Tory

• Portugal and Spain have submitted a joint proposal to the European Commission to develop a massive AI gigafactory infrastructure network. • The project involves a total investment of €12 billion (approximately $13.7 billion), with funding to be split equally between the two nations. • Portugal's portion of the network will be centered in Sines, with additional facilities planned for Lisbon and Abrantes.

The Men Who Saved the World, the Pulitzer winner’s lost manuscript found in Yale archives, appears in Strand magazineA never-before-published short story by Edith Wharton, the first female Pulitzer prize winner, who encapsulated the so-called gilded age of US society in bestselling novels including The Age of Innocence, received a first public airing on Friday.The Men Who Saved the World, discovered in the author’s archives at Yale University, appears in the Strand, a quarterly magazine that has previously turned up lost or previously unknown works by literary luminaries such as Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene and Tennessee Williams. Continue reading...

• Europe is seeking increased regulatory control over global AI services, sparking a debate on technology protectionism between the EU and the United States. • The U.S. has cautioned Europe against these restrictive measures, citing historical failures like Brazil’s "market reserve policy" from the 1970s. • Brazil's previous "Brazil-first" approach attempted to shield domestic industry from foreign competition but ultimately hindered technological growth and innovation.

• An analysis by The Athletic identifies five teams—Spain, France, Argentina, Germany, and the Netherlands—as the most likely winners of the 2026 World Cup based on historical trends. • Spain and France are currently the top betting favorites, while Argentina enters as the defending champion and Germany is noted for its ability to win across different eras. • The Netherlands is highlighted as a strong contender despite never winning a title, having previously lost finals in 1974, 1978, and 2010.

Pulp Fiction director writes in Sight and Sound that ‘since the pandemic … it seems almost impossible for a new movie to come out that I don’t pick to death’Quentin Tarantino has criticised contemporary Hollywood, calling it “a flavourless sausage factory”.Writing in Sight and Sound magazine, Tarantino said that “since the pandemic … it seems almost impossible for a new movie to come out that I don’t pick to death”. He added: “Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid shit usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavourless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood.” Continue reading...

• The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is poised for a landslide victory in South Korea's local elections, marking a crushing defeat for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). • In a tight contest, PPP candidate Yu Eui-dong holds a slim lead of less than 5 percentage points over Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party and Kim Yong-nam of the DP. • This outcome signifies a major shift in political momentum, potentially strengthening the ruling party's legislative and administrative grip on local governance.

• The European Audiovisual Observatory held a panel at the Marché du Film to analyze how public funding and fiscal incentives are evolving amid declining cinema admissions and SVoD growth. • Key regional updates include Italy introducing stricter transparency rules for tax credits, Spain seeing a 33.6% drop in foreign film investment in 2024, and the UK launching a £380 million Creative Industries Sector Plan. • These shifts highlight the critical role of state aid in maintaining the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector against global market pressures.

• The European Audiovisual Observatory released a study on May 29, 2026, analyzing the impact of tax credits, cash rebates, and tax shelters on audiovisual production. • The report maps the legal frameworks governing these incentives, including the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and EU state aid law under Article 107(1) of the TFEU. • This research is critical as fiscal incentives have become primary drivers in determining where and how films and series are financed and filmed globally.

• The ruling Democratic Party of Korea achieved a landslide victory in local and parliamentary by-elections held on Wednesday, according to exit poll data. • The win provides significant political momentum for President Lee, who previously led the party to a 2024 victory before assuming the presidency following a crisis under the Yoon administration. • This electoral success is expected to buoy the Lee administration's legislative agenda and strengthen its mandate to govern.

• Major foreign media outlets from the United States and Japan are closely monitoring South Korea's nationwide local and National Assembly elections held on June 3. • Most international reports predict a victory for the ruling Democratic Party, citing current polling and political momentum. • Nikkei highlighted a potential risk for the ruling party, noting that South Korean elections often experience sharp shifts in balance due to last-minute variables or opposition supporter consolidation.

• The European Union's €20 billion initiative to establish five AI data centers is facing significant delays and funding gaps, with the bidding process pushed back to July. • Interest from potential partners has plummeted, with the number of interested companies dropping from 70 to just 10, leading some consortia to reconsider their involvement. • Key industry players are still involved, including Telefónica leading a Spanish consortium and Germany's Schwarz Group and Deutsche Telekom expressing interest in leading bids.

• The European Union's initiative to mobilize EUR20 billion (US$23.3 billion) to build a network of large-scale AI "gigafactories" is currently facing significant delays. • Funding uncertainty is hindering the project's progress, threatening the EU's ability to establish the necessary infrastructure for advanced artificial intelligence. • These setbacks are critical as global rivals continue to surge ahead, widening the gap in AI capabilities and technological sovereignty.

• Tom Hanks has revealed that *Toy Story 5* will explore the "terror" of modern technology as traditional toys struggle to remain relevant. • The plot centers on Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and their companions competing against a new tablet for the attention of children. • This narrative shift reflects the real-world transition from physical playthings to digital entertainment, adding a contemporary social layer to the franchise.

• French private equity firm Ardian is backing the development of a €5 billion AI "gigafactory" located outside of Paris. • The project involves the construction of a massive data center and research facility designed to bolster Europe's technological infrastructure. • This investment is part of a broader strategic effort to establish a "digital backbone for the future," reducing Europe's reliance on non-EU AI infrastructure.

Emails and WhatsApp messages reveal string of exchanges with ministers when he was president of Global CounselPeter Mandelson, as president of his then advisory firm Global Counsel, lobbied hard for ministers to attend his events and to meet his firm’s staff in the months following Labour’s general election win, newly released documents reveal.Emails and WhatsApp exchanges show how active the Labour peer was in the wake of the election to work his contacts within government to the potential advantage of both his company and his then campaign to be chancellor of Oxford University. Continue reading...

I Knew It, I Knew You is written with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff and marks a return to Swift’s country rootsAfter days of speculation online, Taylor Swift has announced the release of a new original song for Toy Story 5.Titled I Knew It, I Knew You, the single will be released on 5 June, with CD singles available for preorder on Swift’s website. Three variants will be available, each containing different versions of the song: a piano version, an acoustic version and the original. Continue reading...

Met says non-fatal stabbings took place after most of the crowds had dispersed on Sunday eveningSix people were stabbed after Arsenal’s Premier League victory parade in north London on Sunday, police have said.The Metropolitan police said the stabbings took place in the evening after most of the crowds had dispersed. Twenty-four people were arrested. 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.

• Investment firm Ardian has joined the AION consortium in a €10 billion bid to construct an AI gigafactory in France. • The project is part of a broader European Union strategy to enhance AI compute capabilities and reduce technological dependence on the US and China. • If France secures the official EU gigafactory designation, it may attract significant investment and talent, potentially overshadowing competing infrastructure ambitions in Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordics.

• PV Sindhu secured a dominating victory at the Singapore Open to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will face top seed An Se Young. • India's men's doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with mixed doubles pair Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila, also won their matches to enter the quarterfinals. • These results highlight a strong performance for the Indian contingent across multiple categories in the tournament.

• The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said it has advanced laser technology through the Bethe Program to support inertial fusion energy applications. • According to the report, the effort is aimed at developing a new laser driver that could improve the overall efficiency of fusion-energy systems. • The work is significant because better laser drivers are a core technical challenge for practical fusion power, especially if systems are to become more efficient and scalable.

Mark Rutte says Moscow’s ‘reckless behaviour is a danger to us all’ after drone hit apartments during attack on Ukraine. Plus, Paul McCartney on how old bandmates – and Oasis – inspired his nostalgic new albumGood morning.The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, has said the alliance is “ready to defend every inch” of its territory after a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania, a member state, during an overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine.What else is happening? Sweden will donate 16 of its existing Gripen fighter jets by next year to Ukraine, which will go on to buy an initial 20 of the latest model, they announced on Thursday, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited an airbase in Uppsala, 70km (45 miles) north of Stockholm.What did Netanyahu say? The Israeli prime minister, who is struggling for his political survival before elections in the next few months, said: “We are currently squeezing Hamas. We now control 60% of the territory in the strip. You know, we were at 50, we moved to 60. My directive is to move to … 70%.” Continue reading...

Parents face anxious wait for updates after blaze tears through Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru countyA fire that ripped through a dormitory at a girls’ school in Kenya overnight has killed at least 15 students, according to police, while dozens more were injured.Gilgil police station said at least 15 girls died at Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru county, about 76 miles north-east of Nairobi, according to a police report seen by Reuters. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not exceed its statutory powers while conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. • The court rejected arguments that the SIR was "ultra vires," stating that the process is legal even if it differs from the ordinary revision procedure. • This ruling validates the ECI's authority to implement specialized voter list updates across several states, including Bihar and West Bengal.

• The German federal cabinet approved draft legislation on May 27, 2026, requiring streaming services and TV broadcasters to invest a fixed percentage of their annual turnover into domestic film production. • The measure aims to bolster the local creative industry by mandating financial contributions from major digital and traditional media platforms. • While the production sector has expressed cautious support, the digital industry has voiced concerns regarding the potential impact on business operations.

• A new report by Avendus indicates that India's AI data center industry could drive the deployment of 700,000 GPUs over the next five years. • This expansion represents a massive $23-billion investment opportunity within the country's technology infrastructure. • The surge in AI-ready infrastructure is expected to benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including semiconductor suppliers, energy providers, cloud computing firms, and data center developers.

Consumer think-tank says K-pop fans should know the prices before being sent into a ‘high-pressure sales funnel’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian fans of the K-pop group BTS are accusing the ticketing giant Ticketmaster of deploying “predatory” and “crazy” tactics, and have urged people to lodge formal complaints with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).Ticketmaster Australia announced concerts at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Sydney’s Accor Stadium in February 2027 as part of the South Korean boyband’s comeback tour after a four-year hiatus. Continue reading...

Investigation finds number of dairy farms where cows cannot go outside has more than doubled since 2015There has been a huge rise in factory-style dairy farming of “battery cows” in the UK as farmers struggle with increasing costs and face selling milk at a loss.The number of intensive dairy farms that permanently confine some of their cattle indoors has more than doubled in the past 10 years, an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) has found. Data suggests there are now at least 180 dairy farms where cows have no access to the outdoors, up from about 70 in 2015. Continue reading...