Tech
On May 30, 2025, Mary Meeker, dubbed the “Queen of the Internet,” released her first trends report since 2019, a 340-page analysis titled “Trends – Artificial Intelligence.” Published by Bond Capital, it highlights AI’s unprecedented growth, with ChatGPT reaching 800 million users in 17 months, outpacing the internet’s adoption. Meeker notes AI’s impact across industries like healthcare and agriculture, with job postings for AI skills surging 448% since 2018. She emphasizes global competition, particularly with China, and advocates for open U.S. talent policies. The report predicts AI reshaping work, with humans overseeing AI agents, signaling a transformative decade ahead.
On June 5, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 launched, igniting unprecedented demand. Priced at $449.99, it sold out instantly, with 2.2 million pre-order applications in Japan alone, surpassing the original Switch’s 330,000 first-week sales there. Nintendo forecasts 15 million units sold by March 2026, though analysts predict up to 20 million, potentially making it the fastest-selling console ever. The original Switch, with over 152 million units sold since 2017, trails only the Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 in the console wars, cementing Nintendo’s dominance. The Switch 2’s hybrid design and backward compatibility promise to extend this legacy.
Global
China’s economic struggles have popularized the term “involution,” describing intense competition for scarce resources amid stagnation. Unlike past global economic terms like “secular stagnation,” involution captures China’s unique crisis: a property slump, cautious consumers, and overcapacity, as noted by Geely’s chairman halting new plants. Despite stimulus hopes, fiscal policies remain reactive, not transformative. Youth face diminishing returns from education and jobs, fueling social media laments. Economists warn this inward spiral could persist without bold reforms, as China grapples with a slowing economy and global trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs and export curbs.
On June 3, 2025, Singapore’s financial authority (MAS) made a new rule: crypto companies in Singapore without a license must stop offering digital currency services to people outside the country by June 30, 2025. This is to prevent illegal activities like money laundering. If companies don’t follow the rule, they could face big fines or even jail time. Some worry this might make Singapore less attractive for crypto businesses, and companies might leave or change how they work. The goal is to keep Singapore’s financial system safe and trusted, even if it slows down crypto growth.
In 2025, the U.K. is reigniting its nuclear energy ambitions, driven by Labour peer Philip Hunt’s vision to secure economic growth and combat climate change. This revival, spurred by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s clean energy pledge, aims to bolster energy security and create jobs through investments in small modular reactors and projects like Sizewell C. By prioritizing nuclear power, the U.K. seeks to lead in sustainable innovation, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and meet net-zero targets. This bold shift promises to reshape the nation’s energy landscape, drive industrial growth, and position the U.K. as a global clean energy powerhouse.
On June 6, 2025, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolted northern Chile, disrupting a live interview on Radio Madero CL in Copiapó. Presidential candidate Carolina Tohá was discussing her campaign when the studio shook violently, prompting her and the journalists to flee. The quake, centered 36 km northwest of Chañaral at a depth of 76 km, caused minor infrastructure damage and power outages for over 20,000 people. No casualties or tsunami risks were reported. The incident, captured on video, underscored Chile’s seismic vulnerability.
Economy & Finance
On June 7, 2025, Geely Chairman Li Shufu warned of “serious overcapacity” in the global auto industry at a Chongqing forum. Geely, which owns Volvo and Zeekr, will halt new plant construction and production expansion due to a fierce price war in China, the world’s largest auto market. Chinese automakers like BYD and Chery are seeking overseas markets amid domestic oversupply. Geely plans to use Renault’s Brazilian facilities, though regulatory delays persist. This reflects broader industry challenges, with excess production capacity pushing firms to rethink strategies in a competitive, tariff-heavy global landscape.
Science
A Biology Letters study reveals Goffin’s cockatoos in Sydney, Australia, display remarkable problem-solving by using their beaks and claws to drink from public fountains. University of Vienna researchers tested eight cockatoos with a water-filled tube, inaccessible for direct sipping. All succeeded: four used beaks to dip objects like wood or straw to draw water, while four used claws to scoop it. This flexibility, observed in Sydney’s urban fountains, extends their known tool-use skills from food to water access, rivaling primate cognition. The findings highlight cockatoos’ adaptive intelligence in creatively solving environmental challenges in urban settings.
Entertainment & Culture
The New Yorker’s June 7, 2025, article features writers recommending long, immersive books for summer reading. Highlights include Elizabeth Jane Howard’s The Cazalet Chronicles, a five-volume saga of an English family during World War II, praised for its vivid prose. A.S. Byatt’s Possession captivates with its dual-timeline romance and academic intrigue, while her The Children’s Book explores Edwardian bohemia. Classics like Moby-Dick, The Lord of the Rings, and War and Peace are lauded for their depth, despite slow pacing. These “mega-reads” offer rich, expansive narratives, perfect for deep engagement.
The Economist’s 2025 list of 40 best books features standout fiction and non-fiction. In fiction, Kevin Barry’s vivid love story and Percival Everett’s James, a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, shine. Non-fiction includes Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan’s exploration of aging, Francis Spufford’s history of Venice, and Matt Kugelman’s account of the FBI’s Anom sting operation. Other notable works include AI: The Coming Waves by Mustafa Suleyman, a co-founder of DeepMind. Selected for quality and under 400 pages, these books by authors like Everett and Ramakrishnan offer engaging, thought-provoking reads for varied interests.
On June 6, 2025, renowned filmmaker Ang Lee, celebrated for masterpieces like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), a visually stunning martial arts epic, and Brokeback Mountain (2005), a heartrending love tale, announced his next project: Old Gold Mountain. This adaptation of C. Pam Zhang’s 2020 novel How Much of These Hills Is Gold follows orphaned Chinese-American siblings Lucy and Sam navigating survival and identity in a harsh Western frontier. With Hansol Jung’s screenplay, Lee’s return to literary adaptations promises the emotional and cultural depth that defined his Oscar-winning works, marking his first film since 2019’s Gemini Man.
Sports
At the 2025 French Open, 22-year-old French wildcard Lois Boisson, ranked world No. 361, stunned the tennis world with a fairytale run to the semifinals. After missing 2024 due to an ACL injury, Boisson used a wildcard entry to defeat top seeds, including No. 3 Jessica Pegula (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) in the fourth round and No. 6 Mirra Andreeva (7-6(8-6), 6-3) in the quarterfinals. Her resilience, fueled by neurovisual training during recovery, captivated Roland Garros crowds. Boisson’s dream ended against Coco Gauff, but she became the lowest-ranked woman to reach a major semifinal in 40 years.
On May 31, 2025, Simon Yates of Team Visma | Lease a Bike staged a heroic return, winning Stage 20 of the Giro d’Italia on the grueling Colle delle Finestre climb, where he had lost the lead in 2018. Supported by Wout van Aert’s brilliant breakaway, Yates outmaneuvered rivals Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), who faltered under Visma’s strategy. This Stage 20 triumph not only erased past heartbreak but also secured Yates the overall general classification victory, crowning him the 2025 Giro d’Italia champion in a redemptive, career-defining performance.
On June 5, 2025, the Indiana Pacers edged the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a stunning upset. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliant 34-point, 8-assist performance, showcasing his MVP-caliber scoring and playmaking, the Thunder couldn’t hold a 15-point fourth-quarter lead. Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds left and Andrew Nembhard’s clutch fourth-quarter plays powered the Pacers’ comeback. This marked Indiana’s first Finals appearance since 2000, stealing home-court advantage from the top-seeded Thunder.
On June 6, 2025, Norway stunned Italy with a 3-0 victory in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo. Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on Antonio Nusa’s through ball. Nusa then dazzled, scoring a brilliant solo goal in the 34th minute. Just before halftime, Erling Haaland sealed the rout, rounding goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after a Martin Ødegaard pass. Despite Italy’s 63% possession, their attack faltered with only 0.21 expected goals. Norway’s clinical counter-attacks secured their third straight win, topping Group I, while Italy faced a humiliating start.
On June 5, 2025, Spain edged France 5-4 in a thrilling UEFA Nations League semifinal at **Stuttgart’**s MHP Arena. Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old prodigy, sparked Spain’s victory with two goals, including a penalty, while Nico Williams and Mikel Merino struck early. Pedri’s sublime chip made it 4-0. France fought back with Kylian Mbappé’s penalty, Rayan Cherki’s stunning volley, an own goal, and Randal Kolo Muani’s late header, but Spain held firm. This nine-goal epic, the highest-scoring in Nations League history, secured Spain’s third straight final berth against Portugal.
The past week in Formula 1, centered around the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, 2025, was packed with drama. Oscar Piastri led McLaren to a 1-2 finish with Lando Norris, extending his championship lead to 10 points over Norris and 49 over Max Verstappen. Verstappen’s race unraveled after a deliberate collision with George Russell, earning a 10-second penalty, dropping him to P10, and leaving him one penalty point from a race ban. Nico Hulkenberg’s P5 for Kick Sauber marked a team highlight, while Lance Stroll withdrew due to wrist pain. Red Bull seeks a superlicence exemption for protégé Arvid Lindblad.
This Day in History
Prince Rogers Nelson, born June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, emerged as a cultural icon through unparalleled musical genius. A prodigious talent, he mastered multiple instruments, blending funk, rock, R&B, and pop into a singular sound. His 1984 masterpiece Purple Rain catapulted him to global stardom, with its raw emotion and genre-defying style. Prince’s provocative lyrics, flamboyant fashion, and defiance of racial and gender norms redefined artistry. Albums like Sign o’ the Times showcased his versatility, while his name change to a symbol in 1993 cemented his rebellious legacy. Prince’s fearless creativity made him one of history’s greatest artists.
Funny
by Dave Blazek, The Washington Post, June 7, 2025
Previous Issues
June 7, 2025, When AI Swung a Racket and Nadal Hung Up His
May 25, 2025, Shining Stars of the Last Generation
May 17, 2025, AI Advances Scientific Discovery
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Every Dog Has Its Day
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Last modified on 2025-06-07
