1Financemarketwatch.com
Evonik to Cut Further 3,200 Jobs in Cost-Cutting Plan -- Update
German chemical company Evonik Industries plans to cut 3,200 jobs from 2027 to 2029 as part of a restructuring plan. The job cuts will be part of the company's exit from its unprofitable polyester business. The company, which employed around 31,000 people at the end of last year, includes 2,150 positions in Germany and will affect all business and administrative units. The move reflects challenges facing the German chemical industry, including supply-chain disruptions and increases in energy costs due to the Middle East conflict. Evonika also plans to discontinue its global polyester segment next year and close sites in Witten and Marl, Germany, and Shanghai.
2Automarketscreener.com
QuantumScape Announces Agreement with Honda on Solid-State Battery Technology
QuantumScape Corporation (NASDAQ: QS), a global leader in next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, has announced a joint research agreement with Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., L. Ltd. The agreement aims to advance the QS battery platform through the combined contributions and expertise of both parties. This follows Honda's successful completion of a technology evaluation agreement with QS. The company's next-genuine solid-stolen technology is designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources towards a lower carbon future.
3Techtechtimes.com
Europe AI Sovereignty Crisis: G7 Offers Platform as Kill Switch Fears Grow
The U.S. Commerce Department issued an export control directive forcing Anthropic to disable Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for every user worldwide, not just foreign nationals. This move has turned European AI dependency from a strategic concept to an operational reality. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Western democracies would establish a coordinated AI cooperation platform within a month. The directive, which was issued before VivaTech 2026, also led to a significant legal and technical transformation for all businesses currently building on a US. frontier AI model. It means that every enterprise or government agency can remove active operational capability with no advance notice, no independent technical review requirement, and no restoration timeline. The challenge is to build more resilient technology strategies while still working with global partners.
4Financemarketscreener.com
UTI-causing Bacteria Resistant to Current Drugs, Finds National Study by Hackensack Meridian CDI and Quest Diagnostics
A study by Hackensack Meridian CDI and Quest Diagnostics has found that nearly 70% of a common bacterial strain, Klebsiella pneumoniae, which causes urinary tract infections, pneumonia and wound infections is resistant to current drugs. The study, published in Nature Communications, screened over 2,000 samples across 42 states and identified 267 multidrug resistant sequence types. The main culprit in this resistance spread is a gene known as CTX-M-15, which can easily swap between different bacteria on plasmids. The research provides critical updates for public health and provides the genetic blueprint needed to develop vaccines or treatments for vulnerable patients.
5Techgulf-insider.com
Apple Price Hike: Memory Costs Force iPhone Premium
Apple plans to raise prices on its products to offset the rising costs of memory and storage chips. The company's CEO, Tim Cook, stated that the situation has become unsustainable and that price increases are unavoidable. The price increases could add about $270 to the price of the next iPhone Pro model, or a price increase of more than 20%. The company did not specify which products would be affected. Since last year, the prices for memory, storage chips and DRAM have quadrupled, with TechInsights predicting both prices to continue increasing until 2027. Apple's next major product launch is expected in September with the iPhone 18 lineup featuring a new foldable iPhone.
6Sportsbrandonsun.com
Ivory Coast striker Wahi barred from World Cup match in Canada amid match-fixing probe
Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is being investigated into suspected match-fixing, has been barred from traveling to Canada for his team's next World Cup match against Germany due to the issue. The French soccer league has reported that an unusual amount of bets were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 game with Nice in May. Wahi will remain in the United States pending the team's return. The Marseille prosecutor's office stated that Wahi was arrested on May 29, 2026, and the investigation is ongoing. The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) has not yet been notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings concerning Wahi.
7Worldthe-independent.com
The Latest: US and Iran sign initial deal to end war, ease sanctions and open strait
The US and Iran have signed an initial deal to end war, ease sanctions and open the strait. The agreement requires Iran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and waives U.S.-backed sanctions on the country, allowing Iran to sell its oil freely. The White House had planned a signing ceremony in Switzerland, but its fate is uncertain due to conflicting information from the U.K., Iran, and Pakistan. Meanwhile, U.N. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe, whose outcome will depend on Europeans' responsibility for their own security. Gas prices fell below $4 a gallon on average on Thursday, marking the first time since March that the average cost for a regular gallon has been that low. The Trump administration plans to buy back another energy company’s US.S. offshore wind leases for four more projects in an effort to discourage the expansion of wind energy in favor of fossil fuels.
8Politicswdsm710.com
DOJ probes US banks over transactions tied to Iran’s supreme leader, Bloomberg News reports
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating how Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, built a global investment portfolio with Wall Street ties. The probe is part of a broader inquiry into allegations of money laundering and corruption. The focus of the investigation is on individuals involved in these transactions. The banks under review include JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.
9Politicsktwb.com
Italy’s emerging far-right party overtakes League for first time, poll shows
Italy's new far-right political force, Futuro Nazionale, has overtaken the League for the first time, according to a survey by YouTrend. This follows weeks of steady gains for former army general Roberto Vannacci's movement. The party, which is outside of the ruling coalition, aims to replace the League as Italy's leading far-left party. Its rise could complicate Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's bid to retain power in an upcoming election. The poll also confirmed that Prime Minister's Brothers of Italy are the country's most popular party.
10Techkfgo.com
China’s mid-year shopping festival highlights weak demand, rising role of AI
China's second-largest shopping festival, 618, has ended with a subdued performance, highlighting weak consumer confidence and government pressure on e-commerce platforms to reduce excessive discounting. The festival, which began in mid-May and runs until June 20 or 21, has been marked by the founding of ecommerce platform JD.com. This shift from a one-day event to a weeks-long stretch of discounted offerings has made consumer excitement less bearable, particularly amid ongoing issues such as a property sector crisis and ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. Last year's festival saw combined gross merchandise value (a business metric) rise 15% to 855.6 billion yuan ($127 billion). However, daily spending amounts also fell. Analysts predict that overall revenue will rise by a single-digit percentage point due to the longer shopping period.
