War

The Middle East is Japan’s main source of crude oil, from which naphtha is extracted and used to make items including printing ink and plasticsTakeaways, supermarkets, and bakeries in Japan are running out of plastic bags, trays and food service gloves amid widening shortages of the key plastic ingredient, naphtha, due to the Middle East crisis.The food sector accounts for nearly one-third of Japan’s annual plastic use of more than 8m tonnes, and price rises and shortages are hitting hard across the industry and beyond. Some outlets have begun offering perks to customers who bring their own bags, plates or containers. Continue reading...

Stunning rebuke to president as lawmakers vote 215-208 for measure forcing him to seek congressional approvalThe US House of Representatives delivered a stunning rebuke to Donald Trump over his war on Iran on Wednesday, as representatives backed a move to force him to seek approval from Congress or withdraw US forces.The House voted 215 to 208 in favor of the war powers resolution, as four Republicans voted with Democrats. Continue reading...

Senior police figures are pushing back against politicians they accuse of stoking tensions over Henry Novak’s murderPolicing could be driven back to the 1960s by false claims officers are biased against white people, the leader of Britain’s black officers has said.Ch Insp Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association, spoke out amid growing concerns that politicians such as Nigel Farage were stoking tensions around the murder of teenager Henry Nowak by making baseless and provocative claims. Continue reading...

• The OECD has lowered its 2026 global growth forecast, warning that ongoing conflict in the Middle East is damaging worldwide economic prospects. • A more severe economic shock is predicted if an effective ceasefire is not reached before 2027, though some impacts may be offset by tighter fiscal policies and the end of the NextGenerationEU recovery spending. • Specifically in the United Kingdom, growth is projected to drop from 1.4% in 2025 to 0.9% in 2026.

• 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.

OECD forecast sets out economic risks from conflict, pointing to potential shortfalls to key energy productsOECD predicts spate of recessions globally if Iran conflict drags into 2027Rural areas in the UK would be particularly at risk of diesel shortages if the conflict in Iran continues to squeeze supplies, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has warned.The OECD predicted economic growth of 0.9% in the UK this year – a modest upgrade from the 0.7% it feared in March when it last updated its forecasts. It said government spending will help to support the economy in the short term. Continue reading...

• A top media expert has warned the Thai government that the country is facing a digital sovereignty crisis due to the growing influence of foreign tech giants. • The adviser specifically highlighted Elon Musk's Starlink, noting that its ability to beam internet from space could allow users to bypass national networks and government regulators. • This shift matters because it threatens the state's ability to control information, manage data, and enforce domestic media regulations.

• ServiceNow (NOW) shares surged 9% following an endorsement from Nvidia regarding the future of AI-driven enterprise software. • The company has set an ambitious financial target to exceed $30 billion in subscription revenue by the year 2030. • This growth is driven by a combination of strong fundamental business performance and increasing optimism surrounding AI integration.

Reform advisory committee says changes will undermine scheme’s original intentions and give unprecedented power to the health ministerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe national disability insurance scheme’s proposed overhaul will cause “material harm” to Australians with disabilities, undermine its original intentions and hand unprecedented power to the health minister, the federal government’s own reform advisory committee warns. The Australian Human Rights Commission has also urged the government to slam the brakes on the potentially “regressive” changes to the NDIS, saying more consultation time was needed to avoid the “clear risk of adverse and unintended human rights impacts”.The Albanese government is eager to move ahead with changes that are estimated to remove more than 200,000 people from the $50bn-a-year scheme by 2030 in a bid to secure its financial sustainability. Continue reading...

• Indian benchmark indices opened in the red on Tuesday, with the BSE Sensex dropping 389.12 points (0.52%) to 73,878.22 and the NSE Nifty 50 slipping 153.45 points. • The decline is driven by escalating tensions in the US-Iran conflict, which have dimmed hopes for a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. • Market volatility is further intensified by rising crude oil prices and a consistent trend of foreign investors selling off assets.

• Top U.S. CEOs are bracing for a possible downturn, with a Fox Business report saying confidence fell to 47 in Q2 2026 and that 47% of executives now say the economy is worse than six months ago. • The survey-based warning points to reduced hiring and more cautious corporate spending, suggesting businesses are preparing for weaker demand if conditions deteriorate further. • The shift matters because CEO sentiment often influences capital investment, employment plans, and earnings guidance across U.S. industries, especially if large firms become more defensive.

• Mainstream centre-left and social democratic governments across Europe are increasingly adopting hard-right policies, including stricter migration enforcement and collective policing. • These parties are implementing these measures, such as those seen in Denmark, to maintain electoral viability and counter the rise of far-right competition. • The strategy is proving largely ineffective, as evidence suggests that adopting these positions provides little to no electoral reward for the centre-left.

Community leaders express disgust at Vickrum Digwa over murder of Henry Nowak amid fears of rise in racial tensionsAmandeep Singh, an educator with the charity Basics of Sikhi, is proud of his community’s deeply-rooted place in British society.“We’re a community that has probably been celebrated as one that is very successfully integrated into the British value system,” he said. “We’ve worn kirpans for hundreds of years and since we’ve been invited to settle in this country,” he said. Continue reading...

‘Completely unnecessary’ hybrid cans are not easily recycled or accepted by container refund schemes, and are already banned in WAGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA single-use plastic and metal drinking vessel dubbed a “franken-can” has been given the dubious honour of the nation’s worst plastic packaging.The plastic-metal hybrid can, which is not accepted by container refund schemes or easily recycled – has won the inaugural Unpackit award for Australia’s worst packaging. Continue reading...

Mathew Lawrence and Mark McVitie, previously seen as favouring Burnham and Streeting respectively, say change of direction is neededUK politics live – latest updatesTwo of Labour’s leading policy figures, who put forward “manifestos” for Andy Burnham and a centrist grouping, are to join forces to help forge new ideas for a future government.The authors of the two essays – which have previously been described as competing visions for a Burnham- or Wes Streeting-led government – said Labour urgently required a serious intellectual debate about its direction rather than simply a change of personality. Continue reading...

Home secretary’s condenmation of ‘misinformation and inflammatory commentary’ comes after death threats to policeUK politics live – latest updatesThe home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has warned of a “dangerous undercurrent” in the wake of the murder of Henry Nowak, who was falsely accused of racism by a Sikh man who had fatally stabbed him with a ceremonial dagger.Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the December 2025 murder of 18-year-old Nowak. Continue reading...

• Experts are warning that Vladimir Putin may be considering expanding military operations into Europe as Russia's offensive in Ukraine begins to falter. • A recent drone strike in Romania is being highlighted as a critical warning sign of potential Russian aggression beyond Ukrainian borders. • This shift in strategy would signify a dangerous escalation, potentially drawing NATO allies directly into a larger continental conflict.

• Fund managers are increasingly purchasing European software stocks after a period of significant decline in valuations. • The shift is driven by a decrease in investor fears that artificial intelligence will disrupt or replace traditional software business models. • This trend marks a strategic pivot toward "bargain hunting" in a sector that was previously avoided due to AI-related volatility.

Wetter weather expected to bring surge of slugs out of hiding, just as strawberries experience bumper early crop Entomologists in England are expecting a surge in slugs coming out of hiding to munch the nation’s strawberry plants after weeks of sun followed by wetter weather has caused a bumper crop.The Royal Horticultural Society is bracing for a surge in inquiries from its 625,000 members, who write in with their garden gripes. Workers at the RHS have also noticed a spate of slugs in the charity’s gardens, including Wisley in Surrey.Slugs love a young, vulnerable seedling, so transplant sturdy plantlets grown in pots. These can then be given some protection with cloches.The leaf-munching creatures are excellent for compost heaps as they get rid of dead and decaying matter, helping turn your waste into lovely compost. So why not go out with a torch on a mild evening while the weather is damp, and hand pick slugs into a container? These can then be placed either into a compost heap, where they can feast on all your garden waste, or near less vulnerable plants.Some gardeners do strategic planting, making sure to put plants slugs find delicious near their favourite plants so these are eaten instead.Why not dig a pond to encourage frogs, which will do slug elimination for you without the guilt of setting down poison pellets or drowning them in beer. It’s better for the ecosystem, too.Encourage birds with a bird feeder – especially during spring when the young can be fed with a juicy snail.Raking over soil and removing fallen leaves during winter can allow birds to eat slug eggs that have been exposed. Continue reading...

• Dow Jones reported that Wingman Growth Partners raised $215 million for a fund aimed at software-related deals. • The headline points to continued private-equity activity in technology and software, even as public markets remain sensitive to rate and growth signals. • A fundraise of this size suggests investors still see opportunity in software consolidation and specialized buyout strategies.

• Asia-Pacific stock markets mostly declined on Tuesday as investors reacted to renewed uncertainty surrounding peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. • Significant losses were seen in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 dropped 1.32% and the Topix fell 1.14%, while South Korea's Kospi plummeted 1.92% and the Kosdaq sank 3.13%. • Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also retreated by 0.71%, though Hong Kong's Hang Seng and mainland China's CSI 300 managed marginal gains of 0.13% and 0.1%, respectively.

• Indian stock markets opened lower on Tuesday, with the Nifty 50 dropping 0.66% to 23,229.15 and the BSE Sensex falling 0.43% to 73,945.20 as of 9:15 a.m. IST. • The decline is attributed to investor anxiety over escalating tensions in Iran and significant capital outflows from the market. • In separate legal news, the Supreme Court has cleared wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Games trials.

Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv hit, with apartment buildings among the targets according to officials, after president said intelligence predicted ‘massive strike’ Russian air raids on major Ukrainian centres including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv killed at least five people and wounded dozens by early morning on Tuesday, authorities said.Four people were killed and 16 injured in a Russian attack on Dnipro, in Ukraine’s east, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Hanzha. All those injured were taken to hospital, he said, posting pictures of heavily damaged residential buildings, burnt-out vehicles and a destroyed children’s playground. Continue reading...

• The Dow Jones index declined on Monday following reports that Iran has halted ceasefire negotiations with the United States. • Market volatility was mixed, with Nvidia seeing a price increase while other sectors reacted to the geopolitical tension. • Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway contributed to market movement by boosting its position in an undisclosed stock.

State sues maker of ChatGPT and CEO Sam Altman, alleging company ‘allowed a dangerous product to reach millions’Florida filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and its CEO, Sam Altman, on Monday alleging that the company concealed serious safety risks with its chatbot. Florida is the first state in the US to sue the artificial intelligence company.The 83-page suit was brought by Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, and alleges that OpenAI “aggressively marketed” ChatGPT to the public while ignoring safety warnings and possible dangers of the product. Continue reading...

• Tehran has suspended negotiations with the United States, citing recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon as the primary reason for the breakdown. • The escalation threatens to reignite direct military exchanges and risks destabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. • This diplomatic collapse jeopardizes President Trump's political standing and could trigger economic instability through fluctuating energy markets.

• The Shanghai International Film Festival announced the full nomination lineup for the 28th Golden Goblet Awards on May 30, 2026. • Multiple Chinese-language productions earned nominations across major categories, showcasing the competitive quality of regional filmmaking. • The nominations underscore the increasing influence and strength of Asian cinema within the global international film circuit.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs, driven by investor enthusiasm surrounding the artificial intelligence boom. • Oil prices surged by more than 3% due to concerns over the fragility of the conflict's end in Iran. • Regional performance was mixed, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 0.8% and Taiwan's Taiex climbing 1.4%, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% following reports of softened factory activity and slowing export demand in May.