Long

• Stock futures declined on Wednesday, led by sharp drops in technology shares, as investors await a critical upcoming inflation report. • Oil prices increased following U.S. "self-defense strikes" against Iran and comments from President Donald Trump stating that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal." • The market volatility reflects growing economic uncertainty regarding inflation and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

• The FDA has officially approved the use of bemotrizinol, a highly effective sunscreen ingredient that has been widely utilized in European and Asian markets for years. • The decision follows long-term pressure from skincare advocates and sunscreen enthusiasts who pushed for the U.S. to adopt the ingredient to improve sun protection standards. • This move matters because bemotrizinol is known for its superior photostability and broad-spectrum coverage, offering better protection against UV rays than many current FDA-approved filters.

Home city of Amazon and Microsoft passes moratorium as backlash against energy-guzzling AI infrastructure growsSeattle has passed a year-long moratorium on the construction of new datacenters. The city council voted unanimously in favor of the temporary ban on Tuesday.A major tech hub whose metro area is home to Amazon and Microsoft, Seattle is the largest US city to have passed such a moratorium as the backlash against AI infrastructure grows across the country. Continue reading...

Researchers believe the same pair of birds have been mating and nesting in the unusual spot in the Daintree Rainforest for 15 consecutive yearsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt started by chance – but it should have come as no surprise that two ospreys would pick a hi-tech research facility to make their home.James Cook University’s 47-metre tall crane towers over the far-north Queensland rainforest canopy, making it the perfect nesting place for the seabird. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Landscape painter was also a keen musician and played a cello made for him by his friend and mentorHe was one of Britain’s greatest landscape painters, with masterpieces including The Hay Wain and View on the Stour near Dedham But John Constable was also a keen musician – and his personal cello, which he commissioned, is to be played in public for the first time in 100 years after its restoration.The instrument was made in 1802 and it is thought Constable may have played it in a local band in his home village of East Bergholt in Suffolk. Continue reading...

• European stock indices remained largely flat or recovered slight losses during the morning session on June 8, 2026. • Market activity was characterized by light changes across major indices, while U.S. futures showed an upward trend. • Investors are reacting to developments regarding a potential ceasefire, though uncertainty remains about the long-term stability of the agreement.

Government urged to help speed up vital industrial project amid growing alarm over National Grid delaysTrade unions have called for the government to intervene to speed up Tata Steel’s connection to the electricity grid in south Wales, after the company said its new furnace would be delayed by up to a year.Tata Steel last month told investors that National Grid had said it would face a six- to eight-month delay. That could stretch to 12 months amid unexpected engineering difficulties. Continue reading...

Senior medical staff call for solutions to tackle root causes of excess deaths amid tenfold increase in a decadeMore than 1,300 patients a month in England are dying needlessly due to long A&E waits, a tenfold rise in a decade, figures suggest.There were more than 300 deaths linked to long waits every week in 2025, up from 30 a week in 2015, according to analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Continue reading...

• The European Union unveiled a comprehensive technology sovereignty package on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, aimed at reducing the region's reliance on U.S. Big Tech. • The initiative seeks to bolster domestic European tech firms and limit the market dominance of American giants, particularly within the AI sector. • While EU officials have celebrated the move as "Tech Liberation Day," industry experts caution that achieving true independence will require significant time and cross-border collaboration.

• The European Commission unveiled a "tech sovereignty" plan on Wednesday designed to reduce Europe's heavy reliance on foreign technology providers. • Rather than attempting to shut out American competitors, the strategy focuses on boosting domestic European champions to strengthen the region's digital infrastructure. • This move matters as the EU seeks to secure the critical technologies that underpin the modern economy and decrease vulnerability to external digital supremacy.

• The European Commission is developing a "tech sovereignty plan" designed to strengthen domestic digital champions and reduce reliance on American technology. • A central component of this strategy is the Cloud and AI Development Act, which empowers the Commission to vet whether countries are trustworthy enough to handle sensitive public sector data. • This initiative marks a strategic shift toward fostering internal EU capabilities rather than simply implementing restrictive measures against US competitors.

Elahere is first new drug for chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer to be approved by NHS for 20 yearsHundreds of women with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer can now be offered a new life-prolonging treatment, after NHS England approved its introduction. It is the first new drug for resistant ovarian cancer to be approved for more than 20 years.Ovarian is the 18th most common type of cancer globally, affecting more than 300,000 women a year. More than three-quarters of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it harder to treat. Continue reading...

• The OECD has warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could significantly slow global economic growth and increase uncertainty. • Key risks include the potential for a global recession and rising inflation if the war continues into next year. • Asian nations are expected to be the most severely impacted due to their heavy reliance on energy supplies from the Middle East.

• Europe is facing a critical geopolitical crisis in 2026, driven by aggressive unilateralism from Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, alongside escalating trade wars and energy instability. • The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) serves as a primary example of failure, where the development of a 6th-generation fighter jet has stalled due to national vanity and industrial disputes. • The author argues that European federalism must shift from a political ideology to a necessary survival strategy to ensure strategic autonomy and security.

Star says her older sister, an actor and film-maker, died ‘in her home, in nature, at peace’Jamie Lee Curtis has announced the death of her sister, the actor Kelly Curtis, at the age of 69, describing her as “talented” and “jaw droppingly beautiful”.Jamie Lee said her sister had died “in her home, in nature, at peace” on Saturday, having had roles in films including Trading Places (1983), in which the pair both appeared, Magic Sticks (1987) and The Devil’s Daughter (1991). No cause of death was given. Continue reading...

• The United Nations has asserted that 100% of the Gaza Strip belongs to Palestinians, directly opposing plans by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish Israeli control over 70% of the territory. • This diplomatic clash occurs amid high regional tensions, with Iran and Hezbollah closely monitoring the situation for any signs of further escalation. • The UN's stance serves as an attempt to establish clear diplomatic parameters to prevent an expansion of the conflict that could involve additional regional actors.

• NASA announced in December 2025 that construction of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is complete, with a scheduled launch by May 2027 or potentially as early as fall 2026. • During its five-year primary mission, the observatory aims to discover approximately 100,000 new transiting planets and create the largest catalog of rogue worlds in history. • This mission is significant because it will drastically expand the known exoplanet population and provide unprecedented data on planets drifting without host stars.

• OpenAI’s reasoning model reportedly autonomously disproved a longstanding geometry conjecture on May 21, 2026, in a development highlighted in a May 2026 AI news roundup. • The result is notable because it suggests current frontier models can contribute to formal mathematical discovery, not just text generation or code assistance. • The same roundup places the breakthrough alongside other major model updates, underscoring how quickly the AI research frontier is moving.

The public broadcaster launched an investigation into the former bikie’s involvement in a podcast sponsored by an online casinoFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal is no longer working for the ABC after an investigation into the former bikie’s involvement in a podcast sponsored by an online casino.The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, told Senate estimates on Thursday Fazal’s employment had been “terminated” after the investigation. Continue reading...

Welfare advocates say while the reforms are a step in the right direction, the privatised employment services model has failed and should be torn upGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMutual obligations will be different for every welfare recipient, the employment minister, Amanda Rishworth, says, signalling an end to jobseekers being forced to submit “endless” applications for roles they may not be qualified for.But welfare advocates and a key trade union have said Labor’s employment system changes don’t go far enough and fall short of the reform needed to the failure-plagued sector – they have called for an end to the privatised job services mode,l which Rishworth admits is not providing enough help.At the lower level, a digital service with “individualised resources and brief interventions” for people who are work-ready but need help finding the right job fit;a “targeted provider-led” stream to help people build skills and confidence to gain employment;and at the upper end, more intensive services for people with complex requirements, who will be given more time, flexibility and support to build their confidence and capabilities. Continue reading...

Officers were ‘placed at significant risk, being in a gunfight armed with 9mm Glocks against long-arms’, NSW police deputy commissioner saysPolice were outgunned at the Bondi massacre on 14 December, armed with 9mm Glock pistols in a gun battle against rifles, the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion has heard.New South Wales police deputy commissioner David Hudson gave evidence to the commission that police officers put themselves in danger to shoot and neutralise the attackers. Continue reading...

• SCOTUSblog reported that Supreme Court oral argument sessions are getting longer, raising questions about how the justices manage time and case presentation. • The trend has drawn attention because expanded arguments can change how much each justice can probe the lawyers and how many cases the Court can hear efficiently. • The issue matters for judicial administration, since procedural changes at the Court can affect both case outcomes and the pace of the docket.

Classic starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing will include footage censors decided was too gruesomeHammer Films’ horror masterpiece Dracula is to be re-released in UK cinemas in October, including footage believed to have been lost for more than six decades after it was deemed too gruesome for audiences.The 1958 movie from starring Christopher Lee as Count Dracula and Peter Cushing as Doctor Van Helsing has been fully restored in 4K. Continue reading...

• France is currently discussing joining a joint British and German initiative to develop long-range missiles designed to strike deep into Russian territory. • Separately, Norway is seeking to participate in a European Union plan to facilitate the rapid transfer of military personnel and equipment during crises. • These developments signal an increase in European defense integration and a strategic shift toward enhanced long-range deterrence against Russia.

• France is seeking to join a joint British-German initiative to develop long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory, according to the Financial Times. • Trilateral negotiations regarding Paris' accession to the missile program are expected to take place soon to strengthen European defense capabilities. • Separately, Norway's Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård has expressed interest in a plan to facilitate the rapid transfer of military personnel and equipment across the EU during crises.