Sunday, May 31, 2026 · 10 stories
A provision in a US Congress that could significantly increase military cooperation between the two countries is being considered by the House Armed Services Committee. The proposal includes increasing collaboration on weapons research, production and defence technology. If approved, this could signal a significant shift in the US-Israeli military relationship.
Standard Chartered Bank has maintained its long-term Ether price forecast at US$40,000, despite a sharp drop from its August 2025 high. The bank argues that the weaker market price does not fully reflect the stronger activity across its underlying network. The prediction is linked to the expected growth of stablecoins and tokenised real-world assets over the next few years. Standard Chartered's Global Research team noted that the ETH-BTC ratio is expected to rise to 0.08 by 2030, which would return it to levels seen near the 2021 market peak.
The Parisian football team has won the Champions League, defeating Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shootout. However, celebrations quickly escalated into violent clashes with security forces. At least 326 people were arrested across the country, including 20,000 on the Champs-Elysees. The police seized hundreds of fireworks and numerous flares, causing public disorder.
The International Association of the Netherlands (IAA) has been promoting high-quality healthcare cooperation with Japan, with Vice Chairman of the International Health and Welfare University Group (ISP) meeting with Mr. Kuninori Takagi. The group has a long history of collaboration with the Vietnamese healthcare sector, particularly in human resource training and medical expertise development. The meeting was an opportunity for both parties to discuss future cooperation.
The San Antonio Spurs have won the Western Conference finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in a Game 7. Victor Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie scored 22 points, while Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox contributed 16 points. The Spurs will now face the New York Knicks in Game 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points and nine assists. This marks the eighth consecutive NBA championship season for the team. Despite a back-and-forth contest, the Spurs won eight of the 12 games against the Thunder this season.
Thai has set a record for the number of people registering for a subsidy package, with over 26.2 million people registering, with 25.48 million approved as eligible to receive benefits. The registration program, which opened on May 25, has seen widespread interest from both consumers and businesses. An additional 6.64 million new participants signed up, indicating that the policy's reach is expanding. The 31-45 age group accounted for the largest proportion of participants, with women accounting for 56% of the approved individuals. The Thai government is implementing measures to stimulate the grassroots economy, reduce the cost of living, increase purchasing power, and support income for small businesses and local communities.
China's factory activity was flat in May, raising questions about its ability to withstand the fallout of the Iran war and increased demand. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index moderated to 50 from 50.3 in April, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The new orders sub-index dropped to 49.9 and production edged down to 51.2 from 51.5. Despite China's drop in exports to the United States, its global exports have been robust, particularly to Europe and Southeast Asia. The country's economic growth target is 4.5% to 5% for this year, the lowest since 1991, but still expected to meet its 2026 target.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that a peace deal with Iran is on the cards, despite stressing that military action remains a viable option if talks fail. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that any agreement must include a guarantee against nuclear weapons. He also mentioned the potential for immediate benefits such as reopening strategic straits. Despite this, he acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating with Iran's military and warned against complacency. His remarks came amidst reports that he has requested several amendments to the peace deal reached with Iran, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear material.
Costco is known for its discounting electronics and tech deals, particularly those of gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2. The company is selling a bundle for $519.99, which includes a 256 GB microSD card and a 12-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. The total would be almost $559.97 if bought piecemeal through the official Nintendo Store. While the Switch 2 is an excellent console, it is also not the best controllers for extended playtimes. The cheapest item to buy is the Switch PowerA bundle for only $19.97. Gift cards can be purchased during sales, and participants can use more with one gift card. Currently, Costco is selling two gift packs of Nintendo Switch: One for $89.99 and another for $179.99.
China's National Bureau of Statistics non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) unexpectedly printed at 50.1 in May, above the market forecast of 49.5. This indicates marginal growth in services and construction activity compared to April's pace and outperforming expectations. The unexpected increase in services sector indicates a resilience in the domestic economy. This could provide a bullish catalyst for assets tied to Chinese growth in early June, particularly call options on China-focused ETFs. The data also supports copper prices, a key barometer of economic activity.
