Pick

• Indian startups are increasing their focus on AI, deeptech, healthcare, and enterprise technology as funding momentum recovers across the ecosystem. • Bengaluru-based Exponent Energy secured ₹200 crore in fresh funding to boost India's electric mobility infrastructure, co-led by 360 ONE Asset and TDK Ventures. • This trend highlights a strategic shift toward building critical technology infrastructure domestically to support accelerating AI adoption and enterprise digitalization.

Board seeks to stay judge’s ruling that found Trump’s name was illegally added to Washington performing arts venueDonald Trump’s hand-picked board at the Kennedy Center is mounting a last-minute effort to keep his name on the facade of the performing arts facility before a court-ordered deadline to remove it by Friday.The board voted on Thursday to seek a stay of US district judge Christopher Cooper’s 29 May ruling that said Trump’s name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center, according to a person familiar with the move who requested anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Continue reading...

• A panel of experts from The Athletic convened to predict the outcome of the World Cup, focusing primarily on whether France or Spain would win the title. • The "all-star XI" panel identified Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador as potential surprise packages, while predicting that Argentina would struggle during the tournament. • Individual player predictions include a battle between Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane for the Golden Boot award.

• Simply Wall St has identified three top Asian dividend stocks as attractive options for investors seeking a balance of stability and returns. • The recommendations come as global markets face a complex landscape of economic resilience and ongoing inflationary pressures. • These equities are highlighted for their potential to provide both growth and consistent income within the dynamic Asian market.

Plane on way to pick up Yadier Molina and his family crashed in Dominican Republic, killing pilot and co-pilotA pilot and co-pilot from the United States have died in a fiery plane crash as they attempted an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic, authorities said.Former major league baseball all-star catcher Yadier Molina said on social media that the plane was bound for Texas to pick him up, along with family and friends. Continue reading...

• AI chip giants TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix now comprise one-third of the MSCI Asia-ex-Japan index, creating significant concentration risks for investors. • This dominance has warped stock picking, forcing fund managers like Sam Konrad to sell their best-performing assets to prevent portfolios from becoming too top-heavy. • HSBC reports that TSMC is currently the most significant portfolio underweight among global emerging-market and Asian funds.

• AI-driven rallies in Taiwan and South Korea have significantly boosted the performance of regional stock portfolios, creating a "top-heavy" concentration of winners. • Fund managers, such as Sam Konrad, are now facing the paradox of needing to sell their best-performing AI chip stocks to manage risk and maintain diversification. • This trend highlights how a small group of AI chip giants has disproportionately influenced Asian stock picking, warping traditional investment strategies.

• The BCCI has selected a full-strength 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games, featuring star players like Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer. • In a significant roster change, the captain who led India to a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games has been excluded from the team. • This selection signals India's intent to prioritize a gold medal by fielding its top-tier talent rather than a developmental side.

A long trade war looms. Trump’s scattershot protectionism, chaotic tariffs and belligerence against our natural allies guarantees that US trade policy will remain a hot messWe are in for a long trade war.In the months since “Liberation Day” last year, when Donald Trump let loose a volley of tariffs against imports from everywhere, countries have rushed to build new relationships in the hope of maybe circumventing the US to protect the global trading system. Continue reading...

Prospect of first NBA title since 1999 fuels wave of righteous outrage against Big Apple-based Sesame Street characterThe NBA basketball finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs has already drawn commentary after Spurs fans earlier this week continued a habit of wearing distracting, candy-colored T-shirts to honor the Texas city’s annual Fiesta festival.But now the Knicks’ first opportunity to win the title since 1999 – the last time they were in the finals, also against the Spurs, when they lost – has thrown fans in the Big Apple into such a partisan frenzy that some have come for one of their most beloved own. Continue reading...

Seven Republican senators joined Democrats to block Fisa extension amid disquiet over nomination of Bill PulteUS politics live – latest updatesSeven Republican senators joined Democrats early on Friday to block the extension of a powerful government surveillance program, a rebuke to Donald Trump for choosing an inexperienced ally as the country’s top intelligence official.The renewal had been in question amid bipartisan concern over the US president’s appointment of Bill Pulte, a major Republican donor and heir to a home construction fortune, to serve as acting director of national intelligence. Continue reading...

• The article identifies 10 top AI stocks to watch for 2026, featuring industry leaders such as Nvidia, Alphabet, Palantir, and CoreWeave. • Microsoft is highlighted for its aggressive investment in the sector, including the late 2024 launch of Azure AI Foundry to help customers build AI applications. • CEO Satya Nadella views AI as the next major computing platform, a strategy supported by Microsoft's significant equity stake in OpenAI.

Democrats say appointment of Bill Pulte could doom bipartisan agreement to renew section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance ActSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump’s appointment of a close political ally with no intelligence experience to lead the nation’s spy agencies has thrown last-ditch efforts to renew a critical surveillance program into doubt.Bill Pulte, currently head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), major Republican donor and heir to a home construction fortune, was tapped by Trump to serve as acting director of national intelligence days after Tulsi Gabbard departed the role. Continue reading...

• Fund managers are increasingly purchasing European software stocks after a period of significant decline in valuations. • The shift is driven by a decrease in investor fears that artificial intelligence will disrupt or replace traditional software business models. • This trend marks a strategic pivot toward "bargain hunting" in a sector that was previously avoided due to AI-related volatility.

• New Nielsen research indicates a significant surge in football fandom across India and Asia ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. • The sport has already established dominance in several Asian markets, ranking as the most popular sport in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and South Korea. • In Japan, football has grown to become the second most popular sport, trailing only baseball.

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...

• RacketPro (RPO) is expanding pickleball development across Asia, identifying Malaysia as a strategic regional hub and Vietnam as a leading market. • The organization is launching the "RacketPro APAC Pickleball Tour 2026," a major regional initiative covering Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. • The tour will integrate the RPO COEBRA Intensity Program to provide world-class training and professional development for athletes and coaches.

• Financial analysts have identified five major AI-related stock moves, specifically flagging ASML, Dell, and Nokia as top investment picks. • These recommendations highlight a shift in market focus toward the hardware and infrastructure providers that enable artificial intelligence scaling. • The moves matter as investors seek diversified opportunities beyond the primary chipmakers to capitalize on the broader AI ecosystem.

Amazon opens an inquiry into Nicole Saphier’s product compliance following Guardian inquiry. White House says she will be a ‘powerful asset’ for Maha agendaDonald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general sells an herbal supplement that contains an ingredient prohibited by the US military and which health experts have warned can cause liver damage.Dr Nicole Saphier’s record of selling dietary supplements, which are only loosely regulated in the US, has raised concern among doctors and consumer advocates, some of whom allege she sells “snake oil”. Continue reading...

Ukrainian president says Europe must ‘have a strong voice and presence’ amid search for candidate who could lead any talks with PutinUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested last night that the time has come for Europe to pick its preferred negotiator for eventual peace talks with Russia.After talking with the European Council president, António Costa, Zelenskyy said they agreed that “Europe must be involved in the negotiations,” and to “have a strong voice and presence in this process.” Continue reading...

Exclusive: Where parties fielded multiple candidates in last week’s vote, those at top of list were more likely to be pickedFancy your chances in politics? Then perhaps you should change your name to Aaron Aaronson or Aaliyah Aardvark, figures from last week’s local elections in England suggest.A Guardian analysis of election results compiled by the website Democracy Club points to a striking alphabet effect. In wards where a party fielded three candidates, those listed nearer the top of the ballot paper – with a surname nearer the start of the alphabet – finished ahead of their party colleagues in 2,200 cases, or 65% of the time. Continue reading...

• The Skechers International Pickleball Tournament attracted a record 1,282 entries across Asia. • The event concluded successfully, marking a significant milestone for the sport's growth in the region. • Competitors from various Asian countries participated, highlighting pickleball's rising popularity.

The Republican congresswoman says she did not condone radio host’s languageUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailJen Kiggans, a Republican congresswoman, has faced calls from Democrats to resign for agreeing with a radio host after he said top US House Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, should get his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia”.Kiggans, who represents Virginia’s second US House district, has said she was agreeing with the host that Jeffries – who is the first Black American to lead a party in Congress – should stay out of Virginia politics. She also said she did not condone the host’s language, which multiple Democrats criticized as racist. Continue reading...

• The Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026, topping the full draft order released that day. • Full order lists Utah Jazz at No. 2, Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3, Chicago Bulls at No. 4, LA Clippers at No. 5, Brooklyn Nets at No. 6, Sacramento Kings at No. 7, with Atlanta Hawks at No. 8 and Dallas Mavericks at No. 9. • This victory gives Washington first selection rights in a pivotal draft, potentially landing a franchise-changing talent amid their rebuilding efforts.

• The Big Ten ended the SEC's reign as the conference with the most first-round NFL draft picks, leading with 10 selections—the first time since 2015 the SEC did not have the most players taken in round one. • Recent national champions Indiana and Ohio State powered the Big Ten's historic performance, while the SEC dropped to only seven first-round picks, its lowest total since 2015. • The SEC had previously set a record with 87 players picked across the entire three-day draft, demonstrating the conference's overall depth despite losing first-round dominance.

• Dallas Cowboys' first-round draft pick signed his rookie contract on May 3, as tracked in the 2026 NFL free agency updates. • The deal, worth an estimated $35 million over four years, resolves a key holdout amid offseason roster building. • This signing bolsters Dallas' defense, pairing the rookie with stars like Micah Parsons for Super Bowl contention.

• Pittsburgh Steelers' 'Asked and Answered' session on April 28 addressed fan concerns over recent first-round offensive line selections. • The discussion referenced past misses like Jamain Stephens and quarterback records such as Mason Rudolph's 5-4-1 mark. • Injuries highlight the risks of drafting linemen, impacting team strategy for upcoming seasons.

Fred Beyer shocked NFL Draft fans after sneaking onto the stage and announcing a fake Pittsburgh Steelers pick. Using fake credentials, he entered a restricted area before security stopped him. The NFL later gave him an indefinite league-wide ban and warned he could be arrested if he attends future events.