a fund aimed at software-related deals. • The headline points to continued private-equity activity in technology and software, even as public markets remain sensitive to rate and growth signals. • A fundraise of this size suggests investors still see opportunity in software consolidation and specialized buyout strategies.

• Niko Partners reports that video game revenue across Asia and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) is projected to surpass the $100 billion milestone by 2030. • This growth is driven by an increase in player spending and expanding market reach within these specific regional and sub-regional sectors. • The findings, detailed in Niko’s 2026 Market Model Reports, highlight the critical importance of these territories for the global gaming industry's long-term financial trajectory.

• US official Hegseth praised several Asian partners for increasing their security and defense spending during a forum on May 30. • He specifically recognized Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam for their contributions. • Notably, Taiwan and New Zealand were omitted from the list of partners stepping up their security efforts.

• During the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30, US official Pete Hegseth praised several Asian partners for increasing their security and defense spending. • Hegseth specifically recognized Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam for their contributions. • The omission of Taiwan and New Zealand from the roll call of partners is a notable detail that may signal shifts in diplomatic priorities or strategic messaging.

Canada prime minister urges greater economic cooperation between the two countries in speech delivered in New YorkCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney has called for a new relationship with the United States to “help make America great again”.In a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, Carney said that there should be a “true partnership” that re-imagines cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition. Continue reading...

The military alliance’s chief tried to manage expectations after Donald Trump said he would deploy 5,000 troops to PolandPoland’s Radosław Sikorski showed up beaming after last night’s US announcement on the deployment of 5,000 US troops to Poland.He thanks Trump for the decision, saying it means the presence of US troops in Poland “will be maintained more or less at previous levels,” after the Pentagon halted a planned rotation of 4,000 troops. Continue reading...