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• European shares are expected to open lower on Thursday, June 5, 2026, driven by escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and investor anxiety over potential interest-rate hikes. • Technology stocks are likely to be a primary focus following Oracle's report of quarterly capital expenditure that surpassed market estimates. • The market volatility comes amid a surge of U.S. labor market reports and critical European economic growth and inflation data.

• Major streaming platforms including Netflix, JioHotstar, Prime Video, and ZEE5 are releasing new content this weekend, featuring Suriya's action drama *Karuppu* and a horror-comedy starring Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan. • Sports fans can access coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, alongside a variety of new crime thrillers and romantic dramas. • In separate tech news, Huawei has launched its own operating system designed to compete directly with Google and Apple.

• 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.

• South Korean defender Kim Taehyun (Kashiwa Reysol) has been sidelined due to a sudden ankle injury ahead of the national team's match against the Czech Republic. • Coach Hong Myung-bo may now start Lee Ki-hyuk (Kangwon FC), a surprise selection who had not been called up to the national team since the 2022 East Asian Cup. • Lee's inclusion is based on his standout domestic performances this season, offering a potential solution to the team's defensive crisis.

There is no narrative to convince the British public that difficult economic decisions on defence will be worth itUK politics live – latest updatesAs Labour MPs set out the case for change in the tea rooms and bars of Westminster, there is usually one caveat. They believed the prime minister was an asset when it came to national security and had performed beyond expectations on the world stage.Now that reputation too lies in tatters, after the resignation of John Healey with one of the most quietly damning letters that many can remember. Not a departure over ambition – though Healey certainly has it – but on principle. It is a rare thing to see a loyalist cabinet minister accuse the prime minister and a chancellor of making the country “less safe”. Continue reading...

The defence secretary has resigned over the government’s military spending plans, in another major blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, John Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan ‘falls well short of what is required for defence’ and that he would have to take decisions that ‘could make Britain less safe’. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to policy editor Kiran Stacey Continue reading...

The defence secretary’s departure was the wrong resignation at the worst possible time for the prime ministerUK politics live – latest updatesDuring Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, the defence secretary was standing at the other end of the Commons, away from other cabinet members on the government frontbench. His expression gave nothing away as Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch blamed one another for spending too much on welfare and not enough on defence. In hindsight, he was possibly thinking “to hell with both of them”. Most defence secretaries go native sooner or later, imagining themselves to be embedded officers serving on the frontline. Tory Ben Wallace appeared to hate most of his cabinet colleagues by the time he resigned in 2023.Less than 24 hours after PMQs, Healey had also resigned, his departure being all the more powerful for being so unexpected. This exit seemed to come out of a clear blue sky. There had been no briefings to the media in the preceding days. No threats to stand down if his demands were not met. All the arguments had taken place behind closed doors. A determination to do the right thing throughout. Continue reading...

• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered new evidence regarding "little red dots," mysterious objects discovered in 2022 that emerged roughly 600 million years after the Big Bang. • By analyzing the spectrum of a specific red dot, researchers are now strengthening the "black hole star" hypothesis to explain these abundant early-universe phenomena. • This discovery is significant as it helps scientists solve a complex cosmic puzzle regarding the nature and composition of objects in the infant universe.

• The countdown has begun for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking the first time the tournament will be hosted across three different nations. • The event will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, expanding the scale of the competition. • This historic shift in hosting structure is designed to increase global accessibility and fan engagement across North America.

• Lacey Turner, best known for playing Stacey Slater in the BBC soap 'EastEnders', has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. • Turner is a highly decorated actress who has won multiple awards for her soap role and has appeared in various TV dramas and stage productions, including the series 'Our Girl'. • This announcement marks the beginning of the casting reveal for the 2026 competition, with Turner expressing that she is "so excited" to join the dance contest.

• Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have discovered evidence that the mysterious "little red dots" observed in the early universe may be black hole stars. • While many such objects have been spotted, researchers found a specific instance where all necessary pieces of evidence aligned to support this classification. • This discovery is significant as it helps scientists understand the nature of these enigmatic objects and the evolution of the early cosmos.

• On June 10, 2026, the UK government announced a new set of proactive measures designed to support domestic tech startups. • The initiative aims to foster innovation and provide a transformative framework for emerging companies facing investment risks. • This move is critical for maintaining the UK's competitiveness in the global technology sector by stabilizing funding environments.

• TechCrunch has announced a strategic partnership with VivaTech 2026 to identify and spotlight promising European enterprise AI startups. • The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between Paris and San Francisco by providing selected founders with a platform to showcase their innovations. • This initiative matters as it creates a direct pipeline for European AI entrepreneurs to gain visibility and access to the U.S. market.

Singer and actor has denied all charges after more than 20 women came forward with allegations going back to the 1990sThe French singer Patrick Bruel has been charged with rape and sexual assault in one of the biggest #MeToo cases in the French music industry.The 67-year-old, a major figure in French pop culture, was placed under formal investigation over several cases that included alleged rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Continue reading...

Prime minister is ‘hellbent’ on fighting any contest - including sacking ministers who support BurnhamUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s closest aides are “war-gaming” how to win a leadership contest ahead of Andy Burnham’s much-anticipated return to Westminster if he wins the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian understands.Downing Street sources said the prime minister had taken the last fortnight to think seriously about his future but was now “hellbent” on fighting any contest. His team is working through various scenarios, including sacking ministers who publicly supported Burnham. Continue reading...

Carlos ‘Indio’ Solari, virtually unknown elsewhere but said to be Argentina’s most popular musician, inspired cross-generational devotionThe line stretched for more than 7km (four miles). Mourners sang rock songs, waved banners, and carried speakers blasting music while smoke rose from makeshift barbecues and vendors sold T-shirts bearing the image of a bald man with sunglasses.As evening fell, a drizzle set in, but the queue remained. At the end of the line in Avellaneda, outer Buenos Aires, stood a chapel containing the body of a rock star. Continue reading...

Before the conflict began, inflation was at 2.4%, but the closure of the strait of Hormuz has affected energy pricesUS inflation jumped to 4.2% in May, the third consecutive monthly increase since the start of the Iran war and a three-year high, as Americans continue to face steep oil prices.Prices have increased sharply over the past several months, rising 3.3% in March before going up to 3.8% in April. In February, before the conflict began, inflation was at 2.4%. Continue reading...

• Industry experts expressed strong optimism regarding the future of AI startups in India during a June 2026 announcement in Bengaluru. • The growth is driven by an accelerating demand for automation, operational efficiency, and data-driven insights across various business sectors. • This trend signifies a strategic shift in the Indian economy as companies integrate artificial intelligence to maintain competitiveness and scale operations.

• Nebius Group (NBIS) saw its stock price surge 5% following the launch of the NVIDIA Physical AI Living Lab. • The new facility is designed to support robotics startups by providing the infrastructure needed to develop and test physical AI applications. • This initiative signals Nebius's strategic focus on attracting AI and robotics startups across the UK and Europe to expand its ecosystem.

• Data from the API routing platform OpenRouter reveals that Chinese-developed language models now account for approximately 61% of token consumption among the top 10 models. • This shift indicates that thousands of American AI startups are quietly migrating their traffic away from US-based models in favor of Chinese alternatives. • The trend is significant as it suggests Chinese LLMs are becoming more competitive in performance or cost, potentially challenging the dominance of Silicon Valley AI firms.

• The UK government has launched a £1.1bn AI hardware plan as part of a new national compute strategy to bolster sovereign AI capabilities. • Key investments include a £750m supercomputer in Edinburgh and targeted financial support for domestic chip startups. • The public initiative is complemented by nearly £4bn in private sector commitments from major tech firms AMD and Nebius.

• Several new titles are launching on OTT platforms between June 8 and 12, 2026, across services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and JioHotstar. • Key releases include the Hindi crime thriller *Raakh*, which focuses on the disappearance of two teenagers in Delhi, and the teen drama *Every Year After* about rekindling love. • Additionally, the hit Tamil film *Karuppu*, starring Suriya, is making its digital debut during this window.

• Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater, co-stars in the movie *Wicked*, have reportedly split after a three-year relationship. • The pair first met on the set of the film, where Grande earned an Oscar nomination and Slater was nominated for an Actor Award (formerly SAG) as part of the ensemble cast. • The breakup marks the end of a high-profile romance between two lead performers of one of the year's most anticipated musical adaptations.

Luca Parmitano to pilot all-male crew of four paving way for planned first human landing on Artemis IV in 2028Jared Isaacman, the Nasa administrator, hailed the creation of “Earth’s first starfleet” on Tuesday as he revealed the Artemis III crew and details of the next stages of the space agency’s project to return humans to the moon.An Italian astronaut, Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (ESA), will be the pilot of the planned two-week mission to lower Earth orbit next year that will test lunar landers from private companies Blue Origin and SpaceX. Continue reading...