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Downing Street responded after Andy Burnham publicly admitted that he would consider launching a bid to become Labour leader‘I wouldn’t flinch’: Burnham on social care, markets, Brexit – and the prospect of a general electionHello and welcome to our UK politics blog.David Lammy has come out in support of the prime minister, saying Keir Starmer would fight in a leadership contest after Andy Burnham said he would join one if elected an MP. Continue reading...

• EU policymakers and industry leaders launched two flagship initiatives aimed at digitalizing the European energy system and improving data center sustainability. • The "AI.grids" project, involving 48 partners including research institutes and grid operators, will develop sovereign AI models to optimize energy grid planning and management. • These initiatives are critical for ensuring the EU's energy infrastructure can handle the increasing demands of digitalization and sustainable power distribution.

Macron, Merz and von der Leyen among those due to gather in Montenegro for talks on integration of six countriesEuropean leaders will seek to show six western Balkan countries that they have a real chance of joining the EU one day, despite splits over how to handle enlargement of the 27-member bloc.Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen are among more than 30 leaders expected to gather in the Montenegrin coastal resort of Tivat on Friday for summit talks. The focus will be on integrating the six Balkan countries – among them Montenegro and Albania – more deeply into the EU single market, paving the way for them to join the bloc. Continue reading...

Peter Kyle says British politics fails to reward political accomplishment and Labour risks aping Tory instabilityThe Labour party has not learned the right lessons from the Conservatives about changing leader, a senior cabinet minister has warned, saying in a swipe at potential challengers that “entitlement is not a qualification”.Peter Kyle, the business secretary, said he was worried that British politics “rewards the wrong behaviour” and there was little credit for the work of his own department, including negotiating trade deals, rescue packages for companies and preserving British industry. Continue reading...

• 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.

• Asia has a critical three-year window to establish global AI leadership by prioritizing digital sovereignty and rethinking digital borders. • To remain competitive, the region must integrate trust and security directly into the architecture of AI systems. • Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework is highlighted as a vital regional blueprint for enhancing cybersecurity, data governance, and digital resilience.

Pelley reportedly rebuked ousting of show’s executive producer, executive editor and two top correspondentsScott Pelley, a veteran 60 Minutes correspondent, called out CBS News management in a heated meeting on Monday morning, attacking the network’s decision on Thursday to fire the show’s executive producer, executive editor, and two fellow correspondents, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, as part of a broader overhaul of the show, sources tell the Guardian.During a meeting of the show’s staff and Nick Bilton, its newly appointed executive producer, along with the CBS News managing editor Charles Forelle, Pelley took direct aim at Bari Weiss, the network’s controversial editor-in-chief. Continue reading...

• A calendar of 37 entrepreneurship, tech, and startup events is scheduled for June 2026, featuring both virtual and in-person gatherings. • Key programming includes a session hosted by Morgan Lewis focusing on US government contracting, specifically addressing AI use, supply chain issues, and IP rights. • The events will cover critical regulatory requirements, such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and the development of dual-use technologies.

• Sweden is actively pursuing a strategy to achieve global leadership in artificial intelligence, moving beyond the mere application of existing US-developed AI systems. • The Nordic nation aims to "change the rules of the game" by developing its own sovereign AI capabilities and infrastructure to reduce dependency on foreign technology. • This shift is significant as it represents a strategic effort by a European power to compete with the dominant AI ecosystems of the United States and China.

Santiago Campos says he felt obligated to criticize the network’s direction, which ‘stains legacy of Mike Wallace’Standing in front of the most powerful and well-known people in the television news business on Wednesday night, in a glitzy New York City ballroom, 18-year-old high school student Santiago Campos shocked – but also delighted – many in attendance when he called out the network that funded the scholarship he received: CBS News.Campos, a graduating senior at the District of Columbia international school who had traveled to New York for the 47th annual news and documentary Emmy awards with his mother and teacher, was awarded the Mike Wallace memorial scholarship, honoring the legendary television interviewer. Campos was given the award by veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, who said: “Mike would see something of himself in this year’s recipient.” Continue reading...

• On May 27, the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of India’s authority to conduct Special Intensive Revisions of electoral rolls to ensure voter list accuracy. • The ruling reinforces that citizenship is the fundamental basis for voting rights, aiming to prevent non-citizens and illegal immigrants from participating in elections. • This decision is significant as it validates the Commission's power to remove ineligible names, thereby tackling illegal immigration through administrative scrutiny.

• The pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index rose by 3.00%, reflecting market resilience driven by hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East. • Despite this growth, overall economic forecasts remain tempered due to ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and energy shocks. • Investors are increasingly focusing on European growth companies with high insider ownership, as this alignment suggests management confidence in future prospects.

• Japan continues to struggle with a "problematic" press freedom ranking, trailing behind regional neighbors like New Zealand (22nd), Australia (33rd), and South Korea (47th). • While overt government repression is rare, media insiders report that newsroom caution and pressures regarding information access significantly shape reporting. • This trend highlights a culture of self-censorship within Japanese media, contrasting sharply with global leaders like Norway, which topped the rankings for the 10th consecutive year.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian wrestling teams for their "outstanding performance" at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam. • The Indian men's freestyle wrestling team secured the undisputed team title, while the women's team also won their respective team championship. • This achievement marks India's best-ever overall medal haul at the event, highlighting the growing global competitiveness of India's youth wrestlers.

• A UCLA Luskin summary of new Kauffman research says U.S. entrepreneurship has rebounded after the pandemic. • The study also finds that more founders are starting businesses out of necessity, pointing to a shift in the quality and motivation of new business formation. • This matters for the U.S. economy because startup formation affects job creation, household income, and small-business financing demand.

Canada prime minister urges greater economic cooperation between the two countries in speech delivered in New YorkCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney has called for a new relationship with the United States to “help make America great again”.In a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, Carney said that there should be a “true partnership” that re-imagines cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Parliamentary records show the One Nation MPs claimed travel expenses for fundraising events on exclusive cruise liner where mining billionaire owns an apartmentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce billed taxpayers more than $3,000 to attend fundraising and donor events on board the luxury cruise ship The World, hosted by the mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.Guardian Australia can reveal that in December last year Hanson and Joyce attended multiple private events on the world’s largest privately owned cruise ship, on which Australia’s richest person owns an exclusive multimillion-dollar apartment. Continue reading...

• On Wednesday, May 27, Hungary's parliament approved legislation to maintain the country's membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC). • This move reverses a previous decision by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government to withdraw from the court, which had been slated for 2025. • The reversal follows claims from Orban's administration that the ICC had become "political," leading to the initial push for exit.

• Pepperdine University Athletics said the women’s golf team advanced to match play at the NCAA Championship and will face No. 1 Stanford in the quarterfinals. • The matchup is a high-level postseason test, with Pepperdine entering as an underdog against the top-ranked team in the field. • The advancement matters because NCAA match play determines the national title pathway and gives Pepperdine a chance to extend a breakthrough run.

• Since the end of 2025, over 20 new One-Person Companies (OPCs) have been registered in the Huayuan science park within the Tianjin Binhai High-tech Industrial Development Area. • These new ventures focus on "light-asset" and intelligence-driven sectors, specifically targeting AI content production, software development, and cross-border e-commerce. • This trend highlights a shift in Chinese youth entrepreneurship toward high-tech, low-overhead business models that leverage artificial intelligence and digital platforms.

• The United States beat Hungary 7-3 at the ice hockey world championship in Switzerland, a result that kept its quarterfinal hopes alive. • The Americans scored seven times in a high-scoring group-stage game, while Hungary managed three goals in a match that mattered for the U.S. standings. • The win is important because it preserved the United States’ chances of advancing deeper in the tournament and avoiding an early exit.

• Olympiacos Piraeus is set to face Real Madrid tomorrow in the championship game to conclude the 2025-26 EuroLeague season. • Head coach Georgios Bartzokas expressed the team's excitement and readiness during a pre-game press conference. • The matchup represents the culmination of the season, determining which of the two powerhouse clubs will claim the European title.

• Perfect World is organizing the CS Asia Championships 2026, an offline S-Tier Counter-Strike 2 tournament held in China. • The event will take place from May 20 to 24, 2026, featuring 16 competing teams. • As a Valve Tier 1 event, it carries significant competitive weight with a total prize pool of $400,000 USD.

Jacinta Allan will announce a plan to offer 2,000 apprenticeships at the revived State Electricity Commission, as part of a pre-election pushGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJacinta Allan will use Labor’s final state conference before the election to announce a plan for a government-owned electricity body to hire electrical apprentices to address significant workforce shortages. It will be the first time since the State Electricity Commission was privatised 30 years ago that the government has employed such apprentices.The Victorian premier will announce the plan in a speech that will draw on her father, Peter Allan’s experience as a linesman at the SEC, which was revived by Daniel Andrews in 2023 after being privatised by former premier Jeff Kennett in the 1990s. Continue reading...

In interview with Guardian, former health secretary sets out plans for government, including social care, tax and refugeesWes Streeting has insisted he can win over the Labour left, as he launches a shadow campaign for the party leadership, saying he has “beaten the odds” throughout his life and can do so again.The former health secretary, who called on Keir Starmer to resign as he quit the cabinet last week, warned Labour MPs that drifting on with Starmer in charge risked a Joe Biden situation that would usher in a Reform government. Continue reading...

The military alliance’s chief tried to manage expectations after Donald Trump said he would deploy 5,000 troops to PolandPoland’s Radosław Sikorski showed up beaming after last night’s US announcement on the deployment of 5,000 US troops to Poland.He thanks Trump for the decision, saying it means the presence of US troops in Poland “will be maintained more or less at previous levels,” after the Pentagon halted a planned rotation of 4,000 troops. Continue reading...

• The Premier League is approaching "Championship Sunday," the final day of the season, where the top three positions and the bottom two relegation spots have already been determined. • Despite the settled top and bottom of the table, several matches remain critical for mid-table positioning and historic symbolic milestones. • In separate sporting news, the U.S. men's ice hockey team defeated Germany 4-3 in a shootout during the World Championships.

• SpaceX scrubbed the launch of its upgraded Starship rocket from Texas on Thursday after multiple countdown pauses caused by fuel temperature and pressure issues. • The company plans to retry the launch this coming Friday following the technical delays that occurred seconds before the planned liftoff. • Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Cuba that the U.S. remains focused on changing the island's communist system.