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• The UK government announced a multi-billion pound investment push into AI infrastructure during London Tech Week to bolster national competitiveness. • Key initiatives include a £20 million project to analyze how AI impacts entry-level employment and the creation of a "bridge AI" scheme to fund the purchase of UK-developed AI products. • The government also plans to expand the "tech town" program, based on a successful pilot in Barnsley, to support regional technological growth.

Exclusive: Financial returns, obtained by the Guardian, are ‘very poor and unprofessional’ and call into question party’s fitness to govern, expert says• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson’s One Nation party reported more than $1m in missing and worthless assets in more than six years of filed financial reports, Guardian Australia can reveal.The financial returns lodged by One Nation with the Office of Fair Trading in Queensland from 2016 to 2022 have been criticised by a leading expert in financial accounting as “sloppy and unprofessional”. Continue reading...

Pontiff appeals in Catalan for harmony on Barcelona leg of Spain tour after making football foes in cityTo the delight of many, Pope Leo XIV kicked off the Barcelona leg of his week-long visit to Spain with a few words in Catalan, calling on the faithful who had gathered in the city’s cathedral on Tuesday “to build harmony and communion beyond all polarisation”.The pontiff’s familiar and commendable plea for people to set aside their differences may, however, have come a little late. Three days earlier, while chatting to journalists on the flight to Spain, Leo had made an awkward confession. Continue reading...

• The UK government announced a £1.1 billion ($1.47 billion) strategic plan on June 8 to expand domestic AI computing capacity. • The initiative focuses on the construction of a new national supercomputer and provides critical funding to support homegrown semiconductor firms. • This investment aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and strengthen Britain's competitive position in the global AI hardware race.

• CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke arrived in India on Saturday to lead a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. • The organization has issued a 7-day deadline for the government to take action, specifically demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. • This movement signals a potential escalation, as Dipke threatened to launch a pan-India agitation if their demands are not met.

• Accenture announced on Tuesday its acquisition of Ammagamma, a Modena, Italy-based firm specializing in helping businesses advance their use of artificial intelligence. • Ammagamma was established in 2013, though Accenture has not disclosed the specific financial details of the agreement. • This acquisition allows Accenture to strengthen its AI capabilities and expand its technological footprint within the European market.

• Asian stocks opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, June 2, as geopolitical anxiety in the Middle East offset positive sentiment surrounding artificial intelligence. • Market volatility was evident in the MSCI Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan), which fluctuated between gains and losses and initially dipped 0.5%. • South Korean shares faced significant pressure, recording a 2% decline after an initially higher opening.

• Asian stocks opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, June 2, as markets balanced conflicting global sentiments. • Renewed optimism surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) provided a boost to shares, but this was offset by ongoing anxiety regarding the Middle East conflict and ceasefire uncertainty. • The MSCI broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares, excluding Japan, fluctuated between gains and losses as investors remained hesitant.

• U.S. stocks traded near record levels on Monday as the S&P 500 hovered close to its all-time high while the Dow and Nasdaq were roughly flat to slightly lower in early trade. • Nvidia-led gains in megacap technology helped offset worries about rising oil prices after renewed tensions around the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. • The market reaction matters because energy shocks can complicate the inflation outlook and reshape expectations for Federal Reserve policy.

• Asian stock markets experienced volatility as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran offset optimism surrounding the artificial intelligence sector. • Tech gains were driven by news that AI developer Anthropic has confidentially filed for a US IPO, potentially reaching a trillion-dollar valuation. • Alphabet shares declined 0.7% following the announcement of a plan to raise $80 billion in equity, including investment from Berkshire Hathaway, to expand AI infrastructure.

• Asian stock markets opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, as the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index fluctuated between gains and losses. • Market sentiment was split between renewed optimism regarding artificial intelligence and ongoing anxiety over the conflict in the Middle East. • South Korean shares experienced a 2% decline after an initially higher open, while Brent crude oil prices remained steady around $95.

• 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.

• PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have all advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 Singapore Badminton Open. • Sindhu is set to face world-class opponent An Se-young, while Rankireddy and Shetty secured their spot after a hard-fought 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 victory over Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan. • These wins are significant as the athletes compete in a high-stakes BWF Super 750 tournament, with Rankireddy and Shetty maintaining their status as world No. 4.

Donald Trump moves quickly to unite Republicans behind the Texas attorney general as Democrats eye rare openingUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailRepublican leaders rushed to throw their weight behind Ken Paxton following his big primary victory in Texas over the four-term US senator, John Cornyn, amid anxiety within the party over his prospects in November’s general election.Hours after the race was called, Donald Trump – who backed Paxton, despite intense concern among establishment Republicans – took to Truth Social to attack his Democratic rival in the midterm elections. Continue reading...

• Major U.S. stock indexes rose in early trading on Tuesday, marking the start of a holiday-shortened week following the Memorial Day break. • The S&P 500 reached a new all-time record high, driven largely by a significant surge in semiconductor and chip-related stocks. • This growth reflects continued investor confidence in the technology sector and overall market momentum despite the shortened trading schedule.

• Jon Favreau’s new film, *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, has set an unwanted franchise record by opening to the lowest box office numbers in *Star Wars* history. • Despite the poor commercial start, the film received critical praise from reviewers, including a four-star rating from *The Independent’s* Loughrey. • The critical reception highlights the film's success as a cautionary tale and its effective portrayal of its monstrous characters.

• Jon Favreau’s new film, *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, has set a negative franchise record by opening to the lowest box office numbers in *Star Wars* history. • Despite the poor commercial performance, the film received critical praise from some reviewers, including a four-star rating from The Independent’s Loughrey. • The film is noted for its thematic depth, specifically its willingness to portray "two monsters" as part of a cautionary tale.

US Preventive Services Task Force had already been largely sidelined before health secretary fired its two chairsThe Trump administration has fired the two leaders of an influential health group that determines when insurance must provide free preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies, for millions of Americans.In letters dated 11 May, the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, notified the two doctors who chaired the US Preventive Services Task Force that he was terminating their appointments immediately, before the end of their multiyear terms. Continue reading...

King Charles unveils government agenda for the next year as PM faces leadership threat from within Labour• UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has put long-promised changes to education, health and the courts at the heart of his agenda for the next year, as the embattled prime minister looks to prove he can enact the scale of change being demanded by Labour MPs and voters.The prime minister unveiled his legislative programme for the next parliamentry session on Wednesday, a moment he hopes will persuade wavering Labour MPs he should remain in office. Continue reading...

Defence minister says E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft deployed to Gulf in March will join UK and France-led defensive effort to calm Iran conflictFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia will send a hi-tech military plane to join an international mission to reopen the strait of Hormuz, but the Labor government has not ruled out sending more assets to the Middle East.The defence minister, Richard Marles, joined an overnight meeting of defence ministers from 40 other countries, to discuss global efforts to reopen the key shipping channel off the Iranian coastline, which has been closed or heavily restricted since the beginning of the US-Israel assault in February. Continue reading...

• Inter Miami defeated Toronto FC 4-2 on Saturday, ending a four-match winless streak at their new home stadium that included three draws and a loss to Orlando. • Messi scored one goal and provided two assists, reaching 100 goals and assists (59 goals, 41 assists) in just 64 regular-season MLS matches, shattering the previous record set in 95 games. • The victory improved Inter Miami's record to 6-2-4, placing them third in the MLS Eastern Conference ahead of upcoming matches in Cincinnati and at home.

• IGM Financial reported Q1 2026 results highlighting a strong quarter start with record client assets under management and a significant 20% aggregate growth rate. • Management characterized the quarter as demonstrating resilient operating conditions across the financial services firm's business segments. • Record asset levels suggest robust client confidence and successful capital deployment during a period of economic recovery in Canadian and international markets.

• President Trump announced a July 4, 2026 deadline for the European Union to reach a comprehensive trade deal, according to remarks made during a Tuesday morning interview. • The ultimatum signals Trump's intent to accelerate trade negotiations and establish concrete timelines for resolving transatlantic trade disputes. • The deadline creates urgency for EU officials to engage in substantive negotiations, though some analysts question whether the timeframe is realistic given the complexity of trade agreements.

Over one million entries received from UK runnersLondon also sets record with 1.3m total applicationsThe London Marathon has set yet more records with organisers announcing that 1.8% of the UK adult population – more than one million people – have applied to run in next year’s race.Running’s boom was also reflected in a world record 1,338,544 global application for the 2027 London Marathon – up from 1.13m for this year’s race and more than double the amount they received in 2024. Continue reading...

• Nearly 1,300 people in Pittsburgh learned Hands-Only CPR during day two of the NFL Draft on April 24, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest such training session in one hour. • The event, organized by the American Heart Association, NFL, Damar Hamlin, and Doctor Mike, supports the Nation of Lifesavers movement aiming to double sudden cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. • More than half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims do not receive CPR before emergency responders arrive, highlighting the critical need for widespread bystander training to improve survival odds.

• President Trump signals he will not extend Iran's ceasefire deadline if a comprehensive deal is not reached by Wednesday, warning of renewed military action including 'dropping bombs' if negotiations fail. • Trump declares the Strait of Hormuz now open due to a U.S. Navy blockade and pointedly rejects NATO's offer of assistance, highlighting America's unilateral stance in Middle East tensions. • The escalating pressure on Iran represents a significant shift in Trump administration foreign policy and challenges traditional alliance structures in addressing regional security threats.

Kevin Warsh, seeking to replace Fed chair, Jerome Powell, had to file financial disclosures for Senate approvalKevin Warsh, the former Federal Reserve governor chosen by Donald Trump to lead the central bank, has submitted financial disclosures that suggest he holds assets worth well over $100m.The document is required for his nomination to advance through the Senate, beginning with a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing. Continue reading...