Warns

De druk op Keir Starmer neemt toe nadat Andy Burnham een weg terug naar het parlement kreeg. Goedemorgen en welkom bij onze live verslaggeving van de Britse politiek. Minister van Huisvesting Steve Reed is vanochtend in diverse media verschenen om Labour-collega's op te roepen het "land eerst, de partij daarna" te stellen, zelfs terwijl hij toegeeft dat Keir Starmer "onpopulair" is. Lees verder...

Minister van Huisvesting Steve Reed zegt dat niemand over de cijfers beschikt voor een uitdaging en dat Labour zich achter de premier moet scharen.

Opmerkingen van de Chinese president werden gepubliceerd na een overleg van twee uur met Trump. Daarnaast bespreekt Stacey Abrams waarom het uithollen van de Voting Rights Act 'de belichaming van het kwaad' is.

• Grote techbedrijven investeren biljoenen dollars in infrastructuur om generatieve AI-modellen te ontwikkelen en te beheren, wat wijst op een speculatieve bubbel, waarschuwt een nieuw rapport van het Open Markets Institute door fellow Matthew Sherer. • Het rapport identificeert kenmerken van gevaarlijke financiële bubbels in de AI-boom en roept beleidmakers op om toekomstige eisen voor reddingsoperaties voor falende bedrijven af te wijzen. • Met biljoenen op het spel benadrukt de analyse proactief beleid om de economie te beschermen tegen een instorting van de AI-sector zonder reddingsacties gefinancierd door belastinggeld.

• Noord-Koreaanse hackers, gesteund door de staat, zetten AI-tools in om blinde vlekken in de cybersecurity van doelnetwerken te scannen en uit te buiten, aldus een nieuw cybersecurity-rapport van Google. • Het rapport beschrijft hoe deze actoren generatieve AI gebruiken voor verkenning, waarbij ze de ontdekking van kwetsbaarheden op grote schaal automatiseren, wat verder gaat dan traditionele handmatige methoden. • Deze ontwikkeling onderstreept de dubbele rol van AI als zowel een defensief middel voor cybersecuritybedrijven als een offensief wapen voor tegenstanders vanuit natiestaten.

• Het Internationaal Monetair Fonds (IMF) heeft op 7 mei 2026 een waarschuwing afgegeven over de groeiende gevaren voor de wereldwijde financiële stabiliteit door kunstmatige intelligentie, waarbij wordt gewaarschuwd dat AI gelijktijdig zowel defensieve als offensieve cybercapaciteiten versterkt. • Geavanceerde AI-modellen verminderen nu drastisch de tijd en kosten die nodig zijn om systeemkwetsbaarheden te ontdekken en uit te buiten, wat snellere en meer wijdverspreide aanvallen mogelijk maakt die kunnen cascades veroorzaken over onderling verbonden financiële markten en infrastructuren. • Het Claude Mythos Preview-model van Anthropic demonstreerde baanbrekende autonome cybermogelijkheden door kwetsbaarheden in grote besturingssystemen en browsers te identificeren en uit te buiten, zelfs wanneer deze door niet-specialisten werden bediend, wat aangeeft hoe snel AI het voordeel naar de aanvallers verschuift.

Organisatoren en sprekers zullen verantwoordelijk worden gehouden voor onwettige uitspraken terwijl de politie een uitzonderlijk druk weekend tegemoet ziet.

• Aandelen van de eigenaar van Bovis Homes kelderden met 10,5% nadat het bedrijf prijzen moest verlagen door toenemende voorzichtigheid bij kopers • Een van de grootste woningbouwers van het VK heeft aangegeven dat de winsten "significant" lager zullen uitvallen, omdat het bedrijf gedwongen was de prijzen te verlagen na toegenomen onzekerheid veroorzaakt door de Amerikaans-Israëlische oorlog tegen Iran. • De aandelen van Vistry kelderden woensdagochtend met 10,5% in de vroege handel en bereikten hun laagste niveau in bijna 15 jaar, nadat het bedrijf aandeelhouders informeerde dat de winsten in het eerste halfjaar zouden worden geraakt door de gevolgen van het conflict in het Midden-Oosten.

• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus prijst de ‘mededogen en solidariteit’ van Spanje bij de evacuatie van het virusgetroffen cruiseschip • Het hoofd van de World Health Organization heeft landen gewaarschuwd zich voor te bereiden op meer hantavirusgevallen na de uitbraak aan boord van de MV Hondius, en bedankte Spanje voor het "mededogen en de solidariteit" die het had getoond door het getroffen cruiseschip in ontvangst te nemen en de passagiers en bemanning te evacueren. • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus drong landen op om het advies en de aanbevelingen van de WHO te volgen, waaronder een quarantaine van 42 dagen en constante monitoring van contactpersonen met een hoog risico. Lees verder...

De Amerikaanse president noemt de Iraanse reactie 'totaal onacceptabel', terwijl Teheran stelt dat het zal terugslaan bij nieuwe Amerikaanse aanvallen of buitenlandse oorlogsschepen in de Straat van Hormuz. • Trump noemt de reactie van Iran op het vredesplan 'totaal onacceptabel' terwijl het staakt-het-vuren wankelt • De Amerikaanse kaders voor de nucleaire gesprekken omvatten naar verluidt een moratorium op de Iraanse nucleaire verrijking voor maximaal 20 jaar; de overdracht naar het buitenland, mogelijk naar de VS, van de voorraad hoogverrijkt uranium (HEU) van Iran, dat gebruikt zou kunnen worden voor het maken van kernwapens; en de ontmanteling van Iraanse nucleaire faciliteiten. • Volgens de Wall Street Journal suggereerde het Iraanse tegenvoorstel een korter moratorium, de export van een deel van de HEU-voorraad en het verdunnen van de rest, en een weigering om de ontmanteling van faciliteiten te accepteren. Lees verder...

• India's top military leadership issued a warning on May 10, 2026, stating the country faces a strategic nexus of Pakistan, China, and Turkey along its borders one year after Operation Sindoor. • Officials revealed Pakistan launched 300–400 drones, many of Turkish origin, during recent incursions, but India's air defence grid destroyed most using systems like S-400 and Project Kusha. • The alliance involves drones, missiles, air defence, and space capabilities, with terror launch pads across the Line of Control and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir fully mapped and no longer safe.

• JPMorgan analysis shows markets repricing oil-driven inflation risks, with global equities adjusting to potential rate hike scenarios amid recent oil price surges. • Central banks are providing clearer signals on monetary policy, suggesting rate hikes may not materialize as aggressively as feared despite elevated energy costs. • The divergence highlights inflation fears running ahead of underlying economic reality, potentially creating buying opportunities if data moderates.

• Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru highlighted Singapore as one of the most vulnerable economies to AI disruption during a parliamentary motion on AI transition. • She urged recognition of uncomfortable realities beyond the nation's praised infrastructure and upskilling initiatives. • Singapore's approach, cited by BCG, IMF's Kristalina Georgieva, and others, focuses on confronting AI opportunities and risks through worker reskilling.

Appliance giant slashes earnings forecast and hikes prices by 10% with another 4% spike plannedWith the war in Iran and economic concerns putting pressure on consumers and how they spend their money, Whirlpool is having to adjust to Americans delaying big-ticket purchases while also raising prices to help stabilize its North American business.The company known for brands such as KitchenAid, Maytag and its namesake, said that the Iran war led to a “recession-level industry decline” in America as consumer confidence collapsed in late February and March. Revenue dropped nearly 10% in the quarter as sales of major appliances in North America declined more than 7%. Continue reading...

Retail group with 4,800 stores worldwide expects drop in profits this year amid ‘muted market’Business live – latest updatesThe sports fashion retailer JD has warned that profits will fall this year amid a “muted market” hit by weaker spending by young people and concerns about the Middle East conflict.The company, which runs 4,800 stores worldwide including the JD, Blacks and Millets chains in the UK, said it expected profits of between £750m and £850m in the year ahead, after reporting £852m in the year to the end of January. Continue reading...

• DMK leaders Kanimozhi NVN Somu and TKS Elangovan sharply criticized Congress for extending support to TVK, warning it will be 'wiped out everywhere'. • The reaction follows Congress breaking pre-poll ties with DMK, providing 5 MLAs to help TVK reach 112 seats short of majority. • DMK views the move as betrayal amid hung assembly, fueling accusations as rivals like AIADMK explore counter-alliances.

• Anthropic released 10 financially-focused AI agents on May 5 that can automate tasks like building pitchbooks, auditing statements, and drafting credit memos for banks and insurers. • The company announced new data sources for its Claude AI model and revealed that 40% of its top 50 customers are financial institutions, making finance its second-largest revenue segment after technology. • CEO Dario Amodei predicted further software disruption across industries and called for legislation governing the release of powerful AI models, noting that Claude's Mythos model has likely identified tens of thousands of vulnerabilities.

• Ms Grace Fu, Singapore's Minister, delivered a keynote at the 13th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources on May 7, 2026, describing Southeast Asia facing a 'perfect storm' from geopolitical developments and climate change. • She emphasized severe implications for the region, including supply chain disruptions and resource scarcity due to the dual threats. • The speech underscores the need for sustainable resource strategies to mitigate risks to economic stability and security.

Powerful property and farming firm Grosvenor Group says knock-on effect of Iran war could arrive next yearFertiliser shortages caused by the Iran war have driven up costs for UK farmers by up to 70% and will have a “dramatic” impact on food prices globally next year, according to one of Britain’s most powerful property and farming companies.Mark Preston, executive trustee of the 349-year-old Grosvenor Group, controlled by the Duke of Westminster, said fertiliser “was already quite expensive” before the 50% to 70% surge in prices since the start of the Iran war in late February. Continue reading...

Communities secretary Steve Reed urges MPs not to move against Keir Starmer and says most people are ‘sick and tired of all this psychodrama’Labour should not be “doomscrolling” through leaders like the Conservatives, the communities secretary, Steve Reed, has said, urging MPs not to move against Keir Starmer after the May elections.MPs who fear Starmer cannot lead the party into the next general election because of his unpopularity are understood to have been discussing whether to lay out a timetable for his departure to present to the prime minister. Continue reading...

Government’s anti-slavery commissioner says traffickers are exploiting a growing pipeline of vulnerabilitySlavery in the UK is at record levels and is expected to worsen over the next decade, the government’s independent anti-slavery commissioner has warned.According to the number of referrals to the national referral mechanism, which assesses potential victims of slavery and provides support to victims, numbers have almost doubled in the last five years from 12,691 referrals in 2021 to 23,411 in 2025, the highest ever number. Continue reading...

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that banks and technology companies are collaborating to strengthen defenses against AI-enabled cyber threats, including attacks targeting bank accounts. • The warning highlights growing concerns that artificial intelligence tools could be weaponized by attackers to compromise financial institutions and customer accounts at scale. • The Treasury Department's focus on AI-driven cybersecurity risks reflects broader government concerns about the technology's potential dual-use applications in criminal activities.

The little-known publicly funded scheme is used by about 800 families with children who cannot access mainstream careGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRebecca Mohr Bell, a cattle farmer and business owner, lives 100km south-west of Katherine in the Northern Territory, and with three young children, has relied on in-home childcare since 2018.The little-known taxpayer supported program is used by about 800 families with children who cannot access mainstream care, including because they live in remote locations, have serious illness or a disability, or because their parents work unusual hours. Continue reading...

Green leader also says he would discourage ‘globalise the intifada’ chant but outlawing it would restrict free speechZack Polanski has said he would discourage pro-Palestine protesters from using the chant “globalise the intifada”, but the Green party leader warned against specifically outlawing the phrase or banning a protest planned in London later this month.Speaking earlier in the weekend, Keir Starmer called for “tougher action” against marchers using the chant after last week’s attack on Jewish people in Golders Green, saying pro-Gaza marches risked having a cumulative effect of being intimidating. Continue reading...

• An Israeli Defense Forces official warned that the Iran conflict risks becoming "one big failure" unless Tehran's estimated 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, stored near weapons-grade levels, is removed. • Israeli officials claim the current stockpile could potentially yield up to 11 nuclear weapons if further processed, while Iran maintains its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. • The Trump administration signals ongoing concerns over Iran's nuclear capabilities, raising fears of potential renewed escalation as negotiations remain stalled and both sides maintain hardline positions.

• The American Heart Association released a Presidential Advisory on April 30, 2026, declaring U.S. health care affordability at a crisis point due to rising costs driven by chronic diseases. • Costs are forcing Americans to delay or avoid care, worsening health outcomes and increasing medical debt; a Gallup survey shows widespread worry about accessing affordable care. • A McLaughlin & Associates poll found 51% of voters cite health insurance as their top concern, followed by hospital bills (11%) and medicine costs (10%).

Robert Hayward predicts Reform will be big winner, taking seats from both Labour and the ConservativesGood morning. We are now into the final week of campaigning for the Scottish parliament, Welsh Senedd and English local elections. Keir Starmer had been planning a big speech today, but he, and other political leaders, are today focusing on their response to the Golders Green stabbing and the antisemitism threat facing Britain’s Jewish community – described as a “national security emergency” by Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terror legislation. Here is our overnight story. And here is our live blog by Taz Ali.Taz will be covering most of the political reaction to that story, and so that won’t be something I will be covering here. (And because criminal proceedings are active, comments relating to the attack won’t be allowed below the line, I’m afraid.) Continue reading...

Oil markets spooked as Donald Trump appears willing to maintain the US Navy blockade and Iran keeps strait of Hormuz all but shutThe price of Brent oil soared above $126 a barrel on Wednesday, its highest level since 2022, after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months and peace talks remained stalled.Surging more than 13% in 24 hours, Brent crude hit a record price since the war began on 28 February. Not since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has Brent topped $120, with the price then peaking at $139. Continue reading...