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• Buriram United behaalde woensdag een geaggregeerde overwinning van 4-3 op Johor Darul Ta'zim in de halve finale van het ASEAN Club Championship, waarmee ze doorgaan naar de finale ondanks dat JDT de tweede wedstrijd met 2-1 won in de Chang Arena in Thailand. • De dominantie van Buriram in de eerste wedstrijd bleek doorslaggevend; ze wonnen met 3-1 in het Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru met slechts drie schoten op doel, waarmee ze een onoverbrugbare voorsprong creëerden die JDT ondanks hun beste inspanningen in de returnwedstrijd niet kon inhalen. • Kingsley Schindler scoorde een krachtig doelpunt in de 98ste minuut om de progressie van Buriram te bezegelen, wat tevens JDT's eerste overwinning markeerde op de Thaise club na vijf eerdere nederlagen in onderlinge confrontaties.

• Republikeinen in het Huis drijven op 12 mei door met aanpassingen aan een door de Senaat aangenomen woningbouwpakket, zelfs nadat president Trump opriep tot de aanname van de oorspronkelijke versie zonder wijzigingen. • Deze inspanning valt samen met pogingen van de regering om 1 miljard dollar aan beveiligingsfondsen binnen een groter, partijlijn-gebaseerd uitgavenpakket gericht op immigratiehandhaving te verkrijgen, wat mogelijk Trump's ballroom-project ondersteunt. • Directeur van de Secret Service, Sean Curran, ontmoette dinsdag Republikeinen in de Senaat om steun veilig te stellen, terwijl Trump een deadline van 1 juni heeft gesteld aan wetgevers om de wetgeving af te ronden.

• De Japanse premier Sanae Takaichi streeft naar wetgeving om het eerste gecentraliseerde inlichtingendienst van het land sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog op te richten, waarbij het Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office (CIRO) wordt omgevormd tot een centrum voor analisten, technologen en agenten te midden van toenemende spionage en cyberdreigingen vanuit China en Rusland. • De FBI heeft het plan gesteund, waarbij functionarissen de Amerikaanse steun voor Tokio signaleerden op het gebied van cybersecurity, counter-intelligence, spionage en terrorismebestrijding, om zo de versnipperde inlichtingenstructuur van Japan aan te pakken. • Het agentschap zou uiterlijk in juli 2026 operationeel kunnen zijn, mits goedgekeurd door de House of Councillors, beginnend met ongeveer 700 medewerkers die naar verwachting snel zullen groeien door de integratie van talent uit zowel de overheid als de private sector.

• Noord-Korea verpletterde Thailand met 6-0 in de kwartfinales op 11 mei in het Taihu Football Sports Center in Suzhou, China, waarmee ze een perfect record behouden van 4 wedstrijden, 27 gescoorde doelpunten en 0 tegengoals. • De regerend kampioen Noord-Korea neemt nu op 14 mei de wedstrijd op tegen China in de halve finales; de winnaar trekt door naar de finale op 17 mei in het Suzhou Sports Center Stadium. • Hun dominante reeks, door waarnemers als 'beangstigend' bestempeld, positioneert hen als favoriet voor een plek op het Wereldkampioenschap en bewijst de aanvallende kracht van hun jeugdteam.

• Antara News meldt dat Indonesië stappen onderneemt om Bali te vestigen als een mondiaal financieel centrum, waarbij wordt ingezet op de status van het land als grootste economie van Zuidoost-Azië met meer dan 280 miljoen inwoners en een bbp van meer dan 1,4 biljoen dollar. • Het initiatief is een reactie op wereldwijde economische vertragingen, handelsoorlogen en investeringsconcurrentie door de stimulering van financiële diensten, fintech en duurzame investeringen op het toeristische eiland. • Belangrijke maatregelen omvatten regelgevende hervormingen, belastingvoordelen en infrastructuurupgrades om internationaal kapitaal aan te trekken en Bali te positioneren als concurrent van Singapore en Hong Kong.

• China verkent actief de ontwikkeling van humanoïde robotica, waarbij het profiteert van de grootste geïnstalleerde basis van industriële robots ter wereld en snel de hardware-toeleveringsketens lokaliseert die voorheen afhankelijk waren van de AI-chips en het software-ecosysteem van Nvidia. • Het beleidskader van Xi Jinping heeft geleid tot nationale fondsen en ondersteuningsprogramma's om R&D in robotica te stimuleren en startups te helpen, met de ambitie om AI-technologieën te verspreiden over de Chinese samenleving in economische, sociale en bestuurlijke sectoren. • De bestaande toeleveringsketens voor de productie van elektrische voertuigen (EV)—inclusief batterijen, sensoren en mechanische componenten—geven het land een concurrentievoordeel bij de ontwikkeling van 'embodied AI', waarbij grote EV-fabrikanten robotica toevoegen aan hun productportfolio.

• VAD Technologies en Data Dynamics hebben op 8 mei 2026 een strategisch partnerschap aangekondigd om sovereign AI-oplossingen te promoten in de landen van de Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), waaronder de VAE, Saoedi-Arabië en Qatar. • De samenwerking richt zich op datamanagementplatforms die gelokaliseerde AI-verwerking mogelijk maken om datasoevereiniteit en naleving van regionale regelgeving te waarborgen. • De uitgaven aan cybersecurity in de Golfregio zullen in 2026 naar verwachting de Dh120 miljard ($32,6 miljard) overschrijden, gedreven door AI-gestuurde dreigingen en de behoefte aan soevereine veerkracht.

• Republikeinen in het Zuiden zetten in dit verkiezingsjaar volop in op de herindeling van het Huis van Afgevaardigden, waaronder een agressieve gerrymandering in Tennessee op verzoek van Trump. • Deze stappen vinden plaats te midden van wijdverbreide protesten en juridische uitdagingen, waarbij PBS melding maakt van verzet in meerdere staten. • Deze wijzigingen zouden de zetels in het congres voor aanvang van de tussentijdse verkiezingen van 2026 kunnen hervormen, wat mogelijk in het voordeel is van de GOP-meerderheden.

• Meta acquired ARI, a US-based robotics AI startup, to bolster its efforts in humanoid robots and physical artificial general intelligence. • The deal focuses on developing software for real-world machine control and agentic systems. • This acquisition positions Meta as a leader in embodied AI, competing with rivals in robotics hardware and software.

• India secured a 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the Thomas Cup quarterfinals on May 1, 2026, guaranteeing a medal and advancing to the semifinals. • Key wins came in men's doubles and singles matches, showcasing strong team performance in the badminton tournament. • This result strengthens India's position in international badminton and boosts medal prospects at the prestigious Thomas Cup.

• India defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the Thomas Cup quarterfinals to secure a semifinal spot. • The victory sets up a semifinal clash against France scheduled for 9:30 PM. • This marks a significant achievement for Indian badminton on the international stage amid ongoing team championships.

• Scientists achieved the first teleportation of a photon's state between two separate quantum dots over a 270-meter open-air link. • The experiment used GPS synchronization, ultra-fast detectors, and turbulence stabilization, reaching 82% state fidelity exceeding classical limits by over 10 standard deviations. • Published in Nature Communications, this milestone advances quantum internet for ultra-secure communication and quantum relays.

• Google unveiled seventh-generation TPUs on April 27, boasting 4.7x performance gains over prior versions for AI inference. • The chips support Google's $175-185 billion 2026 CapEx, aiming for margin expansion through in-house silicon. • Analysts note reduced reliance on Nvidia GPUs, potentially shifting U.S. AI hardware market dynamics worth $100 billion annually.

• Ukrainian officials acknowledged on Monday that Russian forces have captured additional territory in eastern Donbas region despite increased deliveries of Western arms and ammunition over the past 30 days. • Kyiv's military command reported that Russian forces are attempting encirclement operations near Bakhmut and Popasna, forcing Ukrainian units into tactical withdrawals in select areas. • The Pentagon reaffirmed commitment to Ukraine, announcing a $500 million weapons package including air defense systems and precision munitions, with U.S. officials emphasizing the long-term nature of support.

• OpenAI launched GPT-5.5, a powerful new model optimized for coding, research, data analysis, computer use, and complex workloads requiring minimal guidance. • The upgrade handles messier, real-world tasks with greater autonomy across multiple tools, reducing the need for extensive prompting. • This release intensifies competition in AI capabilities, targeting professional users in software development and scientific research.

Bill clears 50–48 vote to boost ICE and CBP funding as Democrats oppose and shutdown continuesUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenate Republicans on Thursday approved a plan to fund Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants for the remainder of his term and pave the way for an end to the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The budget resolution adopted along a near party line vote in the early morning hours sets the stage for Congress to craft legislation allocating as much as $140b to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), two agencies at the forefront of Trump’s mass deportation agenda that have been without funding since mid-February, when the DHS shutdown began. Continue reading...

Republicans deploy measure known as budget reconciliation to push through plan without backing from Democrats during lengthy late-night voteHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The Senate voted to adopt a $70bn budget plan to fund ICE and Border Patrol as part of a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies.Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs.The Pentagon announced, without explanation, that “Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately”. The head of the US navy, which is now enforcing a wartime blockade of Iranian ports, was replaced by a former Maga political candidate, Hung Cao, now acting secretary of the navy.The surprise announcement brought renewed attention to Cao’s 2023 comments that that “witchcraft” had “taken over” Monterey, California.Virginia’s attorney general, Jay Jones, promised to appeal an injunction issued by a circuit court judge that temporarily blocks the state from certifying the results of the Tuesday’s redistricting referendum.As jet fuel prices spike amid the ongoing energy crisis sparked by Donald Trump’s war on Iran, two Republican senators, Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, denounced a proposed US government bailout of budget carrier Spirit Airlines.Representative David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, has died at the age of 80. He is the fifth member of Congress to die in office within the last year. Continue reading...

Winning robot records faster time than Jacob Kiplimo’s world record More than 100 robots run in parallel tracks to avoid collisions with humansDozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots showed off their fast-improving athleticism as they whizzed past human runners in a half-marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, having lagged far behind a year earlier.The race’s inaugural edition last year was riddled with mishaps, as many robots struggled to get off the starting line, and most were unable to finish. Continue reading...

• Fortra announced the launch of its new Defense and Intelligence Unit (DIU) on April 16, 2026, from Minneapolis to deliver integrated cyber solutions to defense and national security organizations worldwide. • The unit focuses on cross-domain cyber innovation, AI-powered capabilities, and mission expertise for critical infrastructure and allied nations. • This development strengthens US cybersecurity posture amid rising global threats to defense sectors.

• NTT Research unveiled SaltGrain, a new data security suite designed to break the traditional all-or-nothing file-access model and enhance privacy protection. • The platform addresses existing cybersecurity gaps by enabling granular access control through advanced attribute-based encryption technology. • SaltGrain represents a significant advancement in data protection capabilities, offering enterprises more sophisticated control over sensitive information access and sharing.

• Thomas Jefferson University launched a multicenter clinical trial led by Manisha Verma, MD, and Victor Navarro, MD, at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital to improve palliative care for advanced liver disease patients. • Advanced liver disease causes significant scarring and loss of function, leading to serious health challenges with limited quality-of-life support. • Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the trial addresses a major care gap for ALD patients nationwide.

• Circadence, a U.S.-based cybersecurity firm, secured $16.4 million in funding on April 4, 2026, to enhance its AI-powered platforms. • The investment supports launches of RangeGPT, an AI training tool, and Project Ares GEN3 for advanced threat simulation. • This funding arrives amid rising AI-enhanced cyber threats, positioning Circadence to innovate in enterprise defense.

• A paralyzed man successfully controlled a robotic arm by using a neural interface device that relays signals from his brain to a computer, enabling him to grasp, move, and drop objects through thought alone. • The breakthrough demonstrates the practical application of brain-computer interface technology, allowing the patient to perform complex motor tasks that were previously impossible due to paralysis. • This advancement represents a significant milestone in neurotechnology and rehabilitation, offering hope for individuals with paralysis by restoring functional control of external robotic limbs through neural signals.

• The MajesTEC-3 clinical trial led by UAB researchers demonstrates that a new two-drug immunotherapy regimen can lead to long-lasting remission for multiple myeloma patients. • Over 83 percent of patients enrolled in the trial remain alive and progression-free three years after therapy, supporting approval of this potentially curative treatment. • The findings represent a significant advance for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer with limited treatment options historically.

• Scientists warn that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and neurotechnology are advancing faster than our scientific understanding of consciousness, creating serious ethical risks. • The acceleration of AI capabilities and brain-computer interface technologies raises urgent questions about the nature of consciousness and ethical implications. • Researchers emphasize the need for parallel development of ethical frameworks to accompany technological progress.

• No. 3 seed Illinois defeated Big Ten rival Iowa 71-59 in the South Region final, earning a spot in Saturday's national semifinal against No. 2 seed Connecticut at 6:09 p.m. ET. • Freshman Keaton Wagler led with 25 points and was named Region Most Outstanding Player, while Andrej Stojakovic added 17 points. • Illinois outscored Iowa 20-8 after a 51-51 tie with 7:14 left, closing with an 8-0 run as Iowa failed to score in the final two minutes.

Measure that would fund homeland security but exclude money for ICE could conclude lengthy funding lapseAn end to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be in sight, after Congress’s Republican leaders on Wednesday agreed to advance legislation that would fund the majority of the agency’s operations, with the exception of those involved in immigration enforcement.The pact may conclude the longest such funding lapse in US history, which last month caused security lines to stretch for hours at some airports as employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a subagency of DHS, quit their jobs or called out of work after going weeks without pay. Continue reading...

• Soligenix's HyBryte for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) has a second Phase 3 trial underway with enrollment of approximately 80 subjects, interim analysis in Q2 2026, and top-line results in H2 2026. • Previous Phase 3 trials showed statistical significance in primary endpoints across multiple cycles, following FDA NDA submission and RTF letter. • The program targets unmet needs in rare dermatological cancers with ongoing FDA discussions for development path.