Emerging

• A growing number of UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to retain international talent as they scale their operations overseas. • Approximately 80% of UK companies operating abroad are SMEs, many of which lack the sophisticated employee benefits structures required to compete with larger global firms. • This talent retention gap threatens the growth of emerging multinationals, as they cannot offer the competitive packages necessary to attract and keep skilled workers in foreign markets.

• The documentary *Dig!* explores the contrasting career paths of Anton Newcombe and The Dandy Warhols, highlighting the tension between artistic authenticity and mainstream success. • The film provides a blunt examination of artist burnout and the industry pressures that emerging musicians face while attempting to maintain their creative integrity. • This analysis serves as a case study for modern breakthrough acts, illustrating the timeless struggle of balancing indie culture with commercial viability.

• OpenAI is repositioning Codex as a marketing tool, while Google is introducing an opt-out mechanism for website owners to prevent their content from appearing in AI-driven search results. • AdCP is expanding its operations beyond programmatic advertising to broaden its service offerings. • Michael Guptan, leader of TD7, discussed the future of programmatic advertising and a strategic stake in the data startup Hightouch in an interview with Ad Age.

• The 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science experienced a significant 110% increase in submissions this week. • The surge in entries was primarily driven by local innovations in agricultural AI and local-language processing technologies. • This growth highlights a rising trend of home-grown technological breakthroughs aimed at solving regional challenges in Nigeria.

• Veteran investor Vikas Khemani stated at the ET Alpha Wealth Summit that current concerns regarding Indian equities are driven by "recency bias" rather than a decline in market fundamentals. • Khemani highlighted that India has consistently outperformed other emerging markets over a long-term horizon of 10 to 15 years. • The analysis suggests that investors should prioritize structural growth drivers over short-term market volatility to maintain a balanced perspective.

• Policy makers are currently working to establish a coordinated AI-security regime focused on frontier models, critical infrastructure, and voluntary government reviews. • Simultaneously, cyber attackers are evolving their tactics by refining malware distribution and abusing familiar platforms to target ordinary users at scale. • This tension highlights a growing gap between high-level government security frameworks and the rapid proliferation of low-friction criminal tooling.

• On May 27, Citi analyst Patrick Cunningham lowered the price target for Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) from $48 to $41. • Despite the reduction in the price recommendation, Cunningham reiterated a "Buy" rating for the stock. • The revision comes amid growing concerns regarding "demand destruction," suggesting a potential decline in the market for the company's products.

• Emerging-market currencies declined on Tuesday following clashes near the Strait of Hormuz, which reignited geopolitical tensions. • The market volatility occurred despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran. • In contrast to the currency slide, emerging-market stocks rose, driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence and rallies in South Korean and Hong Kong markets.

Labour MP writes to chair amid concerns building societies are overusing quick votes and failing to add members to boardsNationwide is under pressure to address “emerging governance issues” across the building society sector, amid concerns bosses are bundling voting options and failing to allocate board seats for members.The Stockport Labour MP Navendu Mishra has sent a formal letter to the chair of Nationwide, Kevin Parry, outlining growing unease over the way executives, including at Nationwide, have been engaging with members who ultimately own their building societies. A letter raising similar concerns was sent to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in recent weeks. Continue reading...

• Many telecom operators and businesses in emerging markets remain vulnerable to persistent AI-enabled cyber attacks despite increased 5G era cybersecurity vigilance and standard defensive measures. • Recent high-profile incidents including CloudFlare breaches demonstrate that even major infrastructure providers struggle against the evolving threat landscape as AI enables cyber threats to mutate beyond established legacy defenses. • The convergence of limited cybersecurity maturity in emerging markets, critical infrastructure dependencies on digital networks, and rapidly advancing AI attack capabilities creates a compounding vulnerability exposure.

• India's top military leadership issued a warning on May 10, 2026, stating the country faces a strategic nexus of Pakistan, China, and Turkey along its borders one year after Operation Sindoor. • Officials revealed Pakistan launched 300–400 drones, many of Turkish origin, during recent incursions, but India's air defence grid destroyed most using systems like S-400 and Project Kusha. • The alliance involves drones, missiles, air defence, and space capabilities, with terror launch pads across the Line of Control and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir fully mapped and no longer safe.

• Crossfin is broadening its investment focus into emerging markets outside South Africa following successful exits from Retail Capital, Adumo, and iKhokha. • The firm maintains a strong emphasis on Africa but has established a presence in Mauritius with backing for three businesses. • In 2025, Crossfin launched a Singapore-based investment vehicle targeting opportunities in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions.

• Oracle released a new customer security advisory on April 30, 2026, preempting threats to AI models. • The advisory highlights a cybersecurity harbinger, urging updated security postures for AI deployments. • It signals proactive measures against novel vulnerabilities targeting generative AI systems.

Analysis shows they are reliant on market investors such as hedge funds, which contributed $4tn last yearBusiness live – latest updatesEmerging economies are at greater risk of higher interest rates and currency shocks as a result of the Iran war because of increased reliance on market investors such as hedge funds, the International Monetary Fund has warned.The IMF’s analysis shows that a cumulative $4tn flowed into emerging markets last year from outside the formal banking sector – including from hedge funds and investment funds. Continue reading...

Citizen science data reveals early flowering, nesting and insect activity as global heating accelerate seasonal changeBluebells are flowering, swallows are returning and orange-tip butterflies are flying in what could become Britain’s earliest recorded spring.Records for early spring occurrences are being smashed as 2026 looks to be the earliest this century for frogspawn laying, blackbirds nesting, brimstone butterflies emerging and hazel flowering, according to Nature’s Calendar, which has logged citizen science records of seasonal change since 2000. Continue reading...