Real

• A massive sell-off in Asia's technology sector has triggered what is being described as the first "macro shock" of the AI era. • The volatility is centered on critical semiconductor hubs, specifically impacting the market capitalization of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in South Korea and TSMC in Taiwan. • This event highlights a dangerous global market dependency, where the financial stability of entire national indices is now disproportionately tied to a small number of AI-linked companies.

• Asia's AI-linked tech stocks have experienced a sharp sell-off, which deVere Group CEO describes as the first significant "macro shock" of the AI era. • The downturn was triggered by a single earnings report, leading to a trillion-dollar global repricing of assets across the semiconductor sector. • The crash highlights a dangerous market concentration, as the Kospi is heavily reliant on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while Taiwan is dependent on TSMC.

• K-pop group Le Sserafim discusses how embracing humor and accepting their flaws has propelled the band to a new level of professional success. • The group's 2024 track "Crazy" drew inspiration from New York ballroom culture, while their 2025 release "Come Over" was produced by the British dance act Jungle. • This shift in mindset and musical direction highlights the band's evolution toward more experimental sounds and a more authentic public image.

• Tech executives and U.S. officials are debating whether to implement a "pause" or voluntary vetting process to keep artificial intelligence development under control. • Former CISA director Jen Easterly described a recent executive order by Donald Trump as a positive first step toward creating a safer technological ecosystem. • Critics argue that a voluntary framework relying on cooperation between private companies and the government cannot guarantee effective oversight or safety.

Data discredits claims reawakened by the death of Henry Nowak that UK police actions disadvantage white peopleThe US government has joined criticism of alleged two-tier policing in the UK in the wake of Henry Nowak’s murder. How did the term enter the mainstream, and is there any basis for the claim? Continue reading...

• Louisiana Tech professor Abdur Rahman has received a $185,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop AI-driven anomaly detection tools. • The research focuses on creating systems that allow operators to identify equipment failures, cyber threats, and system changes in critical infrastructure before they escalate into disasters. • This project is vital for enhancing the resilience of real-world infrastructure by providing early warnings against both technical malfunctions and malicious cyberattacks.

• Nscale, a crypto-mining spinout from Arkon Energy, has emerged as a leading provider of AI data center infrastructure in Europe. • The company has raised nearly $4 billion from major industry players, including Nvidia, Dell, and Nokia, recently closing a $2 billion Series C round. • This funding has propelled Nscale to a $14.6 billion valuation, marking one of the largest Series C rounds for any European company.

Silenced, a documentary about violence against women, opened the Sydney Film Festival on WednesdayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBrittany Higgins says she decided not to change her name when she got married in 2024 because she is proud to be Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal staffer has revealed in Silenced, a documentary about violence against women which opened the Sydney Film Festival.“When I got married I had this opportunity to change my name but I didn’t because I’m really proud to be Brittany Higgins,” she said in a highly emotional interview in the film. “Hopefully, this is just a footnote in my story and it’s not the headliner any more.” Continue reading...

• Goldman Sachs reported on Tuesday, June 3, that private infrastructure and real estate capital will increasingly fund the rapid expansion of AI data centers. • This shift occurs as companies move away from traditional financing methods to meet the massive capital demands of AI infrastructure. • The trend is significant because it diversifies the funding sources available to support the ongoing AI-driven technology boom.

• Jamie and Rebekah Vardy have launched a new documentary series focusing on their move to northern Italy following the "Wagatha Christie" legal scandal. • The show follows Rebekah Vardy, who gained notoriety after losing a high-profile libel case against Coleen Rooney and being ordered to pay 90% of Rooney's legal costs. • Critics argue the series fails to deliver as either light entertainment or a successful attempt to rehabilitate the couple's public image.

• A recent drone strike in Romania has intensified concerns that Russia's conflict in Ukraine is expanding into European territory. • Over the past year, numerous NATO and EU member states—including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Belgium—have reported drone incursions over cities, ports, and critical infrastructure. • These incidents are viewed as a blend of military pressure and psychological warfare designed to disrupt stability across the continent.

Joy turned to panic as Sarah and her dog sank quickly. She thought ‘this is not how I’m going to go’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast“I’ve literally had my real, live Indiana Jones moment,” Sarah Darbyshire says of the frightening moment she and her dog stumbled into quicksand.The Holdfast Bay council has put up signs warning about the treacherous, liquefied patch on Glenelg North beach in South Australia. Continue reading...

Exclusive: First shipwrecks found in Nassau harbour on New Providence, once the hideout of Blackbeard and Calico JackThe first shipwrecks linked to the real pirates of the Caribbean in the Bahamas have been discovered by an international team co-directed by a British marine archaeologist.Blackbeard and Calico Jack Rackham were among pirates who, between the 1690s and 1720s, turned Nassau on the island of New Providence into a hideout where they plotted their next heists on the high seas and divided up their plunder. Continue reading...

Miami-Dade county officials agreed to pay HRP Group more than double the price for land on Fisher Island to protect fuel depot used by the cruise industryA three-way tug-of-war erupted in recent months over ownership of a property on Fisher Island – one of the wealthiest zip codes in the United States – that sits in Biscayne Bay opposite the skyline of downtown Miami. When TransMontaigne Partners, a Denver-based global energy company, put the parcel on the market in May 2024, interest ran high because that land represented the last remaining piece of real estate available for development on the island.The eventual winner of the bidding war was a Chicago-based developer called the HRP Group, which purchased the property for $180m in late September last year. The developer then announced ambitious plans to build condominium towers on the property at an estimated cost of $2bn. Continue reading...

• Regulatory bodies are increasingly integrating real-world evidence (RWE) into the drug approval process to supplement traditional randomized clinical trials. • This shift utilizes real-world data (RWD) sourced from electronic health records, administrative claims databases, disease registries, and digital health tools. • The adoption of RWE allows for a more comprehensive understanding of patient health and healthcare delivery, potentially accelerating decision-making for pharmaceutical companies.

North Carolina, Ohio, Maine and Alaska are key targets for a party bullish after a bruising Republican primary in TexasAfter Texas Republicans chose the beleaguered attorney general, Ken Paxton, as their party’s nominee for US Senate on Tuesday, Democrats are feeling bullish that they could pull off a victory in the red-leaning state – and maybe win back the Senate in this year’s midterm elections.Paxton – whose history includes an impeachment, fraud charges and an alleged affair – beat incumbent John Cornyn after receiving Trump’s blessing in the most expensive primary this year. In November he will face James Talarico, a young state lawmaker and pastor, who won the Democratic primary amid a rising national profile. Continue reading...

• Bank of Montreal priced US$2.22 million of S&P 500-linked capped buffer notes due Nov. 30, 2027, according to a securities filing. • The notes offer 150% upside participation, a 20% downside buffer, and a maximum return of 10%, showing continued demand for structured products tied to U.S. equity markets. • The deal is relevant for U.S. investors because it reflects how banks are packaging equity exposure amid high index levels and ongoing volatility concerns.

• A survey of chief economists reveals that nearly 90% expect global economic growth to weaken over the next year, though only 13% anticipate a full-scale global recession. • An overwhelming 94% of respondents predict rising global inflation, primarily driven by the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. • This geopolitical instability is expected to spike energy and food costs while causing significant disruptions to international supply chains.

• Filipino fans are increasingly engaging in "seichi junrei" (anime pilgrimages), driving a significant surge in travel to real-world destinations across Asia that inspired popular series. • Data from Trip.com reveals a 155% year-on-year increase in searches for anime- and comic-related travel in the Philippines for 2026. • This trend highlights the Philippines as a key growth market, fueling demand for themed accommodations, fan conventions, and screen-inspired sightseeing.

• Artificial intelligence is increasingly replacing white-collar workers in the UK, where the services sector constitutes approximately 80% of the national economy. • Research indicates that job postings for AI-exposed roles, specifically software developers and data analysts, declined following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. • The trend is most pronounced among entry-level positions, as AI provides a faster and more cost-effective alternative to human labor for routine technical tasks.

Historical events like Spanish Inquisition show the ‘velocity’ at which rumours move to conviction, says Celebrity Traitors contestantHistory might explain why Faithfuls find it so difficult to root out Traitors in the hit BBC show, suggests one member of the Celebrity Traitors cohort, who were record-breakingly bad at the game.The roundtable – where contestants discuss who should be cast out – was somewhat “frightening” because of the “velocity in which something goes from a suspicion to belief, to faith, to condemnation”, said the broadcaster and historian David Olusoga. Continue reading...

• European technology chiefs at Fortune 500 companies are facing a shifting professional reality in 2026 where their actual duties far exceed traditional organizational charts. • Beyond managing infrastructure, these leaders are now responsible for drafting board papers on regulatory exposure, briefing audit committees, and developing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. • This evolution matters because it signals a fundamental change in the role of the CTO/CIO, moving from purely technical oversight to strategic risk and governance management.

Home red-light therapy devices have exploded in popularity as masks, body wraps and mittens promise to reduce wrinkles, redness and even acne. But do the claims stack up, and what other benefits are scientists investigating? Ian Sample hears from his co-host, Madeleine Finlay, and the consultant dermatologist Dr Jonathan Kentley. Kentley explains how the potential benefits of red light were discovered, how it is thought to interact with collagen in our skin, and what science has to say about its impact on our appearanceIs it true that … red light therapy masks prevent wrinkles?Support the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

• The 2025/26 Premier League season concludes on Sunday, May 24, with several high-stakes matches remaining. • The final day of competition will determine the final standings for teams fighting for European qualification spots and those battling to avoid relegation. • These matchups are critical as they decide the financial and competitive futures of the clubs involved for the next season.

• Poland and Portugal experienced the strongest real household income growth in Europe over the last two years, with Spain leading among major economies. • Specific growth rates included the Netherlands at 2.3%, Portugal at 2%, Denmark at 1.9%, Greece at 1.8%, and Spain at 1.5%. • The OECD attributed Poland's acceleration to employee remuneration offsetting lower social benefits, while Greece's growth was driven by property income and the lowest unemployment rate since 2009.

• Enterprises are facing a critical risk where "invisible" data—hidden within AI systems, SaaS sprawl, and unstructured formats—becomes a liability because it cannot be monitored. • Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and privacy operations are shifting from mere "compliance theatre" to essential tools for verifying data ownership and access. • This shift is driven by the need to identify exactly what data is held, who has permission to access it, and how to establish trust in that data.

Tom Phillips on life in the country four months after the US abduction of the former president Nicolás Maduro“The last time I flew out of Venezuela was right at the start of August 2024, just after the disputed presidential election,” the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, Tom Phillips, tells Annie Kelly.“It was a moment of real turmoil. There was a huge wave of repression that was unfolding as Nicolás Maduro tried to silence any kind of dissent to his bogus claim to have won that election. Thousands were thrown in prison, many were going underground, and journalists were racing to get out of the country.” Continue reading...