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In today’s newsletter: Labour has been decimated, Reform has taken up the official opposition, and the Senedd has expanded massively – taking the country’s new leadership into uncharted watersGood morning. While Westminster-watchers were obsessed with Labour’s leadership shenanigans, a new chapter in the relationship between Cardiff and the UK government opened.After claiming power in this month’s elections, Plaid Cymru has wasted no time in testing Keir Starmer’s “openness” to reform. In London, the party tabled an amendment to the king’s speech, calling for a number of justice, infrastructure and welfare powers to be devolved to the Senedd.UK news | A rescue deal for Thames Water is under threat because of a potential change in prime minister, government insiders have said.UK politics | Andy Burnham drew the battle lines for the future of the Labour party on Monday as the Greater Manchester mayor promised he would “change Labour” and win back the voters the party had lost.US news | Five people, including two suspects, were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, in what authorities said was being investigated as a hate crime.Middle East | Iran has made a new proposal for a deal to definitively end the war, officials in the region said, with Donald Trump claiming he had postponed new military strikes so talks could continue.Technology | A jury ruled in favour of Sam Altman in the culmination of a long and bitter legal battle that pitted the richest person in the world against a leader of the AI boom. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Potential investors fear Andy Burnham could push to bring utility companies into public ownershipA rescue deal for Thames Water is under threat because of a potential change in prime minister, government insiders have said.Ministers are negotiating a takeover deal for the stricken water company with a consortium of creditors led by American investment firm Elliott Management. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump renewed threats against Iran on May 18, warning that “the clock is ticking” as Washington presses Tehran for a deal. • CBS News reported that most Americans are worried about the economic fallout of the Iran standoff, with 67% disapproving of Trump’s handling of the economy and 57% saying his policies are making them financially worse off. • The dispute matters because any U.S. or Israeli military escalation could widen tensions across the region and raise energy and market risks.

Champion’s childhood coach recalls his early promise while a six-year-old fan hopes to follow in Rai’s footstepsThere was a real buzz and sense of pride at the 3 Hammers golf complex in Wolverhampton, the old stomping grounds of Aaron Rai, who on Sunday became the first Englishman since 1919 to win the US PGA Championship.It was the first major title of the 31-year-old’s career and Rai described it as “truly a dream come true”. “It’s phenomenal to think of how many things have gone into it and extremely rewarding to be stood here,” he told Sky Sports. Continue reading...

Deal would create largest regulated US utility, serving 10 million customers as AI-driven demand for power surgesNextEra, a US energy giant, announced on Monday that it will buy Dominion Energy in a $67bn deal, creating what the companies say will be the world’s largest regulated utility business.The deal comes as the appetite for energy sources has swelled with the construction of massive data centers across the country, built largely to supply rising demand for AI. Continue reading...

While RAF Lakenheath holds its secrets, neighbours contend with plane spotters, protesters and sonic boomsThe local people know there is something going on when the internet and phone signal drops dead, they say. If the heavy bombers are flying low, the teachers will pause their school assembly until the thunderous din has passed. The parish council has been briefed on the intricacies of sonic booms. Car insurance is more expensive here as the Americans “can’t drive” and sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of the road. The base became less open to its neighbours after 9/11. But everyone knows there are secrets held beyond the barbed wire, not least that this is where the nukes are stored.RAF Lakenheath is the largest US air force (USAF) base in Europe, part of what is known as the “tri-base area” of Suffolk, a stretch of 20 sq miles (52 sq km) of land leased to the US government around which a peculiar ecosystem has developed over the eight decades of the American presence. Continue reading...

MPs will decide whether Corin Robertson will face questions over decision to award security clearance against adviceThe UK’s next ambassador to Japan could be called to give evidence over the decision to award Peter Mandelson security clearance against the advice of vetting officials.Corin Robertson was the Foreign Office’s (FCDO) chief operating officer when she was involved in the decision in late January 2025 to grant Mandelson clearance, according to evidence given to MPs. Continue reading...

Andy Burnham may have a route back to Westminster – and a path to the Labour leadership. But first the Greater Manchester mayor must win a byelection in Makerfield, where Nigel Farage has vowed Reform UK will ‘throw absolutely everything’ at the contest.Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s north of England correspondent Hannah al-Othman, who has been talking to voters in the constituency Continue reading...

Exclusive: Leaked draft statement says party ‘cannot continue on its current path’ under PMKeir Starmer will not lead his party into the next general election, Labour-supporting unions have predicted, in an intervention that threatens to further destabilise the prime minister after a damaging few days.The 11 Labour-affiliated unions – which include Unite, Unison and the GMB – are expected to issue a joint statement on Wednesday saying “at some stage” the party will have to put a plan in place to elect a new leader. Continue reading...

Real estate executive got an unexpected earful when she spoke of ‘living in a time of profound change’Though college graduations usually consist of a speaker giving advice to students, one recent ceremony featured students giving the speaker their opinions – loudly.The University of Central Florida’s 2026 graduating class booed as a real estate development executive spoke about how “the rise of artificial intelligence is the next Industrial Revolution” and about “living in a time of profound change”. Continue reading...

Chief secretary, Darren Jones, says PM is ‘listening to colleagues’ but will make own decisions on way forwardUK politics live – latest updatesOne of Keir Starmer’s closest aides has declined to say whether he would lead his party into the next election amid mounting calls for him to resign.The prime minister is “listening to colleagues” who are asking him to set out a timetable for departure but would make his own decisions about the way forward, the prime minister’s chief secretary has said. Continue reading...

Warsh would succeed outgoing Fed chair Jerome Powell as Trump continues his push to influence the US central bankSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The US Senate is expected to confirm Kevin Warsh this week as chair of the Federal Reserve, as Donald Trump continues his campaign to influence the world’s most important central bank.The Fed’s influence over the economy spans from the job market to mortgage rates, and its every move is carefully scrutinized by investors on Wall Street. Warsh’s confirmation comes at a turbulent time for the central bank, which has fallen under intense scrutiny from Trump for not lowering interest rates. Continue reading...

Suspected triple murderer Julian Ingram is accused of killing Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of SydneyA body found next to an abandoned ute 50km north-west of Lake Cargelligo is believed to be a gunman suspected of killing his pregnant former partner in remote New South Wales.A large-scale manhunt for Julian Ingram, 37, has been under way since January when he allegedly shot Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of Sydney. He was on bail at the time for alleged domestic violence related offices against Quinn. Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, was last seen driving a Ford Ranger ute with council signage from the town on 22 January. The police said in a statement that a man’s body, understood to be Ingram, was discovered beside an abandoned ute 50km north-west of Lake Cargelligo. The body is yet to be formally identified. Continue reading...

• Shares in South Korea and Taiwan have rallied the most globally this month, with South Korea's Kospi index surging 78% year-to-date amid optimism for tech-driven gains. • Traders are positioning for Asia's technology leaders to lead the next phase of the worldwide stocks rally, focusing on semiconductor and electronics firms in these markets. • The outperformance underscores Asia's pivotal role in global equities, potentially sustaining momentum if U.S. and European markets stabilize.

The Cohutta town council will discuss reinstating the police and consider request for mayor's ‘immediate resignation’The town council in a small mountain community in the US state of Georgia called a special meeting on Friday evening to discuss reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all the officers.The notice for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta town hall, says the council will also consider a request for the mayor’s “immediate resignation”. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Green party made substantial gains. So is the era of two-party politics over? And can the prime minister survive?Lucy Hough speaks to political correspondent Alexandra Topping Continue reading...

• Chinese semiconductor equipment makers CCtech and Nextool Technology are deepening presence in SEA's OSAT centers as Malaysia and Singapore emerge as packaging and testing hubs. • Expansion driven by global supply chain shifts, southbound strategies, surging AI demand, and power electronics growth. • The moves signal a new upcycle for test and packaging equipment amid regional semiconductor boom.

Parties accused of ‘fiscal denial’ and failing to tell voters the scale of the challengeThe next Scottish government will need to make “really difficult” spending decisions soon after taking power, including tackling its large public sector pay bill, senior economists have said.Economists with the Fraser of Allander Institute, at the University of Strathclyde, believe the manifestos published by Scotland’s political parties during the campaign failed to tell voters about the true scale of the challenge. Continue reading...

The PM is clearly not prepared to risk backlash from Asian energy trading partners during a fuel crisis – but his government will face domestic challenges if it doesn’t move eventuallyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo separate events on Monday – one in rain-soaked Canberra, the other in sunny Gladstone – neatly explain why the federal government won’t pursue a new gas export tax in next week’s budget and why it might have no choice but to do so in the future.In the nation’s capital, Anthony Albanese hosted his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, for annual leaders’ talks that coincided with the 50th anniversary of the signing of a landmark treaty between the two nations. Continue reading...

• Malaysia's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is almost certain to go solo in the next general election, announced Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. • The decision signals potential shifts in political alliances ahead of the polls, amid ongoing unity government dynamics. • This development could reshape Malaysia's opposition landscape and influence regional stability in Southeast Asia.

The race to succeed Gavin Newsom has teetered wildly, and with Democrats in disarray, the Republican ex-Downing Street adviser is leading in the polls. Can he really pull it off?Few political aspirations have proved more futile over the past two decades than running as a Republican for statewide office in California. Yet Steve Hilton – transplanted Brit, erstwhile business entrepreneur, a former Downing Street adviser to David Cameron and a former Fox News host who says he is friends with half of Donald Trump’s cabinet – is having a remarkably good time of it.With less than six weeks to go before a primary election that has proved to be both dramatic and wildly unpredictable, most polls put Hilton narrowly ahead of a fractured field of Democrats in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor. It is an astonishing turn of events in a state where Democrats enjoy supermajorities in the state legislature and a two-to-one advantage over the Republicans in voter registration. Continue reading...

Hope that sessions of MDMA-assisted therapy could help soldiers fight longer by helping them process traumaAs the war on drugs approaches its end, a new doctrine could soon take hold: psychedelic drugs for active-duty soldiers suffering from PTSD.In two studies funded by the Department of Defense (DoD), 186 service personnel with PTSD will likely next year undergo multiple sessions of MDMA-assisted therapy. Continue reading...

Matthew Pennycook says ending system must be done slowly to avoid hitting housing supply and legal pitfallsA ban on new leasehold properties in England and Wales is unlikely to come into force until after the next election, the housing minister has said, as he defended the government’s piecemeal attempts to dismantle the system.The long-promised end would take years to “switch on”, Matthew Pennycook said, even though the ban of leaseholds on new houses was passed in 2024 and the government intends to pass one on new flats soon. Continue reading...

Rightwing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid announce new party before Knesset vote expected later this yearTwo of Benjamin Netanyahu’s most formidable political rivals say they are joining forces in an attempt to oust the Israeli prime minister’s coalition government in the election expected later this year.The former prime ministers – rightwing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid – issued statements announcing the merger of their parties, Bennett 2026 and Yesh Atid (There is a Future). Continue reading...

Prime minister says his job is not at risk over Mandelson vetting as allies back him against claims of wrongdoingKeir Starmer has said he will lead Labour into the next general election as his Downing Street allies denied claims of any wrongdoing over the appointment and vetting of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told Sky News’s Trevor Phillips on Sunday show that “no wrongdoing by the prime minister has been proven in relation to Lord Mandelson’s appointment”, adding “the whole situation is regrettable”. Continue reading...

• Google Cloud Next 2026 concluded with more than 250 announcements on products, customers, and ecosystem developments focused on AI and enterprise tools. • Key security features include Agent Anomaly Detection using LLMs to flag unusual AI agent behavior in real time and Chrome Enterprise's AI-aware extension threat detections now in preview. • Chrome Enterprise will soon offer shadow AI reporting to identify unsanctioned web-based AI and SaaS use by employees, enhancing visibility into shadow AI risks.

• Google Cloud and Wiz demonstrated integrated security platforms at Google Cloud Next '26 designed to defend against threats operating at machine speed while protecting AI and multicloud environments. • The partnership addresses the convergence of AI deployment, cloud infrastructure expansion, and sophisticated cyber threats, offering coordinated threat detection and response capabilities across distributed architectures. • The showcase reflects industry-wide recognition that traditional security models are obsolete against AI-accelerated attacks and that cloud providers must embed security-by-design into AI and multicloud infrastructure.

There are now 3,110 billionaires but analysis shows ‘deep structural acceleration’ in wealth creation around worldThe number of billionaires in the world could reach nearly 4,000 by 2031, figures suggest, as the super-rich accumulate wealth at an accelerating rate.There are now 3,110 billionaires globally, according to analysis by the estate agent Knight Frank. This is forecast to rise by 25% over the next five years, taking the total to 3,915. Continue reading...