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• UC San Diego engineers are researching the ability to grow plants under simulated space conditions to produce essential pharmaceuticals during long-term missions. • The initiative addresses a critical safety gap, as medications degrade faster in space; studies show over half of the International Space Station's drug supply expires within three years. • This biological production method is vital for deep-space travel, such as a round trip to Mars, which requires approximately 400 days of travel time.

Treasury minister Lucy Rigby says the government has the right to alter terms of existing agreementsMinisters have rejected accusations that recent changes to student loans were unfair, arguing they are so heavily subsidised that the government has the right to alter their terms.Pressure has been intensifying on the UK government to reform the student loans system but the chief secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby, told MPs on Wednesday that less than half of young people go to university, and the government had to bear in mind “fairness to taxpayers as a whole”. Continue reading...

• DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has pledged stronger government support for Filipino workers to combat rising domestic and global labor market risks. • The initiative comes as the Philippines faces economic challenges while maintaining an unemployment rate of 5%. • This move is critical to protecting local livelihoods and ensuring job stability amidst volatile global economic conditions.

• Deloitte released a new M&A Pulse Survey featuring insights from 500 corporate and private equity (PE) leaders regarding current market trends. • The findings reveal a sense of "cautious optimism" for deal activity leading into 2026, with leaders emphasizing a more disciplined approach to acquisitions. • Cross-border acquisitions are highlighted as a primary strategic path for growth as dealmakers seek new opportunities.

• Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike reported on Tuesday that China-linked hackers have become the primary espionage threat to technology companies over the last year. • The surge in targeting is attributed to the rapid increase in global investment and development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. • A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected these claims as "vilification and smears," asserting that China opposes hacking and operates according to the law.

• CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) has released its 2026 Technology Threat Landscape Report, highlighting a surge in cyber espionage by China-nexus adversaries. • The report reveals that these actors are specifically targeting technology organizations to steal intellectual property and AI capabilities that China cannot develop independently. • This trend underscores a critical security risk for AI developers and tech firms as state-sponsored theft accelerates to bridge technological gaps.

• CrowdStrike's 2026 Technology Threat Report identifies the global technology industry as the most targeted sector for cyberattacks, driven primarily by eCrime and state-sponsored actors from China and North Korea. • A critical vulnerability was highlighted involving a software package downloaded approximately 100 million times per week, posing a risk for one of the largest supply chain incidents recorded. • Threat actors are increasingly shifting their focus toward software development environments to compromise the integrity of the digital supply chain.

• Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike released a report on Tuesday, January 9, identifying China-backed hackers as the single greatest espionage threat to global technology companies. • The report, which tracked global cyber threats from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, notes that the tech sector is the primary target for state-sponsored spies and cybercriminals. • These actors are specifically targeting intellectual property and economic secrets, with a heightened focus on the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

• Indian companies have been pushed out of the top 10 of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as global capital shifts toward AI-driven stocks. • The index is now dominated by semiconductor chipmakers from Taiwan and South Korea, leading to a decline in the global rankings of Indian giants like Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. • This shift is significant as India's overall market weight in the index has plummeted to a six-year low, reflecting a pivot in investor preference toward AI infrastructure.

Sources say much delayed Dip is close to sign-off but only after some of the Labour government’s worst infightingCabinet relations have been left badly damaged by the protracted row over the defence investment plan (Dip), according to Whitehall sources who say the standoff has led to some of the worst infighting since Labour took power.Ministers are putting the final touches on the plan, which is expected to be published in the coming weeks after departments agreed to cut their capital budgets by about 1% to pay for additional military spending. Continue reading...

President attends Spurs v Knicks game at MSGKnicks aiming to win first title since 1973Donald Trump was loudly booed when he was shown on the video screens at Madison Square Garden on Monday night before Game 3 of the NBA finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.Trump was shown on the jumbotron while the Star-Spangled Banner was being sung before the game, and jeers and boos broke out around the arena. The president, with his granddaughter Kai behind him, was shown for a little over eight seconds and held a salute the whole time with a smile on his face. A few seconds later, the video board showed Knicks players in line and the boos turned to cheers. Continue reading...

• President Barrow inaugurated the National Food and Drug Quality Control Laboratory in Brusubi to strengthen the country's health infrastructure. • During the ceremony, the President addressed a previous Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) outbreak, describing it as one of the darkest chapters in the nation's recent health history. • The event highlighted how the AKI tragedy exposed critical weaknesses in the health system, emphasizing that access to safe medicines is a fundamental necessity.

Debbie Crosbie receives £3.2m in bonuses after mutual building society’s takeover of Virgin MoneyNationwide building society has nearly doubled the pay packet of its chief executive, Debbie Crosbie, a year after the board pushed through a controversial bonus scheme for its top boss. The mutual, which is owned by its members, released its annual report on Monday, showing Crosbie was handed £3.2m in bonuses – a combination of payouts for annual and longer-term performance – up from £1.1m a year earlier.It pushed her overall pay packet to £4.7m for the year to March 2026, marking an 88% jump on the near-£2.5m she earned for the previous year. Meanwhile, eligible staff within the wider 26,890-strong workforce will see their pay rise by an average of 3.8% from 1 July. “These changes reflect a significant investment in our people, recognising the contribution and commitment of those at the heart of serving our customers and delivering our strategy,” Nationwide said. Crosbie’s £1.2m annual salary was increased a further 2.9% in April this year. Continue reading...

New film revives story of Taylor Parker, convicted in 2022 of cutting unborn daughter from womb of friend she killedIn an America so often saturated with brutal crime stories, it takes special circumstances to truly register shock.But the story of Taylor Parker, now sitting on a Texas death row after being convicted of murdering her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock in 2020 and cutting her unborn daughter Braxlynn from her womb, is horrific in part because it appears almost against nature itself. Continue reading...

UK lagging behind rivals on tourism growth because of travel costs and lack of joined-up planning, says CEO Sean DoyleThe cost of travel to and around the UK is keeping millions of tourists away and slowing economic growth, the boss of British Airways said, as he urged a rethink of aviation taxes.The airline’s chief executive, Sean Doyle, said the UK had some of the highest aviation taxes in the world and was falling behind countries such as Japan, France and Germany in boosting its inbound tourism. Continue reading...

• Fitch Ratings reaffirmed Hungary's BBB sovereign credit rating but maintained a negative outlook due to weak economic growth and deteriorating public finances. • The agency cited fiscal uncertainty and a larger-than-expected decline in fiscal indicators leading up to the April parliamentary elections as primary concerns. • This rating is significant as it highlights the challenges the new government faces in restoring budgetary stability and managing unpredictable fiscal policies.

• Soccer consumption in the U.S. has undergone a dramatic transformation over several decades, evolving from a niche interest to a mainstream sport. • Growth has been fueled by increased internet speeds, social media accessibility, and more lucrative U.S. broadcast contracts for international leagues. • Global teams have expanded their domestic footprint through preseason tours, exemplified by a 2018 match between Manchester United and Liverpool that drew over 101,000 fans to Michigan Stadium.

• Minister Jitin Prasada emphasized technology self-reliance and innovation-led growth during the STPI's 35th Foundation Day, identifying AI, semiconductors, and startups as critical pillars for the "Viksit Bharat@2047" vision. • STPI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wadhwani Foundation to strengthen skill development, entrepreneurship, and innovation initiatives across the country. • The event marked the launch of Sayuj, an AI-powered mobile application created to unify the startup ecosystem by connecting innovators, mentors, and incubators on a single digital platform.

• 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.

• The satirical 'Cockroach Janta Party,' a digital movement born from a meme last month, plans to hold street protests this Saturday. • The movement is mobilizing to protest alleged irregularities and corruption within key Indian examinations. • With millions of online followers, the group claims to represent the frustrations and voices of India's youth.

• Simply Wall St identifies high-growth technology stocks in Asian markets, specifically highlighting Damai Entertainment Holdings and two other companies. • The analysis comes as Asian markets navigate a complex environment shaped by global geopolitical developments and key economic indicators. • These stocks are positioned to benefit from strong investor optimism surrounding advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and general technology trends.

Report into royal property affairs reveals disgraced ex-prince generated private income from Windsor Royal LodgeAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor received private income from subletting three cottages on his Windsor Royal Lodge estate while paying a “peppercorn rent” to the crown estate, a report into royal property arrangements has revealed.The National Audit Office (NAO) review also shows that King Charles pays an “adjusted” rent from his private Duchy of Lancaster income, below open market value, for his disgraced brother’s non-working royal daughters, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to live in royal palaces. Continue reading...

• Indian equity markets are expected to open higher on June 5, with GIFT Nifty futures trading 36 points up at 23,549. • Key stocks in focus include ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, and Groww, alongside rate-sensitive sectors such as banking, auto, realty, and consumer durables. • The market sentiment is driven by investors awaiting the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy decision amid a backdrop of sharp declines in Asian markets, including Japan's Nikkei (-2.05%) and South Korea's Kospi (-4.59%).

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India is projected to remain the world's fastest-growing economy for the next two decades. • The growth is expected to be driven by an increase in global investments and the expansion of the domestic manufacturing sector. • To highlight this potential, Goyal cited Hyundai's success, noting the company entered India in 1999 with a $200 million investment and has since scaled operations.

Three GOP senators joined Democrats as dispute over proposed payouts exposed party divisionsUS politics live – latest updatesSenate Republicans on Thursday narrowly scuttled an attempt by Democrats to stop Donald Trump from creating a $1.8bn fund to pay his allies, even as signs emerged that dissent over the proposal was spreading inside the US president’s own party.Democratic Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, had proposed inserting language barring the payouts into Republican-backed legislation to fund Trump’s mass deportation campaign through the duration of his term. Continue reading...

• Oil prices have increased following a series of missile attacks launched by Iran against Kuwait and Bahrain. • A new U.S. proposal targets 16 economies, including Canada, Mexico, the EU, Taiwan, and the UK, with 10% tariffs due to alleged failures in enforcing forced labor bans. • Additional import duties of 12.5% are proposed for several other nations, including China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Switzerland.

• Israel's military operations, which began with the destruction of Gaza, have expanded into Lebanon, Iran, and the Gulf region. • The escalation is being sustained through significant financial support and arms shipments provided by the United States. • This expansion threatens to transform a regional conflict into a state of prolonged international disorder and global chaos.

• An eight-month investigation by The Athletic reveals that match-fixing is a pervasive global crisis affecting "every sport in every continent." • The World Cup is identified as a high-risk target due to its status as the most-watched sporting event, attracting massive betting volumes from East Asia, Europe, and the U.S. • Corruption is driven by the immense profitability of betting markets, with some sources claiming only politics and drug trafficking are more lucrative than fixing.