World Monitor: Top 5 Briefing — 2026-05-24

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Tech & Business Top 5

1. NVIDIA: "China included in $200 billion CPU market outlook" CEO Jensen Huang stated that the company's $200 billion CPU market projection includes China, emphasizing that long-term demand in the Chinese market remains strong despite ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions.

2. DeepSeek permanently cuts flagship V4-Pro AI model prices by 75% Chinese AI startup DeepSeek announced a permanent 75% price reduction for its flagship V4-Pro model, reigniting the price war in the global AI market.

3. SpaceX Starship V3 meets most goals in pre-IPO test flight SpaceX’s upgraded Starship V3 completed its debut test flight in Texas, achieving most of its objectives, which is seen as a major milestone ahead of the company's planned IPO.

4. AMD expands production capacity in Taiwan to address tight global CPU market AMD CEO Lisa Su announced that she is requesting increased production from partners and is focusing on expanding manufacturing capacity in Taiwan to meet the surging global demand for CPUs.

5. Blue Origin announces $600 million expansion at Florida campus Jeff Bezos's space company, Blue Origin, announced plans to build a new $600 million manufacturing and research facility near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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Science & Innovation Top 5

1. James Webb Space Telescope observes exoplanet weather patterns Nature reported that the James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered weather patterns on the exoplanet WASP-94 A b by analyzing how it filters light from its host star.

2. China's EAST fusion reactor verifies density-independent plasma operation Researchers operating China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reported the successful experimental verification of a theoretically proposed "density-independent plasma operation regime," achieving stable electron density.

3. Leucine discovered to boost cell activation by protecting mitochondrial energy proteins Researchers have found that leucine, a nutrient found in protein-rich foods, can enhance mitochondrial function by protecting key energy-producing proteins within cells.

4. London police trial facial recognition — security vs. freedom debate heats up London police are conducting pilot tests of facial recognition technology on city streets, sparking an intense social debate over the balance between enhanced security and civil liberties.

5. Korea Post explores expanded investment in AI data centers and real estate Reuters reported that Korea Post is considering increased investment in AI data centers and real estate to improve profitability as it faces declining postal revenue.

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Financial & Market Briefing

• S&P 500 records 8th straight week of gains — Major stock indices closed higher on Friday, May 22, ahead of the holiday weekend, with the S&P 500 hitting its eighth consecutive weekly gain.

• Dow Jones hits all-time intraday and closing highs — The Dow Jones Industrial Average set new records for both intraday and closing highs on May 22.

• European AI stocks stay strong despite uncertainty from the Iran war — European AI-related stocks continue to show significant strength despite global market turbulence three months into the Iran war.

• USTR Greer: "No immediate tariffs on semiconductors, but sector protection is vital" — U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated there would be no immediate tariffs on the semiconductor sector but emphasized the importance of protecting the industry.

• Space ETF surges on SpaceX IPO anticipation — Analysts report that capital is flowing into space-related ETFs as anticipation builds for a potential SpaceX IPO.

• Fenwick law firm agrees to $54 million settlement in FTX case — Reuters reported that the law firm Fenwick has agreed to pay a $54 million settlement regarding its work related to FTX.

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Macro Context

1. Iran war reaches 3-month mark — Global diplomatic and market risks persist Reuters reports that as the war enters its third month with no clear signs of resolution, global markets remain volatile, heavily influenced by diplomatic developments.

2. U.S.-China tech friction — Semiconductor export controls and tariff uncertainties linger While the USTR noted there would be no immediate tariffs on semiconductors, NVIDIA's comments on the Chinese market and DeepSeek's aggressive price cuts reflect the ongoing tensions in the U.S.-China tech war.

3. Rise of dual-class shares — Trend toward stronger founder control Major tech companies like Meta and SpaceX continue to solidify founder control through dual-class share structures, posing new challenges for governance discussions.

4. Google appeals U.S. court ruling on search monopoly Google has filed an appeal against a U.S. court ruling regarding its search monopoly. The outcome could have far-reaching effects on the direction of global big tech regulation and the structure of the ad and AI search markets.